Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I hope you've had a wonderful Christmas! Ours here was amazing! We had a great time spending time with families we love and sharing the message of the true meaning of Christmas! I just saw for the first time this video and holy cow did it hit me hard! So true. i highly recommend it. http://www.mormonchannel.org/christmas-videos?v=3942657619001&cid=HPMO122214579 

So before the season of Christmas entirely goes away... watch this! :)

Elder Saguire, Nanay Esperanza, MaryRose and me

We had a baptism this last saturday of MaryRose and Nanay Esperanza. It was such an amazing experience seeing them following through on following the example of the Savior! I could see it in their eyes that they knew what they were doing was right! :) Funny story with that too! So i didnt exactly fully what to do, so i was watching some of the kids' baptisms and then it was time for Nanay and she just got in the water without me and then slipped!! I heard a bunch of gasps and then I ran over to where you get in and ran in the water to pick her up out of the water! haha it was really scary.. but kinda funny, just because she was ok! Then she said "tapos na!" which is like "finished!" haha it was an awesome experience for sure!

But yeah things have been great over here! The work was a little slower just because people have been so busy.. but It was such a blessing to be able to share the message of the birth of our Savior! and it really is a message for everyone! Because it means hope!

But another thing... We were washing our clothes this morning and it was really really sunny and beautiful and warm! I felt water onto my flip flops and couldnt help but think of what it was like at roaring springs... then i realized.. "oh...theres probably snow covering it right now...." :) just kiddin!

But I know that this work is true! I know that feelings of goodness and the desire to be better people at Christmas is no coincidence and it comes from God! I hope you have a wonderful New Years and Mahal ko kayo.

Elder Navarro

District Christmas Party

Elder Volpe's note to me

15 minutes before church starts. Filipino time.

View from front of our apartment.

Christmas morning.

People we associate with on a daily basis.

We have awesome members and mom.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

So many blessings especially in this Christmas season! Its sooooo amazing to be able to have the whole world coming into a Christmas celebration!!! I love Christmas sooo much!

Been an awesome week! We had our District Christmas party which was another blast! We also had our Christmas devotional in Santiago with Pres and Sis Rahlf! Gosh they are so cool! Sister Rahlf talked about the songs of Christmas and had awesome presentations of the songs! Including our mission president playing guitar and singing in German! Haha and then Pres. Rahlf talked about the gift of Jesus Christ. and specifically the magnitude of the Atonement! It really does span a lot more than we can even comprehend.... But the amazing thing is we have the opportunity to feel of the lifting of our burdens and the peace and comfort in all of life's craziest moments... and it truly is an "infinite atonement" but anyway!

 

This week we almost got killed by a snake!! Hahaha not really, but we did see a Philippine Cobra! That was fun.

 

We have our first baptismal service this Saturday! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO THEM! Nanay Hermosura as well as MaryRose! its going to be such a beautiful experience and its been so amazing to be able to see in their eyes.... the desire to follow Jesus Christ! And its obviously a difference! I dont think i've ever been able to see it this clearly though! WOW! 

 

Anyways... Just want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! I'm sure you've all heard, but its so important! Never forget the true meaning of Christmas! The birth, life, and teachings of Jesus Christ! I know He lives! He knows us and every challenge we could ever have! His Atonement is sufficient for all of us!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE BEAUTIFUL PHILIPPINES!

Elder Navarro

Yeah. This has literally been the best week of my mission so far!

We had our branch Christmas party this last Saturday. It was the funnest thing of my life! The people here really know how to make something fun! I wish i could describe it but the feeling of love for everyone there was so apparent! And the primary kids did like a nativity presentation and it was the best little thing you'll ever see! So pure! So humble and you could just see a sort of spirit radiating from them! :) We also had a little presentation.. haha it wasnt as good as the others.. but people threw little pesos at us while we were singing so it was a good time.

I dont know... something really switched this last week! During this Christmas party, I felt so comfortable and at home! I think up till this last week I had been telling myself that I love it here.. and i did, but maybe deep down I really missed home! But really in the humblest way I can say it, I wouldnt want to be anywhere else in the world right now. and that is literally my honest opinion.

