Philippines Legazpi Mission: Elder Feraer

BAGAMANOC | Day 104 to 107 |

JULY 28, 2014:
P-Day. The usual stuff and routine. Reading family e-mails are always the only exciting part.


JULY 29, 2014:
We did tracting in the morning but it failed again. From my experience, tracting in a small community are a lot challenging especially when you visit all the houses possible. There will be a point that you have no other house to visit and tract. Fortunately, there are members here in the San Vicente branch that are helping us by giving us referrals. Our recent converts came from referrals. That's more effective and also completing the part member families.

We continued teaching our recent investigators in the afternoon and our RCLAs at night. We also met another member of the Castillo Family (our recent family investigators).


JULY 30, 2014:
There's only one successful appointment in the morning, the rest are busy or not in their home as expected. The most important thing is we tried and did our part. We focus on our investigators for the rest of the day.


JULY 31, 2014:
The last day of the month. We had a District Meeting in the Morning. Even though things are kinda shaky in the last few days we had an awesome month overall. I'm happy for all the hard work that we did, the SoE's, especially the baptisms of Sis. Ivy and Sis. Janine. 😊

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BAGAMANOC | Day 101 to 103 |

JULY 25, 2014:
This is the most productive day so far in my mission. We proselyted for 10 hours and we had 18 lessons just for today! We filled up all the key indicators and we're happy for the fruits of our labor. 😃 Short and powerful lessons are the key to the guidance of the Holy Ghost. We also met a lot of new investigators. We have progressing investigators that are leaning towards baptism. So far they are Francis, Digs, and Reynan. I hope it will be consistent.



JULY 26, 2014:
We did WPS in the morning for us to be prepared for next week. We proselyted in the afternoon and we met a new family investigator. They are the Castillo Family. They are a referral from the members. They are receptive and nice and I hope they will continue to receive us. 😊

The Zone Leaders are in San Vicente also. They have companionship exchanges with the other Elders. Maybe this is the last time that we'll see Elder Leal. He'll go home very soon, finish his mission and return with honor. He gave me an SR and it is a cool gray pants.

(Left) July 26 - Dinner with the ZLs (Right) July 27 - Elder Aguilando and Me

JULY 27, 2014:
It was a rainy Sunday. We need to wear jackets to church. When it is raining continuously it affected the attendance in the church because many members are from Sagrada. Sometimes the flood is a serious problem in there, especially in the bridge. It is not passable sometimes.

Because of the continuously rain and floods we just proselyted nearby. Overall, we had a superb week this week. We had baptisms and 46 total lessons. I think that's my highest and my companionship with Elder Aguilando are doing really great so far. 😃 We just need to be consistent. 😎

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BAGAMANOC | Day 100 |

JULY 24, 2014:
The long wait is over! 😃 There's a lot of postponement because of the interview's schedule and the recent typhoon and today it finally happens! Sis. Ivy and Sis. Janine got baptized and we are all happy for them especially our loving Heavenly Father. 😄 Elder Bacalso and I first met them more than a month ago. They transferred to this town because of studies and they are both relatives of our Branch President's wife. I know it was also our Heavenly Father's plan that they got here. When Elder Bacalso got transferred, I and Elder Aguilando continued teaching them and they are really interested in the gospel. They are also reading the Book of Mormon.

They are both consistently progressing investigators before they got baptized. Sis. Ivy is really attentive when we are teaching them. She's also smart and consistently read the assignments that we are leaving them. Her sister, Sis. Janine is somewhat the shy one but she is responding well when we are asking her about the lessons. She's also smiling most of the time. She's a happy kid. They are both great investigators. 😊

We rode a motorboat together with some members and investigators.

Many people attended including their friends and relatives.

It's my very first time to baptize in the sea.

I had the privilege to baptize both of them.

(L to R) E. Aguilando, Ivy, Janine, and Me.

Elder Aguilando and I are really happy for them.

(L to R) Nanay Trining, Sis. Hilda, Sis. April with her daughter, Princess, Robert, Ivy, Sheila, E. Aguilando, Janine, E. Feraer, Bro. Ronnie, and Sis. Myrna

(L to R) Sis. Nini, Sis. Hilda, Robert, Nanay Trining, Marian, Sis. April with her daughter, E. Feraer, Janine, Princess, Ivy, Sheila, E. Aguilando, and Sis. Myrna

Ivy and Janine friends

I'm really happy that Ivy and Janine got baptized. 😊 They also set a good example for their friends and I know they will also be good members of the church and a great example to others. Having many members attend and investigators are really fun too. I know Ivy and Janine felt their love and support. 😊

