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.

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      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!

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      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 :) 

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.

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      Elder Cody Aguiar

Philippines Quezon City Mission

Babante Family

Baptism

Adventures on P-Day

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!!

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      Elder Cody Aguiar

Philippines Quezon City Mission

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)

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      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