03.07.16

Just an update, my birthday went great! I remember thinking on that day, "wow... my parents are probably at the Idaho Center right now!" I had a moment of 10 second homesickness, but then was back in the game and focused! We had a great day that day! There was a baptism that we attended that morning of the Sister Training Leaders. But the funny thing was that the person in charge of the baptism, didn't get there until 7:55 with a baptism that was supposed to start at 8.. now that's normal considering the culture here. But the problem was he didn't start the font until that time. And you know those things take 2 hours to fill up! So we had hoses from outside running into the font and we got buckets from the mission office to fill up and bring to the font to speed up the process... it was a fun experience haha!

I decided on my birthday that I was going to work EXTRA hard. So that's what we did! We met and exceeded our goals for the day and when we were on the tricycle going home, I just had the calmest and most wonderful feeling of peace in the whole world. I felt the Lord was pleased with what I had done that day and where I was as a missionary. At that moment I knew that He knew me. It was funny because that feeling that overcame me came when the motor of the tricycle was buzzing and cars were flying to and fro, but that feeling was undeniable. THIS WORK IS THE BEST!

We had MLC this last week that was completely focused on Leadership skills. President and the Assistants talked about "Higher-Law Leadership" that really focused on how to lead like Christ. It was cool how he compared the Law of Moses to the Higher Law and then put it into a missionary leadership perspective. It was great!

But we had some really interesting things happen this week in terms of the work! We had a good week this week! We have worked hard even though we had some time taken out of our schedule. We had some unexpected people come to church yesterday! The Bulacan family, an inactive/part-member family whom we have been working with for several weeks now, our investigator with a baptismal date at the end of March, and our neighbor at our apartment complex! She was totally unexpected! Elder Pandaog and I were sitting in Elder's quorum and I saw her and her son walking into the chapel. I said to Elder Pandaog, "Elder.... is that our neighbor??" "Oh wait... it is!" We ran out to greet her. That was a fun experience! Other than that the work has been going well. We've been talking a lot more about how to solve investigators concerns. Finding help as well from each other, the branch, and personal and companion prayers.

We played some basketball again this morning with Elders Higgins and Antenor cruz. They are awesome to play with! But usually on P-days we get haircuts, email, grocery shop, study, and then go out to work... its not really that glorious of a day haha :)

But sounds like youre doing well back there! Good to see pictures of you and of Jason and Megan's family! They're getting soooo big!!!! Love you and have a great week!

Love,

Elder Brandon N

you'll never imagine, but it got cold in Cauayan one day.

Hearts can be softened!

We had quite the week this last week! Here's a story of a man that we're working with right now. His name is Brother Dellona, I can't remember his first name, memory was never one of my strong suits. Several years ago, he was one of the most active members of the church and a teacher of seminary and institute. He was and is also one of the jolliest people I've ever met in my life! He loves to speak English and it just makes listening to him that much funnier as he does his best to express all his feelings in English! Then something happened a few years ago in which he was offended, which I won't go into detail, that caused him to separate himself from the church and no longer participate in any church activities or meetings. His 2 kids, 18 year old Roundy and 16 year old Jovina quite unexpectedly decided to come to church last August and have been active ever since. Brother Roundy even works with us every week! But Brother Dellona and his wife, whom we see so often while teaching Jovina who was baptized about 5 months ago, showed up at sacrament meeting out of the clear blue! After 2 weeks of this while not knowing the reason, we visited him and for the first time he let us share with him a spiritual thought. In the middle of the lesson, President Castillo and his 2 counselors showed up. And it was such a special moment as President Castillo shared his feelings with Brother Dellona about back when he was investigating the church and how Brother Dellona was his hero in the investigating process. Even Brother Dellona realized what a reversal of roles it was! The one visiting now was the one being visited. I wish I could describe what the scene looked like and how strong the spirit was! That was definitely the start of me again realizing what missionary work was all about and what our purpose is. I know that Brother Dellona felt that spirit. This is what he said to us, "There have been many things that have happened to us that made us fall away. And even now, my intentions in coming back to church are not the best. I just hope that this will be the start of me feeling the way I did before I left the church." It was one of the most powerful moments I've ever been on in my mission. The spirit was literally thick and even I was holding back the tears in seeing what was taking place and feeling the Spirit of the Lord work with Brother Dellona.

