Urdaneta Mission

Friday, February 5, 2016

Lingayen Stake Priesthood Leaders' Dinner

Lingayen Stake Priesthood Leaders' Dinner

On the evening of January 29th, 2016, the Lingayen Stake Priesthood Leaders, together with President Deyro and Sister Deyro, gathered for a dinner to fellowship and to strengthen one another. The dinner was held at a restaurant in Manat and every one who attended had a good time. President Deyro was also able to give a short message to the Leaders in order to help move missionary work forward for Lingayen Stake. After the buffet, we had ice cream, specially bought by the restaurant, to end the night!

Thursday, February 4, 2016

February 2016 Mission Leadership Council!

February 2016 Mission Leadership Council!

This month's Mission Leadership Council was held on February 3rd, 2016, at the Mission Home. This time, the Council discussed many various issues to bring standardization into the Mission. Many views were exchanged and in the end, the Council was able to come to a decision on many issues that would help move the work forward in this part of the world. One of the topics of this MLC was about The Learning Process and how investigators learn. We learned that in order to teach well, excellent lesson planning is a must. After a long day, every one had ice cream to cool off before they returned to their areas to implement the things they had learned.

Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders reciting the Missionary Purpose, D&C 4 and the Standard of Truth

Elder McBride, one of the Assistants, giving his workshop about Gathering into the Garners

Elder Sabiano, one of our Assistants, giving his workshop about lesson plans

Zone Leaders putting into practice what Elder Sabiano shared with them

President Deyro giving his workshop

Elder Tippetts giving his testimony after the picture-taking. He will be training next transfer and this was his last MLC.

Sunday, January 24, 2016

January 2016 District Leaders Council

January 2016 District Leaders Council

The day after the Mission Leaders met, the District Leaders of Urdaneta Mission also gathered for a meeting in the Mission Home to counsel and receive instruction on some various matters. DLC is held only once a quarter and so it was a great opportunity for every one to gather and to learn. The DLs arrived early and were fed with a wonderful breakfast before receiving training and instruction from the leaders. With every one sharing ideas and counselling together, the DLC arrived at some good decisions that will help the mission to move forward.

DLs reciting the Missionary Purpose and D&C 4

Sister Deyro instructing the DLs

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

January 2016 Mission Leadership Council

January 2016 Mission Leadership Council

On January 6th, 2016, the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders gathered in the Mission Home for our Mission Leadership Council. Presided by President Deyro, various topics and items were discussed in order to help further the work of the Lord in this part of the world. Despite the black-out that took place from 8am to 6pm that day, and with only minimal power in the Mission Home, the Mission Leadership Council pressed forward and was a success.

Alaminos ZLs leading a discussion on Short and Powerful Statements

Sister Deyro instructing the leaders

Elder McBride and Elder Sabiano, our Assistants, instructing us

Lingayen ZLs doing a role-play on teaching the Sabbath Day and then inviting investigators to attend church

President Deyro giving his part of the training

This is how we get ready for the nice picture

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!