Monday, July 31, 2017

ES-CAP-E

WHAT AN AMAZING WEEK!! I had a great week and it was definitely filled with happiness. :)

So let me explain the heading haha. We were riding on a trike and I was just looking around and I saw the word "escape" on a car. I read it in my mind "es-cap-e" (yes, like in Finding Nemo)  I said to myself what the?? What kind of word is that?? What does that mean?  And then it dawned on me that it is an actual word in English... There's my little tagalog/english humor for today!

This week was amazing honestly. I loved it. Although it was just a little different with my new calling, it was just great :) We were able to have two baptisms yesterday!! I can honestly say that JP and Arjay are a lot smarter than I was when I was 9 and 10!! You should've of seen them after their baptism, they were so happy :)  Even though it was transfers, we were able to have progress in our area! The Babante family that I talked about last week, (the father is a member but the rest of his family isn't) they have come to church the last couple weeks and we were able to find out that Sister KNOWS the Church is true!! As we heard that, we taught about the Plan of Salvation and the importance of baptism and extended a baptism date for August 12! As soon as the kids heard that, they jumped up and said "Ma! We are going to be able to be baptized??" Oh man!  What an amazing lesson and family!!

All I can say is that I have been the happiest I have ever been in my WHOLE entire life. I can say that without a doubt. A missionary that just returned from his mission, bore his testimony in sacrament yesterday and it made me realize more about myself. I may have thought I knew who I was before my mission, the things I was going to do and what kind of person I was supposed to be, but I have realized more and more I had no idea about myself. Here on my mission I have come so much closer to Christ. I have found the real person the Lord wants me to be.  I have never experienced so much joy in my life! I know Christ lives. I know this is His church. I'm grateful to be here sharing the fullness of the Gospel with the people of the Philippines. What a great and perfect plan God has for us.
--
      Elder Cody Aguiar
Philippines Quezon City Mission

Babante Family

Baptism

Adventures on P-Day



Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Transfer Time Again

It is transfer day this week! It feels like I just got here!!!
But me and my companion will be staying here together in Bagong Nayon together. The Zone Leaders called me last night and told me I would be called as a District Leader in our zone. So, I'm just relying heavily on the promise from the Lord: For those He calls He qualifies! 

This week Arjay and JP passed their interview for baptism! So next Sunday they will have the opportunity to be baptized!! So amazing!! 

Miracles
This past week, the Alaurin kids that we have been teaching said that their mom didn't want them coming to church anymore. She said that they are Catholic, and Christians are not the same, but we can totally tell that they are prepared by the Lord! We told their dad that the messages we have are better if your whole family takes part in them, but he just doesn't have time now. BUT after praying and having them pray, they are allowing their kids to attend church!! HOW GREAT!! Our goal hopefully is to have them as a whole participate in church and the great messages we have for them :)

This week has been full of work, but I'm grateful for the opportunity I have to be a representative of Christ in this amazing time! I'm grateful for everyday I have to become a better missionary and a better son of God through the atonement. I know that as people here on earth, we may feel like we are alone, we may feel like there is no purpose in life, but I know and testify to you that God not only loves us, He has a plan for each one of us. I know that the will of God is the best way to navigate through this life. As we strive to be humble and align our will with His, we will be successful and come to love our Father in Heaven so much more. LOVE YOU ALL!!

-- 
      Elder Cody Aguiar
Philippines Quezon City Mission



Monday, July 17, 2017

The Fastest Week!

This week was well 👆 the fastest week of my mission and seeing that transfers are next week, the fastest transfer. But this week was sooo great!!! And next week we are looking forward to some baptisms :)

Highlight of the WEEK!!
OUR INVESTIGATORS are PROGRESSING! It has been super great!! We have some investigators that are siblings and close friends. The Alilung Family! They were able to attend church yesterday and they loved it!! Oh my goodness it was the best feeling to just watch them at church and have people come over and fellowship them. Later last night we taught them and they had just come back from the computer shop. What were they doing? Researching... About the Kirtland TEMPLE! How GREAT IS THAT? They asked how they could be missionaries like us and want to be baptized.

The Babante family is so kind! They weren't able to attend church yesterday because sister was super sick and throwing up so they went to have a check up. But Sister has many questions because her siblings and parents are catholic and so she sees many differences. We answered all her questions, but the one thing we always tell our investigators to "Ask of God" (the youth theme this year). Because we may have many answers for them, but the most important answer comes from God, to know if what we have shared is true, and if they
have real intent and a sincere heart, they will receive an answer.

Service This week!!!
This week we helped clean out and slightly dig out a well of a member in our district leaders area. We had to empty the whole well by just taking buckets and pulling the water out. Seeing that it was like 12 feet deep it took a while. SO WHO WENT TO THE BOTTOM YOU ASK?  Me... hahaha! I was the only volunteer!  But after 3 hours it was finished. It was such a cool experince. I was covered with dirt and soaked but it was something I will never forget!
(PICTURES IN THE INCOMING EMAILS)
--
      Elder Cody Aguiar
Philippines Quezon City Mission

Having fun with the kids

Silly kids!