I'm sorry I spent so much time on that story... I just wish that you could have felt what I felt in that moment. It was surreal.

But We have been struggling a little bit these past couple weeks helping investigators really progress. Its something that has been in almost all of my prayers for the past week or so. Those prayers were answered as Elder Pandaog and I resolved that in order to help our investigators prepare best, we needed to focus more on giving baptismal invitations. Not that we weren't giving any, but we just needed to make it a priority and the focus of our lessons. Yesterday, when we had splits with an RM and some other branch missionaries, we were both excited to come back having given 1 solid baptismal date, and a baptismal invitation to a family who already believes in the church. Last night I had an overwhelming feeling of peace come over me, feeling that I had done the right thing and was fulfilling the purpose.

I love you and take care!


We also had a very very busy week in terms of deliveries and dropping off some missionaries, but we got to go back to Tuguegarao again, and with all the things we did we were there for the whole day. When I was brand new we took a picture at this waiting shed with some other missionaries... but now I'm the only one left! haha

02.08.16

Hey everyone,

The transfer list came this morning! And it looks like I'll be staying in this area for at least another cycle! Wahoo! But sad news is Elder Treyes will be transferring. We've had a great 2 cycles together and he is a great missionary and friend! I've learned a ton from him especially about understanding others and how to be positive at all times! He comes from Bacolod which the "City of Smiles" in the Philippines! He represents that title well.

This week of work has been great. Even with MLC, baptisms, and some housing tasks, we still met the standards of excellence for the week, which felt really good as we were reviewing our week last night. We have an investigator who was coming to church a while ago but for working reasons moved to Tuguegarao for a little while. Now he just got back and is back into the flow of coming to church! His name is Angelo and what makes it even better is that his best friend at the church is our Branch President (They were co-workers some time ago). He seems to be enjoying his experience at the church and said he has been learning a lot. Excited to be able to meet with him again in the coming week. Also faced some disappointments with some investigators fully committing to coming to church, but on Sunday morning, texted and cancelled on us. But keeping our heads up!

I've been ponderizing a scripture this week that Elder Andersen shared in the missionary broadcast. Its Moroni 8:26 and this is the phrase that has really stuck out to me, "because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love." The Holy Ghost quite literally "fills" us with this hope and love! And I've learned a lot about this phrase actually from times NOT reading the scriptures! Dont freak out I read them. But the difference between reading AND pondering the scriptures, thinking about the Savior in sacrament meeting and ESPECIALLY while the sacrament is being passed, is a difference that you literally feel, and is very real. You might think "oh its just in his head" but try it. Not because you're just curious, rather because we all need the "filling" power of the 3rd member of the Godhead, the Holy Ghost. 

I love this time on the mission! Excited for the changes and the things the Lord has in store for this area! Ingat!

--

Elder Navarro

Philippines Cauayan Mission

When you don't have a stoller... make one. #filipinostyle

The crew in Cauayan!

 

Its been SUPER COLD  here for the past couple days! Everyone is wearing jackets and sweaters! Its like 70 degrees! BRRRRR!!!!! ;)

 

February

Hello

Things are going really great over here! Yesterday we actually had a Special District Conference with President Rahlf presiding. They released the current District Presidency here in Cauayan and called a new one to replace them. But that wasnt even really the coolest thing that happened! At the chapel yesterday, it was filled all the way to the back and the comment was made several times of the size and strength of the Cauayan District, so when President Rahlf got up to speak, the first thing he said was, "Wow! This looks like a stake!" Then the counselors in the mission presidency, mentioned several times about making Cauayan a stake! They even gave a time frame, they said in 2 months "the new district presidency will be released... to be called as a stake presidency!" The Cauayan District has an awesome vision for their future and I'm almost 100% sure that I will be here to see it become a STAKE! WAHOO! There's just one more branch that needs to be built up just a tiny bit more to reach our goals and that is the assignment of the new senior couples, Elder and Sister Jones from Oregon (they were also excited to hear that Jordan is serving a mission there). But I'm excited to say the least to be a part of Cauayan becoming a Stake!