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BAGAMANOC | Day 98 to 99 |

JULY 22, 2014:
It's been a long time since we proselyted and do the usual missionary work because of the recent typhoon. It's nice to proselyte again. We plan in the morning and we went out in the afternoon. We had a productive day with 8 lessons including our progressing part member investigators. Sis. Laila also has a baptismal date now and it is on September 27. Hopefully, it will push through. 😀 The most memorable moment for today is when a member called us during the middle of our lesson for an "emergency". They said that someone is possessed with an evil spirit and asked us to cast it out! 😲 I and my companion are shocked because we didn't experience it before. I prayed deep inside for guidance and to know what to do. It came to my mind that we should bless her and we did. Time passed by and she became calm. Her family thanks us and even though we didn't know them we're happy to help. We also said that it was not because of us, it is because of our Heavenly Father's will. Faith is also a big factor. This is definitely a memorable night for me and my companion.


JULY 23, 2014:
This is a productive day again for us. Our morning work was a great one. I really felt the spirit when we taught an RM and I have faith that he will attend church again on Sunday. We also had lunch with the Candelaria Family. Overall, we had 9 lessons today and we receive 4 referrals and we contacted them all. Because of that we also had 4 new investigators today including Bro. Francis who I think is a potential progressing investigator. I hope they will all progress. 😀

One of our areas in San Vicente

with Bro. Robert

In the afternoon (around 5pm) we are fetching water outside because that's the only source available. It's a good exercise too. 😅

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BAGAMANOC | Day 97 |

JULY 21, 2014:
Fishin' Monday. It was my first time catching a fish. We only use an ordinary stick and string. Finding worms for our bait was a fun experience too. Haha. We are with Bro. Bernard and his friends and helped us how to do it. We had a hard time catching anything and after 3 hours or so we only catch a tiny eel-like fish. 😅 They said that the fast current of the river today is making it hard for us to catch anything. Elder Irabon also found some karimpi (tiny river crabs) near the river. Even though we're not successful in this one, the most important thing is the experience and we all had fun. 😊 The electricity also went back today after a week of blackout! 😃

(L to R) Me, E. Aguilando, and E. Irabon

The only catch for today. 😂

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BAGAMANOC | Day 96 |

JULY 20, 2014:
This week is "Storm Glenda Week". No proselyting missionary work for the whole week but we did community service these past few days. There is still no electricity and there's only sacrament meeting today.

Today was also my 7th month in the mission field as well with my batchmates Elder Aguilando and Elder Irabon. Time flies so fast. We are reminiscing our days in the MTC and the days that we are trainees. 😅

Elder Feraer, Elder Aguilando, and Elder Irabon. (Photo taken with E. Moran's camera)

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BAGAMANOC | Day 94 to 95 |

JULY 18, 2014:
We went back to San Vicente. We cleaned our apartment and we did community service. We helped some people in our area in any way that we can especially the victim of Glenda. There's still no electricity today.

We ate in One to Sawa Resto before we left Virac. One of the few unlimited rice Resto in Virac.

JULY 19, 2014:
There's still no proselyting and electricity today. President Guanzon told all of us missionaries to help and do CSP this week. We helped in cleaning, repairing, and all the ways that we can. In studying, I read the missionary white handbook again. I also organize my stuff.

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BAGAMANOC | Day 93 |

JULY 17, 2014:
Finally, there's no more storm today. There's also a boat trip again to Bagamanoc Proper so we went to Virac to get some support and needed supplies. There's no bank, groceries, or any establishment in San Vicente or nearby areas. There are very limited options out there so every once in a while we need to go to the main city of Catanduanes which is in Virac. Unfortunately, when we got to Virac most of the ATM machines are offline. Luckily, we found one that is working and we just need to stay patient and wait longer because of the long line. It is better than nothing. 👍 Our housemates (E. Moran & E. Irabon) is also in Virac. I think MLT was also postponed. We did our usual city routines and most importantly we bought some supplies. We ate dinner at Foodtrip Resto. Grilled liempo and unlimited rice is heaven right now. 😋

San Vicente District (L to R): E. Irabon, E. Feraer, E. Aguilando, and E. Moran

with E. Aguilando

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BAGAMANOC | Day 90 to 92 |

JULY 14, 2014:
Our other housemate Elders is in Virac right now for their travels because of MLT. They invited us to go with them before they left and I respectfully declined. I don't want unnecessary travels right now and besides, it's P-Day today. We want to relax and prepare for this week. 😎


JULY 15, 2014:
Storm signal #3 in Catanduanes!! There are heavy rains and strong winds all day. Some of the nearby houses and trees are starting to break. 😱 The electricity also went off. We are stuck in our apartment. Luckily, we have a 72-hour kit.



JULY 16, 2014:
It is still storming. We are still stuck in our apartment with nothing to do. It's a dark day and no electricity. Because of our boredom, my companion taught me how to play chess. He's good at it.

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