General Conference

Hello Family and Friends

 

General Conference was the best thing ever. I kept thinking the whole time, "Gosh, this is the best time of the year!" And for some reason, this was the most spiritual conference I'd ever participated in in my whole life! General Conference, where I felt the spirit in a way that I've never felt it before! The whole conference just felt different than any other conference I'd been a part of. One thing that really stuck out to me was the 3 new Apostles. I was writing down impressions I was feeling as the conference was happening and Elder Rasband spoke, some point in the talk I felt an undeniable, powerful confirmation that he was an apostle. So I wrote it down. The exact same thing happened in both Elder Stevenson and Elder Renlund's talks. I wrote down that impression under each name. Then President Eyring mentioned that the Holy Ghost had testified to us all that they were called of God. At that moment I had an out of body experience. I wish I could describe it but it was definitely from above and a power beyond my own. My testimony has never felt stronger! And that is just one of the many very spiritual experiences I've had this week. Another when I was down and felt inspired to read the Book of Mormon and there was the exact thing I needed to see/read. I wish I could share all of it!

But some other talks I really really enjoyed these last few days was Elder Durrant's "Ponderize," Elder Hollands about "Motherhood," Elder Nelson's about "Womenhood" President Monson's "Keeping the Commandments" and Elder Bednar's "Chosen to Bear Testimony of My Name" Also President Uchtdorf's "It works wonderfully" Gosh I just loved them all! Just watch it! :)

Other than the incredibly powerful conference, the week has been going well! Went to Cauayan and got my new companion! Elder Villalon from Quezon City. He's a great Elder! Really dedicated and we've started this cycle off on a really good note so I'm really really excited for this cycle! Although its going to be short... Its only 4 weeks because there is a General Authority coming to the Philippines so a lot of missions were affected in their transfer days. And the rumor is I might get transferred this next cycle but we'll see.

Our zone is so awesome right now! We have 3 Elders training so 3 new American Elders came into Santiago this last week! Elder Howard, Elder Storrer and Elder McCauley. They're great Elders and its super humbling and reflecting to see them go through things that all new missionaries go through... its hard to believe that now I'm the missionary thats been out for over a year comforting these new missionaries! Its been a blessing for sure that the Lord gave me missionaries when I was new.... I just hope I can help them as well! And honestly the whole zone is in training! haha every companionship!

But another great thing I found out on Wednesday morning!!! I read the transfer list and found out that ELDER CLAUDIO is now in my zone!!!! Haha its so awesome! He's training and my District Leader! Haha when we saw each other on Friday, that was the best feeling ever! And I got to meet my heritage in the mission! Good times.

I know this work is the work of the Lord. We taught Geneva Natividad and her family this last week and had a powerful lessons about eternal families. Her biggest concern is that she doesnt want to go to church with just her 2 kids, but she wants her husband to come along as well. We're working on it. He wants to come but has work. We're praying to find a way to help him. But the spirit definitely testified in that small room!

I know this is the work of God! The trumpet has been sounded in this last General Conference and the Lord has called 3 new Apostles. I sustain them and know they are called of God! I wouldnt rather be doing anything on earth right now!

Love you all and have a great week!

Elder Navarro

p.s. dont forget to ponderize! :)

 

Merry Christmas

Oh wait... its still October... One of the coolest things about being in the Philippines is they LOVE the Christmas season!

This week has been a little challenging, but it's really been amazing to see how the Lord really answers our prayers! We had MLC this last week in Cauayan and one of the biggest things we talked about was the success and the growth we've been seeing the Philippines Cauayan and as a result of that, President Rahlf talked about some things that have been happening. He talked about two of the tactics that all of us see as members of the Church. The first being "counter-strikes" when the adversary attacks right after a great spiritual experience or growth. I feel like this is something common we see... or at least I see. That whenever I've accomplished something good on the mission or in my life, or had a strong spiritual confirmation of gospel truths, the biggest temptations or trials come right in there. The other is called "pre-emtive" strikes, where the adversary will work his hardest right BEFORE a great spiritual experience or before doing some great thing. President expressed that he has been seeing signs of both happening to the mission as a whole. Right after we had our Zone Conference and right before we have a General Authority coming in to visit the mission at the end of October. I know I've definitely been feeling effects of that personally!

