One of our progressing person's baptism was announced last Sunday and Sister Isabel Mabaslay's interview will be this Tuesday. She is truly ready for making covenants with Heavenly Father! We saw how she progressed and her baptism will be this Saturday. She truly loves to read the scriptures and we witnessed that when a person is truly nourished with the word of God and keep her commitments, she truly gains her own testimony. We're very happy as well when Sis. Carvina Antonio truly decided to be baptized on the 6th of October. She is already ready and her confirmation is what we're waiting for and finally she set her own baptismal date. We are very excited from the progress of Heavenly Father's children. It is true that after much tribulation, blessings truly come. Since we have just experience a big trial from a golden referral who decided to stop teaching him to avoid conflict with his wife. It happened that last last Sunday, he truly came to Church with a spiritual and uplifting experience with the members but her wife indirectly showed that she approved his decision that's why when he went home they talked about it and to stop their conflict, he decided not to be taught. The one who referred was so disappointed of what happened but as we discerned, we gave them words of wisdom as a respect of Bro. Mario's agency. We know that what he felt and experienced during our lessons and the time he attended the Sabbath Day service, he truly can't deny it. At least, we've planted to their hearts, even to her wife's heart the message of peace for the family. But her wife is still close-minded about it. On the other hand, most of the people who continuously come to Church were Primaries who truly enjoyed coming but we're still working out their parents' consent and taught their parent as well about the message of the Restoration. The children truly want to be baptized but as a respect to their parents who are still not approving about it though we've explained to them already about that concerns, we respect their decision and we told the children that someday their parents' heart will be softened at the right time, they just need to continuously show good example unto them and follow their counsels.

Last District Meeting that we had was so spiritual and refreshing as our District Leader Elder Belleza taught us about doing the basics for us to become PMG scholars and experienced missionaries who are worthy of the companionship of the Holy Ghost. I'm inspired as well of the companionship of Sister Dela Serna and Sister Talactac as they have a weekly baptism as a fruit of their labors even their diligence as we witnessed and followed up on them as their leaders. We met some of the people they taught and we saw families who are truly potential to receive the saving ordinances.

Again, we've experienced more trials in our companionship these past few days. :( Aside from the problem in my health, my depression again attacked as I strive to overcome it. I hadn't controlled my natural self. :( I'm so blessed with a very patient and understanding companion that despite of what happened to me, she's still there to help me recover and she truly showed a great initiative in doing actively the missionary work in which I have gradually recovered because of her decisions. She truly can already lead the area and she's so humble enough to always make room for improvement of herself in skills and the attributes we strive to improve.

We didn't have a Missionary Coordination Meeting last Sunday since our Branch Mission Leader had a problem physically but we still coordinated with the Branch Missionaries and Auxiliary Leaders in fellow shipping the nonmembers and in working out the upcoming baptisms. We're very happy of the support among the members who are giving warm welcome unto them.

I truly want to fight the natural man within me. I instantly got depressed for no reason. I got insomnia for just 3 days but eventually I recovered when I got sick last Thursday. I felt the word "exhaustion" (since truly I'm weak physically even before mission but I'm always striving to take care of my health - I'm blessed that here in the field, I'm less sickly). I hate the word tranky because there's truly not such a term. My body just reacted that even my mind conceived negative things. I think I wanted new environment but I don't know what I truly felt last week. I don't want it to happen again. I strive to have more communications with the people around me, meet the members who truly could inspire and they did helped me recover and I read more books even the words of the prophets. I know what my mind can conceive, my body can truly achieve. I hope I'll not be defeated by the adversary again.

