Ch 48 The Work Continues

Life is fantastic! Not a lot of support left, but life is good as ever! I finally got to know the whole ward and we're 25 -35 names away from finish mapping Pangarap ward! The bishopric loves us and we're building relationship and finding a lot more new investigators. But now, I'm not needed here. It's time I leave the area for another set of elders to finish the job.

I'm transferring to Valenzuela ward with Elder Lowery and I'm so excited because we're batch! It's been a while since I've seen him, but we were in the same flight heading to the MTC and I'm so happy to see him again tomorrow. I feel so grateful to be in his area and to see an old friend again, and though I'm leaving Pangarap ward, I know it's okay because it's being left to 2 really qualified elders; Elders Ouabe and Parreñas.

I'll really miss Elder Ouabe and our time together but I know that if he continues to study what I taught him, he'll be fluent in English before he comes home. Fun story though, one of our fellowshippers is this RM named Elder Aga. Anyway he's extremely mataray (sassy), and I just think it's funny because whenever he works with us, he finds a way to insult chastise compliment us at the same time. For example, he called me a nerd but said "it's okay keep going, maybe one day you'll be as smart as me." Many thoughts came to my head like "the humility on this guy.." but he's funny and it makes it more fun because elder Ouabe and I are very quiet together sometimes, so he keeps it interesting. I guess with him around, I learn to appreciate those small and simple things more and more and to laugh through our mistakes to learn and keep growing. He's a nice guy.

Oh we also had a baptism last saturday! She's a sweet soul (her name is Mischa), very kind and loves to read the Book of Mormon. And I don't know if I can dedicate baptisms but if I can, I want to dedicate it to Sister Tillman because she continually works to be the missionary that Heavenly Father wants, even in times that she's not a missionary. It exemplifies the characteristics in the PMG when it says that the success of a missionary is "based on our commitment to spread the truth."

In other news, I bought a Spanish dictionary and for language study I'm reading Ang Aklat Ni Mormon and El Libro De Mormon at the same time. It's interesting but I like it. Sorry sis (my eldest sister) that I took your Spanish Book of Mormon, please forgive me.

Also last thought, the Atonement and missionary work. Missionary work was never easy but that's because salvation is not a cheap experience. It's meant to be hard because it's worth it. because I can't explain it in English anymore, please if you have the time, watch this video and have an awesome week y'all!!!​
 Missionary Work and the Atonement-I6FKiNVbw3Y_x...


-Elder Villanueva
Urdaneta Philippines Mission
Quezon City North Philippines Mission-

Ch 47 "It's a long walk. but a good one."

Today I wanna start with quotes of the week



"my shoes are pretty holey.... yeah."

"'Elder Villanueva have you no respect for the sacredness of your calling?' 'Sorry I forgot to buy rice'"

"It's always down the ghetto path isn't it?"

"IT'S ALWAYS A FROG! Even if it looks like a cow, THAT'S A FROG!"

"Are you eating salt and rice?"

"Elder! did you know that if we look in the mirror we can clearly see how we are low key idiots"

"Misyonero ka ba? ay hindi, parang lang!"



Our companionship so far has been a diligent but funny one to say the least. Elder Ouabe is always happy and dreadfully honest, while I follow along the literal small and narrow paths and well we teach.



Nothing too interesting has happened this week. yup. church was great. life is good. My legs look fantastic and we're out of support 10 days early. Life is fantastic! God blesses us everyday and with anything that comes our way, we're still smiling... or at the very least smiling... and laughing... sometimes together... but mostly at each other.



It's a great blessing to have (; also no pics this week sorry.



-Elder Villanueva

Urdaneta Philippines Mission

Quezon City North Philippines Mission

Ch 46 Ghost Mapping

Hey y'all first off, I did have a post last week but the file was too big so it's posted on my blog in www.asiannarwhal.com but I wasn't able to email it to you guys... sorry. 

Secondly I've been semi-lying to you for the past few weeks. well not really but I was hiding something. But now I'm so happy because I can tell you all about it now.

My Zone Leader (Elder Nelson) and I were called on a special assignment for the last 3 weeks. In the last 3 weeks it was bawal (banned) for us to go proselyting and instead we were suppose to find and map every member in 4 wards, so that we can change ward and stake boundaries and so that ministering will be more effective so that other members can find them more easily. 

I just want to clarify, when I say find, I mean find the exact gps coordinates of their front door. In the end of our three weeks together we were able to find roughly 6,000 members and over 1370 households. Because of our work we were able to create new meetinghouses and wards that will be more convenient for each member. (I can talk to you more about this adventure so feel free to email back and ask). If you're familiar with Philippine geography our companionship mapped every member from bulacan to Norzagaray and now I'm so excited to be teaching again!!!! 

My new area (7th area in 4 months...) is Pangarap ward in San Jose Del Monte Stake!!! whoo-hoo!!!! yes I know 7 areas was a lot but I promise I was not disobedient, I just mapped and moved around a lot.... like too much--i miss teaching. But right now I'm super happy because my companion is Elder Ouabe! I've been here for 4 months, and he has 4 months left hahaha. But don't worry our vocabulary work for the week is relentless and I promise, we won't come home until we lost a kilo from walking or basically from sheer exhaustion. 

Pangarap ward is an incredible ward and it helps that I know all the previous missionaries in the ward so even though I'm new it already feels like family. Even though my teaching skills are a bit rusty haha together I know that we'll keep going and convert

 many.

Oh also while mapping, the mission president didn't say I couldn't baptize..... so we binyag (baptized) a few peeps. the 3rd picture is my new companion, Elder Quabe and a few other knick knacks

oh the other pictures were about 2 marriages that I organized..... I had a busy 3 weeks okay... just like chill thx. oh and they were baptized after the wedding so yeah it was cool.

and two more picture of the norzagaray river!!! 

and when I was mapping I was in 5 different stakes... it was weird.

question? karadagdagdagan? gustong bawasan? no? cool, I'm tired... I'm gonna proselyte for a few more hours. I'll email again next week

-Elder Villanueva

Urdaneta Philippines Mission

Quezon City North Philippines Mission