New Area-Bislig1st branch/ New Companion-Sister Villaflores

Last week, transfer week is a great opportunity to discover more of what Heavenly Father has taught me from my last area as well as from my last companions. There is truly a great adjustment for me but setting aside myself there is truly great adjustments as well to the recent converts, members as well as the investigators to meet a new missionary again so I strive to build relationship and trust to them which in turn has a positive result. I learn to love and care for them in a short span of time, knowing their needs and concerns as well as in helping them build their own testimonies with the help of my companion as well as through the guidance of the Holy Ghost. 

Sister Villaflores, being me as her 1st senior companion, is so sweet, loving and welcoming. Just after her training, she can right away lead their area with a strong heart and wise use of time. She makes me feel comfortable and understood my physical and emotional reactions in my adjustment to the new environment. She strives as well to be exactly obedient which in turn makes our companionship more united. During our studies, I had some suggestions to make our work more effective from the things I've learned before and positively, without hesitation, she willingly desired to make it a goal as well to help us and our area.

We had a missionary coordination meeting last Sunday. Though, few ward missionaries had attended, the branch mission leader is active to perform his calling as well as to coordinate in this work. There is one ward missionary whom we immediately set a day for work and she affirmatively respond to it. We'll strive to be united with the members as well as the auxiliary leaders in fellow shipping our recent converts, less active as well as the investigators. The members here are welcoming as well. We'll strive to build their trust and understand their situations.

 Though, I still have a somewhat "area-&-environment-shock" (physical and emotional aspect) but I know gradually I can adjust. I need to be used of the adjustments that is, will and may happen since these can help me to stretch myself from my potential that Heavenly Father has entrusted unto me. 

Nabalhin na am mission president naghaya jud ko..... yana si President Pagaduan temporarily pero mabalhin pa cya kay one of the area seventy kasi siya so may ibubutang gud na bag o..... emergency kasi family and personal reasons nila President Santillan... nakakamiss sila ni Sister Santillan...pero I know may plano si Heavenly Father..

nagsarit kami kan mission president magunwind ko sana sa baywalk didi sa bislig pero dire namon area kay nasstress ak sa adjustment sa tanan tanan pero tinawagan kami ni president pagaduan and yun wa kami tuyanga but I told him that we'll truly strive to be exactly obedient and explore instead our area and find more opportunities sa among area...then he told me that that's a good idea sister....That's a Butuan Missionary, a PMG missionary.,... nakakasaya pero again kelangan ko jud magadjust and be obedient para maganda yung bumalik sakin and samin ng companion ko....

hmmp.... I love you all.... branch area is somewhat culture shock te... but I love Bislig!! I love the people here!!

Personal and Companionship studies helped us more to be united in this work

We visited and have return appointments among the investigators we found last week and they continuously received our message as well as understood them. There are just some concerns regarding our invitations on coming to Church since some of them have financial problems, others are financially supported by other religions on the school support of their children and other matters as well but during the lessons they understood and realized the message of the Restoration can truly help them in their lives. We will focus this coming week on strengthening their faith as well as helping them gain their own testimonies by reading the Book of Mormon. 

We strive to recover from the day (Tuesday) that we haven't worked since Sis. Racal got sick (gikabuhi). But she's in good condition now and she immediately recovered through rest and medicine. Our personal and companionship studies helped us more to be united in this work by stretching more ourselves in discovering techniques in finding, teaching as well as relying on the promptings of the Spirit in the work. We had an evaluation and realized that we gradually overcame our weaknesses these days by being more open minded with each other and applying the Christlike attributes as companions.

We had a missionary coordination meeting yesterday and we raised concerns about the members who are working with us, the fellow shippers and the home and visiting teachers since the auxiliaries together with the ward missionaries had been busy last week but they said that they will strive to recover from the times they haven't worked with us by visiting as well the recent converts and less active.

We almost have a potentially progressing investigators since they affirmatively confirmed that they will come to Church but they haven't. We'll try to visit them again this week and help them resolve their own concerns with the words of God as well as helping them to experience conversion on their own by keeping their commitments and helping them love to read the Book of Mormon.

love lots,

Sister Cornillez

Last Sunday in her first area? not sure though. haha

Last week, we focused on finding new investigators by the Spirit and made sure that they are not just statistics but individuals whom we can have return appointments. We saw their willingness to learn more of the gospel and they have as well realized the relevance of the gospel to their lives. We have an effective exploration of our areas particularly areas where we can save more money yet more opportunities on families as well as people who have Mormon friends. As we strive to strengthen the less active as well as recent converts, we saw also opportunities to find potential investigators among their family members. 

We have a great companionship teamwork with Sister Racal particularly on goal setting that we strive last week. We saw each other's weaknesses but our companionship studies helped us to be more open-minded and loving with each other. 

We just have a missionary coordination meeting but only the bishopric attended due to conflict in meetings as well as the ward mission leader is not available. During the meeting, we shared the concerns among the fellow shippers of the investigators as well as the recent converts and less active who is somewhat weak in terms of the initiative of seating with them during the meetings. We shared as well their home and visiting teachers concerns and they responded positively to coordinate with us in the next few weeks since most of the leaders are busy these days due to work and school agenda.

