We had a wonderful, spiritual and even heart changing mission tour last week. I was motivated to repent more and recognize "What Lack I Yet?" as a missionary in my life and as companions, we are motivated to be missionaries at all times, in all things and in all places. I realize something that sometimes, in preparations days or even our travels or walks to our teaching appointments, missionary spirit of finding and grabbing teaching opportunities particularly in OYM is taken lightly thinking that - "yeah, we will have fixed teachings for this day, so we don't need to put a lot more effort to find new ones" - but no, as Elder Smutchz had shared - it makes me ponder, repent and realize that in all ways - this is just 18 months but will truly affect my eternities - I need to be a full-time missionary. I need to act like a full-time missionary. I continue to read what I learned during the Mission Tour and even in Missionary Leadership Council. I was motivated to work more like I never ever worked before together with my companion and as guided by the Spirit.

We're grateful that finally Sis. Carvina Antonio, who's been our progressing person, has been back to Church after her thought-pondering experience of her postponed baptism. Right now, we're not pressuring her again and again and we had another spiritual and heart-touching lesson last Sunday. She opened up to us that the only person he's waiting to ask for permission is her father and we respect her of her decision. Moreover, last meeting with her is a great experience where her desire to share the gospel extends more to her siblings who are as well already married. We continue to motivate her by showing her good example unto them by starting as well in herself to be ready to make sacred ordinances. On the other hand, Bro. Saivon Tiongco and his family members are very supportive for his upcoming baptism for September. They are truly committed for it to happen since the child has lots of insecurities in attending Primary class as well as in his reading skill. What added more to our joy that even without us, last Sunday, together with his grandmother, she supported him to attend the Primary class all the way until the meeting ends. 

Sister Peralta's training of her Week 11 is somewhat time-challenging due to the continued events that happened yet she progressed greatly as we continue again to practice teaching and applied the role of the Holy Ghost during teaching. She's so humble enough to accept evaluation to improve more before her training ends. She truly has a great desire to bless the lives of others by being worthy herself. I'm learning much from her particularly in applying the Christlike attributes specifically on Charity which at first I thought I evenly understand and know before but it's not enough until we realized it in our companionship.

The sisters in our area are so diligent as they continue to report their work everyday. As we inspect, they are truly doing more of what is required of them to do setting aside the busy schedule of events that had just happened. The trainees Sis. Talactac, Sis. Peralta and Sis. Cinco truly progressed wonderfully as we witnessed how they can already lead the area and humbly accept evaluations for them to improve.

As we continue to have return appointments from the referrals of the members together with the members themselves during the lessons, we witnessed their progression and commitment as they continue to hearken unto the restored truth. One of them texted to us, since he truly has a busy schedule, that if he's not busy, he promised that he'll truly make time to come to Church. 

We had a wonderful Missionary Coordinating Meeting with the Branch Mission Leader and one of the Branch Missionaries; and as we report, we're so grateful that some of them are taking part in ministering the recent convert, Tatay Alberto with his current condition living alone. We're so blessed as well that one of the branch missionary is doing his best to strengthen one of the person we are teaching to come back to Church again and start investigating though her father is against it. Just how Sis. Angelyn's brother who is on mission right now did, that he stand for what he knows is right and eventually their parents accepted it, all of us are looking forward for Sis. Angelyn's potential as she feast upon the words of God through continuous reading of the Book of Mormon.

I love you all!!!!!

Love,

Sister Cornillez

We advanced last week's training of our trainees in which they will be the one to lead everything in the areas as well as in planning. We conducted exchanges as well to facilitate the trainees on how well they've improved from their training and it was truly a success. 

I had an exchange with Sister Cinco last Wednesday, 15th of August 2018. I witnessed her progression particularly in her finding skills and how she build relationship of trust among the people we met. She opened up to me that she still has struggles when it comes to teaching and as I've observed she's truly trying her best to study more her weak points in the things she wanted to improve. She successfully led their area setting aside her doubts and concerns as she relied on the Spirit. I had a great learning experience as well from our work that though we had struggles and concerns; work, work, work is truly the remedy for those and at the end of the day we both shared that there are truly people who have greater problems than us that afterwards we felt more thankful and grateful as we recognize Heavenly Father's blessings in our lives by forgetting ourselves in this wondrous work. 

By Friday, my companion was Sister Dela Serna as I led our area, and I truly witnessed how she's great in finding and extending baptismal invitation among the people we've taught without being threatened. I've learned much from our exchanges and we're blessed to meet families that are prepared by Heavenly Father to learn the gospel. We're excited to have return appointments from them. 

