Week 39 - It doesn't get any better than riding a Caribaos and Eating dog meat!

Dear Family and Friend! 

I wish to give you all the same advice that Alma gives in Chapter 5: 57 " Be Ye Separate" That is our call being Members of the true church of God and his son Jesus Christ. To be different. Have you ever thought about how weird you are compared to other people of other faiths or no faith at all? People who give into the temptations of the world feel nothing but a temporary bliss of what alcohol, money, sex before marriage can offer. But they fall short of one thing every time. Enduring Happiness. have you ever thought of how weirdly happy you are? how many blessings that you receive day in and day out? We are separate. We are joyful.

As you can see my companion and I are FULL of joy!! hahah so much awesome stuff happened this week! Lots of firsts but before all that stuff i want to describe to you the man we called our investigator but who now is baptized and confirmed a member of this church as of September 19-20 2015.

HIs name, Mark Anthony Ocampo, 26 years old, was addicted to coffee, cigarettes, and alcohol. Earlier this week we were teaching him about temples and all the blessings that if offers. He lit up like a christmas tree about temples. When we talked about baptisms for the dead we explained that he can be baptized for his grandparents pretty much for anyone he knows. It got quiet.. he said "Elders can i ask a question?" "Siyempre!" (of course) we said "Can i be baptized for my mom?" Mark's mother passed away 7 years ago but when he said that... Elder Ordejan had to continue the lesson, Not many things bring me to tears in my mission but something about that just melted my heart. Mark will be performing his mother's sacred ordinance of baptism hopefully this december or whenver our ward has it's temple trip and i am more than excited for this man. 

Now, My companion and I gosh we did lots of fun stuff this week! on my 9th month mark we were walking back to town from an appointment that is a 45 minute walk to town and we came across a man driving his caribao and we simply asked if we could catch a ride!

You all may not know this but I LOVE CARIBAOS!

They are my best friends! so we taught the man lesson 1 we will teach him again sometime this week and then we kindly asked the man if we could ride the Caribao like a horse... YES WE DID!! and YES WE TOOK PICTURES!! AHHH everyone was laughing and pointing at us speaking a whole different language that elder ordejan and i don't understand!

Adrian's Journal entry...

Last night we attended a birthday party of our investigator's nephew. It's kind of weird we get invited to everybody's birthday parties for some reason. Great way to get free meals! and find people! but this party was different. We ate our food just the normal. Pancit, Sopas, cake, water. and when we thought we had ate everything they had to offer they asked "Gusto niyo bang aso?" my companion and i looked at each other with fright in our eyes! and said "opo" in an unsure manner. they asked us "Do you want dog?"

YES DOG!! like 4 legs and a tail type of dog! I ate it first! my companion is a chicken. it took me 20 minutes of trying to convince him that it tasted just like normal meat and that it actually was pretty good! so yup! i got dogs barkin inside my belly right now! and i feel accomplished! 

anyway that's enough for show and tell! i gotta go! i love you all! the picutre below with the spoon full of meat that is the dog we ate! masarap! i love you! take care!     Elder Naylor

Clip from Adrian's companions letter:

I think Last Week My Companion showed me The True Principle Of Charity.

Being Outward in Times Of Difficulties and Trials is One Of the Hardest attributes to apply. He's really Charitable in all things. In our Lessons, This is Weird, But I think Every Time He teaches I just can't stop looking at him, I think He's Glowing while Teaching. And I can Tell that That's Christ's Countenance in Him.

We're doing Great, and We're Enjoying Our Time Together.

In my Personal Studies, This Verse from Alma 53:20 enlightened me a lot about Being True... It says,

And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and  also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all they  were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.

I learned that you should always be TRUE when you Express yourself to Every One. Because All my Life I've been living this Motto, 

"BE WHO YOU ARE" 

And in my Opinion, Not Being True at all times is not being Who You Are.

There should be NO LIES, and NO FAKES. I am happy that Until now I am still living my Motto Of Being Who I am. And I am Happy about it!

That's all for today... Please Be Spiritually Minded!

LOVE:

       ELDER ORDEJAN

Week 38.... Christmas begins in September!

