We experienced ups and downs last week where that includes again health issues but after all the trials and tribulations, blessings truly come. We explore a new area where we met more of the less active in Taft Branch. We met as well new people unexpectedly as we are prompted by the Spirit to enter a village where there lived the Badjao Community. They truly have different language yet they understand Bisaya. It has been a great exciting challenge for both of us as well as to Sis. Dingcong on her training to experience a new and spiritual even memorable challenge. Everyone welcomed us and we felt like VIPs as they showed their hospitality unto us. We felt that this experience is truly hastening the Lord's work to teach repentance to all of God's children even from this people whom has been deprived of earthly treasures. We explained to them why we're there and our purpose is not for temporal needs that we can provide but much more than that - it is their spiritual needs and nourishment to know Christ since they have an independent religion where they also believed in Christ other than the religions I've heard before. They all listened well and everyone wanted to have the pamphlets yet we lack supply so we promised to come back next time. We invited them to come to Church and we're happy to hear that one of them has already had an experience in coming to Church - Jolispa (a young woman) - more knowledgeable among them showed enthusiasm in sharing her experiences. We'll pray for this community since I saw in them the termed more humbled people because of their lack in worldly wealth yet poor in spirit in accepting the gospel of Christ.

On the other hand, as we minister more and discover more of the members who are in the Member's List, we found less active who just got less interested in coming back to Church yet have great testimonies of the gospel. Despite of our trials of having less time to go out more since Sis. Dingcong always experienced unexpected health failures, we prayed more so that God's children will feel His extended arms among them the time that we reactivated their spirits in renewing the covenants they've made. Six of the less active came to Church last Sunday and we are very much joyful of their presence even the members that some of them showed desire to coordinate in missionary work. We receive one potential referral as well who is a very humble woman and we're gonna help her progress towards receiving the gospel of Christ by setting a fixed appointment on her schedules despite of her being busy in work. She gladly accepted it. Many of the members we met last Sunday wanted us to visit them as they shared that they have family members who are not coming back yet and some are not yet members. We're blessed to gain the trust among the members in this wonderful Taft Branch.

Sister Dingcong is now on her 9th week of training. We're striving to catch up particularly on the lessons she still needs to practice since we sometimes had less time for her training due to the time we're busy finding apartments as well as from the unexpected health failure she has. I'll strive to help her in her condition that she will not as well be deprived of her health. She truly has a desire to increase her learning and she's humble enough to learn from those things by having goals yet not running faster than she she has strength as she requested from me. We'll strive to be united with the Spirit as well.

We still don't have a Missionary Coordination Meeting since our Branch Mission Leader is still busy with their meetings for the upcoming FSY. Most of the Relief Society members are helping us with missionary work through referrals and appointments to coordinate with them in ministering.

I'll truly strive to become a good example to Sister Dingcong and these past few days I'm blessed that my health is active and well as I minister to those of the sisters here who are experiencing health failures. I experienced again depression which I know has a purpose (this is again due to hormonal imbalance I think because of my menstruation and Asthma Allergy - that happened at the same time) yet after this experience, I plead and talk with Heavenly Father and I felt a great comfort and my goals had been elevated to become a blessing instead of a burden to the people around me. I truly experience a great self-reflection even self-realization of what I need to improve more to help God's children and lose myself in this work.

I love you and I miss you all!!!!

