Sunday, January 29, 2017

May Our Weaknesses Become Our Strengths

Hello.

This is going to be another quick one. So Brother Owen was baptized this Saturday. That was cool. Sister Dianne, another one of our investigators, is being baptized this upcoming Saturday which is super exciting. We also have Missionary Leadership Council, Zone Training, and exchanges with Elders Powell and Christie this week which is super awesome. We had a district activity earlier this morning at the local institute building and totally had a budol fight which is pretty much just a big group of people eating food off of a banana leaf with their hands. It's awesome. It makes me feel like a real man.

So this week was super successful and super humbling at the same time. Something I really tried focusing on this week was connected to a verse in Ether 12:27 which says that we all have weaknesses and that only through Christ and being humble, those weaknesses become our strengths. Missionary work is so awesome. It really helps me understand who I am as a child of our Heavenly Father and what I can improve on. Such a blessing. Such a privilege. Until next week everyone! Thanks for everything!

-Elder Bondoc
The District.
Brother Owen's Baptism!
The BUDOL FIGHT!!!! 

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Love One Another

Maray na buhay sa indo gabos.

So it's been a busy week and we don't have much time (again) so I'm going to make this one short. We had Zone Conference. That was cool. We had exchanges with the Camaligan District Leader and his companion. That was also cool. And we should have a baptism this week and next week, which is the coolest. Can't wait.

Overall, something that I learned this week was about respecting others. I was able to give a talk at church yesterday about the importance of sharing and uplifting those of other faiths. As missionaries, we aren't here just to baptize people, but to really help them understand the love that Jesus Christ has for each and everyone of us. I think that's awesome and I applaud those who hold on to what they believe and am willing to defend their freedom to do that at any given moment. I love being a missionary and sharing the love of Christ with everyone I meet. "...Love one another, as I have loved you." John 13:34 God abhors conflict and contention, but praises and encourages empathy and support between those of different faiths. He loves all of us. And with that.. Love you all! Until next week!

-Elder Bondoc

*sorry. No pictures again this week. I've been slacking with the whole picture taking thing. I'll do better this week. 


Sunday, January 15, 2017

Miracles on Miracles

Hi.

So this week was awesome for a number of reasons that I can't really explain in a timely fashion, so I'm gonna make it quick. We met a whole lot of people who have potential to be baptized. We also did a whole lot of community service work for people who were affected by the typhoon. It's been 3 weeks or so since the storm passed through, and until now people are still recovering. So we're trying to help them in any way that we can. It's great and such a big blessing. On top of that, we had exchanges with the Calabanga District Leader and his companion. It was super fun. I love exchanges because I get to learn from other missionaries and apply those things in my own mission. This upcoming week is also gonna be a really busy one. We have two community service projects, Zone Conference, and exchanges all lined up for this week's schedule. So pumped.

Which leads me to what I learned this week. It's a short one. Love your neighbor, even if you don't know them. Any service rendered to others is one of the ways that Christ uses us and makes us blessings in their lives. So yeah. You never no what kind of impact you might have on the life of someone else. That's one of the reasons why I love being a missionary so much. It's such a blessing and privilege. Thanks for the emails everyone! Talk to you again next week!

-Elder Bondoc


Just a picture some other elders and I took after a CSP. Love these guys. 

Sunday, January 8, 2017

Line Upon Line, Precept Upon Precept

Hey.

So this week was awesome. We were super busy with events. We conducted a zone meeting on Friday, had about two community service projects, and still managed to somehow teach some really spiritual lessons, leaving only enough time to sleep and eat. Gotta love missionary work. The people here in Naga are doing great. They're currently in the process of rebuilding from the damage that was caused by Typhoon Nina so hopefully, everything will be okay in the next couple of weeks. We were able to help a family tear down the remains of their house on Saturday morning. The house was literally blown to bits. So we helped cleaned up. It was a great experience. As of now, we're just doing our thing. Loving it. 

Something that I learned this week is how to take every challenge we face one step at a time. When we're faced with a huge obstacle, sometimes we just don't know where to start or how to take it on. If we look at the big picture and slowly manage our concerns, the solution slowly begins to become much clearer than we expected it to be. 

"For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom;..." 2 Nephi 28:30

God will provide a way, just not all at once. If we trust in Him, follow His commandments, and continue to repent and improve, I know that He'll help us become more like Him every day; loving, understanding, and diligent. We must be obedient. Only through that do we become worthy for the miracles He's preparing for us. Hope you all had a good week! We couldn't be better on this end of the world. Until next week.

-Elder Bondoc

Sunday, January 1, 2017

Super Typhoons and a New Year

Hello.

So I wasn't able to email last week. You're all probably aware of the signal #4 super typhoon that went right through Naga. It was insane. Christmas night, we were on lockdown. I've never experienced such a strong storm in my entire life. Windows were shaking because of the strength of the wind and some water even got in our apartment. After a night with no electricity and just about no sleep, we woke up to heavy wreckage. Trees had fallen left and right. Even power poles (is that what they're even called?) were leaning on the tension of the wires that were connected to them, just on the brink of falling in the middle of the roads. It was nuts. So for the past couple of weeks, we've been trying to recover. But it's been a great experience. The Filipino people our so resilient. No matter how heavy the trials get, the people here are just so ready to pick themselves back up on their feet and keep on doing their thing. It's great. It's such a humbling experience to be here right now. So I hope all of you had Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year's. We definitely had one for the books. 

So my message for the week is about resilience and faith. Every waking day of our lives, we're battered by physical, emotion, and spiritual storms that sometimes we give up. But I know that through our faith in Jesus Christ, we can get back right back up. No matter how heavy the damage. 

"And now my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his might storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build, they cannot fall." (Hel 5:12) 

So if we humble ourselves and submitting to the will of the Father, through our firm faith in Jesus Christ, we will not fall. Cool, right? Man I love being a missionary. I'll talk to you guys again next week. Sorry, we can't use flash drives or USB's at the computer shop that we're currently at, so I'll try sending pictures next week. Love you all! Until next week!

-Elder Bondoc