Tatay na Ako

Well transfer week is over and I have my new companion! His name is Elder Claudio from Cagayan De Oro and he's an excited new missionary! I can already tell that he's willing to work and be obedient which is such a blessing! Transfer week also brought a lot of surprises and super happy moments!!! On transfer day, we got to Cauayan and I was just talking with some people when I heard a voice call out my name! I recognized it and it was Elder Larona!!! (who I found out the day before was coming to TUG South! and was one of the first missionaries I met here in the mission and was my zone leader in Solano) Gosh I was soooooo excited to see him! And then I also saw a bunch of people I knew in Solano! Elder Larson, Saguire, Eudela, Cabaliza, Sisters Koncurat, Akau, Mariano... It was like a super joyous Solano family reunion! It honestly felt like an Alma and the Sons of Mosiah moment I was so happy!

And then also with Elder de Guzman going home I got a call from President that I would be replacing him as the district leader here. So things are getting busy over here!

The work is going well! Here are a few miracles from the week: This whole week I've been having a super strong feeling that we needed to go visit one of our less active members named Nanay Baggay, and we hadn't had time all week until last night! And when we went over there, we shared about prophets and how much God wanted her to go come back to church. She then shared a bunch of experiences from her life and the feelings specifically that she had been having this week that she needed to come back. And when I heard her say that, it was like an instant confirmation of why I had been feeling so strongly that we needed to go visit her! We shared how much we loved her and wanted her to come back. The spirit was sooo strong at that moment!

I also learned how important members are in helping new people feel comfortable at church! We had an investigator come to church yesterday with a lot of little kids. And they had been coming to church for weeks, but for some reason this time, she got really offended at something that one of the youth said or did, I dont know. But then she texted us expressing a lot of sorrow and anger at her experience... We're going over there tonight to kind of help her understand that its really sad but people arent perfect! We all make mistakes sometimes, but its so important to hold on to whats really important as we all try to become "true saints who arent perfect but continue to try to be" as we learned in General Conference.

Anyways. I know that this church is true! And that sometimes people arent perfect, but the worst thing to do when maybe people do offend you is leave the truths that we love and cherish! I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior! He and Heavenly Father want us to understand them in a world where there are sooooo many different views of Diety. The church was restored through Joseph Smith! I know it!

Love you all and have a great week!

Elder Navarro

Transfer Week... at napakainit!!!( too hoooot)

Well, just like last cycle, this transfer day is going to bring quite a few changes! First of all, almost half the people I know here in Tug are being transferred or going home! And then last Monday I got a call from the AP's that I'll be training this cycle! So I'll meet my "anak" on Wednesday! This will be a new experience but I'm excited! I know I'll be learning a TON these next two cycles!

But the work is going so awesome here!!! We're definitely starting to really see some miracles and people are really progressing in the gospel! In fact, yesterday one of our investigators who has been coming to church these past few weeks brought 4 friends with her to church! She has been so awesome! She loves the church! She is developing a really strong testimony in this work! Last week we taught the word of wisdom to them, and she drinks coffee quite a bit but after the lesson she committed right away to live it along with her siblings! Such awesome faith! But the fact that she brought 4 people to church with her yesterday shows me that the gospel feels natural to be shared! We didnt tell her to do anything but its so natural for us to feel a desire for others to taste of the blessings that we have had the chance to receive! Just like Lehi's dream of the tree of life in the Book of Mormon!

Another cool testimony building experience was yesterday. A couple days ago I was informed I would be teaching the Lesson in Elder's quorum about Joseph Smith. So naturally, I prepared a lot, even though I was a little nervous about teaching a full lesson like that in Tagalog. I'm pretty confident in the language, but still I was a little nervous. Then on Sunday, our Elder's Quorum President was late so we ended up combining with the High Priests Group. I admit I was a little bummed I had prepared that much to not even teach... but I had spoke too soon. Our WML leaned over to me and said I was going to teach in Gospel Principles about a completely different topic! I was supposed to teach a few weeks ago, but because of the storm it got cancelled. So this was actually the week I would be teaching! I prayed so much that I would be able to do it and know what to say! So when we started, I got up there and all of the sudden, I felt super super super calm! It was indescribable! Then before I even knew it, I was teaching! Somehow the it just came! The tagalog, the questions, the doctrine, the examples to use, when to read, when to ask someone to explain something, everything! And at the end of the lesson, I just felt the greatest feeling in the world! Not because I did those things, but that it was literally given to me. I have no doubt in my mind that it was the fulfillment of that scriptural promise that if we prepare and "treasure up in [our] minds continually the words of life, ... it shall be given [us] in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man."

This is the work of the Lord. I have no doubt. I love being a missionary and treasure every second as much as I can! The people here are amazing and I really couldnt ask for much more! And its okay that sometimes its hard.. makes it that much more worth it! :)

Love you all and keep the faith!

