Last week is a great time for us to have return appointments from the investigators we've visited and found in the previous week. Some raise up their concerns and some are not available that's why we strive to find more of Heavenly Father's children scattered Israel. We're so grateful to focus on families. Two families (Godinez and Agan Family) of them were former investigators who truly want to listen to the restored gospel, it's just that because of their temporal concerns that they can't fully keep their commitments even before but we know that they are one of those prepared for this season since they still felt the spirit and happiness of the gospel to their lives. Sister Carvina Antonio (one of our P.Is.) is truly progressing and we're very blessed that as she shared how she felt in keeping the commitments, her doubts gradually lessened though still she's in the process of investigating more by relying on the Holy Ghost. Saivon Tiongco as well enjoyed coming to church with his grandmother as he strive to keep the commitments even without his siblings whom we've extended as well baptismal dates. We saw his humility and we know he'll be an instrument in bringing his family to the restored truth. I already involve Sister Peralta in every teaching situations and every time she opened her mouth, I truly felt the Spirit in her. She always rely on the Spirit based on the concerns of the investigators. Though she is still struggling with the language which she is eager to learn rapidly (that's why she's using the new words she learned from the native language always), I can see her fast progression in talking with everyone. We haven't explored all of our areas yet but we're excited and blessed that the members are ready to help us in building up the branch. 

On the other hand, the other trainees Sister Talactac and Sister Cinco are also progressing well in learning the language and in applying the principles they learned from their trainers. They have good relationship and they're learning much not only on matters about their learning on missionary work as well as on household chores that they can apply after mission life. Regarding Sister Talactac and Sister Dela Serna, we planned to find new apartment for them so they can use their time and money wisely since their area is so far from our apartment and they are in the other branch (Mati 2nd) and our apartment as well is convenient for two companionship only but we already raised this matter to the leaders and they are ready to support us to find new apartment for them.

We just had a Missionary Coordination Meeting last Sunday and reporting our work and concerns, we witnessed how supportive the branch mission leader is and the members in doing missionary work as well as in fellowshipping the investigators.

Love,

Sister Cornillez

anak(trainee) ko yung katabi ko...yung marami kami...hehe.... yung tatlo lang is Sis. Dela Serna sa pagone year nya,..Sister Dela Fuente my coSTL.... haggard nako...huhu

Last week is a very spiritual experience for us to be refreshed from our purpose here in the mission field. Shaking the hand of the apostle is such a great privilege and as Elder D. Todd Christofferson said that we are "companions of the apostles". Having these phrases in mind helped us to give more emphasis on doing missionary work avoiding "lightness and frivolity" as said in the Missionary Handbook and fighting off the natural man within us. As we listen to the workshops as well during mission conference and Missionary Leadership Council, I was motivated to not only follow and keep the brand new culture but also live this culture within me. We are inspired as companions to do miracles in the area we've been entrusted to and experienced a spiritual one as we extended baptismal invitation to Sister Carvina Antonio who, even before was pressured if baptism is on topic during missionary lessons, but as we strive to increase our faith, we felt the Spirit to extend her this commitment when we visited her last Sunday. Faith in Jesus Christ truly matters and starts within us as we do God's work. We strive as companions to overcome fear and everything follows. We explored more of our areas and realized that God's hands is truly merciful unto His children as we share the light not only in preaching the gospel but also in doing extraordinary work particularly ministering unto God's children. Since this is a pull-in experience in the area, this is such a great privilege for us to find the scattered Israel that will receive us without anyone telling us that this and that won't accept the gospel. We saw everyone as opportunities and this will be a great learning experience for Sister Peralta to love missionary work as we strive to hearken unto the promptings of the Spirit.

Since there are 3 trainees in our scope, Sister Cinco, Sister Talactac and Sister Peralta are very diligent and humble enough in applying the things they are learning as their trainers facilitate on their progression. As to the companionship of Sister Dela Serna and Sister Talactac, they had already explored their area and they have a wonderful companionship that Sister Talactac can overcome her fears in speaking. Sister Dela Fuente and Sister Cinco as well are united as they continuously strengthen their present center of strength in the area and strive to explore more since the areas had been divided among us in Mati 1st Branch.

