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
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
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