Work Progression

Hey Family and Friends!

 
Sorry, we havent really had that much time on email these past couple weeks... But I didnt get transferred this week! The zone leaders played a little prank on us and texted us saying that I had been transferred... Ha but yeah I'm here in Tugue at least another 6 weeks! :) Thats actually really what I wanted because the people here are so awesome! And the area is progressing so fast its unbelievable! These people are undoubtedly prepared by the Lord and Dad's letter is so true! And I'm still here with Elder Claudio! But its extremely rare that the trainer stays with the trainee for 4 cycles, so honestly its like these next 6 weeks are my last here. But we are working hard here and that what kind of stinks... you work so hard in an area and see the people progressing and you grow to love the people and then you have to leave. But I guess the will of the Lord has other plans :)
 
But the Macarubbo family is doing really really really really well!!! We met them again a few times this last week and the progression keeps coming from them! They are a special family for sure! Prepared by the Lord! We watched the Restoration video with them this last Saturday and we felt the spirit for sure!! When we committed them to come to church, the daughter was like, "ayy! I have a review that day!" Then the Tatay said, "well, I guess you dont want to see God!" Haha it was in a joking way of course and then the nanay mentioned about their business and the tatay came back and said "We can move it to another time... We need to put the Lord first!" WOW!!! I was sooooooooo excited for that! Gosh and then he is always telling us how he wants to change his life and come together with his family! Even the mother and family (who before were already okay with us coming) expressed their shock in how they've seen a big change in their father! This family is a miracle.

We were a little worried, however, that they wouldnt be able to come to church because last week their motor broke down and weren't able to come... But ohhhhh the joy it was yesterday seeing them enter into the House of the Lord!!!! :) Their baptismal date is the last week of August! :)

 
Another one of our investigators who is another miracle is Christopher! I think I told you about Christof, but long story short, he was a miracle referral from a member in the ward! We teach him every sunday after church, and he is also a very special person! He is really in tune with the spirit and is like a sponge just taking in as much as he can! He's already read all the introduction, he's memorized the names of the witnesses to the Book of Mormon, and he's reading and marking and writing down questions as he reads and he's already in 1 Nephi 8! Sometimes he even stumps us with his deep questions of the Book of Mormon!!! Haha but its been a miracle teaching him and his desire is huge! He came to the baptism in Cataggaman and said he is excited to be baptized as well! He's a little nervous about sharing his testimony at the end though! :)
 
And then Lovelyn Villamore and Denmark Natividad! These are two part member youth who are also very mature in the gospel! They both have a strong desire to become members and are actively coming to church and meetings! Lovelyn is struggling just a little bit with the word of wisdom as she is used to drinking coffee... but we're helping her work through that! Its such a blessing to work with these people!
 
One of the biggest things I've noticed with all this excitement in our area is that every one of these investigators is consistently reading out of the Book of Mormon. I dont have much time left, but I now have a firm testimony that if any man or woman will read that divine Book with a firm determination to know if its true with real intent... they will know of its truthfulness! Nephi's purpose is true and is being fulfilled when he said, "For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved." And Moroni's powerful promise at the close of the book "And by the power of the Holy Ghost, you may know the truth of all things"
 

I love this time as a missionary... I know Christ lives! The book of Mormon is true!
 
Mahal ko kayo! Namamahala ang Diyos ng Israel!

 

Elder Navarro

Nothing short of miracles!

I really wish I could just tell every little detail of what happened this week, because there was a TON! But its impossible. 

So we've seen some real miracles in our area especially this last week! So the Macarubbo family is so amazing! We were able to visit them this last week and the Tatay had read the assignments we had given him in 2 Nephi twice!!! And before we were assigned in that area, the two daughters would have been baptized a long time ago if he had given permission... but right when we first got there the first thing the father said was "Anak (daughter) I now give you my permission to be baptized!.... And I give myself permission to be baptized as well!!" Haha he wants to be baptized as well! It was so humbling to see how the Lord can change people's hearts for the good! And Elder Claudio and I keep saying its nothing short of a miracle!
 
