Philippines Legazpi Mission: Elder Feraer

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

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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.

TABACO | DAY 66 to 67 |

MARCH 8, 2014:
The outside world is trying to remind me of my life at home. In music, surroundings, being an artist, and other things. I kinda miss home. The early part of this day spent on baptismal interviews by my companion. There's a lot of it today and all of them passed. We're all happy because our district has a lot of baptisms lately. We had a Family Home Evening at the Delos Santos Family's place and it was their first time to do it. I'm really happy about their progress in the church. We all had fun. It is raining really hard today but we still went through and we didn't care about getting wet in the rain. We taught Denver and Kevin joined us in teaching. His testimony is a big help for Denver because they can relate to each other. 

TABACO | DAY 63 to 65 |

MARCH 5, 2014:
Exchanges again with Tiwi Elders and this is my second time working with Elder Bacalso. He taught me some deep doctrines including the three general resurrections in Heavenly Father's plan of salvation and many more. Their apartment is better than my last visit. Today one of our focuses was to find new investigators and we achieved it. We also had dinner at Bobis Family's house. They are really kind and hospitable and Bro. Omar was glad to see me again. We ate Bicol express but it is different than the one that I ate in Comun. They put "dilis" in it instead of pork and it is delicious too. I like it. We had an awesome day in missionary work and this day was really productive.

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TABACO | DAY 60 to 62 |

MARCH 2, 2014:
Back then I rarely spoke in front of many people. I am really shy to talk in front of them but right now I think I'm overcoming that weakness of mine. It's not that easy for me and today I can work on it by teaching in the Sunday School. I was surprisingly assigned on the spot by Bro. Bonaobra (Group Leader in Comun) in teaching the Priesthood, Relief Society, and Y.S.A combined. 😅 I am not ready but throughout the lesson, the Holy Ghost guides me. Sis. Bonaobra and some of the members are also a big help too.

Most of our investigators attend church today including Jason who attends his first sacrament meeting. 😊 In the afternoon we taught John Ben, Jay Mar, and Jason. We also rode at the back of the jeepney. It is my first time and it was fun! 😄

TABACO | DAY 59 |

MARCH 1, 2014:
First day of the month and it is looking good. Another package and letters from my family came! 😃 Sister and Elder Wilcox (Supply Couple Missionaries) delivered it to us. My family loves me so much, they put more than I expected including some of the "I don't wanna use" things. 😅 But I'm really thankful because I got what I need and they also sent me some snacks. 😄

Yes, I need a white tie and a backpack.