Urdaneta Mission: April 2016

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

March 2016 Arriving Batch!

March 2016 Arriving Batch!

The day after we said goodbye to the departing missionaries, we welcomed a new batch of missionaries to the mission. The new batch of missionaries are the first batch to have gone back to the 3 weeks MTC program since the change from 2 weeks back to 3 weeks. The missionaries arrived with big smiles and were ready to serve the Lord. As we do not have a bus terminal close to the Mission Home, the missionaries got off at 7/11 and were shuttled by the Assistants and Office Staff to the Mission Home.

Office Staff and Assistants waiting for the bus to arrive

This is the bus!!!

The two vehicles having the "drive-in" ceremony

Elder Taupau

Elder Fakaosita

Elder Key

Elder Nequinto

Elder Aspinall

Elder Hicks

Elder Knowles

Elder Alazo

Sister Alversado

Sister Geronimo

Sister Cortez

Sister Apolinario

Of course, lunch was served immediately as they were hungry from their long travel from Manila

After lunch, while President had his Entry Interview with them, Elder Chan, our Secretary, began with some administrative work

After the lunch and interviews, the missionaries were paired up with our missionaries in Urdaneta and Urdaneta North Zones and spent the rest of the day proselyting. The next day, they came back for the orientation meeting, where they were oriented to different aspects of missionary life and, and to meet their Trainers.

Our March 2016 Arriving Missionaries!

After the orientation and lunch, it was finally time for them to meet their trainers

Elder Garate and Elder Key

Elder Bellosillo and Elder Fakaosita

Elder Knowles and Elder Sabangan

Elder Rawlinson and Elder Alazo

Elder Isuga and Elder Taupau

Elder Sabiano, our outgoing Assistant to the President, and Elder Aspinall

Elder Cureg and Elder Hicks

Elder Nequinto and Elder Tomas

Sister Alversado and Sister Agustin

Sister Geronimo and Sister Combate

Sister Cortez and Sister Gentry

Sister Apolinario and Sister Smith 2

And so the journey begins for these new missionaries.

*Please feel free to leave comments in the comments box below.

Message from the President

The Miracle of 12 Weeks

As soon as missionaries are in-field they start the First 12 Weeks training program. Their magnificently inspired trainers teach them about the rudiments of the work of the Lord, introduce the mission culture, and refine their teaching skills. The training in being exactly obedient goes on continuously until the end of the mission term. All of them would learn what Elder Sta Maria summarized:

“I observed as we continue trying to become exactly obedient, we felt that God is reaching out and helping us to find people to teach and our prayer was answered right away and especially this area became more fruitful than I ever expected. I felt like when we are doing our best everyday He also do his best to help us in doing His work. Now I realize the importance of being exactly obedient. It’s not just for safety nor restrictions but it’s also the way for God to bless us.”

Mission life is bumpy life. Many ups and downs. Many highs and lows. Jubilee (of baptisms) and misery (of being punted). This is exactly what missionary life ought to be – compressed life experiences in 24 months or 18 months. What is important is you did your best! Sister Piutau related this account:

“Although the sun burns, and we walk for miles, by the time the sun sets, there's nothing that satisfies me more than knowing that we've tried our 100% best.”

On their last 2 transfers, every elder and sister that I know who has set his/her mind to baptizing a family or one more before going home indeed baptized some more. How is it possible that on the last months of their mission they can do this? They intensely exercised their faith to find, faith to teach, and faith to baptize. They actually did what Helaman described,

“…wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.”

The wonderful thing about it is that you don’t have to wait until your last 2 transfers to baptize. Imagine that every transfer cycle is your last. Every area is your last. And you will do your utmost best as if your time is running out. See the miracle unfold!

Weekly baptism is a reality! Those who have done this will testify of it. These are the joyful, joy-filled, joyous missionaries! Indeed, we retain the recent converts and nourish the less active members but our main purpose will always be to teach repentance and baptize converts.

I believe that when we work relentlessly every day as if it is our last transfer, we will find, teach, baptize and confirm those whom the Lord has prepared for us. Witness the miracle of the last 12 weeks every transfer cycle!