Our progressing investigator, Bro. Jerold Don Bagnol, had come back to Manila due to work matters so we will strive to focus on the existing potential progressing investigators that they will keep their commitments and have their testimonies of the restored truth.

last Sunday nagplay na piano si Katrina Deloso, one YW na gitutduan ko... :):) one song pala Lord I would follow thee iya ginplay...nakakaamaze... pagkatapos sa meeting bagaw sa ak sa mga members matransfer ka na jud? hehe.... truthfully, I love them all... But I'm also excited matransfer... hehe.... next Sunday two songs na ak ipapaplay kan katrina.... basin last sunday ko na dd.. so mamamaalam na gud ak...haha...tapos d ngean ak matransfer...tsktsk... haha..... 

Love,

Sister Cornillez

Mission life is worth the experience

Annyeong!

Mission life is worth the experience. Every week seems an exciting one. I remember when my trainer told me to never ever set aside humility. It's true that everyone will truly change within 18 months or 2 years.... Every skills in teaching, listening and others will truly improve .... but not everyone will consistently apply the Christlike Attributes... This is what missionaries should remember. #CLA (Christlike attributes) every week doesn't mean one attribute only per week that you will apply but we need to apply all and remember this is God's work and not ours.

I love missionary work! Every blessings I received here feels like I am Nephi...Highly favored of God... so I should not take advantage of the blessings I receive instead be more diligent, be more consistent and be more obedient to this short plan Heavenly Father had given me... :):):)

Love, (Sarang)

Sister Cornillez THE THIRD

Cornillez Jamaenim

Mission life is not perfect but truly you'll learn a lot

Last Saturday, we had a baptism of Sis. Jecel De Guzman, an 11 year-old part member. She was confirmed on Sunday. We truly witnessed her progress and how firm is her faith though she's still young. She goes to church with her nephews on their own, rain or shine, even without fare. She also has a lot of friends already in the Church. We had four investigators who came to Church last Sunday. All of them had already a great testimony as we continue to teach and strengthen them for their upcoming baptism on December. The one strives to stop his smoking though he's struggling since he's a chain-smoker, we witnessed his progressed for a day that he haven't smoked and we continue to read the Book of Mormon with him.

My new companion is Sister Racal and she's great too. I love how she showed love and care for the people we met. At first, I felt slightly thrilled in leading the area but now I know that there's nothing to be afraid of since this is God's work and we just need to rely on the Spirit.

The ward helped us in the baptism of Sis. Jecel. The fellowshipping is strong as well as the support of the auxiliaries. Some of them planned to worked with us this coming week. We're busy by the way sa Choir Practice sa ward para sa upcoming Christmas Missionary Night on Dec. 9 pati lat sa mga missionaries na choir... ako pianist.. nakakapagod so I need to take vitamins para iwas sakit but I love what I'm doing kaya during practice di ko nafefeel ang sakit sa katawan.. hehe...

We had a baptism supposed to be of Bro. Rommel De Guzman but due to his work conflict, it was postponed. We haven't met him yet since he's staying in the place where he worked. We'll strive to visit and meet him on his available time to work out his testimony as well as his willingness to sacrifice something for his spiritual salvation. We felt a bit disappointed but I felt positive that God has a right timing for him and as missionaries, we're here to help him resolve his concerns. He already has a testimony but from what happened, it's still shaky but I know someday he'll be prepared since the word has already been planted in his heart.

Mission life is not perfect but truly you'll learn a lot.

Done with her 12 weeks - new companion: Sister Racal

Tapos na ang 12 weeks..:):):):). new comp this Thursday......maglead na talaga ng totoo sa area... sa lahat lahat... basta di ko maexplain feeling ko... excited na slight takot pero fighting... hehe.... 

.Ang bait ng trainer ko iniwanan ako na may mga habilin na ibabaptize kaya kelangan ko magfind and make her proud na iaapply ko lahat ng mga natutunan from her. hehe...We met new investigators and extended baptismal invitations immediately in the first lessons. They are very receptive. One is an 11 year old part member and his brother is a young man (12 y/o). Both of them came to church yesterday and were so excited. They also attended a baptismal service last Saturday and were so excited as well for their baptism on Dec. 12. Four of our investigators attended the sacrament meeting, all in the same family. We witnessed how family support can strengthen every individual as well as in keeping their commitments. My 12 weeks of training is already done and I realized many things that I can go beyond my comfort zone with the help of my companion and by relying on the Spirit. We will have an upcoming baptism of Bro. Rommel Bolongon this Saturday. We will catch up the interview this week of Sis. Jecel De Guzman, his niece, so they will have a baptism at the same day since Sis. Jecel went to Surigao and had just arrived late in the Satuday evening. 

I will truly miss Sister Reyna. This is the first time that I will change my companion after 12 weeks since it's just 19 days in the MTC. I know I can apply all the things that I've learned from my trainer. Her great and humble examples makes me more excited to continue with willingness in this great work. I learn to love missionary work whether it's a downtime or a happy experience that we'd faced.

May choir yung ward and I played the piano.... at the same time naglead sa pagteach ng song. I hope maaccept ng conductor yung mga suggested songs ko.. parang ayaw nya eh.. we'll see this upcoming Sunday. I need to talk to her and settle this cause I can't do it alone... tsktsk... hehe,... This is for the upcoming Christmas Missionary Night... separate din yung presentation namin na missionaries/.... busy na pud,,,,hehe//.....

I'm excited for the new companion that I will be with (Sis. Racal), in leading the area as well as in finding more people that had been prepared by Heavenly Father. I know I can learn more everyday as we strive to do our best as companions.