I'm Trying to be Like Jesus!

John Thomas McGuire

This past week has been pretty good! It was supposed to be 5 straight exchanges (120 hours), but things worked out a little bit differently.

It started off with exchanges with Tolosa zone on monday night and tuesday morning. I went with Elder Ganados. He's from Samal, Davao. (look it up it's a pretty cool place!) We went and taught the Dado family and then went to an FHE of a less active family. Tuesday morning we went and taught our investigators John Ray and Cherrylee. They said that they hadn't read the Book of Mormon but they talked about it and said that they didn't want to be baptized and switch religions. So I told them that our purpose wasn't to force them to change religions, only to invite them to learn more about the restored gospel and come closer to Christ. They both breathed a huge sigh of relief. Clearly there was miscommunication in setting up expectations. We then proceeded to teach the plan of salvation and they invited us back for a return appointment.

Tuesday afternoon I went with Elder Adair. We took a little time getting underway because we had to drive out to the airport since the departing batch of missionaries just got back from Manila to get fingerprints for their exit visas. I don't want to call them all trunky, but they are all very excited to go home. After waiting in traffic for an hour (not that bad of a sacrifice anyways... bonus points for chapter 6) we went out and taught the Malatbalat family and their neighbors. The Malatbalat family is going to be baptized this Saturday!!! So excited that I get to be part of that. Jules Viray, our Ward Mission Leader and Bro. Viray's son, came and worked with us. He's the MAN! He just got back from Baguio Mission not too long ago. We went to our english speaking investigator. He said he'd looked up some stuff about the Church on the Internet.... really frustrates me. Said he'd come to church but wouldn't exchange phone numbers for reminders. I really don't like when people lie straight to my face and I know they're lying. But it gives me the chance to learn patience and forgiveness.

Wednesday, We found this nice old man who invited us in but wasn't incredibly interested. We shared with him about the Book of Mormon and restoration. Wednesday night I worked with Elder Santiago. We went to our investigators who speak only Tagalog. My grammar is not the best. That's why I like Waray so much because they're aren't really any grammar rules.

Thursday was a mess. Catarman Zone was staying at our apartment. They were here for the specialized training. They left our apartment a mess. They wouldn't listen to us to get out on time or to go to bed on time. There's a lot of missionaries up there who have an attitude of "I'm gonna do what I want and I really just don't care what you think." On top of that, Elder Centeno got sick with a 104 fever. He rested in the morning while I went with both the Borongan Zone Leaders and we went finding. After Lunch, I dropped them off at the terminal and took Elder Centeno to the Hospital. We cancelled our exchanges with the Catarman Zone Leaders which is a real bummer because they're the ones that probably need it the most. I sent the Zone Leaders a text to light a fire under their feet and have them spread that fire to everyone else. Last cycle their zone was the top baptizing and finding. This cycle it's like they've fallen off the map.

Friday was my first "day off" in a very long time. Elder Centeno was confined to bed rest. So I had personal study and cleaned the apartment. We have so much trash and junk! But I moved the furniture around so that it has a different feel. 

Elder Centeno's fever broke down to 100 on Saturday and he kept taking his antibiotics. He was feeling up for another exchange so we decided to go with the Tacloban ZLs. I went to Basey with Elder Vaclaw. It was a pretty low key exchange. We just reviewed baptismal interview questions with their investigators. It was really good and what I needed. There's nothing like planting seeds, which we have been doing in our area for the past two weeks without a whole lot of success, but it sure is nice so see the harvest. After the exchange we went to Burgos Chapel to have the Malatbalats' baptismal interview. Then we went to the office so that Elder Centeno could rest. I just studied.

I've been studying a lot in the Book of Ether. It's so awesome because it's basically the entire Book of Mormon in only 15 chapters. I've been really applying it to myself just because I feel like Moroni out here, the last of my people. I like how Moroni says that he "finishes" or "proceeds" or "proceeds to finish" in the first verse of some chapters. It's a reminder to me that the Lord needs disciples that will press on and continue and finish  and endure to the end. 

Another theme I drew from the Book of Ether, was the importance of being a righteous man a influencing the generations. There's one chapter that says "he filled the steps of his father" then it refers to his son who "walked in the steps of his father." I thought that was very interesting. We can walk in the ways of righteousness and do all the right things, but if our heart isn't in it or if we're not filled with love then it might not have the best outcome. The king who only walked in the steps of his father died in peace but his family became dysfunctional and they had a giant war.

The most important thing I got from the Book of Ether comes from chapter 12. I have been pondering a ton on what I'm supposed to learn these next 3 months. I know with all my heart that Heavenly Father wanted me home for those 3 months after Yolanda. Which means He also wants me here in Tacloban with the same intensity for these 3 months. Which means there is something very crucial which I have to learn. I read verses 39 and 41 and I think I got my answer.