Another miracle has been Christopher! He recorded himself reading the introduction and the witnesses of the Book of Mormon so he could listen to it while he was working and when we met with him yesterday, it was one of the most spiritual lessons I had ever been in! The spirit testified to all that were there that our meeting was anything but a coincidence! He is really an awesome awesome guy! Then his aunt, who was there in the lesson right after church bore powerful testimony of her own conversion that I think really was just perfect for Christopher! We have a baptismal date with the Macarubbo's and Christopher and a few others I havent even mentioned in August and September just because a few can only meet with us once a week just because of scheduling, but I'm so excited for this!
 
So I gave my second talk on the mission yesterday! It was about missionary work! So its something that we're pretty familiar with so it was a lot of fun to prepare! I was thinking it was just going to be a short youth kind of talk because thats what happens a lot of time with the missionaries, but when I got there they told me I was the concluding speaker! Holy cow! And then when the meeting started, there was only 1 other assigned speaker that was there and she was a youth with a 5 minute talk prepared! Bishop looked at me and said, "Elder you're talk is going to have to be 30 minutes... or more..." 30 minutes! Haha talks in General Conference arent even that long! So when the sacrament was over and the youth talk was over there was 30 minutes... and that whole time I was praying for the spirit bigtime! So I got up there and wanted to loose a few of my nerves so the first thing I said was "Brothers and Sisters ALOHA!!" And then explained what they do in Hawaii.. And then after that I felt comforted that my prayer was answered. The spirit was really the one who gave that talk and I was so grateful for that guidance! I looked up at the clock at some point and realized that the time was up and it didnt even feel like it at all...
 
I know the Lord is guiding His missionaries. He loves each and every one of us and puts things in our path so that we will grow and learn to become more like Him. I know that "the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom He hath chosen to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance". I've seen this is so many of my leaders growing up and in my parents! I know this is His work!

 

Mahal ko kayo!
 
Elder Navarro

 

 

 

Happy 4th of July

Hello family and friends!

 
Its amazing how fast things are going! I dont even want to say how long I've been out! I dont even know! ha! But its been an awesome week again! So since the sister missionaries left our ward last transfer, we've been adjusting to a really big area and a ton of investigators and members that we need to visit and continue to help! And so Elder Claudio and I decided to go back and visit one of the names in our Area Book of an investigator who has been taught by the missionaries for a long time. Janna and Abby Macarubbo. We visited them and learned really quickly that they had testimonies of the Gospel! They even worked with the sister missionaries in helping teach sometime last year! The only problem is that their parents wouldnt let them be baptized. Elder Claudio and I prayed for them and how we could help them. And the obvious answer came to talk to the parents. But from what Janna and Abby had told us, they've never wanted to talk to the missionaries. But we decided to try anyways! Our next visit, the Tatay was obviously a little hesitant and even tried to hide, haha but I was determined! Haha I think I kind of ran into his backyard before he ran away, but we got him to talk to us for a few minutes. He's looks a little rough around the edges but he's a really really nice guy and he told us how he had been really shy around the missionaries because they were sisters, but that he was happy there were now elders coming! We set an appointment to come back and share with his whole family! The next week we came back and it was like he was a different person! He was constantly asking questions and wanted to know everything! It was crazy! We didnt get to share everything to him and his family but they even set the return appointment for us! Gosh I am soooo excited for that!
 
Another miracle was yesterday at church! Sister Balisi was shopping at one of the markets here and came across the son of her cousin who she hadnt seen in a long time! They had started talking and since the relief society in our ward had set a goal to "flood [Tuguegarao] with the Book of Mormon" as President Benson had said, they all have been focusing on giving away Book of Mormons! And so Sister Balisi brought it up with her... i mean him..(oh boy that tagalog curse may be coming upon me!) Then we were super bummed because we got a nice ol storm here, and they cancelled church.... then it died down a little to we just had sacrament meeting at 4pm. Usually our ward starts at 2 and that investigator showed up to the church at 2 even though it was pouring rain! Then when he found out it was 4, he just waited and came back at 4! Holy cow thats awesome! But anyway we taught him after church in the chapel and the spirit was incredibly strong! This guy, Christopher, is one of the humblest guys I've met! It was awesome teaching this guy because he honestly just wants to follow Christ! Sister Balisi shared a powerful testimony about how she didnt believe that it was a coincidence they had met up again at the market. Powerful, powerful moment!
 
