Baptisms and Blessings

Yoon, so this week Elder Penetrante and I were grateful to baptize Valerie and Jennelyn Paz! They are two of the happiest, smartest girls ever!! Valerie is 12 and Jennelyn is 10. We were so surprised to see them get up and bear their testimonies, and what was so amazing was to see them receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

This week I had the opportunity to bless our investigators daughter. She is only about 5 and is the happiest 5 year old I have EVER seen. I guess she had eaten some guava fruit and that lead to problems of some sort. As I blessed her, I felt love for her and her family, and I did so knowing I was using the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood that comes from God.

Also this week, I have been able to feel the comforting peace and love from my Father in Heaven. We will have many trials, temptations, problems and heartaches in this life.  We can't get around that part of life. But I remember two talks. One from Elder Bednar (An Apostle of Jesus Christ), he said one of the trials of this life is not to "shrink" when we face trials, but instead to look outward at others. Another talk by Neil L. Andersen (An Apostle of Jesus Christ), his talk was on "Faith is not by chance but by choice". So it's just that.. Our faith doesn't just descend upon us, but we need to choose to have faith in Jesus Christ, and continue to strengthen it through study of the scriptures, obedience, keeping the commmandments and exercising it in trials. 

As Elder Rasband told us in the last General Conference, those spiritual experiences we have felt in the past, hold onto them and not forget. So we can use them and rely upon the assurances we have felt in the past.

I know this Church to be true. I know that this work of the Lord, His Gospel will continue to reach every person on every continent. I know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is The Restored Church of Jesus Christ. I know that through the Book of Mormon, we can come closer to Christ than any other book. I know the Bible and the Book of Mormon both testify of Christ, because there is a Christ. And I know he Lives today.

Love,

Elder Aguiar​

Time is Flying By!

What the? Time has flown by so very fast here in Rizal!! 

This week was full of hardwork, it was great! I loved it! The two little sisters I talked about last week, are getting baptized!! They are the smartest ever haha! They are so funny and they have loved coming to church. They loved the Primary program for all the little kids and were more than excited to take upon them the name of Christ this coming Saturday!:) We have found many new people to teach that are so interested. We went to Sittio Kulili, where mostly rice farmers live on this mountain, and they were more than willing to hear abour the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ!!  JoJo that I talked about last week, has totally quit smoking since last week! What a miracle! I know that JoJo and myself have felt the abundance of love and confidence from your many prayers this past week!! Just as the Lord is, we are ecstatic for JoJo and his family :)

So this week, I know has been one full of miracles! There have been many many times this week that I started to just blurt out sentence upon sentence in Tagalog and guess what?? Instead of people kind of squinting at me trying to understand what I am saying, it's kinda like a bobbing head motion.. haha MEANING they understand! haha I have been so happy this week talking to many people this week. Despite my american accent, the Lord has not only blessed me with the language but has also blessed those that are listening, to understand me. I cannot put in words, the feelings of love, comfort and confidence the Lord has given me this week. Sister and Elder Sturgeon (my grandparents) sent me an email this week with a scripture they liked. Its Philippians 4:13. (NOT PHILIPPINES ;) ) haha, anyway it says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." This scripture has expained not only my week, but my whole mission. As humans, we have weakenesses, we have faults, we come short. But, as this scripture implies, Christ will strengthen us. IF we humble ourselves before Him and ask. (Ether 12;27). I'm so happy to know that my imperfections in this life can be washed away by the everlasting and atoning sacrifce of Jesus Christ. As sons and daughters of God, we need to, as said by Elder Bendar (of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) "to have faith that the Lord's promises can be individual and personal to all of us. We shouldn't only believe in Christ, but believe Him". Believe in the comfort His promises can bring to us in our lives!

Thank you for all the thoughts, love and prayers from you all. I'm grateful to be blessed by so many great family members and friends:)

MAHAL KITA (I love you)

-Elder Aguiar

Chicken Pox and Jack Fruit

So as the title implies, Elder Penetrante and I did got a huge Jack fruit! The title also implies that chicken pox is involved in my week... which it isn't.. Just tons of mosquito bites which are so bad that they look like chicken pox! (Sorry for the scare!) haha

Anyway, this week was great. I was able to go and see most of the Rizal area, and meet the nicest, most recent converts, investigators and members. The one thing I'm trying to get used to is the bike riding... It is honestly a KILLER! I'm not used to riding a bike all day every day!! I can walk for miles, but when it comes to bike riding, I haven't done it for a while... But it is still VERY FUN! It reminds me of the times riding all the way to middle school on my bike with all my friends! haha. Slowly over the week I have gotten a little used to riding for long periods of time but there is still room for improvment.