Sister Peralta is a very diligent missionary. She always accepted every challenges she may face for her to stretch herself of what she can do more and go beyond her comfort zone. She has a great progression in learning the language since she always apply it everywhere she goes, whoever she conversed with. Sometimes she had struggles but having an optimistic mindset, she knows that someday God will grant her prayers. I'm always putting my feet on her shoes as I see myself in her during the time I was a trainee before. She is so humble enough to listen unto the promptings of the Spirit and with obedience in her mind, we know that everything is possible as we desired to do righteous works here in the field.

We had a wonderful Branch Conference last Sunday that as we build more relationship of trust among the members here in Mati 1st Branch, we saw great potentials to target the silver bullets they have as they shared to us how happy they were that more missionaries came to strengthen their branch having a goal to be expanded soon. More members from Relief Society, Young Women and Young Single Adults coordinated with us in doing ministering and exploring more of our areas and these has been a great support for us to enjoy missionary work while stretching ourselves of what we can do to be a blessing to the branch. Everyone in the auxiliary is humbly doing their best to magnify their callings.

 Being a sister training leader trainer is such a great responsibility that requires great effort and love for me to fight the feeling of inadequacies within me. Sister Dela Fuente is always there for us to bless the sisters we are monitoring and I love how she strive to endure and enjoy this opportunity. I saw her as a great example for me since she's training a trainee at the same time training me as an STL. 

Love,

Sister Cornillez

Mission Conference

New area- New Companion-New Calling

Last week, I met the trainee assigned to me, Sister Peralta from Tarlac City, and I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful and sweet spirit missionary to train. We had a safe travel to Mati as instructed by the leaders to travel at earlier time. The members in Branch 1 gave us a warm welcome with an appointment in the succeeding days as we arrived. This has been a great opportunity for us to build relationship of trust among them and as we met the auxiliary leaders of the branch, we set goals right away to make the area more progressive in the missionary coordination meeting with the branch mission leader and branch missionaries. We're blessed that the Young Single Adult Women together with the Young Women gave us an area tour by doing ministering at the same time on Sunday afternoon. We are looking forward as well from their referrals to be given this week as they set due to busy schedule from the upcoming Branch Conference this coming Sunday. I'm amazed with the Sacrament attendance reaching 118 and how spiritual the meetings had been. It feels like this area is already a ward. I can see how truly productive this area will be as stated in the phone call by our mission President.

The training of Sister Peralta as well already started with OYM first and as instructed in the 12 weeks training manual. She's a fast learner and she's doing well in striving to speak in the mission language. She's humble enough to accept challenges and I'm looking forward to indulge her with talking more with lots of people in the area comfortably and stretching herself to go beyond her comfort zone which she's so excited. We already know some of the areas given to us and two of the potential investigators of Sister Dela Fuente and Sister Enriquez we're humbly entrusted unto us and we already met and build continuously relationship of trust to Sis. Carvina Antonio and she's truly potential. On the other hand, we have a goal to visit this week Sis. Luz Penero, who came to Church as well who is a member referral. I'm excited for the challenges and opportunities here in my new and 3rd area in Mati Zone as a co-sister training leader and trainer as well. Till next mail! Love yah!

Bislig District

In the previous week we focused on exploring the whole area of Branch 1 and discovered lots of opportunities for members to work with us particularly those near in their areas. I was inspired from the message I just received from you President to work with members more in finding new investigators since they truly can have great support when invited to come to Church and even to know more about the Church. Eric Ben Fajardo(11 y/o) who will be baptized this coming May 12 had a successful interview and support from his parents though we are still working out to share the gospel to his family particularly to his mother who is very supportive that someday his child's desire to go on a mission will happen. Sheny Subasus(part member), Rose Ann and Rosemy Bayker (all 12 y/o) came to Church again. We are not giving up on this young women since they had great potentials and their parents are looking forward for them to change from youth's weaknesses nowadays. We are working out to coordinate with the members in Danipas (which is our farthest area) since they are planning and had great hopes and desires in building a meetinghouse from their area. So, we'll to find more worthy potential priesthood holders by finding families in this great area. Doing extraordinary work and quality teaching truly elevates our performance in focusing more on Heavenly Father's children's needs and concerns.

Sister Custodio and I were always united as the Spirit prompts us to do things based on the discernment and companionship revelations we received. We planned to make use of our time wisely and she's very supportive of our goals to bless other people's lives.

