The Longer Ones

Monday, October 28, 2019

Ch 115 For Time and All Eternity

Before I start I wanna share a cool quick song. Every morning we wake up to some cool songs and I highly recommend listening to this. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLVj3yC-IpY  or sing this song to yourself when you have the chance "Families can be together forever"

Whenever I say I'm a missionary, a few things pop up in people's minds like bible study and tracting (going door-to-door), and church. And then question people ask us is, "why do you do this?" "Why are you spending so much time doing that?"

And I think every missionary has a different answer to that question. One of my favorite responses is from a sister missionary a long time ago, she told me that she's "dedicating 18 months of her life so that they can be together for eternity." 

We teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that everyone can know the way to have love in their lives. So that they can truly be happy. And we do our best to show that. A lot of ministers or religions preach the gospel, teach you about Jesus but never actually show you how your life can change. Whelp a few promises from God to us is that our families can be together forever and that our homes can be filled with love. 

Last week we saw a family (a family really close to us) sealed for all time and eternity at the temple. It was my first time seeing that and I can't believe the progress they've made. we saw them in their trials and in their hardships and all that came with sacrificing to become like our loving Heavenly Father. We're so proud of them... it wasn't easy of course. but it's not meant to be

maraming beses baka tinutukso tayo o baka naalipusta dahil ginawa natin ang tama, pero kahit na nangyayari yun, alam ko na palagi Syang ngumingiti dahil pinili naten Sya kesa sa mga pekeng bagay sa mundo. Alam ko na totoo ang Simbahan ni JesuCristo ng Mga Banal sa Mga Huling Araw. At ang simbahan na ito ay ang tanging paraan para matamo natin ang buhay na walang hanggan, kasama ang mga minamahal naten sa buhay. kung sana nga lang matatagpuan nilang lahat ang kasayahan na natanggap ng pamilya na ito, pero kaya nga naglilingkod kami. Kasi kung ang pananaw namin sa lahat ng tao ay sila ay anak ng Diyos (kagaya Nya), alam ko na lahat lahat ay posible pag may pagasa at pananampalataya ating Panginoon.  

DSC02950 (1).JPG
Quimora Family being sealed
DSC02964.JPG
We trended on Facebook last week
DSC02959.JPG
I like holding my pitchers like this
DSC02966.JPG
this chicken pecked at my shirt
DSC02947.JPG
don't they look so cute?
DSC02953.JPG
Best feeling ever

-Elder Villanueva
Tayo Na Pilipinas! (Let's Go Philippines!)

Monday, October 21, 2019

Ch 114 Breaking the Curse

This week is work. Just a lot of work. 
Umm a lot of stuff in my head but to be honest for a lot of my thoughts for the week, they're not the ones I can share. At least not yet. Lately, I've been worried about going home, because I just don't see myself as ready to go home? I've learned so much in my 19 months of being here and I just hope it continues. It's getting close and it's scaring me. a few days ago I got a reminder that I need to start my Doctrine and Covenants because I'm almost at 138 days left. To be honest, these two years are perfect to figure out who you want to be because you get to see so many different kinds of people, you can decide who you want to be, or what kind of family you want in the future, or what kind of companion you want and it's weird. And so uncertain, but let's focus on what is certain.

Got a few months left to work as hard as ever, I know I will finish all the standard works before I go home. I know I will find it. I know I will preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And I will do it while smiling like an absolute dork. 

Anyway last thoughts. We broke a curse. Our ward has gone through 4 companionships (7 missionaries) with no baptisms. and yesterday we did it. We reactivated a family and got em all back. They have friends they love the church and they love the truthfulness of it all. 

IMGP1752.JPG
Rojo Family
IMGP1755.JPG
With kids from primary
018.JPG
Some pictures I forgot to send from the fun run
013.JPG
More pix from the fun run
IMGP1750.JPG
This is what I look like whenever I read my Old Testament

-Elder Villanueva
Tayo Na Pilipinas! (Let's Go Philippines!)