Love,

Sister Cornillez

Random pictures

We're very happy of the progressive feedback among the people we've taught last week. Sister Kimberly Morato(15), whom we had just met last week came to Church and is very willing to be baptized right away. She has so great faith that she asked her father that she wanted to be baptized and her father approved her daughter's request since we already met as well her father when we rode his tricycle one time. This golden person we've taught keeps her commitment and is always excited when we visit her. Together with her cousin Bro. Jowe Morato(19), they strive to understand the teachings of the Church particularly in reading the Book of Mormon. Both of them have a desire to go on a mission too. Their baptismal date will be on the 6th of October. Sister Isabel Mabaslay as well progressively keeps her commitment as she shared to us that she felt the answer that Prophet Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God when she read the Book of Mormon. She also cried when she shared her experience in praying. She will be baptized on 29th of September. She has a great support as well from her grandmother who is active in coming to Church since her grandmother was just released from the hospital and she's the one who helped her all the way. Saivon Tiongco (9) decided to be baptized together with his neighbors Bro. Jowe and Kim Morato. He declined at first to be baptized but her desire came back when he saw that his siblings are coming to Church as well. He's in the custody of his grandparents that's why he's separated from his siblings. Kyla and Rachel Tiongco(his siblings enjoyed coming to Church but as to their baptism, they are still hesitant due to their parent's decision. We'll strive to work out their family in accepting the restored truth. We're so joyful when we saw Bro. Mario Mamenta(59) as well came to Church. He's a referral of Sis. Talaboc (RS from Mati 2nd Branch),; he's her co-worker in State College. Many of the members fellow shipped him. He has a good feedback with his first time experience in coming to Church and we're excited for her continuous coming to Church as he is now in Lesson 3 where we emphasize True Repentance. Their family is a devoted Catholic, that's why he's still on the process of investigating the Church before accepting a fixed baptismal date in which we already extended unto him. We'll follow up on his progression and even pray and fast for this golden referral and also with our other progressing persons continuously taught. On the other hand, we're very prayerful of one of our progressing persons before, Sis. Carvina Antonio, since it's been 2 Sundays she hasn't come to Church and her baptismal date is fast approaching. She's already prepared but her condition on her 3 months of pregnancy is somewhat making her physically weak. That's why she can't go out most of the days even in school(since she was a teacher in high school). We'll follow up on her.

We experienced lots of trials even in our companionship as we have our evaluation with each other last week where we felt the stretching, trials of patience and even goals we strive to meet yet unmet. We talked a lot and strive to settle things everyday and we're grateful that in our companionship study, we continue to feel the Spirit. We strive to be submissive to the promptings of the Spirit everyday as we meet lots of challenging people as well even families. We realized that blessings truly come after the trial of faith as we have our evaluation last Sunday.

We have a successful Missionary Coordination Meeting with our Branch Mission Leader and Branch Missionaries last Sunday as we thanked them and extend those thanks to the auxiliary members with the fellow shipping of the new faces in the Church. Our BML already gave us the list of members in our area and we discovered that we can truly help the branch to update those list who already moved out, areas not included in the Branch and families to be reactivated with the help of members who knew them. We had a wonderful work with Bro. Jofel Panopio as we explore one of our farthest area which is Bad-as, and he had a great feedback after the work that he wanted to work again and refer some of his friends there. He will work with us again this week. We are so grateful of how the members coordinated with us in doing missionary work in many ways even just in fellow shipping. We'll strive this week to meet and find those less active in coordination with the Branch Missionaries.

What I've learned this week is that after much tribulation, truly comes the blessings. Emotional and spiritual tests are part of stretching that we need to overcome as we hearken unto the guidance of the Spirit. It's great to have a companion who truly can understand the situation and who is as well striving to become more fully obedient and diligent in this marvelous work.

I love you all!