Elder Navarro

(p.s. I dont think I've sweat as much as I have today! haha it. is. hot. :) )


a part of the other elders area

 

one of our dinners with the Calabazaron family

Elder De Guzman's farewell get together.

our monkey friend



General Conference

This week has brought a lot of blessing for sure! The work has been full of miracles, surprises, and blessings! This last week we had the chance to extend several baptismal dates! And I think all of them were people that were almost literally brought to us! There's been a lot of focus on finding in our mission lately and there have been a lot of people "found" but its amazing seeing how the Lord has been preparing people in His time. One sister came to General Conference this last weekend! I was a little worried that she wouldnt be able to understand all of the messages that were being said (because it was english) but I trusted that the Spirit would testify to her that what was being said was true! Another miracle was the Inan family! We found them just sitting and started talking to them. Eventually were able to share a short message. Then another sister came in in a later lesson and expressed how she had been taught by missionaries a long time ago, and wanted to be taught again! She then started asking about church services and baptism and living day prophets. We testified of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, of Thomas S. Monson and of the love of God for all of us. She responded by expressing to us that she wanted to be baptized. And that she believes.

This last General Conference was really amazing! I just need to say I ABSOLUTELY LOVE GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!!!!!!!! Many of the messages spoke to me very personally! Some of my favorites (and from what I hear the favorites of many) was Elder Anderson's the music of the gospel. So true that sometimes we can get lost in the dancesteps! Another was Elder Causse about if the Gospel is still wonderful to us. Elder Holland about the role of the Atonement for all of us. And Elder Ringwood about being truly good and without guile.

I honestly dont know what to say right now. But I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God. The Book of Mormon is true! God listens to our prayers and knows each one of us individually! I know that for sure because a lot of my prayers were answered in listening to the messages of General Conference.

I have seen my weaknesses more than ever on my mission and especially in these last few weeks. Never has Ether 12:27 meant so much to me. I am so thankful for the enabling power of the Atonement. So many times in myself and in others have I seen that power helping people get through struggles and challenges!

Thank you so much for your examples to me. I wish I could be like you for real!

Elder Navarro

Caving

So let me start off by saying that we had the funnest P-day activity of my mission so far! We went caving! There's a sweet place here that has awesome caves! We went exploring in the inside (super big and deep) with a guide of course! Literally felt like Lord of the Rings.

But anyways! The baptism we had this last week was the spiritual highlight of the week! Her name is Florimay, she's 20 years old with a child and her family was baptized last November and she joined them this last saturday! The baptismal service was super amazing! I was praying super hard that it would be a spiritual highlight for her and her family, and that prayer was answered! My favorite part was her testimony at the end! She talked about how when the missionaries first started coming, she wanted nothing to do with them. But after her family was converted and she immediately started seeing the change for the better in her family (both spiritually and temporally), she knew that there had to be something! She then described feeling like Enos in the Book of Mormon! Her "soul hungered" and she "knelt down before her Maker" She then described her feelings and experience of coming to know that the church was true! And then the trial of her friends questioning why she was doing what she was doing. And she answered that she knew it was true and had already felt the fruits of the gospel.... she was "hearing the music" as we learned in General Conference! (we dont get to watch it all till next week, but we got a glimpse of it yesterday) Needless to say it was one of the most spiritual moments of my mission so far.

After thinking about that experience I cant think of too much else from our week! haha. But update on the storm over here, we were prepared if something bad happened, but it weakened before it hit over here so we just got a lot of rain and winds. All is well in zion of the philippines! :)

I've been thinking a lot this week about "no regrets" and the concept of the time we have. The time I have on a mission, the time we have on this stage of our eternal progression. My time on the mission and our time in this earth is sooo incredibly short! And honestly goes by sooooo fast! One of my biggest fears is looking back and thinking "I wish I would have done this" or "I should have done that" But I am so grateful for Jesus Christ. We have been given a chance to change.. and opportunity to leave past mistakes behind us and start anew... So maybe we do have a few mistakes, as for me I have a ton! But the invitation is there to ALL, "come unto Christ and be PERFECTED in Him"... I know that this is the "time to prepare to meet God." I want to use the time I have in this life to do the very best I can!

Love you all!

Elder Navarro

Alright

Haha WOW this week has been crazy! From finding a seemingly perfectly prepared family to finally seeing a monkey in the Philippines!

So first things first. We were walking away feeling just a little discouraged after another appointment fell through and we see a lady walking down the street. So we talk to her and she told us about how missionaries had taught her and her family a long time ago but they never really got anywhere with it. So then we shared a little message and set up a return appointment. When we came back they were having a graduation party offered to feed us before we taught (we called this a blessing of working hard) Then she did something that doesnt happen very often in a situation like this... She came up to us and told us they were ready to hear our message. So her and her whole family left the party to their house to sit down and talk about the Gospel of Christ. It was one of the most spiritual lessons I've been a part of up to that point! And I know without a doubt that we werent the ones speaking in that lesson but rather the Holy Ghost. Long story short, they asked us when and where our church service was and committed to coming! That Sunday we dropped by their house and she gave us a referral and was pretty much a fellowshipper testifying about prayer! Then they came to church! And after church texted us of how grateful that we came and showed them the gospel and even said they wanted to join the church because they can already see the blessings and change in their lives! WAHOO! This may be the family I've been praying for!

