The Longer Ones

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Ch 119 A Shot in the Dark

I'm getting old. It's 30 days until Christmas. And I'm not really too sure what to do. I remember back in 2017 I applied to go on a mission along with a lot of my friends and it seemed not lonely. Every week we would email and everyone was still sorta there. And then one by one. They went home. Early released or honorably finishes, they're home and then they're gone. Some are married. Some have kids. Some are in college. Some are active. Some are not. In all cases, back to their own lives.

One thing they all have in common though! No matter how hard or how happy the mission gets, they have never regretted serving God. Not once. And I think the reason why they always remember and love those 2 years is that during that time they were feeling the constant guidance and love from God through the Holy Ghost. 

Last week I struggled with this. It's kind of why I barely emailed last week. It's because I thought no one cared anymore. All my old friends are back in their own lives. No one cares about this anymore. And then it became worse it started to affect my prayers. So I didn't email. and a few days later I stopped praying at night. Then during lesson 1, a simple truth came up in my mind. "Heavenly Father answers our prayers." Now I'm not saying my emails are a prayer or a psalm, if it was I should've started with His name. But during that lesson, I decided to ask our investigator a question I needed to hear. "Why do we pray?" And her answer was perfect. 

"Because I know he's listening" -Sister Angel (someone we're teaching)
"How do you know he's listening to you, instead of everyone else?" - Elder Villanueva
 "Because that's what faith is about, I trust Him." -Sister Angel 

Coming from someone we just met, that answer hit me like a ton of bricks. For the last week, I kept feeling alone like no one was there or all my prayers were just shots in the dark. I know he was always there for me but I didn't let him have a greater part in my life. My prayers became more of a checklist than developing my relationship with our loving Heavenly Father. I didn't ask Him for help, or for His thoughts, or for his guidance. But if we're willing to get to know Him, if we're willing to open up ourselves to know Him, we will feel His love for us. If we just ask Him, "what does He think about me?" or maybe "Are you there?" or maybe "do you care about me?" 

These are very personal questions to ask God, but I promise you that if you do it, you'll feel his tender embrace, you'll know he's there for you. Always. And even though a prayer seems like a shot in the dark at first, if you open up your heart. And listen. He will be the light of your world. 

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

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Oh, also the giving machine is available in 4th-floor Trinoma. we are volunteering there to help people donate to help local causes. with special thanks to the HERO Foundation, UNICEF, and Caritas Manila (;

Monday, November 18, 2019

Ch 118 Running out of stories

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We had a fun time this week. My new comp is Elder Parrenas. I'm Helping him be new zone leader. Ummm life is fun!! we had 2 families go to church. A little kid made me cry. Normal week I guess

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

Monday, November 11, 2019

Ch 117 All My Friends Are Dead

I worked... found people... ate food... Elder Holman is transferring to my Cousin's ward (Quezon City 3rd Ward)... I'm going to train a new Zone Leader... My new Companion is Elder Parrenas... he's pretty cool, he's a funny guy

All my friends are dead, A lot of my close friends in the mission are now home. It's a new mission... I don't know anyone anymore but they still listen to me so that's cool I guess. yeeeuuuppp that's about it. It feels lonely


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

Monday, November 4, 2019

Ch 116 Family History

Family- My family is doing great actually! My mom and dad are happy and they're excited about what I've been doing the last 2 weeks. So lemme confess to you about something. For the last 2 weeks I've asked Elder Holman if I can spend an extra 1-2 hours every p-day (around 3 hours total of computer time) so I could do some family history. And I'm hooked. To be honest I did it because my mom and a friend challenged me if I knew how to do it. So I tried it and I felt kinda hopeless. My parents were good at family history and did all the names already and took them to the temple already and ahhh I felt discouraged. But then I had an idea. What about my cousins? my grandparents siblings? So that's what I looked for. and in 2 weeks I have found 36 names. including my great grandparents and great great grandparents. When I read about the spirit of Elijah in Doctrine and Covenants I never realized how happy it makes someone feel but when I did it I felt so much joy I can't even explain it. When I called my mom and asked her to look at her family history she was so happy... and I'm so happy for her. Now I know who my great grandparents are. My Sister Shekinah reached base camp, she's heading down now. She'll be home in around a week or so.

Area- The Rojo's are confirmed and are active tithe paying members of the church, we are so proud of them and we know they'll do a lot of great things in the future. We'll plan to schedule a family history activity with them too so they can take them to the temple. Other than that we found 14 new people this week and we are so happy because it took so long for us to find them but they are ready and want the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are excited for them to progress in the church.

Companionship- Elder Holman and I had a very intense talk. it wasn't an argument, it was genuinely an intense talk and to be honest I've missed that. the last time I was able to have a genuine smart productive conversation was in my Accounting class, my law class, or when I was in debate in high school. But we got there. Usually when a situation happens I would've already made a decision and my role would be influencing my companion to arrive at the same decision I did, but for once it wasn't like that. It was even we came to a compromise and it was one of the most intense  but also meaningful moments in our companionship because never has my respect in a companion been this high. Elder Holman is a weird guy sometimes but I trust him. 

Exchanges- I went on exchanges with Elder Andres and he's a funny man. I like that guy. We had a solid personal, companionship, language study, and planning. He's a cool guy. Nothing else to say about that.

Tell a story- Elder Holman and I went to the Quezon Memorial Circle and it was pretty cool. Filipino history is so interesting. It's sad at times, but it's inspiring to see how much a culture and group people have persevered through so much hardship and become this country now

Self- I am happy. I feel like I just had a lot of my questions answered. I feel happy. Oh I also finished my Old Testament!! it only took 62 days!!! whoo-hoo!!!

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

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I'm too tired for this... (and I wish there's blankets at church)
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ha! get it?
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3. 2. 1. K-pop poses!!
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QMC monument
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Pilipinas!!!