Manigong Bagong Taon! (Happy New Year!)

2022

As this new year begins, we celebrate 2021, and rejoice in the miracles we have been able to see and be part of here in Cauayan. (1213 new members of the Church in 2021). We eagerly look forward to what lies ahead in the new year!

Early next month, the last 3 Elders to be called to this mission and arrive here before the pandemic will go home. They came as a large group, but after the evacuation (when they had only been in-field 2 weeks) and then the Sisters going home 6 months ago, they are the last ones left.  When they go, we will be the only ones left who were here prior to the pandemic.  All the rest are COVID missionaries.

A few days after Christmas, we were happy to welcome 10 new missionaries into the field.  They, along with the 10 that arrived in November make up 1/3 of the mission.  Because each new missionary also has a Trainer, 40 of our 62 missionaries are in a training companionship.  The mission is changing quickly, as we go from an old mission to a very young mission.  Nearly half of the missionaries have served for 6 months or less. This brings an interesting dynamic to the mission, because many of the things we did before, even early last year, are unknown to them.  They are the future of the mission, and will someday soon be the Trainers and leaders in the mission.

New missionaries arrive excited to serve, but the anxiety is real.  Whether they have looked forward to serving a mission for many years or if they are a newer member of the Church, afire with testimony, the moment a new missionary steps off the plane, (or maybe before) anxiety sets in.  They usually come as a batch of missionaries, but even that security blanket is taken away a few hours later, when we send them out to their areas with their Trainer.  I like to share with the new missionaries this scripture from Alma: "... they separated themselves and departed one from another, trusting in the Lord that they should meet again at the close of their harvest; for they supposed that great was the work which they had undertaken." (Alma 17:13) They find themselves all alone in a strange apartment, far away from the home they love, with someone they only met a few hours earlier.  Homesickness becomes a reality, and those first days and weeks can be hard.  They miss parents, friends, movies, music, familiar foods and places and much more.  Teaching and testifying of Jesus Christ is a skill that must be learned.  This can be particularly difficult if the language is also new.  Perhaps the hardest thing for a new missionary is learning patience.  They are often surprised to find it difficult to master teaching, scripture passages, proper study and numerous other skills.  Most also struggle with shyness and other insecurities. In time they become master teachers and true servants of the living God but this does not come quickly or easily.  They are also often surprised how rigorous the life of a missionary can be.  Trainers for these new missionaries are prayerfully selected.  A Trainer teaches, trains and loves a new missionary, helping them to get a good start.  If they start right they usually stay right.

A wonderful blessing of serving with these young missionaries is watching them change and grow.  Little by little, line upon line,  precept by precept, they learn by relying upon the Lord for strength.  They gain experience and as they turn their hearts to Him, they become strong and valiant disciples of Jesus Christ.  It is wonderful to watch what they can do as they  are diligent and rely on His help.  They are the future of this mission and the Church. The future indeed looks bright. 

As we serve, we realize that each of us is building.  We work together and help each other to be the best we can be.  We are laying the foundation for those that follow, just a those who went before laid a strong foundation for us.  Each builds on what has gone before.  This is one great work. This unifies us as we seek to build the Kingdom of God.

Hurrah for Israel!