What an amazing week to be a servant of the Lord!!

This week was amazing!! The first big event that happened this week, is that Sister Rose-ann, and her two kids were baptized! What made it even better is that their father (Brother Babante) was able to recieve the Aaronic Priesthood and baptize his own family!! How amazing right?? I could not tell you how big my smile was after each one of them came up out of the water!! But I know that our Heavenly Father is more excited than I am to see His children on the path to eternal life! And even better is next year they will be sealed as a family for time AND eternity in the House of the Lord :)

This week we were also able to find 15 new investigators in our area which was a big achievement for us! I have also felt the Lord's love for me. I have had talks from general conference going through my mind this week, and through them and trying to live the principles they have explained, I have been filled with more happiness and with a greater love of those around me. One scripture I have had in my mind is John 15:18-19.  I repeat it in my mind and when I'm down, I think of it. It's an AMAZING scripture, at least for me, to know as disciples of the Lord we will face trials and adversity. That is inevitable.  But Jesus reminds us, that the world has hated Him even before it has hated us, and it makes me feel good to know that if I'm hated as a missionary or face adversity as a member of the church, I'm in pretty good company! :)  We just have to remember as Latter-Day Saints, that Jesus suffered for all man-kind and because of that, He knows "how to succor His people". Not just in sadness or disappointment, but in rejection as well. 

I know that as we do "whatsoever He saith' unto us", we will always be on the right path. It will at times, come with disappointment and tears, but "Don't fear, just live right!" And as we do our best, God will do the rest as we press forward steadfastly as Latter-Day Saints. I know with my heart that God listens to every one of our prayers. He loves us perfectly, and He sees the divine potential in all of us. Through doing our best He can mold us into the ''best son or daughter of God" we can be. I know that Jesus Christ lives, I know He most certainly is the head of this great church. 

Love,

Elder Aguiar

Quezon City Mission

The Babante Family baptism

I had no idea there were pine trees in the Philippines

The farthest area of the mission

He Lives and He Loves

I just want to say before I start my email that I'm so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ, and for my Heavenly Father. I know with an exact certainty that I'm so abundantly blessed. I've been able to more fully realize that the Lord knows us so personally. Something I just want to say, when you kneel down at the end of the day or in the morning or whenever you pray, pray as if God is listening, because HE IS! And if you can keep that in your mind, I know it will bless you immensely. You will be blessed to feel His love for you and you will have a greater appreciation of the power of prayer the Lord has so lovingly granted unto all of us!

This week as you can probably tell, I have concentrated more on my prayers. This week I'm grateful that I was able to see the power of prayers in my life personally! The work here in Antipolo is going amazing. It looks like I'm out of time. 

I know I didn't get to include many experinces, but I know that Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I know that our prayers are always answered. I know that Jesus Christ is my and our Savior and Redeemer. I know that He Loves and He lives.

--

      Elder Cody Aguiar

Philippines Quezon City Mission

This boy was so excited to buy a rat for 20 pisos

My new favorite meal (chicken feet!)

Ubos na!

Stay Tuned for Next Sunday ;)

So this week has been a great time for blessings from the Lord!!

The Babante Family (Sister Roseann, Le Andro and Anndrea will be baptized next week!!! And Brother Babante will be ordained to the office of Priest so he can baptize his wife and kids!! How exciting!! I'll be setting my calender next August for a temple sealing :)

We were blessed also this week to find another family that we have been looking for! We had this name in our area book of a family and we could not figure out where they lived or anything. We just coincidentally asked a member if they knew anyone who would be interested in the Church, and low and behold, they took us to that house of the family we were looking for!! We didn't realize who it was until we saw a calendar on the wall that had their name on it "Banda Family"! But it turns out they want to be baptized! So that was a real miracle this week!!

We also have Zone Conference tomorrow and in September Elder Neil L. Andersen will be coming to our mission!! SO you can bet I'm looking forward to that!!!!

I have some pretty awesome pictures and videos this week BUT,  the computer wont load... so I will have to try again next week :(  Stay tuned!

--

      Elder Cody Aguiar

Philippines Quezon City Mission

Ummm... I got nothin'

So I couldn't really think of a subject line this week haha oh well! Come to think of it, I can't really think of what happened this week either. I feel like I was just here yesterday 😂 

This week has been packed full of meetings honestly! We had our leaders training this week with President Koster, we have really focused our efforts this past week with coordinating with leaders in our ward as well to help the Bagong Nayon ward become more self reliant! On Sunday we had a couple of meetings and didn't get out of the church until 4:30 pm. Our church started at 10:30 am.. haha

Miracle this week!

We decided to go to the farthest part of our area this past week! We got to meet with some members and find out where their houses were. The last house we went to before we left was the house of the Bumatay family. We walked in and Brother was in bed sick and wasn't able to go to work. He was over-heating and couldn't get up. They asked for a blessing! Me and Elder Rey and another member that came with us, blessed him. After we blessed him with that same Priesthood as in olden times, the same power that the Prophets had, he started to sweat and cool off. Then after the blessing, instead of going back to sleep, he sat up and talked with us. Yesterday for fast and testimony meeting, Sister Bumatay stood and bore her testimony and was expressing how greatful she was, not only for us, but for the Priesthood power the Lord has given us on this earth. I then realized how perfect the plan is that God has for us, and that he lead us to that house in the farthest part of our area to give Brother a blessing.

Other than our wonderful experience and meetings, I am grateful for the Lord and for His love for me. I'm not perfect, but I've been able to see the vision of who the Lord wants me to be on my mission, and it's totally amazing! I can't tell you how great my desire is to just find people and teach them about the fulness of the Restored Gospel. I love you all so much and hope you can see how much the Lord loves you this week!!

Love, 

      Elder Cody Aguiar

Philippines Quezon City Mission

part of our area sa bundok :)