Monday, October 14, 2019

Ch 113 Lessons Learned

We had a busy week. I felt like this week was more administration problems than actual missionary work but I know that's not true. Those small and simple moments we spend with anyone are vital and important. Because at the end of the day, most people forget what they spend their money on, but they do remember who they spent their time with. They do remember how it made them feel. And they do remember how much we've helped. In the last week, Elder Holman and I had a big test of patience and love... A test harder than I've ever had to deal with as a leader. When I was a trainer the hardest lesson for me to learn was to love your companion, even when they don't love you back and especially when they don't want your love. When I was a District Leader the hardest lesson for me was learning how to control my mouth... to be composed and deliberate and intentional with how I want to change or inspire others. And I struggled for some time because I would value what I want to say over what needed to be said. When I was an Office Elder I struggled with discipline, with actually organizing myself and doing what I said I would do. and it was hard because it's hard to start a good habit and it's easy to lose a good habit. Kinda brings the whole "by the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread all thy life." And I guess this week the challenge was loving them enough to give them inspired correction. 

I remember when I was little I always wondered why back in Jesus' time everyone hated him, as a missionary I realize now that it's probably because the things he taught are hard. It's not easy, it is simple, but it requires us to change. It requires us to repent. And it is a hard process. I know in my life I've had my fair share of sackcloth and ashes, but at the time we had the decision to bring others to repentance or not, we could've hidden it but we chose not to because it is needed. It's hard because you feel for what they're going through but it is by their transgressions and the restitution process that they can come back and be made clean. Asking others to repent at first may seem hard but in the grand scheme of things, but it is a small price to pay, to receive everlasting grace from His infinite Atonement. 


Also, this next part is an excerpt from Elder Bjornn's weekly emails but it is literally what I wanted to say, with a little extra. These are some notes from the General Conference
Jeffery R. Holland - His finish was epic, I wanted to scream and cheer, but held back. but seriously it sounded like the beginning of an epic mixtape... by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Gerrit W. Gong - Really cool process about how to stay strong in our covenants.
Dieter F. Uchtdorf - BILBO BAGGINS!!! "I'm going on an adventure!" Brilliant analogy.
Henry B. Eyring - True happiness. Christ descended below all, are ye better than He?
Peter M. Johnson - Knowing Satan's intention to bring deception, distraction, and discouragement to our lives
M. Russell Ballard - I just got way emotional in this talk. The way he talks about his wife is so amazing, he always talks about her in every talk. I love this talk especially. If I can be a quarter of a man Elder Ballard is, life would be great. His testimony and valiant service as a husband, father, and apostle (in that order) is an example to us all.
Russell M. Nelson - NEXT APRIL IS GONNA BE CRAZY!!!

-Elder Villanueva
Tayo Na Pilipinas! (Let's Go Philippines!)

Monday, October 7, 2019

Ch 112 Old Testament Challenge

One thing I love about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that we focus a lot on personal progression. We can continually improve if that is what we want to do. A few weeks ago at church, they were talking about our ability to improve right now in a few aspects if we set goals and work on them. There were 4 categories for goals which are: social, spiritual, physical, and intellectual. now for setting goals, it is best to be specific and with deadlines so you have a time when you can follow-up on your goal and its progress. Anyway, for Spiritual, I set the goal of reading the Old Testament in 3 months. It's only been about a month but right now I am at Proverbs. It's a hard read at first but the more you read, the more you understand their stories. Of course, there are some sections where it's best to read with an eye of faith and to ponder on why it's written but overall it's pretty good. Anyway here's a report on my goal. 

It's pretty fun. here are some verses that I ended up loving a lot
Deuteronomy 22:9
Psalms 24:3-4
Proverbs 3:5-6
Psalms 82:6
Joshua 1:9
Genesis 2:24
Exodus 6:30 - 7:1
1 Samuel 1:27-28
1 Samuel 8:7
I've been using these in my teachings and they are so awesome. Anyway, that's about it. Ingat!!

-Elder Villanueva
Tayo Na Pilipinas! (Let's Go Philippines!)