We just had a branch council meeting and shared on the things we can coordinate with them to improve more the branch. We just had a little misunderstanding with one of the leaders in the branch on baptizing children without their parents since we will have an upcoming baptism this Saturday of Eric Ben(11 y/o), and we shared to them based on our discernment that this child is truly ready since we did not made a rush lesson for him and even on attending consecutive Sunday attendance. He even attended the Sunday services for the 6th time last Sunday. But this issue had been settled right away with the support of the other auxiliary leaders who already meet Eric Ben and the members who were neighbor of this young man. We explained to them that we are striving as well to share the gospel to his parents and we plan to coordinate with the members in working with us. Overall, they are still supportive in helping us to work particularly with the Elder's area before since we need to go home earlier for safety purposes (since availability of transportation also is an issue later than 6 in the evening).

 I am reminded again to make my Faith in Jesus Christ alive and refresh. "Miracle happens but we need to believe it first for it to happen". This truly made me awakened in doing Heavenly Father's work to serve with all my heart and mind, not only with my might and strength. We had a golden investigator who confirmed that she truly wanted to be baptized and even shared her feelings to her friends yet is now facing a big trial in her life (where she lives since she's living in her boss and her work conflict). I received an inspiration to help her together with my companion and the guidance of the Spirit to face courageously these trials in her life. We had a great support as well from one of the members who referred her to us that she will work things out with their boss and help Sister Jessa Cairlang. I know everything is possible and she is ready to make covenants with God.

Many opportunities are truly coming as we strive to do extraordinary work and elevate our faith in Jesus Christ

We are excited for the interview this coming Saturday of the progressing investigators that will be baptized next week. Joshua Galo(9), Elaine Suarez(9) and Sheny Subasus(12). All of them are part members and had progressed greatly these past few days. Though Sheny is still under observation since her mother hasn't come back yet to Church and she has no solid support yet in retention based as well on the observation of the leaders of the branch, we witnessed that she is keeping the commitments we've extended unto her particularly in reading the Book of Mormon. We will continually follow up on her progression and coordinate with the leaders as well so she can gain more friends in the Church since she is still aloof in making friends with the young women. We extended baptismal dates as well from two member referrals whom we saw as potential ones and had a great opportunity to progress namely Emmalyn Noquera(19) - the girlfriend of our Branch Mission Leader - she's so smart and a seeker of the truth; and, Evelyn Moldez(26) - the wife of a less active member who strives to come back to church. Though they are still living in cohabitation, they have already set a marriage goal date so they can be with their family forever and someday be sealed in the temple. We still have a progressing investigator, Jessa Cairlang(20), whose baptismal date has been moved but still will be baptized this June since she had undergone trials from her work since she is lodging as well on her boss's house and she had still difficulty in making decisions due to financial problems but her progression on the gospel teaching is wonderful as she feast upon the Book of Mormon and made it a comforter of her life from the trials she's facing right now.

These past few days, we strive to be healthy again and unlike on the 3rd week of May, we overcome those health condition challenge due to weather again. Sister Custodio is so humble enough and diligent in doing this marvelous work that as I witnessed, she can overcome health challenges if we work rather than stay at home. Of course, she's not risking her health but the willingness and the Christlike attributes I want to improve are those I witnessed on her. That's why I'm inspired to have a new commitment everyday to work as companions with the Spirit.

We witnessed many challenges in the ward these past few weeks that ministering is done with the coordination of the members as well in the branch. The health condition of the head of the Lariosa family in Danipas had a great effect among the family members since they are the only one active in Danipas every time we have Special Sacrament there. That's why we continuously strengthen them. The report as well of the recent convert who temporarily stayed in Manila is that Sis. Meriam Labajos was sent to the hospital there and we ministered unto their family who are left behind in Panakyuran, Danipas. It was a great opportunity as well to strengthen the faith among the members of their family who have not yet received the gospel to make the gospel of Jesus Christ as their source of strength during these times of trials. The wife as well of our branch president has been admitted to the hospital, that's why the branch is very united to strengthen them from the trials of the branch right now.

Many opportunities are truly coming as we strive to do extraordinary work and elevate our faith in Jesus Christ while putting our love for this work. I'm inspired by the silver bullets and I truly testify that member referrals are very effective source of finding the scattered Israel. They truly can easily come to Church and gain more friends there.


Love,

Sister Cornillez