Philippines Legazpi Mission: Elder Feraer

DECEMBER 17, 2014:
This is the season to be jolly, la la la la la, la la la la! Christmas conference today. They said that it is the most awaited mission celebration every year. All missionaries all over the Philippines Legazpi Mission gathered today. It's a joyous occasion indeed! 😃

The food that Sister Guanzon and company prepared is delicious as always. It's like the Christmas luncheon when I was in the MTC. We watched a picture slideshow while we're eating. There's a lot of happy and funny pictures of every missionary in PLM. 😂

After our lunch, the Office Elders assigned seating arrangements for every Zones. You can feel the excitement in every missionary and some of us are also tense too especially in our district. Haha. We're not able to attend any of the performance practices in our Zone because of bad weather and we're far from Virac (place of practice). In short, my district mates and I are not prepared and we don't have any idea what to do on stage. I guess we'll just go with the flow. 😅

Lights closed, any second now...

The first to perform is Ligao Zone. My former companion, Elder Bacalso is in that Zone. I'm happy that he is also a trainer now. 😀 My former zone mate, Elder Agbayani is in Ligao too. I'm happy to see both of them. 😁

Next to perform is Tabaco Zone! Of course, I cheered my Sensei/Trainer, Elder Nielsen. 😁 Tabaco's performance was good especially the singing part. They are well prepared. Some of my former zone mates that are in that zone now are Elder Peterson, Sister Cobales, Sister Sasagi, Sister Aholelei, Elder McPherson, Elder Boysillo, and my batchmate Sister Abasanta.

Next up is Guinobatan Zone. Only Sister Bodduppali and Sister McCoard were my former zone mates.

Next up is Sorsogon Zone. Their performance was an entertaining one. My former zone mates are Elder Davis, Elder Alolor, Sister Lapuz, and Sister Coleman. My batchmate, Elder Peregrino is in there too. Also my ward mate Sister Santiago. 😀

Next is Bulan Zone. Wow. That was a fun performance. It's really weird to see my former district mate and batchmate, Elder Irabon dance. Hahaha. 😂 My former companion Elder Aguilando and MTC district mate Elder Savedra are in Bulan too. Seems like they are having a good time in that zone. It's fun to see all of them again. 😀 My former zone mates Elder Riodique, Elder Estilloso, and Sister Seiuli are in there too.

Next is the craziest and funny performance of the night. The Masbate Zone. What an introduction too! 😆 My former companion, Elder Carpio's rhythm seems different from his groupmates. Haha. 😂 My batchmates, Elder Andrada, Sister Villeza, Sister Erickson, and Elder Matautia are in that zone too. Also my former zone mates Sister Reategui and Elder Bagaoisan.

Next in line is our zone, Catanduanes Zone! I think my zone mates did well too especially the dance part. That was funny. Haha. The only let down I guess is our district, not prepared and didn't have any clue what we are supposed to do. 😅

Last but not least is the Legazpi Zone. They did pretty well too. We're all entertained. 😀 My former zone mates are Elder Yu, Elder Pasadillo, and Sister Fabia. Batchmates in that zone are Sister Atienza, Elder Emperador, and Elder Rilloraza.

After all the performances, President Guanzon and the office Elders gave some awards for each zones. Each of us missionaries also received some special gift from Pres. and Sis. Guanzon. 😃 One of the most fun parts is the "hi's and hello's" to your friends and fellow missionaries. We had a chance to catch up and of course, we took a lot of pictures too. 😃

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DECEMBER 16, 2014:
It's been a while since me and my companion went outside of San Vicente. The most awaited Mission Christmas Conference is scheduled tomorrow that's why we left. All missionaries in the whole Legazpi Mission will be there too. We travelled for 9 hours from Bagamanoc, Catanduanes to Tabaco, Albay. The 3 to 4-hour boat ride are not boring because they're playing Taylor Swift's concert. Haha. Perks of riding a big ship. When we arrived at the mainland, we went straight to McDonald's. The last time I ate in McDo was way back before my mission life. There's no McDonald's in Tabaco when I was assigned here and there's none also in Catanduanes. Ooh... It tastes like heaven, I really miss eating Big Mac. My district mates also enjoyed our meal. 👌

I met my Sensei/Trainer and we're together again in our big old apartment during my training days! Haha. A very nostalgic moment. He is the Zone Leader now of Tabaco Zone. That's really nice. 😃 He also met my trainee so the 3 generations in our lineage finally met for the first time. 😎

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DECEMBER 14, 2014:
Since Elder Vetonio arrives here in San Vicente Branch it is always raining especially on Sundays. 😅 We had a great week this week. Elder Bongolan and I had 50 total lessons taught, some referrals, and new investigators too. The only downside is the bad weather during these past two Sundays because it really affects the members and some investigators. Many members are trapped because of the dangerous raging flood in the bridge/spillway. Only the members and investigators from Minaili are able to come and attend the sacrament meeting. Having a group in Sagrada will also solve this situation.

DECEMBER 15, 2014:
P-Day, and I'm having fun and trolling my companion. I wore his clothes and bandana. Haha. The most notable moment today is when the Z.L.s called and told us that we're the only companionship that achieved the SoE. We exceeded it too. 😏 It's always fun to work hard and do our purpose. 