It's christmas here in the philippines! and it will be all the way until December 25th! Lights are already being strung and the Christmas spirit is everywhere because everyone wants to hear our awesome message about Jesus Christ! and immediately they except to get soaking wet in the baptismal font! YAY! 

All is well, lots of miracles, lots of work, lots of fun! I feel it is almost a crime to enjoy this work this much! Our mission is starting a study on the attribute of Charity and whoa! I've learned a lot! I've always thought of charity as just service but it is so much more! something i learned about it this week is that we need to forgive ourselves. Weird right? kind of off topic but the perfect example of this is Enos in the book of mormon when he is praying all day long for repentance and for the welfare of his soul and then the voice of the lord comes to him and says that he is forgiven and almost immediately he starts to conversate with the lord concerning his brethren. So i guess my little spiritual insight for this week, if you have something that you feel guilty about, repent, and forgive yourself. Then you will be filled with the pure love of christ and begin to look outward instead of inward! 

I love this work and i'm very thankful for the opportunity i have been given to serve. Thank you for your love that you have for me and the people you surround yourself with. 

again, Merry Christmas.

 Oh i don't know if you noticed in the picutres but me and my companion dyed our hair like two weeks ago.. my hair is black, i can fit in a little bit bettter now! but i look extremely white still! Mom your amazing! i love you! 

Week 37... Tacos and Baptisms!

These photos will give you a brief summary of the week! Love you all hope all is well! keep praying, reading scriputres, and goin to church. Elder Naylor

 Becky!

Yes, Elder Naylor and I Are doing Well! Oh, Yeah, It's My 9 Month Mark Yesterday. :)

One Of My Dreams after My Mission is to Go To US, and Live there. :)

Yeah, I Love Video Games, and Pokemon. I'm Really a Pokemon Addict! Rainy Season Lasts usually until February. It's Always Cool, and We don't have Fall here. hehe. We have Drought from March To June(Rare). Yes, I've seen Snow in Pictures and Movies only. But I also wish to see snow. 

Thanks for the Questions.

Last Week was another Awesome Week for us!!!
Why???
3 of our Solid and Faithful Investigators got baptized last Saturday!!!

Sister Divine C., Sister Sheila and Michelle S.

It was a Wonderful Baptism Service!!!

The Members came and showed their Love and Support for them. These 3 Amazing Sisters bore their Emotional and Powerful Testimonies.

I Love watching them Stand in front of us and bore their Testimonies.

Their Seminary and Institute Teachers was really Impressed in their Testimonies.

One of their Seminary Teachers Stated, "My Soul was delighted with their Testimonies''

Oh, How Sweet it is to hear. I can testify to what She said. They Changed a Lot!

They Love The Gospel! And They Stand For What they know is Right.

So Grateful that I'm One of their Teacher Of this Restored Gospel...

One of our Recent Convert (James C.) Baptized his Sister (Divine C.)

It's really really an Awesome Moment Seeing Brother James, use the Powers of Heaven to Help his Sister Receive The Gospel. Also, Sister Jaycee was one of the Speakers in the Baptism Program.

She got baptized Last Saturday, and She didn't hesitate to Speak and Share Her Knowledge about The Gospel.

Well, Yesterday was Fast and Testimony Sunday, I was really surprised when one of our Recent Convert (Leomark S.) stood up and Bore his Testimony in the Pulpit. He's Really Amazing!

Yesterday was my 9 Month Mark! Look How Fast Time is, It's Really Really Fast!!!

I can't measure how This Mission Changed me, from A Shy Recent Convert to an Official Representative of Jesus Christ. I Know That The Church Is True!

Me and My Companion are doing Really Well. He is really Good at encouraging me, I Love being with this Missionary, I admire and Love This Guy. He's Biggest Strength for me is His Powerful Testimony, and His Charity towards Everyone!

I think that's All for today,

Please Don't Forget to Pray & Read The Scriptures Everyday, Everyday, Everyday!

(Please Attend Church Service on Sundays too, It will help you a lot!)

Enjoy Your Joy!!!

LOVE:

       ELDER ORDEJAN

Philippines Angeles Mission