 39 And then shall ye know that I have seen Jesus, and that he hath talked with me face to face, and that he told me in plain humility, even as a man telleth another in mine own language,concerning these things;

 41 And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever. Amen

When I come back for reals this time, I want people to know that I have seen Jesus in my life. That He has spoken with me. I want them to see in my face that I have come to know him. I want the Holy Ghost to abide in me forever and I want the enabling power of the Atonement to strengthen me every single day. So for the next 3 months, I'm going to be studying the life of Jesus Christ and His words and teachings and trying to pattern my life after His. Granted, this is what a missionary is supposed to do during his mission and what we're all supposed to do during our lives; but I want to make this my focus and goal to drive and inspire me to the finish line.

This week should be a fun week. We have MLC and then Zone Interviews. I'm stoked for General Conference! With the way it will work out, I might be in Biliran for the broadcast, meaning I will have watched General Conference on all 3 islands in the mission and in the MTC. We don't get the broadcast until the 11th and 12th so try not to spoil it for me next week :)

Love you all! Keep on praying and keep on trusting in the Lord. Things work out. They always do! Romans 8:28

Quite a few tender mercies this week

John Thomas McGuire

Sep 22

One of my favorite gospel metaphors has to do with cars. Humans are kinda like cars. We're on this journey through mortality. Often times, we run out of gas and we need to fill up. The questions are, who fills our tank? How can we increase our mileage so we don't run out next time? Why do we even push the gas pedal down anyways? It all comes back to Christ. He is the reason and answer for everything. He is the one who fills us up. He increases our capacity to work and serve others. He is the reason we go to such great lengths. He is the one who fixes us up when we're broken. We rely on him for everything.

I can explain that metaphor better in waray. some of the words aren't coming to me in english but anyways.

This week was a really great week. I was really stretched in my capacity to serve. We had some really cool spiritual experiences! Just some highlights. We went on 96 straight hours of exchanges with zone leaders here in our area. Since we're opening an area, we went finding a lot! And the results of it, we have 13 new investigators and 6 of them are professionals and we have 1 family of 4. 12 of them are men and the 1 women  is part of the family. 3 speak tagalog to us, 3 speak cebuano to us, 2 speak english to us and 5 speak waray to us. Ah the joy of being quadrilingual... It really fries my mind trying to switch back and forth, but I have a firm testimony that everyone should have the opportunity to hear the Gospel in their native tongue. The two english speakers are pretty great. One of them is going to be a little bit of a challenge. We're pretty sure he's paid money to have someone killed.... Aside from that fact, he said he stopped believing in God after his dad died and he really wasn't into religion. He asked us if God really does exist, why would he let His children suffer terrible things like Yolanda. We had him read from the Book of Mormon, Alma 60:13 and then testified that God has a plan for each of His children that didn't start at birth nor does it end at death. We gave him reading assignments and he has read them already. We're going back sometime this week with Bro. Viray who seems like the perfect fellowshipper for him. The other english speaker, Alfonso, is awesome! I found him with Elder Maguale on exchanges and he said he was busy but to come back tomorrow at 6. I came back with Elder Burton and we had one of the most spiritual lessons I've had on my mission. We taught the restoration in english. I was really surprised at myself that I still knew the First Vision in english. He is born and raised Catholic but he is willing to change and said he really wants to be closer to God. He was super excited to read from the Book of Mormon. 

On Sunday, the stake president, President Aban (who is the MAN!) came to 2nd ward and gave the lesson for the 3rd hour. It was amazing! He taught about the law of the fast from Isaiah. He is such a great teacher! The stake really wants to split 2nd ward but the line that they have right now has 19 melchizedek priesthood holders on one side and only 5 on the other. It's really cool to see the members more excited about missionary work. Last year the attendance averaged 130 and this year it's averaging 230! We're actually going to have a baptism in October. We picked up some investigators from the other elders and they're super prepared for baptism. The Malatbalat family. Roel is 22 and Marivic is 16. Both really want to go on missions. They know the doctrine very well. The elders really did an amazing job teaching them!

the 96 hours of exchanges were pretty taxing on my mind and body. I went with Elders Compao, Panganiban, Maguale, and Burton. I had a really cool experience with Elder Maguale. We were finding in Apitong and having no success and so we stopped and said a prayer asking where we should go. I said amen and then said "UTAP" which is the name of a barrangay. (neighborhood) We went there and were walking around and I got the impression to go visit my convert Sis. Dado. We went to go find their house. They had a new one because their old one was washed out. We found Brother Dado though. He welcomed us in and said Sis. Dado had just got back from the hospital. She had high blood pressure. Also she's pregnant again! She asked us to give her a blessing. It was a cool experience! We were able to share a spiritual thought as well. Jacob 2:8. Brother Dado said that it was great we had come by. They were talking earlier that morning wishing that the elders would come by so that Sis. Dado could get a blessing. Not a coincidence that we stopped by. Prayer is real. Promptings of the Spirit are real! It is such an amazing feeling to know that you were the answer to someone's prayer!

