Frying Hot Dogs in a Toaster

Hey.

Yeah. Last night we ran out of gas in our apartment and were hungry out of our minds. We ended up frying hot dogs in a toaster. It works! It may take FOREVER but it works! And we also had some super spiritual experiences this week. We did a whole lot of door knocking (well.. shouting sometimes because there isn't really a door to knock on all the time.) But yeah we found a whole lot of people that have a lot of potential to be helped by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It's been such a blessing to be able to just meet new people and get to know their story and who they really are. 

So this week I studied about the importance of religion in any setting. Elder Jeffery R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (my man) gave an awesome talk last week about this topic. I realized that, obviously, as missionaries, no matter how much we try to share the Gospel with any set of individuals, it all comes down to the point where everyone chooses to believe what they want to believe, even if it's not what we missionaries believe. But despite that, the importance of religion remains in our lives, in our familial ties, social ties, and even civil ties.

"True religion, the tie that binds us to God and each other, not only seals our family relationships in eternity but also heightens our delight in those family experiences while in mortality." -Elder Jeffery R. Holland

But what I'm trying to say not only as a missionary, but as a 19 year old kid that has done a lot of self-searching in the past 16 months. If you really want to find peace and comfort in your life, religion is the key, and hopefully that religion is the Gospel of Jesus Christ (I'm a missionary. I'm obligated to say it, okay. :D) But even if you find that the gospel isn't for you, find God in your life. This is what will truly bind you, your family, and whatever you hold dear together. I love the Lord. I love being a missionary. I'm on top of the world right now (well not literally. I'm actually super close to the equator.) Hope you all had an awesome week. Thanks for all the emails and stuff. You're all the best.

-Elder Bondoc

It was my companion's birthday. We celebrated it on Monday. Elder Cortez is the man.

The Bishop's Fam.

The district this transfer.

​The whole hot dog ordeal. It was awesome. 

I'm Still Going to Be in Labo!

Hey World.

Life is good. This week was awesome. So first and foremost, I am NOT being transferred. I am SUPER duper blessed to get to work in Labo for another six weeks. It should be awesome and I'm super excited! Elder Cortez is still going to be my companion soooo yeah. We have a lot to do. This week we got the chance to work in Sta. Elena, a bayan that is about a 2 hour jeep ride from Labo. We met a whole lot of really nice people that are really interested in the message we have to say so hopefully missionaries will get the chance to serve there one day. There we saw this monkey that was missing a hand. I thought it was cool. I also forgot to tell you last week. Remember when that one lady asked me to spit on my finger and rub her child's bellybutton? Well the same sort of thing happened last last week. This grandma was holding a baby and she said, "Pa-usog sa paya niya kuya," which roughly translates to "Lick your finger and touch my grandchild's foot." My companion didn't hesitate and just did it. I soon followed. It was kinda weird. But whatever. It made the grandma happy. 

Anyway I learned how to be patient this week. Missions are fun and very, very enjoyable. I wouldn't take any minute back of it. But sometimes, or even most of the time, it gets tough. We have to step back, take a look at the bigger picture, take a BIG, DEEP breath, and then take on the challenge one step at a time. But I love what I do and will continue to love what I do until the end. I LOVE being a missionary. The black name tag brings so many blessings. And to some degree, rather than just enduring trials, I'd much rather enjoy them, wouldn't we all?

"Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days." D&C 24:8

So yeah. It's inevitable. Life will be hard. But may we endure and enjoy until the end. I know that Christ will be with us every step of the way. Until next week everyone!

-Elder Bondoc

Yeah. I can't do the whole "take pictures seriously" thing.

The name tag. 

That one monkey that I mentioned

Capalonga!

Hey.

Wait for it...

...

HAAAAPPY BIRRTHDAAAAY MOM!!!!

AND

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO MY LOVELY PARENTS!