Another great thing of MLC is being able to see a lot of my friends from the mission! Especially the ones going home... Elder Kocherhans... I'm gonna miss that guy!!!!

But its the best to have a great supportive ward and an enthusiastic Bishop! Yesterday we had a ward activity where all the leadership of the ward went to one of our areas to splits with us and find and teach new investigators! We found a ton of people and even met some Navarro's! I love the expression on people's face when they see that my name is Navarro! (in case you dont know... I look American to people here as well)

The Natividad family is also doing really well! We were teaching them the other day about baptism and obviously the impression came to give them the baptismal invitation again. Sister Geneva has really been super great so she accepted right away and expressed her desire to be baptized. I asked her why she wanted to and she expressed that she wanted to be washed clean and start over... Then Brother Jojo jumped in (her husband who was baptized as a little kid but has been less active his whole life) and said, "I wish I could be baptized again" The spirit definitely guided our next response to him. I told him "Brother, I want to show you a way that you can almost quite literally be baptized again" Then we taught him about repentance and the sacrament. The Spirit was super strong in that bamboo house!

I know this work is true! It is being led by the best man who ever walked on this Earth, our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ. I know He lives! He literally comforts us when we need it... And the scripture is true that He will come unto all those who come unto Him! I know that prayers are answered!

Love you and have a great week!

Elder Navarro

 

Do You Have National Family Week?

Hello Family and Friends,

 

Well this week has been hard but rewarding! Last Saturday was the baptism of Junalyn Dultiao! I've mentioned their family before, but they are a family with a strong testimony! Two of the siblings were baptized in last April and ever since then, they have been embraced by the ward and have developed awesome testimonies! Their plan is to have all of their family eventually join the church and Sister Junalyn was the 3rd in their family to be baptized! We are teaching their brother, Eduardo and their little brother and they have a growing interest in the Church as their family is joining! Its been an amazing to watch how enthusiastic they have been about the gospel!!!!
 

This last week also we had something unique to the Philippines! Here, there is a national holiday called National Family Week! And of course, as a church that is focused on the family, we do a lot to support this awesome even in the Philippines! So on Saturday morning we got up and had a fun walk with all kinds of different sayings about the family and then had a little celebration at the church! A ton of fun!!!!
 

Then we also had a service project feeding kids at an elementary school! They LOVED IT! Gosh and I had so much fun! The kids loved taking pictures and playing games! i had em laughing reallll good! haha :)
 

Sorry I dont have much time left... but I love you all! I know that this work is true! I see too much evidence of it to deny it! I love the ward! I love the area! I love the mission! Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live and they call their servants to organize and care for the work here on Earth! The Book of Mormon is true!

Thank you so much for the support! Have a great week!

Elder Navarro

 

 

 

Tender Blessing of the Gospel

This week has been crazy! I want to start by expressing how incredibly happy I am right now! So my anak sent me some pictures from the baptism of the Macarubbo family last week, and when I opened them up, it was just a completely overwhelming feeling of happiness that came over me! Gosh I'll probably forward it so you can see but it was the best thing in the world! That was honestly one of the best feelings I have felt thus far in the mission! :)

But this last week we had splits with two companionships in the zone. On Tuesday, I was with Elder Llanda from Bataan and on Thursday with Elder Swensen from Sandy Utah. We really wanted to show them a good day as a missionary! But I really got to know both of them! Its so amazing the different stories that missionaries have of how they ended up on a mission! And for both of them, it really was a miracle that they were able to serve missions!

But then we got to go to Cauayan on Wednesday because Elder Paea was taking the English test. And in the Cauayan Mission, when you or you're companion comes in to take the test, you get a DELICIOUS BANANA SPLIT! compliments to the Shorter Couple! That was absolutely wonderful!

But we have a baptism this week! Another one of the Dultiao family! Sister Junalyn. She's a 25 year old single mother and the 3rd member in her family to be baptized! The night before her interview, we went over to review about baptism and the things that were going to be asked to her the next day. After that was done, I just asked her why she wanted to be baptized into the Church and then she bore one of the most powerful and tender testimonies I've heard. She mentioned about how she knew that the church was true and she had felt the love and the support of the members and the change in her family because of it. Then she talked about her 3 year old daughter and how she wants her to grow up knowing who Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father are! One night, she said, she was praying and her daughter asked her what she was doing... of course she answered, praying. Her daughter then asked where does God live. And then that started a gospel conversation between her and her daughter and now she really wants to join in her prayers every night! Gosh just tender things and feelings like that really make everything worth it! I think I've said this before but their goal is to get their whole family baptized into the church! This family is awesome and I really want to help them achieve that goal.

