Earn Your Stripes

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John Thomas McGuire

We go pretty hard here in Tac City. My new favorite sayings are, "Workhorse gonna work" and "Earn your stripes" referring to the bags under my eyes.

I'm doing fantastic though! We finished all 10 exchanges this past week! I went with Elder Johnson to Basey. It was a cool exchange because Elder Quinco went with Elder Centeno in Burauen. One benefit of having cars and lots of branches to cover is the fact that you can do exchanges on 2 different islands at the same time. We taught these two teenagers who need to get married so she can get baptized. He's already a member. We taught them the plan of salvation and actually committed to get married and set a goal date for when they're going to do it in September. That's the first time in my mission where they haven't shied away because of a financial situation. After that we taught a really great investigator that they found a week or two earlier. We had a great RM who was actually the WML from Capoocan work with us. He'd worked with each of us before last year but it was so random and cool that he was there to work with us on that occasion. He is such an amazing member. It's so evident to see if an RM keeps up their study and teaching habits.

Thursday we were on our way to Carigara to do exchanges. I got a call from President Maurer asking us if we could help with an emergency transfer. So we worked the morning. I stepped on a carabao turd (surprisingly the first time in my mission that I've done that). Then we taught this really cool investigator. He has a birth defect where he doesn't have hands or feet. He has stubs and heels but that's it. He was reading from the Book of Mormon though and we had an amazing lesson! After that we headed back to Tacloban for lunch and picked up a part-time branch missionary and headed all the way down to Maasin. We picked up Elder Oakes! He's going to be the new recorder in the office. So now my best friend lives in my apartment too. Christmas came early! :)

Friday we went and worked in Mayorga with the Tolosa ZLs. I worked with Elder Olsen. We had a pretty rough work day but we had a really good talk and evaluation at the end. It was a very spiritual and uplifting experience. It was another testimony to me that I really was supposed to get home and get healed so that I could help others struggling out here with discouragement or perfectionism or stress management.

Sunday morning I woke up and I was definitely fatigued and exhausted. We went to sacrament meeting and then I went and took a nap in the office.

Earlier we went hiking in Tanauan. It was  a blast except in rained a lot! And then Elder Johnson and I took a different way down the mountain and blazed a new trail and got our legs scraped up from spiky plants. Ton of fun though.

The next two weeks are going to be a marathon as well. We have MLC then the new trainers meeting and then it's transfer week again!

I've been studying a lot about obedience and humility. My question has been, "How do we humble ourselves?" or how do we become more humble. Essentially we become more humble in two ways. Eliminating pride and following the will of God. Pride is enmity with God and fellow man. So in order to become more humble, we have to get rid of our discordant relationships with others. It really just requires a change of attitude and change of heart. You have to realize that you don't know everything and you can't get by on your own. Everyone else has had a lifetime of experiences and lessons learned that you haven't yet. Everyone else has something to teach you. When we realize this it's a bit easier to realize how much we depend on God for everything that we have. In order to remove our enmity towards God, we should be more grateful for the blessings we've received. Disobedience and ingratitude are so selfish. Each has an "Everything-is-all-about-me" centered way of thinking and behavior. I think one of the best ways to be more humble is to be more grateful to everyone around us. Especially when it comes to the Church led by volunteers doing the best they can. 

I am super grateful for an amazing companion. He is so hard working and diligent. I'm really going to miss him when he goes home next week. Elder Quinco is such a great missionary and leader. I'm grateful for the chance to work with him. I'm grateful to be surrounded by friends and people that love me. I'm grateful for my mission president and his wife. I'm grateful for the gift of tongues. I'm grateful for promptings of the Spirit. I'm grateful for my Savior and his Atonement. I'm grateful I can serve Him with all my heart, might, mind and strength and that He is increasing my capacity to serve. I am grateful to be an instrument in His hands.

Life is so good. I love you all. Thank you for your prayers and support and love!

Have a wonderful week!

TACLOBAN ZONE

SOGOD ZONE

ORMOC ZONE

CALBAYOG ZONE

Going hard in my minivan all around Leyte

John Thomas McGuire

Well this past week was pretty great as well.

This past week was the last round of zone conferences. And we had 3 more exchanges with zone leaders on the other days. So lets start it off.

We loaded up and headed out Tuesday morning to attend the district meeting in Ormoc. They gave some really insightful trainings. I think the thing I learned most is that when missionaries teach the Restoration to members in order to ask for referrals, they need to make it super personal. They need to relate it back to Joseph Smith and his family. What did Joseph Smith do after he saw God the Father and Jesus Christ? He told his father and mother and sisters and brothers. And they believed him. What else did Joseph do? He tried to repent of his sins and stay faithful to the commandments he had been given. Because of that, his family and many of his friends found the truth. Members can be likened unto Joseph Smith and their potential referrals can be likened unto Joseph's family. We all have friends that aren't yet members. Surely we want them to have a knowledge of the truth just as we are so blessed to have.