Digging out the well

In the worm hole


Members from Taiwan 

Families can be together forever





Monday, July 10, 2017

Investigators and Blessings

What a week.
I'm not sure how many times I've said this but time flies here! Tumatakbo ako sa labas ng oras. But as I'm reflecting on this past week it's been great. On July 4th we had exchanges so I wasn't able to have a feast with my fellow filipinos :(

 But I do have a really cool experience that was heart touching to me. During exchanges we went to a family that isnt too active but after we shared a spiritual thought from Alma, and we were leaving, the mother said to me that I reminded her of a missionary that was assigned here before. I asked why, and she said we have the same face, but then she said in English "I feel like you could look into my soul and tell if I was lying, like an angel without a halo".  Although thats obviously not what I am, haha, I really was thankful for that moment to kind of reflect on myself and what happened. Because people don't say that you everyday!

Another blessing is that the Babante family, I thinked I told you about, (Brother is a member but his family isn't. They have 3 kids :)) They all attended church on Sunday!! They were just this perfect little family in the back, it was amazing!! We were blessed to have 9 investigators at church yesterday!!! I'm not the best at it, but once I can reflect over each day and look at the blessings I have been given, it makes me tear up to feel the love my Father in Heaven has for me.  Even when I'm not perfect and make mistakes, I know that God is perfect and knows what to do to help us.

I have been able to realize more and more that when we work hard to be obedient and do my best the Lord will provide the rest. I know that Jesus Christ lived on this earth to teach His gospel.  I also know that he suffered, a suffering far beyond we know as mortals, because He loves us.  I know Jesus is the Christ, the Resurrected Lord. This is HIS church, not the church of Mormon, or Joseph Smith, but of Christ.  I know the eternal doctrines that are so near to my heart do not come from men, kundi galing sa Diyos. Darn, I mean but they come from God. There's no way I can deny that.
--
      Elder Cody Aguiar
Philippines Quezon City Mission

BATCH

Intersections... Fun

Yes, that is a garden made of Mt. Dew bottles

Area Namin

Monday, July 3, 2017

Tag-ulan talaga!

Magandang Umaga from half way around the world! 🌏

So transfers, I just realized are half way over, and here in Antipolo we have been working hard. I can honestly say that. We have been truly blessed with many people to teach here. We received a member referral a couple weeks ago, for a part member family. The father is a member of the church and his wife and his 3 kids aren't. We got to visit with them and they. Are. GOLDEN! As we left, the kids asked "pa! pwuede kami maging mormon?" (Dad can we be baptized?) They are so great!! 

I have realized more and more until it has become clear to me that, I need not fear about the limit of my capabilities, but to trust in the Lord and always always always ask for His help!!  
Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

What power!! 

D&C 84:88 And whoso receiveth you, there will be also, for will go before your face. will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.

It has been made clear in old times and in modern day revelation that we will NOT be left comfortless. Our Heavenly Father loves each one of us.

So it is officially rainy season here and It has rained everyday for the last 2 weeks! Haha! In the morning the sky is so clear and then right about lunch time, it switches so fast like its some big joke and then when the heavy clouds start rolling in, everyone grabs their laundry and heads inside. Most of them just stay inside until the rain is over, which is all the better for us to find those the Lord has prepared to receive the Restored Gospel, just like in times of old. What an amazing time to be here on earth!!

Temple Day

Temple

Oops, a little too serious there

Out Proselyting


Saturday, July 1, 2017

Philippines Driver's License... WOAH

Sige sige, so this week was, I'm not sure how to explain it in English... Anyways, this week we had our p-day on Wednesday because we had meetings and let's not forget the TEMPLE DAY!  We went earlier today:) It was honestly sooo amazing. It was my first temple day since my first area! It was honestly just the best!! I feel like I'm walking on clouds right now :) So here on the mainland we get to go every other transfer, so I guess being here does have its perks.

MY Drivers License Experience
So as I said in my subject line, I had the chance to get my license here in the Philippines. Because I was just converting my license over, there was no driving involved. BUT there was an eye exam, and I forgot my GLASSES. So, I get up there and they say "Stand on the x and read #10", which was the smallest font known to man haha!! Anyways, they had me cover one eye and read then switch. Let's just say as I read I could not see it WHATSOEVER. So I GUESSED. I got all of the letters wrong.  I was worried, and the guy asks "Do you have glasses?" I said "Yes, but I left them at the house." You want to know what happened? He passed me haha!! Then as I looked over the sheet he signed, there was a hearing test which I passed apparently, but I never too!. So I guess as long as you can talk with the guy, you pass!! haha! 

Highlight of the Week
We worked in one of our farthest areas last week and we were able to have 4 of our different investigators in 1 lesson together. As we taught and reviewed about the Restoration, it was amazing!! The spirit was strongly present in the lesson. I had said things and taught things like I have never before. I wasn't nervous but words were just pouring out of my mouth. There was one nanay, and I asked what her feeling was about the last part of the lesson. She said it was an amazing feeling and that she had a "stirring in her heart" she truly wanted to know if the message we bore was true. We taught her about the promise in the Book of Mormon, that if you read it with an open and sincere heart, and pray fervently to God to know if it is true, he will manifest His answer unto you through the power of the Holy Ghost. She accepted!!! Talk about amazing!!!  

I'm so so thankful for this life that we have here on earth! To gain experience to become more like our Father in Heaven!! I'm grateful for the powers of Priesthood and Holy Ghost. They are true! God and Jesus Christ live. Jesus is the Christ the only begotten of the Father to bear upon Him our sins and burdens. He knows each one of us by name. Our Heavenly Father is our Father and listens to our prayers. 

Love you all! Enjoy this life and the beautiful blessings Heavenly Father gives unto each of us.

Your newly licensed kano,
-Elder Aguiar

"wala kong mga larawan.. pasneya talaga.." (I dont have my pictures...") Next week na lang!!!