We had interviews this last week with President Rahlf (its crazy that its already my 4th interview with him! time goes so fast!) But it was a great meeting and super encouraging! Because its been over a year, he went over with me some of the goals that I had set last year and if I had accomplished them! Then got to set some new goals. He taught me a lesson as I shared my very broad goals about "specificity." After that I set some new, more specific goals. But he thanked me for being the missionary that I am. He also mentioned that sometime after their mission they will be in the Meridian area! President told me that they might call you guys up and take you out to dinner! Probably with some of the parents of other missionaries as well from the Boise area! But that'll be awesome to see! You guys with President and Sister Rahlf! 

But I am getting Ty's emails. I just emailed him today! He'll be a great missionary!

But we met an AWESOME family this week! They are the Bulacan family and their Grandmother was a super active member of the church and they used to go to church with her. But when she passed away, they stopped. Now that their older and some have families of their own, they're realizing how big of an impact their grandmother made on them! There are 8 brothers and sisters and some of them were baptized a long time ago, but the others havent yet. So excited to continue to teach them! And plus we have their aunt, who is an active member who comes with us to every appointment!

But this last week as well, I finally got to go to back to my first area! We had a delivery in Bambang and Solano and I got to see my first area again! But that was a LOOOONNNNG day! Bambang is like 3 hours away and then making stops all along the way makes for a long trip. Got back home and just collapsed! haha

But we get to watch a worldwide broadcast to all the missionaries in the world tomorrow. The speakers are members of the quorum of the twelve and some other general authorities! Super excited to watch it! But love ya! Have a great week!

Elder Navarro

 

Ang mga bunga ng paglilingkod

Magandang araw, mga kaibigan at kamag-anak!

This week has been good! The baptism was FANTASTIC! It was one of the best baptismal services I've been a part of in the mission! Nanay Pascua was so excited for her baptism that she showed up to the church like 3 hours early! Haha, thats especially significant considering "Filipino Time." But before the service they just had the biggest smiles on their faces it was the greatest! Even Sister Armstrong, one of the senior couples, came up to me and said that she noticed the smiles on their faces. All the senior couples came and then President and Sister Rahlf even came a little later in the service. But Nanay Sylvia and Sister Stephanie asked me if I would baptize them, so I got to baptize the both of them! It especially felt really good to say those sacred words again, "Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, amen." especially knowing how hard we had been working. Its a rewarding feeling for sure!

Then the next day after the service, we went over to visit Nanay, and we were pleasantly surprised to find 4 sisters from the relief society visiting her and giving her a TON of support. Then following them, as we were leaving, the branch president showed up with one of his counselors to visit Nanay and finally be able to talk to her inactive husband! It was comforting to know that the branch is aware and supportive of her.

Funny you saw its been so warm because lately its been a lot cooler here! At nights when we're going home, its actually kind of cold! And this morning at our activity it was pretty chilly! Nothing compared to your chilly but for us it was nice and cool!

But I love the Cauayan zone! Gosh we just had a zone activity at one of the historical sites of Cauayan, as in like a museum where theres a lot about the history of Cauayan and all that good stuff. Then there was a river with a legit beach where we played capture the flag as a zone and that was a TON of fun!!

Nagmamahal,

Elder Navarro

2016

Hello Friends and Family!