Love,

Sister Cornillez

nung mahaba pa buhok ko... :)

We have a busy yet great experience last week aside from the MLC that was held, we got more fixed appointments on weekends among those whom the members have referred to us and they are truly potential since they got great and active members who are ready to support them in their process of conversion. Bro. Saivon Tiongco had consistently come to Church every Sunday but still we will extend his baptism on the 22nd of September since his lessons is not yet finished and he needs more nourishment with the word of God because he is still easily tempted by his friends to speak bad words and even by his siblings to drink coffee though his grandparents are members of the Church, they are still not that strong in living the gospel, so we will not make it a rush. Moreover, Sister Carvina Antonio was inspired with the lesson last Sunday as we visited her since we focused on the teachings of the prophets regarding her future role as a mother. We're looking forward for her upcoming baptism on 29th of September. On the other hand, Bro. Jowe Morato has not come to Church because of financial constraint, but since he's in the age that he can already work, we will motivate him and his family to become self-reliant as they live the gospel into their lives. Sister Isabel Mabaslay had a great experience in coming to Church for the first time as she witnessed what we do at Church and how she felt calm in listening to the words of the speakers and teachers when we asked her.  We'll coordinate with the members so she can have more friends and fellow-shippers in the Church particularly among Young Single Adults. 

The sisters in our zone are more diligent than they ever used to be when we followed them up as we strive to reach the goal of the mission as well as with our zone. Our faith to baptize weekly has been elevated and we will apply what we've learned from the meetings we had. The most diligent sisters in our zone are the companionship of Sister Dela Serna and Sister Talactac and we've witnessed the fruits of their labor as more of the people they are teaching progressed continually.

Companion:

Sister Peralta is very diligent as we strive to go home tired but happy everyday and grab opportunities to minister daily as well. As we discerned to give space among those who are not that progressing but leaving something behind them to learn on their own through the Book of Mormon, we got more opportunities to plan to explore some of the areas unexplored by us during the last 2 cycles we have. She's a great exemplar of cheerfulness that even those whom we just opened our mouth welcomed us at their home in sharing the gospel of joy unto them. We are somewhat still disappointed of our performance yet we've planned to repent and improve more everyday for us to witness miracles and blessings in this wondrous work. We have already planned to give priority in reactivating the less active through the member list yet not leaving behind those referrals and progressing ones who are great sources as well of those who will someday receive the saving ordinances. 

Branch:

We had not held a missionary coordination meeting last Sunday since everyone are busy to attend the youth temple trip; yet every auxiliaries are so supportive in fellow shipping the new faces in the Church. The Relief Society president had announced during the RS class, the responsibilities of every auxiliary members to give referrals to the missionaries for us to achieve our goal of making Mati as a Stake and everyone are willing to coordinate though they will still prepare their friends or family members. We had attended a funeral service from a less active member and this has been a great opportunity for them to come back to Church as we BRT them and give them comfort from their experience. This service has been a great missionary work opportunity as everyone particularly the nonmembers witnessed the unity among Latter-Day Saints to reach out even those whom they termed as had "back-slide" from the Church.

The recent Missionary Leadership Council has been a great renewal and reminder for us leaders to become the best exemplars in our zone of obedience and hardwork and everything else will follow. We'll relay all the important messages to our co-missionaries tomorrow for our district meeting. By the way, regarding the new rule on non-reimbursable water even in big containers and gas, we truly will have a great adjustment on this in our budget since some of the missionaries might be more conscious of drinking more water than they ever used to which will lead to more sickness. Even from using gas, since food and water are the great sources of strength that we need to work more diligently and actively while proselyting. :( kaya big adjustment mi karon sa budgeting....hayst......:(:(:(:(:(

Love,

Sister Cornillez

Sister Peralta's Training is done! And I saw how great she progressed being a fine and humble missionary of God. Though we have not yet separated and transferred, we made goals on how to make this new cycle as not a trainee-trainer relationship anymore but to apply all the things we've learned to each other by meeting halfway with the decisions and goals we will make everyday. We'll strive to make something extraordinary for this cycle for us to enjoy and endure this extended companionship that we have. We don't have conflicts yet sometimes we felt sad and disappointed having only one baptism being 2 cycles together. We prayed one night from the realizations we felt. She truly is a great companion. We'll strive to overcome our weaknesses, lose ourselves from this work and repent, even improve everyday of what we can do more as companions and as individual. 