I know this work is true! I'm a little afraid I might be getting transferred this cycle because Elder Claudio's training is almost over... But whatever happens I know the Lord is in it. But I love being a missionary. The experiences I'm having I wouldnt trade for the world! I feel close to my Father in Heaven especially when things are hard. I know He loves us... I know Jesus Christ is the Savior and the Son of God. The Book of Mormon is true and was given to change hearts and change people! It is the word of God. I know that we have a living prophet on the earth today! I know that Elder Perry and President Packer have been called from this earth to fulfill a better a greater calling on the other side of the veil. I sustain and support them!
 

Hope everything is going well for all of you! Love ya!
 
Elder Navarro

 

Happy Father's Day!

Well Hello! I hope everyone has enjoyed a great father's day! I for one am very thankful for my Tatay!

 
What an awesome week! We had 2 baptisms this week! Brother Angel Curioso and Sister Merly Uanang! Gosh I cant even describe how great that feeling is! There is literally a glow in the faces of those who enter into the waters of baptism! Its like such an innocent glow of those who want to follow Jesus Christ in their lives! So they were both just super excited it was awesome! Angel (whose progression in the gospel went super fast!) was especially excited! He has had a lot of support from one of his friends who is also a member and is the one who first suggested to him that he should read the Book of Mormon, invited his mother to come all the way to watch it. Angel is boarding in Tuguegarao, but they're from Quirino province which is 4 hours away! And she came! That was awesome to see both of them together and how much he loves her and also wants her to join. Merly's husband is less active in the church, but in one of our last lessons with her, she expressed to us how much she wants to live the gospel as a family and doesnt quite understand why her husband is less-active. We talked about how that's what we would really focus on with him and helping them work towards a goal of the temple. So brother came to the baptismal service and in my minds eye, I saw them all together at the door of the temple, all dressed in white and sealed as an eternal family with their daughter as well! It was one of the sweetest feelings I've had! Thinking of them receiving the greatest blessing this world has to offer! An eternal family!
 
But anyway, seeing these people makes me think of one of my favorite stories/phrases in the Book of Mormon when Alma teaches and baptizes at the waters of Mormon "Behold, here are the waters of Mormon, [...] and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of called, and be called his people [...] what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his spirit more abundantly upon you." "And when the people heard this, they clapped their hands for joy and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts." I saw that in these people in our day. God is good!

 

Anyways, I also saw this week people who have such amazing faith in Christ and in God even though their situation is rough. The Balatico family is one. Their Tatay (father) got into a pretty bad accident that fractured his wrist pretty good. Because they're really poor, they cant afford the necessary operation to fix his hand. When we went and visited them this last week, Tatay's hand was swollen really good! He was just saying "Eh it doesnt hurt that bad! It'll heal!" He's waving it around moving it in all different ways. But we shared a message about The trials of the early saints and especially Joseph's experience in Liberty Jail in D&C. Nanay started crying and saying that it is hard, but immediately redirected her thoughts to her faith in God. I really do love these people and am soooooo thankful that I have been assigned here in Ward 4!

 

Specifically this week, I've learned a lot about receiving revelation.. Last week I was really wondering where the revelation was! Because I knew I was supposed to be receiving revelation for my district, but I felt like I was just stuck with nothin. I then remembered what Pres. and Sister Rahlf had said about the purpose of the planners and of course, "line upon line, precept upon precept." I started really paying attention throughout the next few days, having my planner ready to write down any thoughts, and what do ya know?? I started recognizing revelation I had always been receiving, but never wrote down in the planner. It came everywhere! In studies, in lessons, and even in the shower! And at the end of two or three days I was looking at the notes section of my planner full of revelation specifically for my district and how to help them! I know Heavenly Father will guide us to what needs to be said or done to better help His children! It was an amazing experience and lesson learned!