On Friday night and Saturday Morning I went with Elder Burton. By this point I was mentally exhausted (I had also had to take a sick break during one of the exchanges because of a migraine and fever) I told him that I was sorry if I wasn't all there for the exchange. That's always an interesting way to start off. After we set up the plan I went and prayed in the bathroom asking for the enabling power of the Atonement to help me just get through this exchange. I stood up and a feeling of peace came over me and a thought came into my head saying "you're going to be just fine. I'm going to help you out." After that, we had the most amazing exchange. We taught two lessons to our 2 professional english speakers. Elder Burton was the right missionary for these 2 investigators. I am thoroughly convinced that there are no such thing as coincidences. Everything absolutely happens for a reason. God really is in charge of this work. His hand leads and guides us. Our responsibility is to be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Ghost so that we can be there to answer the prayers of his children. Elder Burton helped me out a ton! He got me rejuvenated and feeling the Spirit. It was in my top 5 of all time favorite exchanges. Oh yeah and then he cut my hair for free. It looks pretty good!

I just want to thank you all for your prayers. I'm praying for each of you every single night. I know that the church is true and that this is the work of God. He is at the head. Prayer and revelation are real. There are no coincidences. God has an individualized plan for each of His children. I love you all!

Matanglay...Pagal...Butlaw...Kapoy...

John Thomas McGuire

Yes those are all waray words and they all mean the same thing but it depends on the city that you're in. Each one is used in a different city but they all mean the same thing. You wanna know what they all mean? 

Tired.

I don't know if I've ever been so tired in my mission. Transfer week is a huge production no matter how you swing it. I've probably orchestrated more than anyone else under the age of 22.

Anyways, it's all manageable. It keeps me on my toes and it all comes back to finding the right balance.

This transfer week was pretty great. Not gonna lie, I was in a pretty rough spot last Monday and Tuesday, seeing my batch go home and knowing that I"ll still be here. But I have gotten over that now. The Spirit has spoken peace to my heart and I am ready to give my all for these next three months.

So my new companion is Elder Centeno. He is the man! He's from Gapan City, Nueva Ecija. He's the 5th of 6 kids. His younger sister just got her call to serve in Legaspi Mission. He also went home after Yolanda for 5 months. So his batch went home a long time ago. Now we're both basically the Patriarchs of the Mission. He goes home next cycle. For those of you keeping track at home here's a couple cool stats for you. I have had one companion on my mission that is from a younger batch. And when I was companions with him I was in a tri-panionship with another missionary older than me. for the past 4 cycles I have had a companion for only 1 cycle and that will be the case next cycle too. Anyways, Elder Centeno is very humble and is great at following the Spirit during finding and teaching.

In fact, we finally got to work in Tacloban!!! We worked in Downtown because we switched areas from 1st ward to 2nd ward. That means I'm back in my home ward :) I'm happy to be working here and getting the closure that I need. Yesterday we picked up 5 new investigators. 2 from finding and 3 from member referrals. John Ray and Cherry Lyn are 20 and 21 and they have two young boys. We just found them while we were walking around in our old area and Elder Centeno was prompted to talk to them while they were walking the other way. We ended up teaching them the restoration, testifying that families can be together forever and that we have a living prophet today. They committed to read 3 Nephi 11 and we have a return appointment tomorrow. Our referrals came from our 1st counselor who used to be a bishop in Manila. We had FHE with them and shared a Mormon Message with them. We have a return appointment tonight.

We are going to be super busy. I'm planning on doing all 10 exchanges with ZLs and I just found out that we still have zone interviews before the transfer day. I'm also planning on getting some baptisms in October or November. I refuse to be the AP that just sits in the office and does office work. We're going to be out preaching the gospel and helping others come unto Christ. 

Personal Study has been pretty great. I was reading ether 2 yesterday and the last verses of the chapter really got me and made me think about the typhoon and the mission and life and everything. 

 24 For behold, ye shall be as a whale in the midst of the sea; for the mountain waves shall dash upon you. Nevertheless, I will bring you up again out of the depths of the sea; for the winds have gone forth out of my mouth, and also the rains and the floods have I sent forth.

