I don't normally go hiking in flip flops and my whites...

but when I do you know I'm going to baptize a child of God!

This week was a great week. There were quite a few setbacks but it's better to look up. It's better to look forward.

A lot of appointments fell through. We didn't nearly accomplish most of our goals for lessons or for our investigators. Church attendance was kind of low There is a lot of potential for everything but it seems like everything is in a standstill. 

Despite all of this things are still fine. The baptism went wonderfully. It was such an amazing experience for the both of us. The Spirit was so strong. The ocean felt great. Words can't really describe how I felt.

Being here in Villaba has made me realize the importance of the priesthood. The 2 baptisms we've had have both been young boys. We've been working really hard to find families and potential priesthood holders. We've found them but now the task is to help them understand and accept the Gospel. Our branch has been without an Elders Quorum President and Branch Mission Leader for half a year now. Our Branch President is probably the best in the entire world. He is giving his all in serving everyone and simultaneously preparing his family to go to the temple in April. He's only been a member for 6 years, but he has such a firm grasp on the Gospel and truly does magnify his priesthood.

My thoughts have been very clustered lately. Somehow it all revolves around Charity. Haven't quite made all the connections just yet but it is a subject that has been on my mind lately. In cebuano its gugma nga putli or pure love. I've been thinking about how true it is. It is the pure love of Christ. It's loving others the way God loves us. It is a Christlike attribute that I don't yet have but I am  striving to work for.

On Tuesday we had a district meeting about Charity. I never really put a whole lot of thought into why I came on a mission before. Last year my thoughts were oh everyone else is putting in their papers I should do the same. Everybody else is getting a call I should get one too. I've realized that that is quite a pathetic reason to come on a mission. I was reading in my journal about the week before I came on my mission. I wrote about a family scripture study we had about courage. I had written 2 Tim. 1:7. Basically there are two reasons to do anything. One you can do it out of fear. (Fear of punishment that you're not going to fit in with your peers or not fulfilling priesthood duties.) Or you can do it out of Love. I've been trying to change the way I think about things. About the way my Father in Heaven loves me. About the way He has a plan for me. About His expectations for me. About my expectations for myself and who I want to become;  not what I want to be when I grow up but who I really am.

I read a great talk called the Fourth Missionary. What I've learned from it is that this isn't a sacrifice. God gives us everything we ever have. We can CONSECRATE ourselves to Him. It's not about the 2 years. It's about giving your whole will to the Lord and surrendering all of your righteous desires and wants for His will. We can serve with our might and strength but it doesn't mean a thing if we don't serve with all of our heart and mind.

Big growing week this week. I have a long way to go still. But that's part of the plan, Everyday we make choices that bring us closer or further from our Father in Heaven. Choices that help us become more or less like Him.

All in all, I am feeling great. I love my area I love my companion I love my mission president. Life is really good. 

Love you all

Elder McGuire

 

 

5 months ba?!

Wow time just doesn't even feel normal anymore. It felt like this was a super long week but at the same time I can't believe it's been 5 months. I feel like I am in a time warp or some strange dream that feels real most of the time until I look at a calendar or clock. Overall though, things are looking great!

Tuesday was great! We went to Ormoc for our zone meeting and received some great training on asking inspired questions. It has been really helpful in asking investigators what they really understand about what we have said, but it's also great for me to ask myself and see how much I understand the doctrine. It's crazy, you'd think after growing up in the church for 19 years I would know quite a bit about the Gospel. Every day I learn something new though. Tuesday night was awesome! We got to teach a new investigator in English! He is super smart. He is the manager of the bank and super interested in the Book of Mormon. I hope he keeps on reading and has more questions. We teach him again tomorrow!. 

We also have a baptism this Saturday for a 10 year old that we've taught. I finally get to baptize someone in the ocean!!! Other exciting news is that I bought a sundang (it's basically a machete.) And yes mom the purchase was completely justified because I need it for service projects. They don't have lawn mowers here.