I truly am thankful for this opportunity to be a missionary! I love every seconds and it just gets better and better and faster and faster! I also read something President Ezra Taft Benson said about the Book of Mormon... He say's on his mission he "devoured to Book of Mormon" He also spoke about "Flooding the world and our lives with the Book of Mormon." I add my testimony that its true! It is inspired of God and was written and revealed in our day for us. And as we read that sacred book every day, we will see sooooo many blessings coming our way! I know because that has happened to me! Love you all!

Elder Navarro

p.s. yesterday as we were going home I thought "wow I havent seen a squirrel since I left Idaho.. There are no squirrels here haha!

Zone Conference

Well this was a week with a lot of learning!

First of all this last Thursday was our zone conference in Ilagan with President and Sister Rahlf! Gosh zone conference is always the best! We studied and learned a lot about the Nature of God the Father and the Nature of Jesus Christ. Its so amazing the knowledge we have about Our Father in Heaven and the role of Jesus Christ.I know that He is our Savior, the Creator, a Mediator, a Judge, and a million other titles and roles!

We have a baptism this Saturday! 2 of them! :) One of them is named Angel Curioso, a 23 year old guy who is studying at one of the universities here in Tuguegarao and he is the most prepared person I have ever met! His understanding of the things he reads is amazing! He has such a strong desire to follow Christ and do what is right! And most of it he's doing on his own! Its so inspiring to be a witness of the power of the Book of Mormon and the spirit in the life of a person like this! Gosh its soo cool!!!!!!!!!!

Another story I want to share is about a 16 year old girl Aiza. She lives with her Grandmother and is the sweetest girl you'll ever meet in your life! She's read the whole Book of Mormon and has wanted to be baptized since she was 12 or so but cant because her parents wont let her. So right now we're continuing what the sisters were helping her do before they were pulled out.. which is work on personal progress... Yay. Haha jokelang its actually pretty fun. We taught individual worth last time and probably said "God loves you" at least a billion times haha.

Yesterday we had a special Philippines broadcast to all the philippines from Salt Lake City with Elder Anderson of the Twelve, Elder Nielson, Elder Christensen of the Seventy and Rosemary M Wixon, General Primary President. It was so awesome to hear of their experiences in the philippines and the inspired messages they shared about the work that needs to be done in the Philippines.

 

Another thing we learned in zone conference is that President and Sister Rahlf will have to go back to the states for Sister Rahlf's surgery... She has a problem with her larynx and will have to get surgery in the states. As a mission we'll be fasting for her... Keep her in your prayers. :)

Well I hope you've all had a great week! The time flies by so fast! But I know the Book of Mormon is true... I cant tell you how many times I've had questions or concerns that were answered in the Book of Mormon... exactly where I left. But it is inspired of God and was given specifically for each and every one of us! I know Jesus Christ leads this work! LOVE YOU

 

The God of Israel Leads This Mission!
 
Elder Navarro

 

pics. Got to reunite with a ton of my friends in the mission!

 

Reunited with MTC companion, Elder Hardy

Still White

Wow! This week has been so crazy awesome! The work in our area is simply amazing! I have never been so excited about the work my whole mission! There are so many investigators who are just prepared!!! And then people just literally coming up to us (friends of members and investigators) that just tell us they want to become a member of the Church! We had several investigators come to church yesterday and 4 of them have baptismal dates and are really excited and devoted! I am just amazed! The blessings of the Lord in this area are very, very easy to see! I just pray that we wont get in the way of the work of the Lord. I've been telling Elder Claudio these past couple weeks that the field is sooooo white! We just have to keep praying for guidance to help us plan and prepare these people who have already been prepared by the Lord! We have a ton of help as well from our Ward Mission Leader and Bishop! So these next few weeks several people could be coming into the fold of Tuguegarao 4th Ward :)

One of them is Angel Curioso and he's just a stud! Gosh everytime we give him something to read, he reads it and takes notes and thoughts on it! Then when we visit him he already knows most of it! haha. But we hadnt been able to get him a Book of Mormon just because we ran out, so he had been borrowing mine. And when we finally got another one, we gave it to him and he was just super super super excited! Like a little kid getting a big ol toy on Christmas! That excited! haha! Another is Merle and Lyka. And they are studs as well! Lyke came to church this last week and afterwards we showed her the Restoration video! She was so into it and eventually, we invited her to be baptized and she didnt hesitate to say yes. Another awesome thing is that her friend, a member, is her biggest supporter and is such a huge help to her to answer her questions and just be there.