We have another busy week with zone conference and Philippines National Family Week going on here! I'm excited for all that the Lord has in store for us and I'm so grateful that I have an opportunity to share this wonderful, unique, and life changing message. Which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know He lives and guides this mission and all His missionaries! He loves us! His plan is real and this life is our time to prepare to meet God!

I love you all and have a great week!

Elder Navarro

p.s. I also randomly thought of some mistakes I've made in Tagalog a long time ago that I thought you'd get a kick out of!

One time we were talking to a family and I saw two kids who looks really similar in age... I thought "i know that word in tagalog" so I asked the nanay, I said, "nay, magkambing ba silang dalawa?" Hahaha what I accidentally said was if they were both goats. haha the real word was "kambal" haha oops.

Macarubbo family baptism

 

Is it really September?

I cannot even begin to think that the reality of this year mark is coming in... feels like yesterday I was trying all this crazy food for the first time and now I'm on what they call the "down hill".... But thats the longest I'm ever going to think about that again :)

 

So this week has been busy and really fun! We got to go to Cauayan and have splits with the Assistants. My companion for the day was a great Elder named Elder Monilla. He's Filipino but grew up in Saudi Arabia and he is one of the awesomest elders I've ever met! I met him back in Tuguegarao and he's the coolest nerd ever haha! But he is probably the best teacher I've worked with so far in my mission! The way we taught the investigators and recent converts that day was incredible! He has a gift of helping people understand in such simple ways, and he uses stories and examples from their lives to help them more fully understand the gospel of Christ and I felt like a sponge trying to soak in as much as I could from working with him. But we really had a good time that day! He called me earlier today to check for something and then told me that all the investigators we taught that day came to church!! That was fun to hear as well! But the way he taught really reminded me of the way the Savior taught.. It wasnt just pure doctrine in a memorized, recited phrase of belief, but rather it was according to the needs and understanding of the people. When the Apostles asked the Savior why he taught in parables, his response was this " 11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should beforgiven them.

Thats how I desire to teach.. the way the Master does!

Then on Friday we had splits again with Elder Canencia. And he's another missionary that I really admire. He really has a desire to change and become a better missionary! And the Lord has given him some new assignments that have helps him do that! I love the gospel that it gives every person the chance to change and be better! I know in my time here I've definitely learned and seen so many weaknesses in myself that I must repent and change as well.

 

So yesterday we had some of the ward missionaries work with us and one of the recent converts here in Baluarte is named Karen. She was baptized just last may and ever since has been faithfully keeping her covenants! And she's a really shy sister and so I assumed it would be me and the ward mission leader doing most of the teaching... but when we got into the lesson, she was like a rockstar of a teacher! We were teaching the Natividad family (a part member/less-active family that has really sparked an interest in the gospel again) and we were teaching about the Book of Mormon and when we gave her some time, she taught and bore one of the most powerful testimonies I've heard on my mission. The spirit was definitely there and we were just so excited for her and the investigator!

 

This Natividad family is really progressing! They have been reading the Book of Mormon together and sister really really wants to learn if its true. They are an awesome family and I hope that one day Brother will come to realize that all those things he learned in primary were true as well as sister for the first time.

 

Well... I love you all and hope everything is going well over there! I did hear sad news that Boise State lost... but we know that all things will be worked out in the Second Coming so thats alright.

 

The God of Israel Leads This Mission!

Elder Navarro

p.s. we're still out playing basketball when the chance comes! :)

 

Kumusta mga mag-anak at kaibigan!

This week has been really busy! But I really want to start out by mentioning that I got a really really exciting email from one of my best friends in the mission Elder Larona! He told me that the Macarubbo family had all passed the baptismal interview and will be baptized as a family on Sept. 12!!!! WAHOOOOOOOO!!!!! Gosh I wish I could be there but that makes me soooooo happy that they are all going to be baptized! I cant believe it! Just thinking about how we first met them and then chasing down the Tatay to try and talk to him and now, on Saturday, they will be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! Thats the best news that I can receive right now! Gosh...

