Last Week in Lubao

Well I'm almost certain I'm getting transferred this coming Wednesday so I've been trying to make the most of my last week in Lubao. We barbecued some chicken on Monday then we did Zumba again on Saturday morning so this week was pretty awesome!

So we've been trying to get Edjohn's grandma to church for the longest time. They have a tindahan at their house (they sell snacks and all sorts of things) and she keeps it open all week. Whenever we try to get her to come to church she always says she has to watch her tindahan so that no one breaks in and steals anything. So last week we taught them about the Sabbath day and committed Nanay to go to church again. Our church is at one o' clock so we went to their house at around 12:15 to see if they were ready to go. When we got there everyone was all dressed up and ready. Nanay said "we've been ready to go since 9:00 this morning! We thought church was at 10!" Edjohn was like "I told em church was at one, they were just too excited!" We asked Nanay about her tindahan and she said "oh don't worry about it, It's closed on Sundays now." They had a great time in Gospel Principles class, the topic was on Spiritual gifts. The branch also announced a temple trip on May 16 and Edjohn is super excited to go. The members have really fellowshipped him there. We are working with him to get ordained to the Priesthood soon. Jhasmine also came to church again. She is super smart, she was asking a lot of questions during Gospel Principles class and she really wants to learn as much as she can about the gospel. May 5th is coming quick!

Update on Nanay Lolita!
She's still going strong in the church and the missionaries and members are helping her get prepared to go to the temple later this year. I heard the couple missionaries got her a photo album, and the first picture she put in there was of me, her and Elder Hall when she got baptized. I sure miss her!

Thank you for all your love and support! I hope you all have a good week! I'll let you know where I get transferred next week.

-Elder Furniss

hello

Lubao's Newest Member

Good afternoon!

Well we had an awesome week, we got Edjohn baptized and were able to teach Jhasmine Ibay which we haven't been able to teach for like 3 months, she was able to come to church yesterday!

Edjohn bore a powerful testimony after his baptism. We were all pretty shocked because he is kind of shy. He was so thankful for all the past missionaries that had taught him and for us. He is a great kid. One cool thing that happened was that quite a few of his friends showed up to support him at his baptism. One of his friends, Ram (who reminds me of my little brother Justiss for some reason) is pretty interested in the church. He is being taught by Jehovah's witnesses right now but wants to learn more about our church. We taught him and a couple other of Edjohn's friends about the Restoration.

About Jhasmine Ibay, we have finally been able to teach her again after ages of not being able to because of her work schedule. We promised her that if she would have faith that the Lord would provide a way for her to go to church. Last Sunday her boss went up to her and told her that she only had to work half days on Sundays. How cool is that! So she was able to come to church and she has a strong group of fellowshippers. She's going to get baptized on May 5th.

We also have another baptism in a few weeks, her name is Hazel. We taught her when I first got here and she's been coming to church for a while now and her parents finally gave her permission to be baptized. So it's going to be an exciting couple of weeks!

Well, I hope you all have a great week!

I love y'all!​

Edjohn's baptism day

Jhasmine Ibay is on the far right

The Power of Hope

Magandang hapon friends and family! (Good afternoon)

General conference was just amazing! I loved President Nelson's talk on receiving personal revelation. What an amazing man he is!

Back home when I would go to missionaries' welcome home talks, I was always amazed at the experiences they had had while they were on their mission. I always thought to myself "wow, I hope I can witness something like that when I go out." Well, last night we had one of those experiences that make your mission worth it.

We went to Edjohn and nanay Maria Fe last night for our last appointment and taught them about temples and eternal families. The lesson went great, and we invited them to come to the family history center in the church on Tuesday to start their family history work.
At the end of the lesson, Tatay Jonathan (the only member in the family who is a recent convert) bore a powerful testimony. He said:

"Yesterday I had to work in the fields so I wasn't able to go to church. I asked Edjohn to help me in the fields but his reply was 'pa you know I can't help you, I have to go to church, I'm getting baptized this Saturday.' That right there was a turning point for me. Edjohn gave me strength that day as I went out to the fields, in fact I couldn't stop smiling as I worked throughout the day." He then said, "Do you remember that time that I was about to give up, and lose my house and everything I had? You guys shared those verses with me in the Book of Mormon which gave me hope. You gave us all hope, and because of that we are all here now and you have strengthened and bound this family together. I don't know where we would be without you Elders, because of you I have witnessed that Heavenly Father knows me and has a plan for my family."

These are his exact words.

The change we have seen in this family is incredible. I have truly witnessed the power the Gospel of Jesus Christ has to change lives. My companion and I couldn't hold back our tears as we listened to Tatay Jonathan last night. I love that family with all my heart. Edjohn is getting baptized this Saturday, and I am beyond excited.

I testify with the Prophet Ether that "Whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God."

I am so thankful for the time my Heavenly Father has given me to serve His children in the Philippines, for I have truly seen miracles. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

-Elder Furniss

Our district

OLONGAPOOOOO

FHE we went to while on exchanges with the AP's in Olongapo (I was forced to make goat noises)

 Ulo ng Apo

July boyz at MLC