Also this week, we were able to meet some new people that are interested about listening to the Restored Gospel in the Fullest :) And also, they were nice enough to give us 8 fish and 1 20 pound Jack fruit and some Mango Apples!! What a week. But recieving food wasn't the highlight of our week. This week Elder Penetrante and I are teaching 2 little girls and they are almost ready for baptism on Feb. 25! Their older sister is a member and they like coming to church! Their parents said that it's ok for them to be baptized. Unfortunately their parents aren't that interested in the church. So hopefully in the future there will be an opportunity when they are more open! :) Also, there is a recent convert family that we have been visiting with everynight to go over the lessons and to help them continue to strenghthen their faith in Jesus Christ! :) The whole family was baptized a little while ago, except the oldest son. His name is JoJo, he is 19 and he wants to be baptized but is having trouble quitting smoking. So, every night when we go and visit, we try to do our best to help JoJo and encourage him to stay strong. If you would like to, try and keep them in your prayers to give him strength :)

So that was my great week in a nutshell. I love it here and the people are as always... The BEST!  Just as I love the people here, I love you all too! :)

-The White Filipino,

Elder Cody Aguiar:)

Transferred to Rizal

I have been transferred again! But, I will be staying here in Mindoro still so, I'm very happy about that!! I'm moving to the area of "Rizal" which is literally the area right next to mine! What's funny is that the elders that are in that area, were our best friends. So, now I get to serve with one of them! My new companion is Elder Penetrante and he is Filipino.  We go pretty good with each othe,r so I'm excited about that! Rizal is actually the only area in our WHOLE mission that has BIKES! So it will be great to get some excercise in! 

Anyways, Happy Birthday to Austin and Ross!! :) I hope you "feel one year older and wiser too! Happy Birthday, to you!" haha I love you guys! 

So this past week, we were able to set TONS of baptism dates! It's been really great, and also this past week, Elder Baran (senior companion) had to go to the city to get his teeth checked on. So, it has been just Elder Peni (we entered the MTC together) and I together this week. Since we have been out the exact same time in the field, it was kind of tough to teach our investigators, but yesterday, (our 3rd day without Elder Baran) we were able to have our 1st successful lesson on the Atonement of Chirst. It was really great!! 

Mahal ko kayo lahat!! I know this Church is directed by Jesus Christ. The One who died for all of us, for all of our sins, all of our mistakes, all of our heartaches and pains. The One who is our Brother, and The One who I'm thankful to call my Savior. I know that just in times of old, when Christ's original 12 apostles were on the earth, that this Church is directed by power of the Priesthood, the same Power of God, Our Eternal Father. 

-Elder Cody Louis Aguiar

Again... What the Kwan?

As I said last week us missionaries have gotten a new schedule! Changes like this don't happen too often so it's VERY EXCITING! Anyway, we are now able to change our studies and our planning and all of that fun stuff to the less productive times of the day to be able to work the most into our days. We watched a broadcast from the Missionary Department which included 3 members of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles (Yes, the same kind of Apostles that Jesus Christ called himself!!) So it was very special. I know that this change is truly inspired and comes from the head of this church, Jesus Christ.

So, we had many miracles this week but there was one in particular that I would just like to share! Elder Baran, Elder Peni and I, have been working hard in our large area and with the members and Less-Actives the last 5 weeks. It says in the scriptures that "There is opposition in all things". Thats true with our hard work, Satan has been working just as hard or harder to stop us. There was just 1 instance out of a lot this week I would like to share before the "miracle" ;) We were teaching this new family that we just met in Iriron.  The lesson was going pretty well, they were asking a lot of questions and it was good. We started to teach about the Book of Mormon, when out of no where this random man that was very very drunk asked if he could listen. We said "Sure of course Brother!", and we kept going with the lesson.  Then out of no where he starts yelling and talking in gibberish.  I had no idea what was going on haha, long story short, he left and came back 4 times in the most crucial parts and doctrine of our lesson. It was ok, we kept teaching and it wasn't too much of a distraction, but I asked myself why Satan was trying so hard to interrupt the Spirit. After we finished it turns out the son of the family we were teaching and his friend wanted to work WITH US!!  It was so amazing to see something like that happen and have people be so receptive they wanted us to share the joy with others!! 