Love,

Sister Cornillez

We had a challenging week last week. These includes the training, health of the missionaries, finding of new apartment, and meeting some of the members. We polished with my companion of those who have been extended baptismal dates and some of them won't progress. We'll strive this week to recover and truly find those whom the Lord has prepared in this season. We're happy to hear that the Relief Society Organization particularly the Presidency plead with the members to coordinate in missionary work with us by giving some referrals as well to be active in ministering. We're glad to see Tatay Herminio Durias and Sister Merle came back to Church last Sunday whom they have considered less active. We'll gradually seek the less active from the member's list since we've discovered as well that there are lots of them who have part members. Though some of them are telling us that "lots of missionaries had already taught or meet, even invite their family members who have not yet received the gospel, as we ministered and nourish them with God's word, we give them hope that this is God's work and nothing is impossible through our fasting and prayer together with them and their increased faith. We are so happy that their unrealized hopes bring into activeness again. We'll strive as well to find more of the scattered Israel in this consecrated area particularly applying the said "Teach when you find, and find when you teach" even to nonmembers. Right now, President, we set goals for us to use our time wisely and explore more of the areas we have not yet explored due unexpected sickness my companion had experienced. I'll strive as well not to pressure her much in the training but encourage her that she may be able to increase her faith and take care of her health that hardship is part of stretching and improving and I'll strive to set a good example to her to teach people according to their needs. We can't go out earlier than we've planned to and it's been a routine everyday. I felt sad again yet I talk with Heavenly Father to help our companionship that we may be able to respect the time of the Lord but not running faster than we are able to, I'm comforted and I have great hopes that we are truly called of God to strengthen and blessed Taft Branch as well as the prospective covenant-keepers of the Lord.

 I know that the Lord has prepared lots of opportunities of learning here as an investment of my future life.

I love you all!!!

Love, the matured Sister Cornillez

I had a safe travel from Mati to Surigao. As I've started and increased my willingness to have new goals with my new companion here in Surigao Zone Taft Branch, I easily adjusted since the people here have given me a warm welcome. I haven't totally met all of the members of the Taft Branch since there has been a General Conference. We just got less teaching and explored a little when I arrived here as both of us are still unfamiliar with the areas but I witnessed how Sister Dingcong loves missionary work as she talked with everyone and strive to learn much. She's so humble enough to listen to what I say and what the Spirit says. I'm excited for this upcoming weeks that we'll gonna witness miracle as we strive to be obedient and diligent in all ways. Truthfully, from the things I've heard before about this branch, everything seems different. The members even the recent converts are excited and willing to coordinate with us in missionary work, even the Branch President loved to see us and even wanted us to visit their lovely home. I know this will be a great work and great challenge as we become more positive and united with the Spirit. I'm excited to explore the areas with Sister Dingcong since I saw her willingness and excitement as well to bless the people here in Taft Branch. I love the talks in the general conference. Well, ALL the talks and even all my prepared questions had been answered. I was motivated to do more of what I can do with the Spirit, and with my companion.

well, kasakit sa kasingkasing...both of us companions we're pulled out sa area namin and everyone got shocked with the announcement.... everyone immediately set dinner appointment and bonding with us in a short span of time before we go.... By the way, I'm assigned now in Surigao City Taft Branch....(tough branch? joke..haha)... , grabe travel ko from Mati to Surigao.... 16 hrs.... kung makita nyo sa mapa..yung Mati dulo sa gilid...pataas....Surigao is dulo sa taas naman.... tsktsk... kinaya ko ang byahe...haha.. amazing.... I can see here the Leyte island...pero syempre di ako natetempt umuwi...haha..... nagstep down nako as stl...and nagfollow up train ko kat sister Dingcong..... nashock mga kaco Stl ko ug Zone leaders...bakit daw... hehe...well, God's purpose.... Malipay didi...iwowork out namin na yung tough branch ay maging soft branch... hihi... pero ok man didi...babaguhin namin yung point of view ng mga missionaries dito even the members... miracles will truly happen as we strive to be obedient and diligent and it will never be impossible... humble yung companion ko ma... Si Sister Dingcong......from Occidental Mindoro... pareho kami pala na nagaaram pa didi sa language kay iba ang Surigaonon... yung wara is waya...balay is bayay...hahahaha.... tapos damo pa..haha.,.nakakaexcite and nkakakamaze...

, basin last area ko na didi ba.... I'm excited sa mga mosunod na adlaw... I need to be positive in all things....

I love you all!!!!!