After District meeting we started exchanges. I went with Elder Carlson. Yes this is the Elder Carlson that I lived with for 6 months in Tacloban. It was a ton of fun! He kinda has this perfectionist mentality when it comes to the language. He's struggled a lot his entire mission but he's never lost hope. I'd never worked with him so I was excited to see how he actually is. He's actually really really good at the language. He just psyches himself out. Regardless he is a great missionary. We taught 2 families of returning members and went finding a lot in some rich neighborhoods.

Wednesday was zone conference with Ormoc and Biliran zones in Ormoc chapel. Ormoc chapel is probably my favorite chapel in the mission. That's where my first zone meeting was as well as my first stake and general conference was. It's HUGE and has carpet. The conference itself was pretty great. I was pretty tired and found myself falling asleep in the back. I love giving trainings though. I love bearing my testimony to the missionaries of what I know to be true.

After the Conference we went down to Bato. I wasn't super excited to work in Bato. Especially since all throughout the night and in the morning it was storming and raining. But the rain broke after studies and Elder Rivas and I went to work. This was my 2nd exchange with him because I was his zone leader back when I was in Calbayog and he was in Catbalogan. It was a ton of fun! It really made me realize that the area just depends on the missionaries' attitude. I had a horrible attitude when I was back in Bato. We had a great day. We taught 2 less active families and went finding and it was great. We talked a bunch throughout the exchange about how much our families have been blessed since we've come out on missions. It's so great to have good friends to talk to.

Friday morning we drove from Bato to Sogod for the last zone conference. It was great. By far this one had the best lunch. We had chicken curry and adobo beef steak and mango floats. Sogod zone leaders win all the bonus points in my book. It was great to see Elder Oakes again. He's one of those friends that is just kind when you feel like you don't deserve it. I'm really grateful for him.

Friday night we worked with the Sogod ZLs. I went with Elder Carling. So we were in the MTC together but he is one batch ahead of me. He extended as I'm really glad he did. Working with him was great. We mostly just went finding and found this really nice woman Daisy. She's not Catholic. She accepted an english Book of Mormon and said she would read  it. She's a teacher and her husband is a security guard. They have a really big house. I hope things work out for the zone leaders there and that they can teach them. We also taught their recent convert and his family. The dad is awesome because even though he's new, when we read scriptures he asks his kids what they understand. It's so awesome to see fathers who care that their children understand the Gospel and try their hardest to live it.

Saturday we were going to build a house for a service project but it was high tide so the plot was flooded so we couldn't continue. We decided to just go home to Tacloban. When we got back we had a FHE with a less active family here in Tacloban 1st ward. I gave the lesson. I did an object lesson. I showed a 1000 peso bill and asked who wanted it. all hands in the air. crumpled it up and asked again. all hands again. smooshed it under my foot. still all hands. threatened to put it in the toilet. everyone still wanted it. I related this to the love that Christ has for us. No matter how crumpled, torn, dirty, or worthless we think we are, the Savior wants us so much. His love immeasurable and all he wants is for us to follow him. I shared 1 Nephi 19:9 and Alma 5:33. We all had a really great time playing games and dinner was great too.

Sunday was great. We were back in Tacloban 1st ward. The Zone Leaders have a baptism for an older man this coming saturday. I sat next to him and fellowshipped him during sunday school. His name is Bayani. really cool guy. After church we did studies and started preparing trainings for MLC.

Earlier today we played ultimate frisbee with our 1st counselor. It was a ton of fun. Also, I finally cleaned out a room of our apartment so much that we can actually walk in it and see the floor. It's amazing what happens when you clean.

This coming week should be pretty awesome. We have 3 exchanges left; Tacloban, Tolosa, and Carigara. I'm super excited.

It is unreal how fast time is flying by

The work is going great. I'm doing well. I'm working on humility and charity this week. 

Love you all! Keep on keeping on. Thank you for praying for me. 

Bearing witness in all the world

John Thomas McGuire

Well this past week was quite amazing!

I've told several people already that I've felt like a general authority this week. Basically I've traveled all over Samar and have had the opportunity to share my testimony with a lot of people in a few different dialects. So get your maps out and I'll tell you about my week.

