Hello! This is Sister Dilag. I am currently serving in the Philippines San Pablo Mission, San Pablo Zone. I am waiting for mission changes on my original assignment to the California Sacramento Mission.
I will give you weekly updates on my current mission. I will also attach interesting attachments! I hope this finds you entertaining!
Heads up! I had an incredible week. I know a few times I said this on my weekly emails, but this one was fascinating. I bet this might be long (lol). Also! We are currently affected by a typhoon in the mission. We are experiencing heavy storms here.
Teaching Appointments
We were able to visit a few Member Families this week. I might have to indicate two Families, because they touched my heart the most and I couldn’t be grateful to have them in my mission.
• Atonducan Family
On the 24th, we had a dinner appointment with the Atonducan Family. I honestly had a great time with them. It was my first time to visit their house, and they’ve been waiting for my visit too long. They baked brownies, and cooked pesto and dumplings! My favorite! It was kinda funny to remember the phone call from the Assistants and drag me straight up to Lipa 2, without visiting the Atonducan. It is a miracle to be back on my first area. I was able to visit them!
We provided a lesson about, “Renewing our Covenants.” As we were talking we highlighted, “The Sacrament is an essential part of the process.” The Sacrament acts as a refuge for those need of God and the Lord’s Atonement. We let them remember their covenants by, “remembering their Baptism.” President Dallin H. Oaks said, “When we renew our baptismal covenants this way, the Lord renews the cleansing effect of our baptism. We are made clean and can always have His Spirit to be with us.”
Although, Church Sacrament Services are returning. The family could not attend, because they can’t leave their kids! But! I remembered Brother Rolan. He got baptized last month (holy cow, it was last month, time flies). He has the authority to bless the sacrament in their home without the need to attend sacrament services (for their kids’ safety). It truly is a blessing for their family to have a Priesthood Holder at home.
• Briones Family
On the 22nd, we had dinner with the Briones Family for the first time. Sister Susan got back home from her mission at the Utah Salt Lake City South Mission, and she is an amazing Missionary. We settle on her house, and we had a short lesson about, “Accepting the Lord’s Will.”
The whole point of this message was to point out, the unexpected blessings given to us during the mission: (1) Working with Technology, (2) Accepting the Will of the Lord, (3) Understanding God has a Plan for all of His Children and (4) Trust in the Lord. There were a few ones that weren’t mentioned on our discussion, but it was good enough to help them recognize the blessing of COVID.
Sister Susan felt peace from our message. The message we shared was timely because her siblings went home from their mission, and it was timely for her too. We discussed about the blessing of returning home, and how it could benefit her for other current Missionaries working in our time. It was a great discussion, we ended up talking about the States, I was so comfortable with her just talking, and with great and funny conversations burst out in their home. It was filled with love!
Events
We had every day service and we went out a few times this week, which is amazing! I was able to do outdoor and indoor service with the Members of the Ward. I love Service!
• Zone Practice
On the 19th, we had Zone Conference Practice. We were about to perform, “Peace in Christ” for our Zone Conference with the Sta. Cruz Zone. It was an amazing practice, Elder Estrella directed and lead us with the singing, with Sister Gaspar. All of us sang great! I had a fun time with the Zone, and get to see them in person!
The Missionaries on our Zone were: District 2: Elder Perlas, Elder Gamas (San Pablo 4) Elder Estrella, Elder Javier (Calauan), Elder Dela Rosa, Elder Justaga (San Pablo 5), Sister Lianto and Sister Gaspar (San Pablo 2). District 1: Elder Solis, Elder Badar (Alaminos), Elder Jamorol, Elder Sumiran (Nagcarlan), Sister Rafon, Sister Liam, Sister Pangan (San Pablo 1), Sister Arbutante and I (San Pablo 3).
We had a fun practice, we also got the chance to get to know a bit too. It was interesting to find out Elder Perlas can draw, and he is an artist! Elder Gamas is a singer and talks English better! Elder Estrella is very talkative, and very nice, he doesn’t want anyone be alone in the group! Elder Javier is friendly! Elder Sumiran sings amazingly, he sounds like in a band which is great! Elder Justaga loves to play sports, specifically on Volleyball, I love volleyball! Sister Liam is called to be an Office Sister in the Mission Office and she happens to be a Trainee of Sister Estrella (my former companion), I love her example of Quiet Dignity! Sister Lianto, is the nicest and loving Sister ever! Sister Rafon is the funniest missionary ever, and I love her! These were Missionaries I haven’t got the chance to get to know and they are all amazing.
Oh, I was able to cook Lunch for them. I cooked Mechado for them, it’s a Filipino Dish. I thought I was gonna cook soup for them, but it did not happened. I couldn’t do it, because they were expecting. So I cook nice for them. They also cooked rice, and we all ate. Every one stacked the dish on their plate and went back a few times! I laugh at Elder Solis and Elder Perlas they came back for more, and everyone said, “Thank you.” Elder Solis (Assistant) was thankful enough for the food. I never seen him, being so grateful. It was good to hear, oh and also Elder Baliwas was there. He was the funniest Church Service Missionary ever.
A few Missionaries I haven’t mentioned, I know them for a long time and they were my first district mates on my first area. I will say our Zone is family! We develop the love and friendship to one another, and find ways to help with one another! I love them all!
• Zone Conference
Yay! We had Zone Conference with the Sta. Cruz Zone which is upnorth to our Zone! I was so happy to meet every single missionary of Sta. Cruz, they had a long journey to our area. I was also happy to see President and Sister Lohner, we had fist bumps and a hug from Sister Lohner, and a good conversation with Elder and Sister Brown! I love them all.