Anyways Im just excited! We got to do a lot of CSP activities this last week! and most of it was pulling and chopping weeds. I got a nice surprise when I reached down to pull some weeds and came up with 2 hands full of dog poop! Everyone else got a good laugh out of that one. And then after they fed us and all the kids were watching NBA TV haha! that was a big test of my will power to resist temptation, but proud to say I resisted! Just had to focus a lot on conversing with the kids and eating the food haha!

But I really do love this work... Some of the best feelings in the world are when you know that the spirit has been working with these people we are interacting with. The purpose is to connect them to heaven. I also know that the adversary is very opposed to this work. Every time we watch the restoration video with investigators, its silent the whole time, until Joseph enters the grove to pray. Then things start getting a little wild sometimes. But I know that the work is true! The spirit testifies and works through those who are willing to listen and act. Keep being awesome examples! I'm so thankful in my life for the so many examples I was able to look up to!

Love you!

Elder Navarro

The Field is WHITE!

WOW! I just want to say first how EXCITED I AM THAT MY BROTHER GOT HIS MISSION CALL! Gosh That gets me soooooo happy!

But I'll start with one of our new investigators, Angel Curioso. So he was a referral that came from a different zone in TUG North because he went to church over there, and when we got the text it said, "go to this person IMMEDIATELY!" And the next 2 days we were getting texts and calls from him and from his member friends telling us to go visit him. But just because we literally didnt have time, we didnt get to him until a few days later. Our first visit was only 15 minutes because we had a meeting to get to but we left him with a reading assignment about the restoration and left. The next day he came to our Stake Conference then afterwards later that day we went back to his house. As always he was really excited to see us. Right as we began we closed the prayer and asked if he'd read the assignment and he said he finished it. That was the first surprising thing because that doesnt happen to often. Then he goes on to explain about the apostasy and Joseph Smith with a pretty good knowledge about it. "Okay sweet" I thought "He's got a good idea already" And then as we start talking about prophets and we asked a question I dont remember what, but then he explains in DETAIL the apostasy (what, why, the reason there are so many churches) Hahaha we were shocked!!! I just found myself laughing a little bit! All we had to do was testify to him and then invite him to be baptized! But it was one of the biggest assurances to me that the Lord is preparing His people!

And then the sisters in our ward are being pulled out so our area is getting a lot bigger! And that just means our planning skills are going to get a lot better! But something I've found this last few weeks is that one of the biggest motivations I have to work hard and be obedient is because I want to help these people so bad and the only way I can do that is by working hard, being obedient, and obtaining the spirit! And I have so many weaknesses sometimes its frustrating but I'm so thankful that we're not doing this work alone and we truly have divine help.

We also had a lot of opportunities to do community service this week so thats always a lot of fun! But time is short! I couldnt stop watching my brother open his mission call! I AM SOOOOOO EXCITED FOR HIM!!! When we both see each other he'll be going of in spanish and I wont be able to understand him! haha But I know this work is true! I love it so much and am blessed every day! So humbling to know that. And another thing. I have a testimony of the blessings of the law of tithing and fasting! That is something that was focused on in our Stake Conference. I felt the spirit sooooo strong as our Area Seventy (Elder Coliado) spoke about the importance of this law. The Lord doesnt need our money... but he needs us to show faith in him and show him that we are willing to help others and that He is a lot more important than our money... This is something ive been focusing on in my personal studies and my testimony of it is sure! It is from God!And God wants to "open the windows of heaven" to us! Love you! and keep the faith!

 

Elder Navarro