President and Sister Rahlf stopped by our District meeting this last Tuesday! They're so awesome! Testified about the importance of time management.

We have a baptism on April 4th! Sister Florimay! She is joining her family who were baptized last November and are so amazing! They have such great faith and you can see it in their eyes! Her baptismal interview was last saturday and she's totally ready!

I FINALLY SAW A MONKEY! It was raining HARD one day and we saw this poor little monkey chained up under the rain! So we decided to offer him the gospel. We gave him a word of wisdom pamphlet.. and he ate it. Good times.

Oh and found out that my companion, Elder De Guzman's release date just got pushed backed 9 days! So he'll be out of here on April 14th.. Which means that I'll probably be in a trisome companionship for the last week and a half of the cycle! Holy cow its going by so fast!

But this is an awesome time of easter where we remember the last week of the Savior's Earthly ministry and rejoice that He overcame all and rose again the third day! I add my voice to billions both now and in history that He lives! And because he lives I can overcome trials and weaknesses and work to improve every day! Having a hope through the Atonement! I know that the Book of Mormon testifies that He is Christ! And that God loves us and gave us that book to help us not be so confused in the world today!

"there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ." -Mosiah 16:8

I love this work and this experience! Thank you for all the support and love! I always pray for you!

Elder Navarro

Lemon yellow living room.

Our bedroom right before cleanup haha

Package from home which only took 3 months to get here

New Adventures

Yeah things are going awesome! My new area is pretty cool! Like I said before its a city so that means a lot different than Lamut, but it also means a LOT of people to talk to! We've been talking to a TON of people this last week! That's been one of the new changes to our mission: reaching for a lot higher number of "contacts" or new people we talk and testify to. We're trying to become "finding missionaries" which pretty much means every person we meet, we invite them to learn more. Its really been a huge blessing. I feel even more like a missionary and I feel for sure that this is the way Heavenly Father wants us to go.

We have a baptism coming up at the beginning of April! Her family was baptized a few months ago and at first she didnt want to join with them... she's only 20 years old and has a 3 and a half year old son.. so she has had some problems, but now she's ready to join! Its been fun teaching her and Its super exciting to see them grow strong together! They are an amazing family! DelaCruz family just so ya know.

Another family here is the Baticulo family! They were also baptized a few months ago and are working hard to prepare to go to the temple to be sealed! We were over there a few days ago and they have a scripture reading chart in their house! And we got to be a part of their family scripture study! Its was so cool because even the kids are into it! They are a truly converted family and its so amazing to see that!~

this week was honestly the hardest week of my mission for sure. there were 3 days this last week where I was just soooo frustrated. It was either my companion, the language, or just people rejecting us. But I really didnt feel good at all, and it was hard to keep going some days. These last 2 days have gone really well though and I worked my way out of it. I decided to fast one day to just try and find an answer to how I could feel better. The answer came that afternoon so strongly to me! It came when I had a prompting to look through my pictures from my mission and when I saw pictures of Elder Volpe and Elder Larona, Saguire, Baclea-an, the members, I started to remember why I was out here. Especially when I saw pictures of myself. It was like looking at a different missionary,and one I wanted to be like! So that helped me a ton.

Love you and Keep the faith!

Elder Navarro

Met a local RM same batch my dad was(1985). Showed us couple of pictures.

Philippines Davao Mission 1985. Dad looked like a 12 year old missionary then haha

New Area...Hot!

Well here I am in my new area! And its none other than Tuguegarao! Haha interesting, Solano zone (my last one) is one of the "coldest" parts of the mission and my new area that I'll be in for the summer is the hottest part of the whole Philippines... wahoo. And Tug is a lot more of a city than Lamut/Bagabag, so thats been a little adjustment.

No but I can already tell its a great area to be in! My new companion is Elder De Guzman and this is his last 6 weeks in the mission so I'm his last companion! Something new here is that we live with 2 other Elders, Elder Gerardo and Elder Gumayo. So now the apartment has 3 and a half filipinos! :) Haha

Yesterday at church obviously I met a lot of new people and I met 3 people who served a mission with my dad!! Small world! They brought some pictures of my dad and we were joking a ton about it, but it was so crazy to see pictures of my dad as a young missionary! He was one gwapo missionary! But it was also super cool to hear their stories about my dad from being a total jokester and trying to be karate kid (no surprise there) to how hardworking he was. it was amazing.

Honestly, leaving Lamut was really, really, really hard. It felt like saying goodbye to my family again just because I had grown up so much there. When I got there things were still going a thousand miles an hour and I had no idea what was going on, so those people there really became family to me. Needless to say it was hard to say goodbye. But I am super excited to be here in Tuguegarao, even though I still feel a little homesick for Lamut.

The work has been going well! We are teaching and finding a lot of new people! These past few days I feel like my studies, teaching, and lessons in church have really been focused on the Atonement and the effect it has on our lives. And theres no way we can fully understand how it was accomplished, but the why is much more important to me. Jesus Christ loves us! He knows us and I know that we can trust Him when we are having a hard time.

Elder Navarro