Philippines Legazpi Mission: Elder Feraer

TABACO | DAY 87 to 88 |

MARCH 29, 2014:
We are the fifth and newest set of missionaries in Tabaco. We just opened our area last January together with my trainer. Back then, my trainer and I are both new and not familiar with our area so we started from scratch and it's not easy. Now, things are getting pretty well in terms of missionary work in our area. The people are starting to know that we are bearers of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The members are also helpful and supportive of us. Elder Carpio and I have the same goal and we are united in our missionary purpose.

We had a productive day today. This is our best so far. We hit a new record for RCLA. We got 8 so far. We focused on our area in Bantayan and we met a lot of people. The most memorable is with Bro. and Sis. Roaring. They are interested in what we shared with them and I hope they'll progress. My new companion is really good at talking and introducing our message to everyone he meets. He isn't shy and he is a lively person. We are still adjusting to each other, especially him because he is new in our area. Another memorable moment today was the interview of John Ben, Jay Mar, and Jason. They all passed their baptismal interview and I'm so excited for their baptism next week! 😃 Sis. Yvette was also a big help in being a member present for her brothers.

TABACO | DAY 86 |

MARCH 28, 2014:
First District Meeting with Elder Carpio. He is also our new District Leader and I helped him prepare some things before the meeting. This is also the first time that I met newly assigned missionaries in our District. They are E.Pasadillo, S.Whaanga, and S.Pimentel. After the meeting, we ate at Mang Inasal and I had 6 cups of rice. 🐷 E.Carpio, S.Fabia, and I had a little chat about our Zone. We talked about improving our zone and we all want to win the Zone Activity this transfer cycle.

After our C.S. in the afternoon, we proselyted and taught Bro. Denver about the ten commandments. We also did tracting and we met and taught two new investigators. Our last successful appointment on this day was with Bro. Jess and we taught him about the priesthood and auxiliaries in the church.

We had a productive day again and I'm happy that we met new investigators. Elder Carpio reminds me of my companion in the MTC. They are the same in clothing style and the way they speak.

_____________________________________________________________________________

TABACO | DAY 84 to 85 |

MARCH 26, 2014:
My first whole day with my new companion and we have a full written schedule for this day. Elder Carpio has a different way of planning and it is more detailed (FTCA; Follow up, Teach, Commitment, Assignment). He cooked rice early in the morning because we decided that we will pack and have our lunch in the meeting house from now on for time efficiency. We'll not waste our time on travel (40-50 minutes back and forth) anymore. I really like this new idea.

TABACO | DAY 83 |

MARCH 25, 2014:
Transfer day! The day that I met my new companion. Transfer day is really an exciting, thrilling, tiring, emotional, and somewhat stressful day. This is my first time to experience this event in the mission. Elder Madsen (A.P.) announced the new companionship of missionaries. I'm excited and when he said "Elder Feraer, meet your new companion... Elder Carpio" I was like who is he? where is he? then I looked back and I saw him. He is a Filipino! 😊

My second companion, Elder Carpio. He is from Zambales, Philippines and he is also our new District Leader

My first impressions are he is a strict and obedient missionary. I also got a feeling that we'll get along pretty well. Elder Nielsen's new area is in Catanduanes again. Elder Bacalso is also going to Catanduanes and Elder Savedra was also transferred.

When we arrived in our apartment, Elder Carpio cleaned our room. He is an organized guy. We also did missionary work today and this is a good sign that he is a diligent missionary. I introduced him to the Delos Santos Family and Bro. Jerusalem and after that, we taught them all and the Ceneta Family.

_____________________________________________________________________________

TABACO | DAY 81 to 82 |

MARCH 23, 2014:
This is Elder Nielsen's last Sunday in Comun Group. Supposedly he doesn't want the members to know it yet. Then Elder Yu made a spoiler about it in the sacrament meeting during his talk. 😅 The members are surprised and they said their goodbyes and thank you messages after the service. They are grateful to my companion for his service in Comun Group. The Delos Santos Family will definitely miss him.

We didn't do any missionary work today so I study the scriptures instead while my companion is packing all his things. He has a lot of stuff, especially souvenirs that came from his previous areas. I wonder if I'm going to be like that when I reach my one year mark. As time goes by, I'm starting to feel sad. He is a sensei, mentor, trainer, and friend to me. He is the one who introduced and guided me in my early days as a missionary. I'm grateful to have him as my trainer. Before this day ends we also traded neckties. I want to do it too on my next companions for remembrance purposes. He also passed the generation tie that his trainer gave to him. After I put my name on it, he told me to pass it on to my trainee someday (if I'll ever train. LOL.).