Hope you all had a Maligayang Pasko! (Merry Christmas) Ours was great! Our Christmas week was full of different events! On Monday night, our district went caroling at one of the local hospitals here in Cauayan! It was kind of funny to see the reaction of people when foreigners, filipinos, and half foreigner/filipino's walk in wanting to sing to sick people. But it was a great event! The nurse gave us pretty much a tour of the whole hospital, and we got to sing Christmas Carols to young people, old people, and everyone in between. I was so grateful for the opportunity to sing and at least do our best to lift people's spirits in the Christmas season... Who wants to be in the hospital for Christmas? So I'm glad we did that, and we felt the spirit of the Lord for sure in those rooms.

The next day, we had exchanges with the Assistants. I was with Elder Monilla again. But we didnt just have a regular day, we got to go to Mabini to become Santa. An Elder who has already gone home, sent a TON of stuff to deliver to people for Christmas. So Elder Monilla and I delivered food, soap, rice, and some extra candy to some really really humble people. Their eyes lit up when they saw the well needed food and supplies that really were a tender mercy for these people.

Christmas was an awesome day. We tried to work even harder on Christmas day. We were able to talk to a lot of people and share a lot of messages about Christ and His birth. And plus we got fed a TON of food. Then at the end of the day, there was that peaceful confirmation that we had done our best.

The branch Christmas Party was awesome! Sylvia Pascua was able to come as well as some investigators of the Sister's. The Branch is really close with one another and it made it just an great time. We played games, gave presentations, and all kinds of stuff. The missionaries also became judges for some of the contests. And then of course, we ate a lot of food. 

It has been a great week! This week is transfer week for us. Neither of us are transferring so we get another cycle together! Wahoo! But I know that this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ! I want to bear a last Christmas testimony :) I know Christ was born to save us from our sins, IF we come unto Him. He is the one called "Wonderful. Counselor, The Mighty God, The Prince of Peace" May we feel His presence in our lives! Have a great week and New Years!

Elder Navarro

Maligayang Pasko

Hello Friends and Family... Merry Christmas!

I'm so honored to be a missionary at this special time of the year! Just want to wish everyone a MALIGAYANG PASKO!

We've been seeing good things happen this week in our area. We been focusing on a family this week that really has started to progress, even though they are fairly new named the Lahoz family. In our first few lessons, we felt impressed to go over the entire L1, and it was definitely the right thing to do because by the end, they were wide eyed and asking a lot of really great questions. Then as we returned yesterday (with a fellowshipper who knows them well), Brother Lahoz said at the end of the lesson, "Yes. I'm interested. I'm going to read [The Book of Mormon]."

Another thing we've been doing that has been fun is caroling contacting! These past couple days we've been going around to as many houses as we can and saying, "Hello! Would it be alright if we could sing a Christmas song to you?" (We say that because if we don't, they'll think we're just trying to get money haha) and then we sing "Joy to the World" to them! Afterwards, we introduce ourselves as missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and ask if we could share a message with them that #aSaviorisBorn. In this time of Christmas, the feeling is soooooo good! I wish I could describe the smallest part of how much I love Christmas! And how much its not about the lights, or the trees, or the presents, but its about a little boy who was born one night in a manger. Who is the Savior of the world!

We had a Christmas Devotional with the whole District and President and Sister Rahlf. Almost like  a mini version of what we did in our Christmas Devotional just for the missionaries. But both times for sure, the spirit undeniably testified to my heart personally that Jesus is the Christ! Especially, I've found, in the singing of the Hallelujah Chorus! I dont know why, before the mission, it was just another choir song, but as I strive to understand what that song really means, it makes it almost look and sound a lot different! "And He shall reign forever and ever!" "King of Kings and Lord of Lords!" "HALLELUJAH!" 

This is the best time of the year to let people know about the birth and life of our Savior Jesus Christ! I wish I could describe how much I love testifying of the Savior! President Rahlf taught about something this last week that was really cool. Its good to give Christmas Presents around this time of year, but let us strive to also have a Christmas Presence in our homes and communities this year! Pinapatotohanan ko na #IsinilangAngIsangTagapagligtas para sa iyo, sa akin, at sa ating lahat! 

Elder Navarro