The miracle I'll share I'll make kind of quick because I'm running low on time. Our branch here in Mindoro is very small. Since I have been here, only about 50 people have attended church each week. So, like I said eariler, we have been working so hard and it paid off!! We had over 80 PEOPLE ATTEND church last week and we had 7 investigators come as well!!:) It was so great and such a miracle because I knew we were not the reason all those people came to church, but it was the Lord Jesus Christ.

To end, I know that Jesus Christ loves you and me, we are His brothers and sisters. I know that we have a loving Father in Heaven that knows and loves you more than you could EVER comprehend. He loves us so much He sent His only begotten Son to die for us and atone for our many sins (John 3:16). It is so humbling to know that God has a plan for each one of us and that is called the Plan of Salvation! 

Until next week,

Love,

Elder Aguiar

Day at the beach/caves with our zone and senior couples

What the Kwan?!

So Kwan... This kwan has nothing to do with my email, but I'd just like to tell you about this beautiful Tagalog word!! :) The amazing Filipinos made this word that means... Anything you want it to. Pretty cool right? ;) haha I remember learning this word in the MTC but I haven't heard it actually be used until I was here in Mindoro.

Anyway, it was a great week!! We had Zone Conference on Friday, and it was such a spiritual uplifter. One thing that I loved out of the many great things, was President Koster had the senior couples speak to us about Christlike attributes, and it was perfect because I was studying that for the last couple days without even knowing they were going to speak to speak to us, and it was the most heart touching thing to hear the couple missionaries talk about Christlike attributes and how important they are, and to be able to hear of the insights they had for us younger missionaries was great too. To see that no matter our age, we are all sons and daughters of God, trying everyday to become like Christ. He is our perfect example in each of our lives, and as we try to become like Him, He will help us along the way.

During Zone Conf, we heard that there will be BIG CHANGES IN THE MISSIONARY SCHEDULE! So we will have a broadcast by our beloved Prophet Thomas S. Monson and the Quorum of the 12 Apostles :) It will be a very interesting and fun broadcast where we will learn the new changes to all the missionaries ALL around the WORLD!!

After Zone Conf, Elder Peni and I had exchanges with our district leader Elder Sanft. He is from Oregon and a great leader. We got to teach some of his AMAZING investigators, and also we got to ride the FIRST BIKES IN THE MISSION. So, in our mission we don't have any bikes, so it was exciting to ride the very first bikes the first day they arrived at our District Leaders house.

So, this week January 28th, we have a baptism planned for Noreal! He is 13 and he and his mom have been taking the missionary lessons and are more than ready to be baptized!!:) Noreal is the coolest kid ever! He's kind of shy but is very funny.

I know this church to be true. I know that there is a life after this one and the Lord wants us to live with Him again as we did before. I asked myself why I was sent to the Philippines, why the Lord knew the Philippines would be the perfect mission for me. I was pondering on a long trike ride a thought came to me. "Because the Lord loves me." But then I said to myself of course he does, and then another thought came to my mind. "God sent me here because he loves me... And so I can share His love with those that don't know Him". What a wonderful thought right? 

"For God so loved the Philippines, he sent one of His beloved sons half way around the world to preach His Gospel" :)

-Elder Cody Louis Aguiar​

President and Sister Koster and our new zone t-shirts

Elder Peni on the first bikes on Mindoro

Jealous of my watch tan line?

Hangin' In

Hello! I hope this was a great last week for you!  Just to answer some questions, the language is coming along! Slowly but surely. I taught on Sunday, and it wasn't the best, but it ended better than it started. It's really hard because this branch relies on missionaries for everything and they never want to teach. I got an email from president last week with him saying he has hope and knows that we can strengthen this branch, which is so much work. All the missionaries in Mindoro know about our area because there are a lot of problems. We don't know how to fix everything but we are trying.

Some interesting facts about where I live: 

Our area is so beautiful, there are tons of beautiful sites to see always and the people are pretty nice.

And I hit my head on everything here!! On houses, boards, I'm not that tall but I always have to duck to get into peoples houses.

So, this computer I have right now can't upload any pictures, so hopefully next week.  Mindoro is great and I'm happy to be here and to be in such a great place. 

We have to go even though I just got on. I have been waiting for a computer for over and hour and now they are telling me we have to go.  Have a great week!

Love, Elder Aguiar