Love Sister Cornillez

We had a successful baptism of Sister Carvina Antonio. She truly has a great testimony of the restored gospel and she is excited to be sealed with her husband in the temple next year. The one recently been baptized named Sis. Isabel Mabaslay bore an inspiring testimony as well last Fast and Testimony Meeting. She paid her tithe and fast offering and even fasted for the first time. We saw her progression and she's looking forward to serve on a mission someday as she made a goal to study the Book of Mormon everyday. These great souls that Heavenly Father has prepared in this consecrated area truly inspired and motivated us to truly find those of God's children that are ready to accept the gospel; and not only us even the members are inspired by them. Kurt Ernest Syting, a young man, who was a referral by one of the members finally came to Church with us and he truly enjoyed the Sabbath Day services as his family here is supportive with his progression in the Church since his immediate family reside in Davao and are members of the Church and he has been left to his extended family since birth. We are looking forward for more progressing people we've met and strive to invite them as families as they make their first step to come to Church. 

We just had successful exchanges last week and I've witnessed how Sister Cinco and Sister Talactac improved and grew as they applied all the skills they've learned particularly in teaching for understanding based on the person's needs. They are so humble enough to accept the things that they need to improve yet they truly can lead already their areas confidently. 

Sister Peralta shared to me the inadequacies she had as she related to me that she might be training a new missionary next cycle. As what I've witnessed in her progression, she truly is ready but truthfully, having a calling truly is a bit trembling and no one is really ready at first but whatever inspiration President may have, we will sustain him. She truly is a humble and fine missionary and even contagious to be with in her activeness.

We have a missionary coordination meeting last Sunday and we thank the auxiliaries from the successful baptism we have had together with the Relief Society Organization (auxiliary leaders and members)

I am continuously taking the medicines prescribed by the doctor last Thursday and I am gradually recovering as I accompany it with proper exercise, right choice of foods and more water during proselyting.

Sayang ba...di iaccept ng anak ko yung opportunity to train..whatever I say and encourage her... pero may agency man cya... kaya nya naman... basta I'll respect nalang her decisions....

 I love you te!!!

Love,

Sister Cornillez

Sister Carvina Laroga Antonio teacher cya 28 years old..... sobrang buutan

We had a successful baptism of Sister Isabel Tunong Mabaslay. She had a wonderful testimony and we've witnessed how members welcomed her in the Relief Society Organization as well as in the Young Single Adult. One of our progressing person as well was successfully interviewed last Sunday - Sister Carvina Antonio's baptism will be this 6th of October. We focused last week the progress of those who are truly keeping their commitments and showed willingness to learn more of the gospel. Bro. Jowe Morato's baptism was moved to the 3rd week of October since we witnessed him struggling to stop from drinking alcohol because of peer pressure. We're happy that he came to Church last Sunday. We're looking forward for the progress of other people we continuously taught as we focused on strengthening family. Such as the Morales Family, who are struggling to give up their religion since their pastor is visiting them often due to their absence every Sabbath in their religion but as we strive to nourish them with the Book of Mormon and helping them understand the whole plan of salvation, their desire and willingness to come to Church increases. 

Sister Peralta is such a Christlike missionary as she understood my condition in the past few days while I am physically weak due to the unexpected changes in the weather condition. That's why we haven't reach more of the goals we have for our key indicators. We become more understanding with each other's condition.

We have a missionary coordination meeting last Sunday and we thank the auxiliaries for their continuous support in doing missionary work as the branch is very helpful when it comes to fellow shipping. We'll strive to coordinate more with the members as we search for the less active ones since most in our area are found in Tambiling - which the members told us not to go there yet or we can visit there earlier and not be late due to the drug raid that had just happened. We're making sure we are safe in the areas we tract as the members always remind us for our safety.

I am now recovering from my sickness. We truly witnessed from the people we visited that due to the weather condition, there's truly an outbreak of fever among the people here when exposed to a greater amount of sunlight. I am making sure I eat the right food and drink the right amount of water everyday.

Love,

Sister Cornillez

District family home evening

Birthday ng mabibinyagan sa area namin this Saturday... bday nya nung Sunday... sorry haggard...mainit kasi walang electric fan...hehe...