This week we were blessed here in the Baguio Mission to hear from
Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. But before I get
to that part, Ill share first about other things that transpired this week
leading up to the icing on the cake.
Last Monday we taught an
investigator of ours, Kevin, about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. He is a graduate in Business and is now working full time and going to
school for a master’s and is only around 28 years old. He not only read the
entire pamphlet that we gave him, but also accepted the invitation to pray about
what he had read to receive a confirmation for himself of the truthfulness of
the message. We have him a Book of Mormon and explained to him why, how, and
what the Book of Mormon works in our lives. He promised to read it as he is on
the road this week for work and I am super excited to see him next week. He
might know more about the Church than I do by the time he is back seeing how
smart he is with everything.
On Tuesday, I took
a trip up to Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur to go on exchanges with the missionaries
there. I met with them in their District Meeting in Narvacan, my old area. While
we were there, I saw Elder Waite and other missionaries in the district...
Bishop Rambo was at the Church so I got to say hello to him as well and then
when we left, Sister Araceli and Sheila were waiting inside the Relief Society
room to surprise me and say hello. Elder Scott and I used to teach at their
house weekly and while I was assigned in Bangued, Sister Araceli and her husband
Arman were baptized.
It was just so good to be able to say hello
and talk with them again. I was so lucky that the timing was just right to see
Bishop before he left to Laoag and the Maaghops.
Working in
Santa Maria was great, Elder Maurer and Elder Vilela are awesome missionaries.
As we were meeting with the members and friends of the missionaries, we ran into
two girls who I interviewed for baptism when I was in Narvacan. Again it was
great to see familiar faces and see their progress in the
Gospel.
Once I got back from Narvacan on Wednesday we worked the
whole day in our area until night talking to people on the way and when night
came we were invited to a member’s restaurant to have dinner for Elder Lloyds
last week here in the mission. A lot of members were there to say thank you and
goodbye! Elder Lloyd is going to be missed! We are taking him to the bus station
later tonight around 11:30pm, and he will be with his family soon
after!
Friday, we had a meeting at the office with President to
prepare everything for Elder Rasbands visit. Elder Ebreo and I stayed in the
office after while Elder Lloyd worked with a member for the day! It was fun
printing out papers and organizing everything too with Elder Ebreo... but it is
way more fun being outside haha. Saturday morning, we had a follow-up training
for missionaries still new in the mission and then after it was over, we made
our way to the Stake center to get everything ready. By that I mean make sure
all the missionaries in the mission got there on time seeing how the Church
leaders and already made sure everything was set up and ready for Elder Rasbands
arrival!
Before our meeting with Elder Rasband, he held a 5 hour
training with all of the Priesthood leaders in the stakes and districts of the
Baguio and Laoag missions. Meaning that we crossed paths with the Bishops and
Branch Presidents of the areas I had been assigned in
before.
Turns out that in Narvacan, brother Arman Maaghop was
called as the Elders Quorum President meaning that he was at the meeting as
well. It was the first time I had seen him in over a year and was such a
blessing to see how strong he has been in the Gospel and also how courageous he
was to accept the calling of Elder Quorum President! I salute you Brother Arman.
We also saw Bishop Rambo, and his wife Jo-Ann who are both so awesome. People I
will never forget.
As we got everyone into the chapel to prepare
for Elder Rasband we watched a video about the Book of Mormon that shed light on
the power the Book of Mormon has in conversion and in helping us understand our
potential. We were asked to take a group picture with Elder Rasband once he
arrived so when he came in, we were all smiling and posed as perfectly as
possible haha. Being in his presence was amazing. One by one he said hello to
each of the missionaries and then together with Elder Haynie of the Seventy,
gave such great instruction on Heavenly Fathers "Divine Design". It was his
topic in General Conference before and I invite all of you to listen to it,
ponder it, and think about how you have been moved like a chess-piece in life by
our loving Heavenly Father. He talked about how who we are today is who we will
be the rest of out lives, so if we dont like who were are or what we are doing,
we simply need to repent change and allow Heavenly Father to do His Work. He
shared stories about his time as a business man, and as a Mission President.
Stories about missionaries who at their time did not see the success that other
missionaries would see after 2 years later because of the previous
missionaries.