Last Monday night we drove out to Borongan, Eastern Samar. The roads are horrible. It's a good thing we have a Ford Ranger. The minivan that we have would have been destroyed if we had taken it. I like driving my blue truck. The Borongan ZLs are awesome! Elder Banawan and Elder Santiago are some of the most Christlike leaders I know. They had some dinner waiting for us and breakfast in the morning as well. 

Tuesday we attended their zone training meeting. They gave a solid training on using the Book of Mormon in the conversion process. After lunch we had exchanges with them. I went with E. Santiago. We went to their investigator, Manny. He's been an investigator for 20 years. The first time he came to church was 20 years ago and the second time was 2 weeks ago. He has a desire to be baptized but wasn't sure why he had to come to church 4 weeks in a row. He understands the whole broken heart and contrite spirit as the only requirement, so we explained to him that coming to church is how he shows he sincerely has a contrite spirit. We started teaching that God is our loving Heavenly Father and we asked him if he believed he was a child of God. He hesitated. He asked why would a Father let His children to suffer so much. We answered from the scriptures with 1 Nephi 11:17 and then just testified of God's love. Elder Santiago committed him to pray on his knees right then and there and ask God if He knew him and loved him and if he was His son. So that's what happened. We closed the lessons and we all got on our knees. The first words out of Manny's mouth were, "God, are you there? Do you love me? am I your son?" and then he just paused for 20 seconds and the Spirit washed over all of us. Then he said, "Thanks for the confirmation" and continued his prayer. After he closed, I looked him in the eye and asked him, 

"do you feel what I'm feeling?" 

"peace?" 

"yes. That's the Holy Ghost telling you that you are a child of God and that this is true."

It was such an amazing experience! I'm pretty sure he has a baptismal date this August 30th. 

After exchanges we drove the zone leaders and the sisters back to Tacloban Tuesday night. Wednesday morning, we had the first Zone Conference here in Tacloban. Borongan, Carigara, Tacloban and Tolosa Zones came. 

It went pretty well. Elder Quinco and I gave our training about helping investigators gain a testimony of the Restoration through the Book of Mormon. I got to share my experience with Cian and the Book of Mormon. I don't know if I've ever wrote home about that, but basically, one day elder Quinco and I were teaching Cian about the Book of Mormon and we wanted him to get a testimony of it. So I shared with Cian my experience about reading 3 Nephi 11. I told Cian that I wanted to know if Christ actually appeared to these people. So I prayed and asked specifically and my prayer was answered. I told Cian that I got goosebumps all over and I felt this peace and warmth and every fiber of my soul was shouting, "YES THIS IS TRUE. THIS IS REAL.  CHRIST REALLY DID APPEAR TO THESE PEOPLE. WHAT YOU READ IS TRUE" And then we committed Cian to read 3 Nephi 11 and ask God for himself if it is true. A few days passed by and we were playing basketball with his friend Jerome who told us that Cian had something he wanted to tell us in person. So on Sunday we asked Cian what he wanted to tell us. Cian said that, "it's so true. I did it. I prayed and I got goosebumps and the same feelings and it's so so so true... Ungod siya talaga! (its so true!)" and the rest is history. Cian became the best recent convert in the world.

We committed the rest of the missionaries to be more specific in their commitments to their investigators and to read Moroni's promise again and ask if it's true and write down their feelings.

After Zone Conference we hit the road again for Catarman. We stopped by in Calbayog for a pit stop and saw all the members because there was a choir practice. It was a very warm welcome for both me and elder quinco. I saw Cian and I got to give him his quad in person. He was so happy he started to cry almost. I love that kid so much! We kept on heading for Catarman but we found out that the Lupe de Vega road was closed off because they are re-cementing the road. So we had to go the long way around up the coast and through Allen. We got in a little before midnight.

Thursday we went on Exchanges with the Catarman ZLs, Elder Rivera and Elder Mack. They are workout gurus. My pride got me into trouble and I got myself into a pull up contest and pushup contest. My body was hurting. I worked with Elder Mack. It was kinda tough because he was pretty new to the area and we didn't have any members to work with us to show us around, but we were able to teach a member. I tried a new technique for getting referrals. We had him write down the names of his friends while we sang a hymn. He thought of 3 friends and we copied them down and told him we will each pray for them and pray for him that he will have the courage to share the gospel with them. Thursday night we drove back down to Calbayog to be ready for the next zone conference.

Friday we had zone conference in Calbayog. Catbalogan and Catarman zones came. It went well also. Bro. Nikki provided the lunch. He goes all out for missionaries. It was like a wedding reception. We gave the same training as before but somehow it meant more to me because that chapel is where we taught Cian and where he told us that he got his testimony. Isn't it interesting that when we have converting experiences, it is often when we are alone seeking to commune with God and to know what is real. Friday night, the Lavezares elders missed their ride so we gave them a ride back and then went back to Calbayog to sleep.