TABACO | DAY 80 |

MARCH 22, 2014:
Baptism day of Tatay Jess and Bro. Denver! 😃 They came early to the chapel and they are so happy and excited for this day. Heavenly Father prepares a way for them to make it through on this special day. There is a blessing that came to Bro. Benigno and Bro. Jess before they went to the chapel. I testify that God moves in mysterious ways and He prepares a way for His children on earth when they have faith and they're righteous.

Me, Bro. Denver, Bro. Jess and Elder Nielsen

I remember the day when we first met Bro. Jess, he is very receptive and probably the readiest investigator that we had. Even before we met him he already started reading the Book of Mormon and finished the Bible. We are also thankful to his friend, our recent convert, Bro. Benigno for introducing the Book of Mormon and the gospel of Jesus Christ to Tatay Jess. Even though he is having a difficult time walking, his faith is stronger and he always attends church every Sunday.

with Tatay Jess Jerusalem (baptized by E.Nielsen)

Denver's conversion story is kind of similar to mine. He is a shy young man just like me before when I became a member of the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints. As the day goes by, I saw his intent and desire to know the gospel more every time we visit him. He is progressing every day. His parents and my parents are also non-members as of now and I'm also hoping that all of them will be baptize someday when they are ready.

with Bro. Denver Reforma (baptized by E.Feraer)

Some members of our group in Comun also travels to Tabaco City for this special day.

(L to R) Yvette, Me, Denver, Stephanie, Sis. Bonaobra, Kaye, Bro. Bonaobra, Kevin, Elder Nielsen, Bro. Jess and Bro. Benigno

_____________________________________________________________________________

TABACO | DAY 77 to 79 |

MARCH 19, 2014:
I feel like I'm an old man. My body sores especially in the back. 😩 But it is alright, I had fun doing service yesterday. Along the way to our area, I think of something really cool. I'll make a list of goals that I want and I'll put the strengths, challenges, and action plan for each month. I'll do it to see my progression throughout my mission days.

In the morning we taught Bro. Jess about the ten commandments and he is excited about his Baptism on Saturday. He is definitely more than ready to be baptized. 😊 After that, we taught Bro. Kaloy about enduring to the end. In our afternoon/evening work we taught Bro. Denver about the importance of prayer and being obedient to the commandments of the Lord. He is also excited about his baptism on Saturday and he also picked me to be the one who'll baptize him. I'm more than happy to do it for him. Our last appointment for the day is with the Delos Santos brothers and we reviewed L1-L3 to them to make sure that they understand it very well.

TABACO | DAY 76 |

MARCH 18, 2014:
We woke up and leave early so we can go to Bro. Benigno and help him build Bro. Jess's new house. Our ZLs/Housemates also came to help. First, I and Elder Yu collected and arranged anahaw leaves. Elder Nielsen, Elder Todd, and Bro. Benigno is sharing ideas on how to remove the rocks (especially the big one) near the house. Later on I went on the top and started putting those anahaw leaves to make a roof. 

It's really a fun and tiring day but I am happy to do it for Tatay Jess. It is my first time experiencing this and it will be one of the memorable things that happened to me in my missionary years. 😊

TABACO | DAY 75 |

MARCH 17, 2014:
Today is an important day! It's the birthday of my Mama Libye and I wish I'm with them right now... I woke up early so I can wash my clothes first. We did the usual stuff on P-Day and we had a district lunch at a Japanese Restaurant. I ate chicken teriyaki and it is good. The food in this resto is delicious but it is kind of expensive compare to other places. We went to LBC afterward to send letters to my family. E-mail time now is 2 hours instead of 3 hours like before. It's an updated mission rule from now on. The internet speed here in Tabaco City is not good, compare to what I've been used to. 

TABACO | DAY 68 to 74 |

MARCH 10, 2014:
Another normal preparation day. Same old routine. This week will also be the week that all the trainees (newbies) will lead in planning and teaching according to our First 12 Week Guide manual. There is some incident that happened today about one of the A.P. and Z.L. said about our work. I can feel that my companion was not happy about it because there are some unfortunate events that happened this past week that affected our missionary work. I also felt bad about it but it is a good thing on the other side. It motivates us. Elder Nielsen and I talked about it and we are both committed to doing better this week.


MARCH 11, 2014:
I'm really excited about this week and I'm also determined to finish these last two weeks of my training with a bang! After our personal and language study we are assigned by our ZLs to meet and pick up the Catanduanes (island) Elders and guide them to our apartment. They are staying with us for a couple of days because they have a meeting here on the mainland. It was my first time to go to Tabaco Pier.

Our missionary work is really productive today. We taught the Delos Santos brothers with Bro. Jason, Antonnette, and the couple Bro. Alvin and Sis. Catherine. We also received two referrals from Sis. Yvette and we contacted them both. We also have two new investigators. I had a wonderful time teaching today the gospel of Jesus Christ. I felt the spirit.