On the other hand, Sister Peralta's Week 10 of training is done and she improved a lot particularly in adjusting the teaching based on the needs of the people we've taught. From what I've heard from their exchanges and from our work as well, she truly can lead the area already as I witnessed that she's more diligent than she ever used to be. She's great in building relationship of trust among the people we've taught by applying the things she'd learned from the last Zone Conference to introduce properly, connect and segway. She relied on the Spirit as she asked inspired questions among the people we've taught. By the way, we are challenged as well in our Zone to truly apply these skill for the week to "Ask Inspired Questions" from the workshop of Elder Ugay last District Meeting and we had a spiritual and wonderful meeting as everyone is invited to share their insights on how can we be more effective in asking effective rather than poor questions. Some of the trainees shared their thoughts if situations like this and that happens and everyone shared ideas through practice teaching on how we can improve more in our teaching in every companionship that we have.

We had two progressing persons in our area. One is Sister Carvina Antonio and we learned a great and humbling experience from her. From what I've shared last time about her situation, every plans are already laid. We prayed and fasted for her baptism to be possible yet it did not happen. I remember from what Elder Bednar's message for the upcoming mission tour about putting it INTO the hearts of the people and it is by the power of the Holy Ghost that it will happen and our role is to deliver the message UNTO the hearts of those we teach. We strive to be worthy and repent of our weaknesses yet Sister Carvina's agency is beyond our control and we need to trust in the Lord's timing even if we had great faith that she'll truly be baptized because we know and we discerned already that she's ready. We're so happy that from her text last Saturday, she told us that she just truly wanted to inform her father and other family members that she's going to be baptized but it's just that she haven't visited them since they've gone on vacation. We saw that she truly has a testimony already and we continuously support her on her decisions and remind her that her mother is cheering her up on the other side of the veil. Brother Saivon Tiongco's grandparents on the other hand are continuously supporting him since he wanted to be baptized yet he needs to come to church consistently for that to happen. We coordinated with the Primary Presidency to help the child from coming in the Primary since he truly doesn't want to and everyone are supportive for this. It takes time and patience and we too, come with him to Primary class for him to feel welcomed and not be shy. 

Moreover, Tatay Alberto Dela Cerna, a recent convert, has great progress in continuously coming to Church as he was ministered unto by the Elder Quorum auxiliary members and as he prepare himself to be ordained in the Aaronic Priesthood.

President Busilaoco, the District President met with the leaders in every auxiliary for Mati 1st branch including us on how to make the branch monthly mission and ministering plan be possible by informing them of their role and goals that they need to set for them to coordinate and be active in missionary work. Some had negative insights about it which is inevitable for there must needs be opposition yet at the end of the discussion, the faith of the leaders who took positive thoughts prevail about the plan and everyone coordinated even us missionaries felt a greater yet fulfilling responsibility to work hand in hand with every auxiliary leaders and members. We're so blessed that at the end of the meeting, many of the leaders gave referrals right away in which we've contacted immediately to bless the branch and elevate their trust. 

We're excited for the upcoming Mission Tour and we include those things that we need to study in our Companionship Study. We had such a great and spiritual experience as we shared insights from the things we've learned to improve more and stretch ourselves in this work. I love you all!!!!!!

Love,

Sister Cornillez

from the last mission conference..late send

District Conference in Mati

First Baptism of her Anak

We had a great and spiritual experiences last week that Brother Alberto Dela Cerna's baptism become so meaningful even from the time of its preparation. This is Sister Peralta's first harvest in the mission and we witnessed beforehand how Tatay got doubts on his upcoming baptism but as we strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ, plead with Heavenly Father and increased our faith to be positive in all things, the next time we visited him, he was so excited and prepared to receive the first saving ordinance. The Elder's Quorum organization planned to minister and know Tatay's condition as what we've heard from the meeting to strengthen him and enjoy while enduring to the end. On the other hand, one of our Progressing Person, Sister Carvina Antonio's baptismal date will be this Saturday, August 18, 2018. We talk with Heavenly Father to help us from her doubts in preparing herself on that day. As we taught her last Sunday, we discerned how she is truly prepared the time she shared her testimony and her desire to strengthen her family. We don't want to pressure her or force her to be baptized right away. But it's been 9 times she came to Church, she already read the Book of Mormon and she even started doing her family history work. We made plans for her to decide by suggesting her to not only pray but talk to Heavenly Father as what your inspired counsel has been. We tried it as she gave the kneeling closing prayer and we felt the Spirit. She truly cried. Everyone from the Relief Society organization even our Branch Mission Leader already prepared the program for her baptism and everyone of us is so positive that it will happen this Saturday. We'll just wait for her text that she is already ready to be interviewed by the district leader. We coordinated as well with her husband to gave her support and strengthen her to take away her doubts in this as what she termed as "major decision of her life". We had a great experience as well as we met the referral given by one of the members who is her co worker. The one who referred came with us and we not only taught the one referred but also with his wife as they hearken unto the restored truth and answered questions by the Spirit. They accepted our return appointment. We're very blessed and grateful for the trust given to us by the members and we'll strive to strengthen and elevate it.

Last MLC is so inspiring again that we applied an increased faith to make all things possible by doing our part as well particularly in helping us to strive to be worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost - and worthy of the blessings prepared with it - not only in our zone but also in every companionship that we have. While we are in Butuan, we witnessed again how wonderful Sister Peralta and Sister Cinco applied the learnings they have and rely on the Spirit as we evaluated them regarding their work. They truly are progressing and they're more like not trainees anymore as they are already in their Week 10 this week of their training. 