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DECEMBER 12, 2014:
We did our weekly planning session in the morning. We have a good plan for next week. We had a productive day in missionary work. We're blessed with nine people that we taught including some referrals and a new investigator. The last one is a funny one because we already got to our apartment and it is already past 9pm in the evening. He asked us if we can teach him. I already changed my clothes and I quickly changed again then we went to the meeting house (near our apartment). We had a good lesson with him. When we arrived I just realized that I forgot to change my jogging pants. I don't want to return to our apartment because it is already late so I just go with it. Haha. White polo shirt (tucked in), tie, and jogging pants are kind of not pleasing to the eye. 😅

DECEMBER 13, 2014:
All is set! We just finished all the required lessons for all of our progressing investigators. They will be interviewed soon. 😃 We also had a great TPNL experience today. Philippians 4:19 just came to my mind during our lesson with one of our investigators. The Holy Ghost really guided us. We felt it. We also had a spiritual and challenging lesson with one of the less active long-time members. It was a good and experience and hopefully, he will return and attend church soon. We had a good feeling about it. We also ate dinner at the Santelices' home. We're thankful to them. 

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DECEMBER 10, 2014:
We did our usual morning studies routine. I'm still re-reading the BoM and also found some related verses for our teaching pool today. Companionship study still bases on my companion's 12-week guide. After we ate our lunch, we went to the meeting house to send our weekly report and e-mail. We finally did it after several days of no electricity. We are blessed with nine people that we taught today. The most memorable one is with Sis. Trisha. She's one of the Salvador Family. Few more lessons and they'll become fully ready for the baptismal interview. 😊

DECEMBER 11, 2014:
We did tracting in the morning and something good happened. We found a former investigator through a referral. I remember that I previously visited their house before together with my previous companion but they didn't accept us at that time. Today was a different story and I'm glad that they welcomed us this time. Surely, everybody has their own time. That's the beauty of this missionary work, we're not sharing the gospel in a forceful way. I truly believed in Lord's time. The best example for me right now is with the Salvador Family. I remember when I was new here in San Vicente branch, Nanay Salvador is very hesitant to let us teach her part member son and daughters for some reasons. Today, they are only a few weeks away from their baptism. The gospel really changes lives. 💖 We are also blessed with a dinner appointment at the Candelaria Family's home. We're thankful. 

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DECEMBER 9, 2014:
Finally, we can come out of our cage. No more typhoons and we can come out. Our main plan for today is to look for opportunities to serve in any way we can. We went to Sagrada and happily found out that all is well in our main area. There's no damage to properties or whatsoever and we are glad that all of them are safe and sound. Thanks to our Heavenly Father that all of the people here are okay. Sincere prayer with faith really works. We decided to do our normal routine and share the gospel and use our time wisely to make up for the lost time these past several days because of the typhoon. We are blessed with 16 lessons today and it is our highest (with Elder Bongolan) for a day. 

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DECEMBER 5, 2014:
We are trapped. There's no boat ride to Bagamanoc Proper because of the raging waves. We can't also work outside and the area presidency also advised us to prepare for the incoming super typhoon and remain inside our apartment. We use this time to prepare and study. I also updated our area book.

DECEMBER 6, 2014:
Super Typhoon Ruby arrives!! This typhoon's presence felt throughout the island. It is now signal #3 in Catanduanes. The inevitable blackout also came and we all got nothing to do. It's also hard to sleep because of mosquitos. 

DECEMBER 7, 2014:
It's Sunday today and the storm is still raging. Only a few of us attended the sacrament meeting. Only those who live near the meeting house. It's understandable and expected during this circumstance. On the bright side, our Branch President told us that this typhoon might finally go out tomorrow. Hopefully, it will.

P-Day and the weather finally got better! It is still cloudy and rainy but not strong compared to the past few days. There's still no electricity in Minaili, maybe also in Sagrada. 

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DECEMBER 3, 2014:
We didn't feel better yet but we have to work. This pain and sacrifice are nothing compared to the atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Pain is temporary and salvation through the gospel is forever. Most of the people that we visited and taught today are the RCLAs. We also visited and taught some of our investigators, especially the Coral and Salvador families. They are our most progressing investigators right now. Elder Abuel and his new companion, Elder Vetonio also arrived today. He also came from Comun and that was also his first area. 

DECEMBER 4, 2014:
After our morning studies, we went to Sagrada to help Bro. Toltol. It's a good feeling to start the day with some service. We went and did our scheduled appointments in the afternoon and the most memorable one is with Bro. Malonzo. He is one of our progressing investigators. He is funny and crazy sometimes. Haha. We always had fun teaching him and his friends. Sometimes he will go to our apartment and call us outside (everyone knows where our apartment is because this is a small village) just to say and remind us to teach him. 😅 It's amazing to have an investigator like him.

At night, The Zone Leaders texted us that we must evacuate immediately tomorrow morning because there is a super typhoon coming... 😨

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DECEMBER 1, 2014:
P-Day and we're still working. 💪 We've made a promise to Castillo Family that we'll help them in rice planting and we also wanted to experience it. It was a good experience for me and my companion. It is really true that this is not easy stuff. It was really tiring but it was fun. Hats off to all the farmers for their diligence and dedication. 👏

DECEMBER 2, 2014:
Oh... Headache, sunburn, sore back, sore legs, everything hurts. Haha. 😩 We really felt the aftermath of yesterday's work. Our body was not ready for that but still, we're glad that we could help even in a small way. My companion and I decided to rest our bodies today because we're both having a hard time moving around. We'll bounce back tomorrow.

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