He bore testimony about the Savior and about
President Nelson as a Prophet of the Lord. He recounted his experience as being
one who participated in the setting-apart and ordination of President Nelson. He
filled the room with the Spirit has he testified. I wont forget the feeling. He
opened my eyes in helping me see how I have been moved like a chess-piece in my
life by Heavenly Father, and how others have been moved around to help me. There
are no such thing as coincidences because Heavenly Father is running the
chess-board and knows exactly what moves to take. Whether its a move backwards,
or a move forwards. A big shoutout to the missionaries of the Baguio Mission who
not only asked questions and reverently pondered as he spoke, but almost
immediately left after the conference to get back to the work. Bangued zone had
to travel 4 hours… So the furthest Elders in the mission made it home at
11:42pm.. Just in time for some shut-eye before the Sabbath
Day!
Sunday, Elder Rasband stayed in San Fernando for Stake
Conference blessing us with the opportunity to hear him again. Perks of being
assigned in Sevilla! After the conference he requested to meet each person at
the conference one by one. It was so cool. 2 of our friends who has been
investigating the Church were able to meet an Apostle, one of them, Ryan,
experienced that on his first week coming to Church. It was awesome. I asked him
if he wanted to get in line and he casually shrugged it of and said something
along the lines of “im alright” to which I told him, “No no no, you want to. You
don’t know why but trust us you want to.” Haha! What a cool experience it will
be too when 30 years from now who knows he might be asked along with other
people “What was your first time at church like” to which he can say something
along the lines of “Well this one American spoke English the entire time then I
had to wait in a long line because the missionaries wanted me desperately to
shake his hand… Now I understand more fully why that was so important!” haha.
Well what did Elder Rasband talk about at church? Where do I begin. One of the
first things that was mentioned was 3 necessities that we need in a marriage.
(Side Note: I sat at the edge of my chair with pen in hand for them…
Preperation.. hehe) They were three phrases as a matter of fact, and he said
that each wife should first evaluate her husband as the priesthood holder on how
well does at saying these three things daily, then the husband should also
evaluate the wife in a loving atmospohere.
1)
I Love You. 2) Thank You. 3) I’m Sorry.
Well to all of the
husbands who’s wives were reading this email and then called you down to have an
evaluation, I am sorry! But I love you, and thank you for understanding that
this is the Lords advice and not mine!!
It was amazing advice!
This last day all my companions have said to me or the missionaries who live in
the same apartment is “Thank you” and then someone on the other side of the
apartment will yell “I love you!” and of course a random “I’m sorry!” to finish
off the three triads of success in a relationship.
He also
talked about 6 things that will keep us on the covenant path and those
are
1. Personal and Family Prayer
Daily
2. Personal and Family Scripture Study
Daily
3. Hold Family Home
Evening
4. Watch Out For Your Fellow
Man
5. Paying Tithing
Faithfully
6. Striving to always stand in
Holy Places. (The Home, The Church, The Temple)
Simple laws,
Great blessings. His wife shared a wonderful message as well about being the
daughter of a great mother, and striving to be a great mother to her great
children.
So I cant continue in this without first thanking you
Mom and Dad for everything that you have done for me and for us kids. You two
are the greatest and still are.
I learned so
much this week as I have every week. I love the feeling of the Spirit and the
Joy the Gospel brings to people. After the Conference we had lunch at Nanay
Salvatera’s house. We have visited her almost every single week I have been
assigned in Sevilla making it about 10 months of visits. She is such an amazing
woman and has such strong faith. The senior couple in the mission, the Seymours
came along as well and it was perfect. We ate a delicious lunch and then watched
as Sister Seymour, Nanay Salvatera and her daughter all talked and talked and
talked about kids, life, jobs, the Gospel, church activities, cookies, and Elder
Seymour sat on the couch with the other men and missionaries shootin a little
breeze but mostly just waiting for the what we called “Relief Society
Presidency” to invite us to get more of the cookies Sister Seymour made hahaha.
Felt just like being at Grandma and Grandpas again.
Well what
else has happened? Oh yeah! Elder Lloyd is going home! If you haven’t caught on,
he has been my companion since the middle of August rounding us off at over 6
months of being companions, and we didn’t even fight once! He is one great
missionary and I learned so much from him. I know he’ll kill it in whatever he
does.
As for me, I think getting on a Partas
Bus at 11:30pm can wait for now. Ill stick to just driving others instead. I
hope the time goes slow and as for now I wont think about it. I love being a
missionary. I know that the Church is true and that The Atonement of Jesus
Christ has power. All of us no matter how far away we have wondered, will always
be able to see that speck of light, that speck of hope, that speck of the Savior
which will give us just enough strength to get back on the
path.
I love you all, thank you for enduring this email, and Im
sorry I don’t have more
pictures.
--
Elder
Pitt