Wednesday was pretty good. We taught some more investigators that are somewhat progressing. I am still trying to understand why it's so hard to scrape up 10 pesos to come to church. In the evening we went contacting with the Branch President and we are gonna start teaching some new families. We also got the announcement that there is no transfer for either of us so Elder Cottle and I get at least 4 more weeks in Villaba. 

Thursday and Friday were kind of rough.  We taught the Balombao family both days. Once with a member and one without. Nanay said she was content to stay Catholic and didn't want to change. It's so hard because Tatay really wants to be baptized but not without his wife. We had to drop them because we can't waste anymore time there trying to invite her to change when she doesn't want to.

Saturday night was great! We taught a new family with President Jose. The Gorillo family is actually related to him somehow. They call each other cousin so I'm assuming they are haha. The lesson went really well. President Jose is an amazing Branch President. He's been a member for almost 6 years. It is so amazing to hear the change in his life from the time he investigated until now. Living the Gospel brings so much joy and happiness to people. He is an amazing example of that. I've really learned from him that I need to find people that are willing to live the Gospel and professionals. They will build up the church after we leave. I've made that my new goal to baptize a family. Funny enough I read in Preach My Gospel the other day that that is exactly what I should be trying to do. Love how that works out.

All in all I'm doing great. The power of the Atonement is real. The blessings from living the Gospel are real. This church is true. 

Keep praying no matter what. Ether 12:12 The miracles come after we show our faith!

Love you all, 

Elder McGuire

Still alive and feeling great!

This week has been a crazy one.

Tuesday was alright. We went to Palompon in the morning for district meeting. We really do have an awesome district. We discussed the Book of Mormon and how we should be using it. It really is the word of God. I know it to be true. That is the way people are converted. When they read and understand the doctrine and apply it to their lives. In the afternoon, we went to Silad. I really need to obtain more patience. We keep teaching families that say they will come to church and then they never do. It really frustrates me but then I see one or two of the families that we did teach come to church and it's all worth it. 

On Wednesday we went back to Palompon and had exchanges. It was a great experience. I went with Elder Arganda my district leader. We taught some solid lessons to a semi active family and an investigator. I also got to have the experience of eating botbot and the sabao of lubi as well as the lubi. There are several words for coconut in Cebuano. It was delicious and I'm really gonna miss the fruits here.

Thursday was really good. In the morning we did weekly planning and in the afternoon we visited Bro. Brigoli, the returning high priest. He has some amazing stories about his life and when the missionaries first came to Villaba back in the 90s. He reminds me so much of my grandpas it was great! He is on track to return and be sealed with his wife this year in the temple.

Friday we woke up at 3:45 to catch the bus to Tacloban. There was a training meeting for all trainers and training. It was really good. They split us up and gave us training on how to make study more effective and how to set better goals and be more focused on achieving them. Unfortunately there are no return rides to Villaba until the next day. So we got back on Saturday around 2. No mom the package isn't here yet but transfer day is on Friday so I might be headed back, if not my new companion can probably bring it to me.

Saturday night was alright. We taught Angelo Arique. our closest investigator to baptism. The problem is he hasn't learned to read yet so we are teaching him how. He has really improved this past month and I'm hoping that he can get past his baptismal interview tomorrow. After that we went and taught the Sabarez family. We started teaching about faith. Somewhere in the middle of the lesson someone got offended and turned on the TV. We were able to apologize and close with a prayer. Hopefully it wasn't something we said that offended them. Praying hard for them.

Sunday was good. We are still averaging 70 people. I just wish we could get one more family to come. We got some referrals from the ward and President Jose is going to come with us to teach them this week. Hopes are high. Last night we also talked to a professional. He knows English. We gave him a English copy of the BoM a few weeks ago. He has some questions and wants to learn more. I am really hoping he accepts our message and continues to read.

Overall I'm doing great. I feel heavier and need to do more cardio and eat healthier. All in all though I'm doing fine. 

It sounds like you all are having a great time over there. :) It's great to hear that you're all having lots of experiences in life that will help you grow!

I love you all. Thank you for all the love and prayers and support and letters. I could not do this without you all. Salamat kaayo!

akong gihigugma ang pamilya nako!