 

But this week was full of meetings and surprises! We had the MLC meeting this last Wednesday talking about the importance of our Attitudes in Missionary work as well as the importance of accountability. And from that meeting and from my personal study in accountability I really come to realize that there will be a day that we will all give an accounting of all the things we've done here on the Earth! But the person who will be accounting to us will be the Lord Jesus Christ! So just like in so many ways the mission prepares us for life now and in the eternities, we account for all the things we accomplish. This is how the Kingdom of God is organized. And one of the coolest thing that President Rahlf has been teaching us is that even Jesus Christ accounts for His actions as we remember our covenants in the temple.

 

Then on Thursday we had the new leader's training in Cauayan... so it was travel to Cauayan, come home and the next morning travel to Cauayan again. The meeting was obviously very inspiring and even though I've the same things taught before, the spirit helps us learn new things for each of our situations! Think of General Conference, theres no brand new topics or ideas brought up in each conference. The Lord has a pattern of repetition for us to continue to learn based on our own preparation.

 

But this week we have another investigator named JonnaLynn who is also really progressing! Her siblings were also baptized within the past year and they even shared with us that their goal is that eventually their whole family will join the church! And one by one... they are! :) But their testimonies are really really strong! The Ate (older sister) shared her testimony this last sunday and shared of her powerful experiences in the gospel! So COOL!

 

But keep up the good work everyone! We all must sometimes "be still and know that [He] is God" :) Let us always stay true to our covenants and DRAW UNTO HIM!

Nagmamahal,

Elder Navarro (the real better of the two Elder Navarro's ;) )

p.s. reunited with my Tatay again!

heres a lot of my batch!... and some others... and Sister Rahlf! :)

Part of my new area.... its not ALL like that.. haha

 

New Adventures and Time Flies!!

Hello Family and Friends!

Alright! Saying goodbye to all the families and friends I had grown so close to in Tuguegarao was HARD! Thats definitely one of the hardest things about being a missionary, leaving areas where you've worked so hard and gotten close to the people! But thats how it has to be sometimes. I dont think the Lord wants us to get so comfortable in life that we stop learning and progressing. I believe its the same with all parts of life. I remember something President Eyring said about the topic, that if life seems so easy and you don't really have any troubles... just wait.

But now, here I am in my new area! And that area is...(drum roll)... SANTIAGO NORTH ZONE! In the Baluarte Ward. And my new companion is my first foreigner companion! His name is Elder Paea from Tonga. He's an awesome hardworking missionary and super funny! I feel like I'm living in "The Other Side of Heaven" haha. But turns out "koli poki" means nothing. Its not a word. But I'm so excited for this next cycle. I was talking with Elder Paea and he says he has a really good feeling about this next cycle, so we'll see what the Lord has in store for us in the Baluarte Ward!

Another little twist in my new area is when President Rahlf called and said I would be serving as the zone leader as well. Its a humbling experience for sure and I've felt the Lord expand the capacity to love all the missionaries in a way that I hope Christ would.

But the Macarubbo family was doing really well when I left! When we said goodbye I told them that I wanted to come back in a year when they are about to go through the temple to be sealed as a family! :) And the work here in Baluarte is also exciting! Going around getting to know all the investigators the members and the people has been great! One of them is Sister Lynn who has been coming to church for months and has been watching her family around her accept the gospel! Hopefully one day they'll all come into the gospel! We also found another family from a referral of a member! The Natividad family and they are super interested in the gospel! The tatay was introduced to the church when he was a kid, but now that he has a family he said that the church has a different kind of meaning to him. We'll be praying for guidance to know how to help nurture this seed that brother has in his heart.

But thats about it for this week! Just want to add one thing that has stuck out to me in my personal study from Moroni 7. All things that invite and enticeth to do good and be good comes from God and is inspired of God. We all have a divine gift of the Light of Christ given to every person ever born on the earth. This helps us distinguish right from wrong in all things and helps us come to know that the gospel is true. I hope that we can all recognize and help people recognize this divine gift of the spirit!!!! I've seen it in soooo many people! ITS REAL! This Church is true and is the only living church on the face of the earth!

Take care errbody!

Elder Navarro