Urdaneta Mission

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

December 2015 Arriving Batch!

December 2015 Arriving Batch!

On December 30, 2015, we welcomed the arrival of our new missionaries assigned in Urdaneta! The missionaries arrived later than expected due to heavy traffic and the amount of people at the bus terminal in Manila. However, they arrived safely at 4pm and were ushered immediately to the Mission Home.

Missionaries filling up their emergency contact information at the Mission Home

After a good dinner, a special FHE was held in the Mission Home for the new arriving missionaries, together with President and Sister Deyro and their 5 children. After that, the missionaries were brought to the various apartments in Urdaneta, where they spent the night.

"An Evening With the Deyros", a special FHE with President and Sister Deyro and their 5 children

Special Number by our Office Staff

Elder Alagon

Elder Barranco

Elder Bontoyan

Elder Budge

Elder Cañete

Elder Corton

Elder Orlanda

Elder Murillo

Elder Morris

Elder Gamboa

Elder Diaz

Elder Parohinog

Sister Agustin

Sister Blanco

Sister Fivas

Sister Gadea

Sister Soe

Sister Ruyeras

Sister Piutau

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

December 2015 Departing Missionaries!

December 2015 Departing Missionaries!

On December 29th, 2015, we said goodbye to 8 of our missionaries. They have successfully completed their full-time missions and have returned home. We are happy for them and for their selfless service to the Lord. May the Lord bless them wherever they will go.

L-R: Elder Marco, Elder Cristobal, Sister Vanisi, Sister Ramirez, Sister Ufau,
Sister Paningbatan, Elder Carfielo, Elder Tan

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Urdaneta Choir on ABS-CBN Dagupan on December 25th, 2015!

Urdaneta Choir on ABS-CBN Dagupan on December 25th, 2015!

This year's Christmas was special for all of us here in Urdaneta. Our very own Urdaneta Mission choir featured on Channel 2, ABS-CBN on Christmas day to sing praises and carols to spread the true Spirit of Christmas. Led by Elder McBride, the choir worked hard over the past few P-Days, using precious time in the morning of their P-days to practice. However, their hard work paid off and they are now mini-celebrities.

Choir members taking a break

Briefing by Sister Karganilla from Public Affairs

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!