It was good to see new ones too, the Missionaries of Sta. Cruz Zone were: Elder Cauilan, Elder Danico, Elder Clave, Elder Latonero, Elder Cubar, Elder Madriñan, Elder Aquino, Elder Mornaol, Sister Mara, Sister Pinguel, Sister Ocfemia and Sister Limnoan! They are all amazing, they had their performance too. They had a spoken poetry performed by Elder Latonero. Along with a Musical Song, they performed, “A Child’s Prayer.” It was great! I loved it!
We performed our Musical Song, “Peace in Christ.” Everyone loved it! All of us appreciate our performances. We had the chance to talk each other too, and get to know bit by bit. It was amazing to meet Missionaries! We were able to talk about our Areas and Backgrounds. It was interesting!
Our Zone Conference started with a Prayer with an Introductory and then we had the Kwan Challenge. Which I don’t know what that was, it was funny! So the whole challenge was, if a Missionary gets to every Missionary does, they got the chance to get a reward. My companion and I were so close to on that challenge but we ended up sitting down, because we don’t have Ward Council Meeting. It was funny, the Sta. Cruz 4 Sisters got the chance of winning. They were able to recite the 42 Principles, within 1:42 seconds of timer! I couldn’t do that, but it was cool to watch and listen!
We had a discussion with Sister Brown and Sister Lohner about, “Safety with Animals” and “Writiting down BCRs properly.” It was a great reminder too. And! We had a fantastic workshop from our Assistants, Elder Solis and Elder Badar. They discussed it amazingly, we talk about, “Situational Awareness in Teaching.” They provided videos of interviews with Elder Uchtdorf and those were great reminders of theirs to be observants and aware on the people we teach, “Principle by Principle.”
Also! My former districtmate Elder Aquino’s Mom passed away on Friday, it was devastating. My heart shattered as I heard it, he often talks about his Mom during our time in Lipa Zone. I do have a testimony of the Plan of Salvation, you will feel peace and comfort knowing you will see your loved ones after this life.
What else? Okay, I might have to type down the departing Missionaries for next month (November): Elder Danico, Sister Lianto and Sister Rafon had their departing testimonies and they were powerful. It touched my heart to know the promise, as you endure with obedience in the Mission you feel successful. I do hope in the long run in the mission, I will feel the same as they did too! It’s inspiring!
A bunch of Missionaries too, to get to know their background quite a bit! Elder Latonero loves spoken poetry! Elder Clave is the most humblest missionary! Elder Danico is friendly and humble! Elder Cauilan is great too, great leader! Elder Cubar is a great example of Quiet Dignity too! Elder Madriñan is improving too, it was great to see him! Sister Pinguel is the nicest and patient Missionary I met, Sister Mara is the nicest and jolly Sister ever! Sister Ocfemia is funny and sweet! Sister Limnoan, she is glowing, I love her smile! They are all amazing!
We ended up with Group Pictures and we hope to ‘see when we see each other.’ I missed them, after the Conference. Holy cow I missed them so much! I already loved them! I hope to see them soon!
Mission Updates: Storm Approaching
What’s happening on your Mission?
We are currently under a typhoon, which I don’t know the name. We had a phone conference and announced we need to buy and stack food for the next 5 days. That was way too long, for sure we have dinner appointments on the coming days ahead. It bugs me, I want to visit members again, but the storm is uncontrollable. Yikes! I hope and pray all the Missionaries in the Mission will be safe in the storm.
Videocalls with the other Young Missionary Leaders?
We had random calls with our Zone Leader, Sister Training Leaders and our District Leader. We talk and show our apartment. We even talk the funniest and I laugh alot. It was a good laugh, and it’s been awhile too. They just made my day, great! I think the funniest I ever had was my Zone Leader, Elder Perlas. Both him and Elder Gamas had a tiny snake in their house, and they stack the snake in a bottle and let it suffocate inside. Hahaha! I think also was the part they showed their cemetery neighborhood on their apartment. It was funny! I don’t know but I love a good laugh.
The Sister Training Leaders are planning to visit us. Sister Rafon and I would laugh alot, I love her! She just made my day great. Sister Lianto, she is incredible too, she listens and I just love her. She is like my ‘Ate’ like Sister in the Mission! They are separated and they are not together as a companion, but I hope they would come over. We were planning to visit to their apartment, but it’s too small. I’m planning to set an activity for us, because they are both leaving and I want the exchanges to be special for them.
The Assistants had their random calls too, they were worried because of our apartment. The other day, our apartment was filled with water, it flooded the whole floor apartment. It was not a great night, but it was nice of them to call. They also message frequently too, it was family like too! I appreciate Elder Solis alot, he would take the time to say nice things and appreciates the effort! Later on, Elder Badar would chuckle alot in our day to day basis haha, which is great of him too, he made me laugh!
Our District Leader, Elder Jamorol with Elder Sumiran, they happened to talk a bunch too. It was nice of them too, we were able to share our updates on our areas. We laugh a few, too. Elder Jamorol is the humblest leader, I salute him a few times in his leadership. Aw man, I’ll miss him, he’ll be leaving on Christmas. But! We’ll definitely have District P-Day Activity, after the storm is done and all.
I honestly appreciate all of their calls and I love them! I love San Pablo Zone!
I bet this is the longest email ever written for sure! I apologize for making this long, I bet you are scratching your head by looking all over this email! It made me chuckle if you did. I apprecite of you looking over on this email, that means you are lucky to see and get to know better on my service here! I would love to see updates on you!
Please be safe, storm is not looking great at all! Better cover yourself with a blanket! ♡
Love,
Sister Dilag
Sacramento • San Pablo