Saturday we had exchanges with the Catbalogan ZLs (who live in Calbayog) We played basketball with Cian early in the morning. He was so stoked to play with us again. After that I worked with Elder Muir. Elder Quinco worked with Elder Trias. It was a bit easier to work this area since I knew it so well. People were surprised to see me again but it was a great way to get some of their time and share with them. It was a good day of work and to end it all there was a birthday party dinner for one of Bro. Nikki's nephews so we got free dinner.

Sunday we went to church in Calbayog. I love that branch so much! The members there are amazing! We left after Sacrament Meeting and came back to Tacloban. Both of us kinda just passed out in the office for a few hours and rested and regrouped. We had some companion study and then we went with the STLs and office elders to the 1st counselor's house for dinner.

Earlier today we played basketball and volleyball with the zone and I got a haircut and we cleaned out the apartment.

All in all I had an amazing week. I'm going to suggest that there should be traveling APs so I can do this all over again. I love the feeling so much. We get to have another week long adventure this time in the Leyte zones. I get to go preach in Cebauno.... Getting a whole new testimony about the gift of tongues.

Thank you for all your prayers and love and support and emails and everything else. Thanks especially for living the Gospel! That is a huge blessing to me. 

Love you all!

Week of the Birthday!

(Editor's note:  Elder McGuire's sister, Jessica, got married the day before his birthday. Elder McGuire's younger brother, Rick, left for the MTC (Canda Halifax Mission) the week before that.  A  LOT of crazy for our family, but two very sweet blessings.) 

Well this past week has been great! We had MLC Tuesday Night and Wednesday. It was pretty stressful but I could really feel the Spirit.

I'll just be honest right now. I'm going through a hard time.

Elder Quinco and I prepared a phenomenal training on helping Investigators recognize the Holy Ghost and helping them desire to continue the the conversion process. People were in tears. The training went so awesome. 

Thursday we went and did exchanges with the Zone Leaders in Biliran. I went with Elder Andus. It was a really fun time. He has only been in his area for 1 week so it was really hard but we ended up teaching a lesson to a member family and they gave us referrals. The Gerez family is super nice. Fun fact for you, I actually met Brother and Sister Gerez in Provo when I went up for the 5k in January. It was so cool to see them again!

Saturday and Sunday were great! President was down in Maasin for District conference. So we went and got Shakeys! You get a free pizza on your birthday dontcha know. I ate so much food! I'm sure I've gained 5 pounds. My birthday was Saturday and Elder Johnson's was Sunday so it was a double celebration. Sunday night we went to the Garcia family. They love the missionaries so much! Sister Garcia had prepared dinner and a cake with our names on it. Sometimes it's great to have someone that just thinks you're awesome and wants to give you food.

So my first thing cool that I've done as AP was change the way we evaluate after exchanges. It used to be a number system with vague interpretations. Now it's 10 inspired questions. So far I've heard positive things about it. The intent is to make evaluations and exchanges the main way we get reports about the missionaries so that we don't have to call and follow up with everyone at the end of the transfer. It's hitting 2 birds with one stone.

The cool thing about being back in Tacloban is that we go to a lot of FHEs. Members are awesome here. They prepare a bunch of food and have their less active/ investigator friends over and they also invite the 10 missionaries assigned to Tacloban 1st ward. It's a blast.

For these next 3 weeks we are going on exchanges and doing zone conferences. Tomorrow we are working in Borongan. Then we are back in Tac City for Conference. Then we work Catarman on Thursday. Then Conference in Calbayog Friday. Then Exchanges in Calbayog on Saturday. Then we're going to church in Calbayog and I'm going to give Cian his quad in person. I'm really excited about that!

For the most part I'm enjoying being an AP but it's very stressful. 

I keep reminding myself that this is a volunteer organization and that it doesn't last forever. I just have to sprint for the next few months.

At the end of the day though, I know that God lives. I know that this is His work. I know that it has to be done in His way. I know He hears and answers my prayers. I know Jesus Christ is my Savior. I know he knows all of our trials and afflictions. I know He atoned for our sins. He is the source of second chances and miracles. The Book of Mormon is True. The Church is True. Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ. Thomas S Monson is a true prophet. I have felt the hand of God in my life and that is so humbling to me. To know that He has taken me from the path of error and set me on the straight and narrow and has given me the strength to run hard and fast. I can do hard things because of Him. Because He knows what is best for me. Because I don't know everything and I'm not perfect, but I'm willing to learn and to be perfected in Him.