But enough about me. The Branch is starting to take HUGE steps in its progression! So amazing to see the work hastening here our small corner of the world in Lamut/Bagabag! Its equally as amazing how much the Lord prepares his people! The way we meet people and seeing them receive the gospel of Jesus Christ is no coincidence and theres no doubt in my mind about that! We taught about the Restoration a ton this last week and I can remember one young guy.. he works in a poultry house and we taught him over there and at first we could tell he was a little nervous at the beginning but when we asked him to pray, it was one of the most sincere prayers i've ever heard... and after that the spirit was sooooo strong and this guy was tearing up! The power of prayer is so real. especially coming from people who honestly seek our Father in Heaven.

In other news.... i ate brain this last week. yep. didnt know it was brain until after I was done eating it but all is well, all is well. That night i really felt a LOT smarter than before... so if you have a test tomorrow or something... i highly recommend Dinakdakan.
 

Well, I'll stop boring you... Just know that God's hand is truly everywhere! I know for a fact that when we give Him our best effort, He will bless us more than we can imagine... I Love Christmas season!!! And everyone says it but it cant be said enough! Christ is the center of Christmas! and people cherish and love Christmas because the spirit of Christ is felt as the world takes a season to recognize Him!

Ingat!

Elder Navarro

With the sweetest lady ever, investigator Nanay Valdez

Christmas musical number. Elders Saguire, me, Volpe and Larona 

 

 

 

Can get a bit chilly at night. Long sleeves shirt time

 

Riding on top of "Jeepney" common place for missionaries to sit when these mode of transport is full of passengers

 

Malapit na sa Christmas!

Its getting super close to Christmas and I'm loving every second of this great season!

This last week we had our "4-week reunion" i guess you could call it... All of my batch and their trainers came to Cauayan and we got to see how everyone was doing and just get some extra training that we probably wouldnt have remembered on the first day just because we were chickens with our heads cut off that day haha! Crazy to see how some of my friends from the MTC have changed in just these last few weeks!

Things are really starting to heat up over here for Christmas and I LOVE it! The work has been going great! We are teaching an older woman who wants to become united with her family and she is soooooo willing to keep her commitments and actually learn for herself which has been such a blessing! She's the sweetest old lady ever!! haha she has no teeth so it makes it all the better! But we are going back over there tonight to teach her again and have a family home evening with them!!! Super excited because we are going to watch the "Joy to the World" DVD and gosh it just amazes me every time I think about the birth of the Savior! Our mission president asked us to really get to know the Christmas story! And holy cow have I learned soooo much more than I used to know! He also told to really come to know who Mary and Joseph were... They were bound to become the earthly parents of the Only Begotten Son so they must have been a lot more than just average Joe's for God to choose them! WOW!

Ha speaking of Joe... I get called that every so often.. along with Americano haha I guess I dont look as filipino here as i do back home! haha but its fun! I usually shout back "hello filipino!" and they laugh a little because a lot of times its kids...

Gosh i love the kids here! If i'm having a bad day the kids make it better every time! They're so innocent and fun and a really good way to learn tagalog haha

But yeah... prayers are goin out to the people in the way of Typhoon Ruby... I dont know if youve even heard about it but it has been a huge deal over here. Our mission isnt directly affected (besides a ton of rain) but again prayers goin out to people where it is a problem....

This week has been great though! Love the members. Love the people (most of them ;) and Love being a missionary! Couldnt ask for much more!

But I wont bore you too much this week! I hope everyone has a great Christmas season and always remember the best gift ever given... Jesus Christ. Speaking of the gift!!! Christmas.LDS.org Its the best not gonna lie! He is the source of true happiness!

Thanks for all the support! :)

Elder Navarro

A visit to the mission home with comp Elder Saguire

Inside the Tryci, common mode of transport. Motorcycle sidecar

FHE and dinner with Quijencio Family

FHE and dinner with Quijencio Family