Without my parents (especially my Mom) I would be literally nonexistent. But luckily my mom gets to celebrate another fantastic year of life and my dad gets to celebrate another fantastic year of being married to my mom! (Because I love my mom a whole lot. Sorry, Dad. This just isn't about you, okay?) I hope you guys have an awesome day! You're the beeeeeessst!

So this week was AWESOME. Let me tell you all why. SO this week Elder Cortez and I got to do a little bit of adventuring. We got to take a two hour bus ride to another bayan in our area called Capalonga. This place has been untouched by missionaries for years now, so we figured it would be a good idea to see what was there and if it had any potential to progress. Literally every person we met showed some interest in us or were just nice enough to let us in and share a message. Such a blessing. We've seen so many miracles in our work this week. And I know the same will happen next week. 

Anyway, this week I had the chance to ponder about the idea of empathy and how in order to know and really understand someone, we must put ourselves in their shoes. It's hard sometimes, especially here in the Philippines. Coming from the other side of the planet, it is sometimes difficult to really understand what someone is going through. But that key trait is necessary in order to become a successful teacher. Christ was and is the perfect example of a perfect teacher. With kindness and love, he taught doctrine and counseled all his disciples how to become better. He even comforted the weary and healed the sick. So to some degree, we should show sincere love and empathy for those we meet and love. Through that they just might feel our love for them and more importantly Christ's love for them. 

"A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another" John 13:34 

This week we adventure in new territory... Santa Elena! It's another city in our area that is right on the border of a different mission. I'll let you know all about it next week. Thanks for the emails everyone! You're the best! Until next week!

-Elder Bondoc

Capalonga. (It's a play on words. If you understand Tagalog, you'll get it...)

Me, my companion, and the ward mission leader. 

It was a windy day, thus the rockstar hair. But I was stoked to find out that the ocean is in our area. 

​L A B O missionaries. Sorry my face looks... well... not normal. 

Boldness, but Not Overbearance

Hey Guys.

So it's hot. Like real hot. I was totally under the impression that it was supposed to be rainy season (which is it? I'm just confused..) but this week it ended up being super hot. I feel like all I ever talk about anymore is the weather... But whatever. It's worth talking about. I love it! Anyway this week was a good one. A lot of the barangays (neighborhoods) are having their yearly fiesta which essentially this annual party in which all the members of the barangay eat a lot of food and have a bunch of cultural activities and events which means... everyone's busy. BUT that's okay. In the Naga Mission, and more specifically in our companionship, we find ways! So this week was full of finding new investigators. It's good and I love it. 

Something I learned this week actually has to do with the importance of being open AND sensitive with everyone that we know. As missionaries, we teach according to the needs of every individual that we meet. We know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ applies to each and every individual on this planet. However, sometimes I feel that we all are either to bold or not bold enough in saying what needs to be said. Especially as missionaries, we face this challenge every day. Alma, a prophet in the Book of Mormon in Ancient America, gave advice to his son, Shiblon, regarding this matter. 

"Use boldness, not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love..." -Alma 38:12

SO may we all help those around us in boldness, but also in love. Missionary work is awesome. I'll talk to you guys net week. Thanks for the emails! 

-Elder Bondoc

I thought it was hilarious. We have our own office.

A Baptism, a Great Meal, and Hope

Hey,

So first and foremost, two of our investigators, Brother Gyson and Brother Denver, got baptized this past Saturday! It was such an amazing experience to see them come out of the water literally clean of any sin they had previously committed. They were so excited. So was I. I'm so glad that I can say that got play a small role in the conversion of the children of our Heavenly Father. Elder Cortez and I also got to cook laing this week. It's gabi, or the leaf of the taro root, soaked in cocounut milk, mixed with shrimp paste coconut milk and a whole lot of labuyo, or tiny red hot chili peppers. It's classic Bicol cooking.. And I now know how to cook it. To be honest, Elder Cortez and I were both surprised that the end result was actually what it came out to be. We got to go on exchanges with the zone leaders the other day. It was cool to learn go on splits and learn new things from the leaders of the mission. 