The Gospel is true! With all of my heart I testify that it is True! and it is the only way to peace and happiness.

Love you all!

ps way to get married jess! send some pictures!!!!

I forgot I knew how to be this tired

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John Thomas McGuire

Well, week one back in the office is in the books. Unfortunately, we didn't teach anyone because it was transfer week. However, we did have a baptism on Saturday! It was kinda nice to be a part of the harvest even though I wasn't part of the teaching process. That actually happened to me the last time I transferred to Tacloban. Coincidence? yeah right there's no such thing as coincidences.

It was really nice to be able to attend the departure devotional. I said goodbye to a lot of really good friends. The batch that went home was the batch of elders that arrived just before me. We were in the MTC together for 3 weeks. A lot of their testimonies brought me to tears. It's crazy to see how much we've all changed in the past 2 years.

The newest batch of missionaries is here. 19 of them. We picked them all up from the airport and got them oriented and they got to work with some of the missionaries in Tacloban Zone. Friday was transfer day....... I forgot about the level of "transfer day tiredness" We were up at 4 am to make sure all the elders were up. We shuttled them to MacArthur Park for the match up meeting of trainers and trainees. It was a really cool experience. I'm glad President Maurer liked it because he originally wanted to do away with it but he's going to keep it going. After that we went to Burgos for the regular transfer meeting. And then we assisted a ton of missionaries getting to the bus and van terminals in heavy traffic. We had no time for lunch. And then we helped the Tolosa elders and Tanauan sisters get to their apartments since they're opening those areas. And then it was discovered that a new missionaries luggage was not with her in Tanauan but had somehow made its way to Biliran. So we had an awesome roadtrip driving 4 hours to get it to her. We got back to our apartment at midnight and I passed out on my bed. But it was all worth it because I felt that I had exemplified charity that day.

Saturday was awesome. We had staff meeting in the morning. The new senior couple has arrived. They have a lot of faith. They're in their 50s and barely have enough to fund their mission. Elder Anderson will have to work as soon as he gets off his mission. Staff meeting was really weird. It's very different since all the older people are so new in the mission. It's like I expect them to know what's going on but there's a steep learning curve. In the afternoon, I went with Elder Johnson. He and I were in the MTC together. He's awesome. We went and furnished San Roque Elders' Apartment.We had a really good time since we're such good friends. After that we went and installed curtains in the Tanauan sisters' apartment. If anything, my mission has prepared me to be an Elders' Quorum President.

Sunday was great too. It was my first Sunday at Tacloban 1st ward. The testimonies were great. Attendance is way up in Tacloban Stake from what I can tell. The "goal" is to split the stake and create Palo Stake by the end of the year. That would be really cool to see if that can happen. 

My personal study has been great. I've been focusing a lot on the Holy Ghost and Personal Revelation. It was a really good refresher to know that my job is only to teach true doctrine in its simplicity and create an atmosphere where the investigator can feel the Spirit confirm the truth. Studying about the Spirit is a great way to feel the Spirit haha.

Earlier today we played basketball down at Burgos Chapel. That's why I love being companions with Elder Quinco is because we play basketball. We're going to be playing a whole lot. I use to think that exercise was just to be fit, but I've been starting to realize that it releases so much stress and makes me feel good. We are also cleaning out our apartment. It has turned into a missionary graveyard. We've had the house for like 5 years and a bunch of missionaries have just left their things that they don't want to take home. We sold 5 broken refrigerators and a few electric fans and moved supplies back to the office. We're going to get rid of all the clothes and flush everything out. That way we can put some bunkbeds in the empty rooms and have a place for missionaries to stay when they come to Tacloban. It's so true that a clean place makes it easier to feel the Spirit.

The best news of the week is that we're going to go on exchanges with all the Zone Leaders. We have the schedule for Zone Conferences set and we're going to go on road trips. I'm super excited! 

I think I'm going to be alright as an AP. I'm going to try and live the advice from a former AP to me that "You have to have a bunch of initiative to try new thing, and a ton of humility if your ideas don't work"

But in all honesty, I am doing wonderful. I love being back in Tacloban. I love speaking Waray (and Tagalog sometimes). I love the people here. I love the missionaries. I love serving. I love studying.

Thank you all for your prayers and support and love and faith. This work is true. I know it is because it is His work and He is making me an instrument in His hands. I couldn't do this without His help and I love that feeling. I love knowing that He cares enough about me to mold me and make me better and take me out of my comfort zone.

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Love you!