Elder McGuire

 

 

Week 20

This week has been really good!

To start off we went to Ormoc on Monday afternoon. We got talking to this one guy on the van ride down. He knows English but we decided to speak Cebuano. He was really nice and we ended up giving him a Book of Mormon. Turns out we had already met his dad who is a Brgy Capt in Suba. We followed up and taught them the Message of the Restoration on Wednesday. The son  said he would be baptized if the Book of Mormon was true. I really hope he will be.

In Ormoc we met up with Elder Cottle's grandparents who are serving in the Cebu temple but came to visit for his birthday on monday. It was awesome. They took us to Moon Cafe. You would not believe it but there is actually some decent Mexican food here in the Philippines. Granted it wasn't really spicy at all but man it was the best meal I've had in a long time. I had a chimichanga a fajita salad a beef taco and  a pineapple shake. His grandparents also got me some garments and a copy of Preach My Gospel. My plan is to give one away and get the other bookbound. 

On Tuesday We had a really good district meeting in the morning. In the afternoon, we taught another new investigator whose son is a member in Manila. We taught another investigator and more less active families.

On Thursday we went on exchanges with our Zone Leaders to get certified. Elder Cypers is an awesome missionary. He really knows Cebuano and is a phenomenal teacher. It was awesome that I got to work with him. We got punted in the morning from some of the less actives so we went finding. We gave away some copies of the Book of Mormon but I don't think it's going to go anywhere fast with them. We had my stew for lunch. They said it was awesome. In the afternoon, we actually got to teach some families. We taught the Porquiado family and shared about Alma the Elder praying for his son and the Angel experience. We committed them to pray for and invite their less active son to return. After that we went to Suba to teach a less active priesthood holder but he said he was busy. So we went to the hospital and left copies of the BoM with the chief nurse, who is actually the wife of one of the Brgy Capts. Hopefully something comes of that. After that we took a ride to Bangkal and taught one of the Brgy Capts and his wife the Message of the Restoration. It frustrates me so much when we teach it as clearly as we can and then they say that all religions are the same and we believe the same thing. After that we taught another less active family. We went back home and  did evaluation and certification. I am now certified for the first level. Which means I could be a senior companion if called upon by the Lord and President Andaya. 

On Saturday we taught the Balombao family. We read the reading assignment with them and then proceeded with a lesson about baptism. We shared from Mosiah 18:8-14. There was such a good Spirit there. When we asked the question What have you against being baptized so the Lord can pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you. Bro. Balombao answered with verse 12 saying this is the desire of his heart. Sister Balombao still doesn't see the difference between the religions no matter how many times we try to explain it. She can't read very well because her eyes are old. We asked her to read one verse from 3 Nephi 11:26. She read it. We asked her to pray about it and she did. She asked for an answer. I think that is the first time she may have ever read from the Book of Mormon and prayed about it in public. We invited them to a baptismal service on the 16th. I really wish Nanay would have an Alma the Younger experience.

Sunday was really cool. We woke up and had studies then went to Priesthood meeting. Halfway through an investigator walked in. He was from Tabango which is about 15 km north of here. He asked to know a little bit more about the church. Apparently he had read a lot from his neighbors copy of the Book of Mormon. We talked to him in the sunday school room and explained a little more about Joseph Smith. He basically quoted the Testimony of Joseph Smith and knew about several Book of Mormon prophets. We gave Oliver his own copy of the BoM as well as all of our proselyting pamphlets. We asked President Andaya if we can go teach him or if Tabango can be opened and have some missionaries there, He has yet to respond. I really hope we can go there. The members here are totally willing to help open the area.

After Sacrament meeting we attended branch council meeting and urged everyone to get started on temple recommend and patriarchal interviews now so everyone is prepared. Thankfully they listened. I heard they were at the church til 5 doing interviews. The attendance was pretty good but there were still a lot of people absent. We need some consistent growth here. 

Overall I'm doing great. Thank you all for your letters and prayers. You really make it a lot easier on me knowing that you're all following the Gospel.

Love you all

Elder McGuire