25 And behold, I prepare you against these things; for ye cannot cross this great deep save I prepare you against the waves of the sea, and the winds which have gone forth, and the floods which shall come.

Basically, the Lord lets us go through storms because He is preparing us. He's preparing us because we can't cross through this crazy life unless He prepares us with winds, rains and floods (trials) (which come from him) If we keep that in mind, trials make more sense. These crazy things happen in life because the Lord is preparing us for the promised land (celestial kingdom). I especially like when the Lord says, "Nevertheless, I will bring you up again out of the depths of the sea" For those that trust in God, He really will bring them out of the depths of trials and tribulations.

Thank you all for your prayers and love! That's super awesome that Sarah is getting baptized!!! Many prayers headed up in her behalf this week!

Love you all!

Mormon 8-9

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John Thomas McGuire

A lot of my thoughts this week come from Mormon chapters 8 and 9. I love the way it starts out. "Behold, I, Moroni (Elder McGuire), do finish..."  He continues on to describe how his people were destroyed and how he was the only one left.  

"My father hath been slain in battle, and all my kinsfolk, and I have not friends nor whither to go; and how long the Lord will suffer that I may live I know not."

More or less that is how I feel. "I ever remain alone... they are gone... I know not... whither I go it mattereth not...I know not..."

And then what does Moroni do? He bears powerful testimony like none other. He stays faithful. Angels and translated beings minister unto him. He is going to be my hero for these last 3 months. I need to be a finisher. The Lord needs all of us to be finishers. Despite hardship, despite feelings of loneliness, we can press on with a bright hope. Some of the most beautiful passages of scripture come from Moroni in his lonely journeyings at the end of his life. I kinda hope that I can follow that example and have the best time of my mission for these next few months. 

All my friends are going home this week. I'm slowly reaching the point where I am the patriarch of the mission. Only Elder Centeno is older and he goes home in October. He also went home after the typhoon and came back. 

The thing I realized most this last week is how important these next two transfer cycles are. These last 3 months are the Lord's gift to me. If I had chosen to stay in Cebu, I wouldn't have been healed and not as effective nor helpful to other missionaries. These next 3 months are an absolutely amazing learning opportunity for me. I figure since I've never felt so strongly that the Lord wanted me home for three, that these next three are part of the reason why He wanted me home. Since (not if) Heavenly Father wanted me home for those 3 months so I could get healthy, then these 3 months are what He wanted me to experience here in Tacloban. There is something really important He wants me to learn and I'm starting to figure it out. I'm pretty certain it revolves back around to my original goals of developing charity and becoming a Christlike leader.

Long story short, This is the real start of the 4th quarter. I'm here to finish what I started.

I was really exhausted at the beginning of the week. I had some thoughts of inadequacy. I just wish people would realize that a lot of the time I don't have it all together. I wish people wouldn't just assume that I have no problems. I really am just a normal guy not a superhuman despite those *2nd batch perfectionist-workaholic tendencies. (*an affectionate description of himself and his sister, Jessica)

This past week was kinda interesting. MLC went alright. A lot of changes are being made with the way we count key indicators which kinda frustrates me but I'm not too torn up about it. For me, numbers will never build up the church. People build up the church. I know that numbers are the way we measure effectiveness, but I am much more content to focus on people and making sure people have testimonies deepened and strengthened. We're getting to the same end. It's just the means that worry me. Things will hopefully work out.

We also had the new trainers meeting and zone training meeting.

I'm really going to miss Elder Quinco. I was companions with him twice for a total of 6 months. He is one of the most humble, diligent, innovative and assertive missionaries I know. He was hands down my favorite companion of my mission. He's the one who taught me how to better follow the Spirit and rely on it more and to really get to know each of the missionaries that we're called to watch over. He's an incredible leader and teacher. He was an answer to many of my prayers. He was a heaven sent blessing and was the right missionary to get me back on my feet and back into missionary mode. I'm so incredibly grateful for his example and the chance I had to meet him and learn from him.

This week is transfer week. I'm actually really excited. Basically all my friends that are left are going to move into my house... Elder Carlson, Elder Lowe, Elder Vaclaw, Elder Tumagoy, Elder Oakes. It's going to be a party. Pray that I get enough sleep this week!

The big thing is I'm going to be assigned in 2nd ward again in downtown!!!!!!! I'm super stoked for that! The goal is to prepare at least 2 people for baptism before I go home.

Earlier we went golfing believe it or not! We just went out to the driving range and hit a bucket (crate) of balls. It wasn't too fancy but it was a lot of fun! I'm looking forward to going with Dad and the boys when we all get back.

Love you all! Thanks for all your prayers. Keep on sharing the gospel!