We got 7 people who came to Church. 3 of them are progressing since they are keeping their commitments. Sister Carvina Antonio, though she still felt something is holding her back, she told us even the Relief Society President, that she already had a goal baptismal date, which we felt so joyful, this upcoming 29th of September. Saivon Tiongco continuously comes to Church with the support of his grandparents since he is under their custody and they have a wonderful experience with 3 of his siblings who also came to Church in the Primary class. We gave gratitude from the Primary leaders for making their class a spiritual and wonderful experience for the children for them to have a desire to come again and increase their self-esteem. Brother Joey Morato(19), a former investigator, was one of our new progressing person. We accompany him in coming to Church for him to feel comfortable and we're very happy because when we came to their house, he's already prepared. He enjoyed the Sabbath-day services though he is still shy in interacting with the members. We will work out his progression together with his family. 

We had a wonderful and interactive branch council meeting last Sunday. The time that we raised concerns from the auxiliary leaders, everyone are very supportive to make the goals of the branch, even the goals of the missionaries to be realized. Our branch mission leader shared about what the branch needs to do from the meeting they just held last Saturday and what emphasized from the leaders was when they heard that missionaries have goals to "Go home tired, but happy." Everyone felt grateful for having diligent missionaries in the mission, so they asked us how would this happen. We told them that their referrals who has a great chance to be converted will make us happy even if we're tired at the end of the day since, every teaching will be a quality one adding up our goal to become PMG scholars. They even joked that we could meet lawyers, or even doctors, and we told them that we as well are willing to meet their friends who are professionals since many of the auxiliary leaders are professional. We even shared to them that we are teaching now one of the referrals from Branch 2 RS sister in Magapo and we coordinated with them that we are willing that one of the EQ members can come with us to work and be friend with Bro. Mario Mamenta every Saturday for him to be comfortable in coming to Church since his friend is from Branch 2. We're grateful that every EQ leaders are willing to give their time to take care of this golden referral who is truly a truth seeker. 

What I've learned this week is that, wherever we go and whatever we teach, we teach by the Spirit. Our religion walks by faith and not by sight. It's true that we, as missionaries need to study and become PMG scholars, but we don't need to answer every objections and questions every person would raise but the powerful converter as I've experienced, is truly the Book of Mormon. So, for a person to have a testimony of the restored truth, he needs to read, ponder, and pray about the Book of Mormon.

I love you all!!!

Love,

Sister Cornillez

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

The Greatest Day in History

Recently I asked the internet, “What day most changed the course of history?”

The responses ranged from surprising and strange to insightful and thought-provoking. Among them, the day when a prehistoric asteroid struck the Yucatán Peninsula; or when in 1440, Johannes Gutenberg finished his printing press; and, of course, the day in 1903 when the Wright brothers showed the world that man really can fly.

If the same question were asked of you, what would you say?

In my mind the answer is clear.

To find the most important day in history, we must go back to that evening almost 2,000 years ago in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus Christ knelt in intense prayer and offered Himself as a ransom for our sins. It was during this great and infinite sacrifice of unparalleled suffering in both body and spirit that Jesus Christ, even God, bled at every pore. Out of perfect love, He gave all that we might receive all. His supernal sacrifice, difficult to comprehend, to be felt only with all our heart and mind, reminds us of the universal debt of gratitude we owe Christ for His divine gift.

Later that night, Jesus was brought before religious and political authorities who mocked Him, beat Him, and sentenced Him to a shameful death. He hung in agony upon the cross until, finally, “it [was] finished.”His lifeless body was laid in a borrowed tomb. And then, on the morning of the third day, Jesus Christ, the Son of Almighty God, emerged from the tomb as a glorious, resurrected being of splendor, light, and majesty.

Yes, there are many events throughout history that have profoundly affected the destiny of nations and peoples. But combine them all, and they cannot begin to compare to the importance of what happened on that first Easter morning.

What is it that makes the infinite sacrifice and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ the most important event in history—more influential than world wars, cataclysmic disasters, and life-changing scientific discoveries?