Sister Peralta's pro-activeness is truly contagious that we always have a spiritual day together as we end everyday of our work. We always talk about our experiences and our growth these past few weeks of us being together and we truly realized how amazing the companionship of the Holy Ghost is as we make ourselves worthy as well being an instrument in doing the Lord's work. She's truly amazing and humble enough to learn everything by the Spirit as I facilitate her to immerse herself in using more the Book of Mormon in teaching the people as it can wrought great change in the hearts of many by applying it first to herself.  

We just had our Missionary Coordination Meeting and afterwards Branch Council Meeting last Sunday. We're very grateful for the presence of the leaders in every auxiliaries and how they shared ideas to strengthen those who are just baptized and to lift up the less active ones particularly the priesthood holders to make the goal of the branch to become a ward. The District Presidency already laid plans regarding the baptismal goals of every auxiliaries and the missionaries for us to coordinate and make the goal possible. They will have a separate meeting from every branches which had already been scheduled by the district presidency. Everyone is excited not only with ministering but also in doing missionary work. The Branch Mission Leader is very supportive from our last baptism that he coordinated with the Elder's Quorum, Young Women and Primary Presidency to welcome those who are just baptized from their organization. Though not everyone from the presidencies attended but representatives from every auxiliaries showed up. 

Now that we witnessed one harvested in this consecrated area, we'll not lie low but be more diligent and faithful to find by the Spirit the souls prepared by Heavenly Father and strengthen those who are continuously progressing. 

Saranghaeyo!!!

Love,

Sister Cornillez

She's already 1 year in the field!!!

What a Successful Mati District COnference!!!

In the previous week, we focused on strengthening our progressing people by reading together with them the Book of Mormon to gain their own testimonies of the restored truth. As we find people as well in the upper part of Tagawisan, we realized that there are still those in parts of our area which we have not explored that the person we met shared that they too had been visited by missionaries long ago and they are very receptive in hearkening unto the gospel since some of them are undergoing trials that the relating the gospel to their lives truly connect with their conditions. We're excited to go back again this week unto them. Our progressing people are Sister Carvina Antonio (27 y/o) and she's progressing continuously and had a great experience with the talks last District Conference which is very applicable into her situation regarding her doubts on her baptismal date due to family problem. We have not followed her up last Sunday since our teaching appointment with her is always on Sunday and she's busy after the Conference so we'll strive to prepare her this coming Sunday for her baptism next week and apply everything we've learned even on the Zone Conference that was just held last Friday focusing on family history to prepare her to make higher covenants someday. (89 y/o) Bro. Alberto Dela Cerna's baptismal date will be this coming Saturday so we'll strive to finish the lesson this week before his interview since he just need basic lessons based on his understanding at his age. The members gave him a long-sleeved white polo with necktie as well as shoes in coming to Church and he's very happy with it. The Godinez sisters also came to Church by themselves enjoying the conference. We challenged them for the upcoming weeks that they will be the one to save money for their fare in coming to Church as said by their mother for them to show their true faith in living the gospel. We're very grateful for the support of their mother and we have faith as well that someday their parent's hearts will be softened to come to Church again since their mother had already experienced it before. We will strive to strengthen more of the families we've found and nourish them with the Book of Mormon study. One of the family we've taught whom we continuously minister was the Gabani Family who are Jehovah's Witnesses. They are not still ready to accept new truths but we're grateful that they requested a Tagalog version of the Book of Mormon for them to understand it more fully and the one who requested was their father. We know they are one of those scattered Israel whom the Lord prepared in this field. 

Last Thursday, we held a Zone finding to bless and strengthen the San Isidro area and it was truly successful. There are lots of soul in their area that we accepted return appointments and we know that as they will be nourished by the word of God, this can strengthen the whole Mati District in attaining its goal to become a stake.

We had a successful Zone Activity as well this morning as we focused on strengthening companionship and valuing obedience to rules as likened to missionary rules and God's laws. Afterwards, I and Sister Dela Fuente, as Sister Training Leaders conducted an individual and companionship interview with Sister Dela Serna and Sister Talactac to strengthen them more and inspecting their progress in their assigned area.

Sister Peralta's 8th week of training is done and I witnessed her progress every single day as we strive to have a more spiritual experience not only during the work but even in our studies. She's truly a very proactive one that I am learning much from her and is more motivated as I was refreshed by her missionary Spirit.

We will coordinate more with the branch missionaries in strengthening this work of salvation by extending a hand unto them through ministering to help them be more excited and motivated in hastening the Lord's work.

We had an amazing and spiritual Zone Conference last Friday that helped us to be more proactive missionaries in this area. We made goals and are excited to apply it everyday of our experience in doing extraordinary work. 

Our mission President truly had a great trust in us...particularly in our zone so we should not break his trust... :):):):)

Love,

Sister Cornillez

MLC