Anyway this week we learned about the importance of having hope in all things. Literally ALL things. I cannot begin to even describe or explain just how many doors were slammed in our face or how many times people literally reject us right in front of our faces. And we eventually found success. Anyway, in times of struggle we all come to the point of breaking. If we obtain a "perfect brightness of hope" as the prophet Nephi mentions in 2 Nephi 31, we can over conquer anything. I'm so happy. Anyway. That's all. I love you guys. Thanks for all the emails. I'll talk to you again next week!

-Elder Bondoc

Pictures of the week. Enjoy 'em. 

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Palaway Po, Kuya

Hey

So this'll be a quick one. Funny experience of the week. Here we go. So after teaching a lesson, my companion and I tried introducing ourselves to a mother that we had just met. She was carrying this baby, and trying to hand him over to me, said, "Palaway po, Kuya."  which translates to "Can I get you to spit on my child?" I was totally thrown off guard because I had absolutely NO idea why I would ever spit on a baby. But then my companion explained that there's this superstition in the Philippines that if put spit on a baby's stomach that the evil spirits will go away or something like that. I didn't get it and still don't get it. But yeah. She was actually asking me to lick my finger and draw a cross on her baby's stomach.. Thrown off. 

So this week I learned about the importance of laughter. So I think sometimes we all get caught up in our lives. We get stressed.  Sometimes we're faced with problems that we can do nothing about. This week my companion and I laughed more than I have on my entire mission. As hard as life gets, I believe that we should smile--laugh. Why? Well.. Why not? There's always a reason to be happy. Of course I can't say that we can always be happy, but I believe that we should always be on a pursuit for happiness, as the founding fathers once said (yeah I still remember a bit of American History even in the Philippines.) But yeah. That's all. Hope you guys have a great week. 

"And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness."

2 Nephi 5:27

-Elder Bondoc

I found a new drink called Winter Melon. It's not tea. I promise.

The Diza family. Love 'em. :) 
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"Lord, I Believe"

Hi.

So first and foremost, my new companion is (drumroll, please) Elder Cortez from Mocada, Tarlac! This is his first time being transferred and I am his third companion. When we went to pick up our new companions in Naga, I saw him and immediately new that we were going to be close. He's awesome. This was our first week of work and boy did we get a lot done. Oh here's a cool story. So this week we had a lesson scheduled at a house 45 minutes away from our apartment, if we take a jeep. We were short on time and the last jeep headed for our appointment was PACKED. So we had no choice but ride on the top. The sun was out and we were ready to get to work. Not 15 minutes after riding on the top of this jeep did the rains come crashing down on us, two innocent missionaries going about 30 miles an hour. It was awesome and awful all at the same time. SO yeah.. we got to our appointment, drenched from head to toe, and taught one of the most powerful lessons that I'll never forget. Missionary life is awesome.

So something that I'd like to share comes from a talk that I read by Jeffrey R. Holland entitled "Lord, I Believe." So this talk basically states the importance of standing our ground on the faith that we have rather than expressing to others faith that we don't have in order to impress them. All of us have doubts and concerns that aren't immediately answered. But at the same time, we all have some sort of existing faith that we can build upon. Elder Holland, "...hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes..." An Apostle of the Lord promised us that additional knowledge will come, but that it's up to us to "hold fast" until such a time. Christ taught that if we express the faith that we already have, be it as small as a mustard seed, that we'll be able to move mountains. It's up to us, however, if we're willing and ready to hold fast to what we know. And one day, when our faith is truly tested, hopefully we'll have the will and power to say "Lord, I Believe." And only then will we witness miracles. Only then will our faith be strengthened. I love this gospel. Faith is truly what binds us to the Heavens and to our Heavenly Father. I love this work. Thanks for the emails. I'll talk to you again next week!

-Elder Bondoc

Me and Elder Cortez

This spider was as big as my face. Sweet.​

My companion was like "Hey let's take a picture of the moon." So we took a picture of the moon. 
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