Missionary Preparation Class - Makati East Stake

03/01/2023

“There is something wonderful and hopeful about the word now. There is something empowering about the fact that if we choose to decide now, we can move forward at this very moment. Now is the best time to start becoming the person we eventually want to be—not only 20 years from now but also for all eternity.”
- Dieter F. Uchtdorf

15/12/2022

"Hastening the work has to do with the EXCITEMENT we all feel about SHARING the message of the GOSPEL. It is a natural process that comes out of LOVE."

15/12/2022

Last meeting activity of Missionary Preparation Class last night. OYM Activity Highlights.

26/11/2022

"For us to develop Christlike Attributes, we must learn about the Savior in His ways."

19/11/2022

"Remember the restoration is not an event but it continues to unfold."

12/11/2022

"Miracles have happened through powerful prayer"

07/11/2022

Goodluck Sister Luisocia Gonzales! 👌🙏😁 We would like to thank you for being part of our Mission Prep Class Family and for sharing your testimonies to your fellow students. You will be wonderful servant in the Lord's work.

As she will begin her mission training this coming Friday, November 11. She was assigned to labor in Philippines Cauayan Mission and will prepare to preach the Gospel in Tagalog language.

1. What made you decide to serve on a full-time mission?

"All thanks to our Savior Jesus Christ for His Atoning Sacrifice that made it possible for me to repent and change. And just like Enos from the Book of Mormon, as my guilt was swept away and as I receive the incredible sense of pure JOY of being forgiven of my sins, I began to be desirous for the welfare of my brothers and sisters. I love them and I want them to experience the immense blessings and miracles that come from having the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives. "

2. What are the challenges that you have encountered? And how do you cope up?

"The main challenge I've encountered was my mental health. My Bishop told me, I was TOO honest in my missionary application in the mental health history section 😅 but he was happy I did that because I was able to take an Assessment from Salt Lake City, Utah and I had a chance to talk to a mental health professional. Now, the result of that was I have been recommended to serve a Service Mission. Don't get me wrong brothers and sisters, Service Mission is still a Mission but I admit that I was sad for a time because I was expecting to serve a Proselyting Mission. Nevertheless, as I counseled with my Bishop, I was comforted and I will sustain the final say of the Prophet on when, where and what mission I will be assigned. July 17, Sunday afternoon, never have I ever received such a STRONG PROMPTING to study the Preach My Gospel guide, and I followed that influence. July 19, I received my calling and I was assigned to labor in the Philippines Cauayan Mission 🌄.
Now another problem came and it was that I don't trust myself that I'd be able to take on the load of being a teaching missionary, but after much fasting, prayer, counseling with my Bishop, family and friends, working with the missionaries, and attending Church Activities designed to strengthen ones desire to serve a mission, my self-esteem increased. I found out for myself that missionary work is not my work, it is His, and if I am doing my absolute best to be obedient and diligent, whatever problems that may come I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ can and will help me."

3. Encouragement for those who are preparing and have desire to serve.

"3 Nephi 13:33. Future Elders and Sisters start now to seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Make gospel study and Church attendance (that includes Sacrament meetings, Church activities, or Seminary and Institute classes) a priority. Seek counsel from your parents, trusted Church leaders and especially your Bishop/Branch President on what to do as you prepare to be a chosen representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. Please be honest in your missionary application and with your Bishop/Branch President about your past dealings so that there'd be no complications down the line. Lastly, be worthy to hold a piece of paper called the Temple Recommend and I assure you that God and His angels will attend to you as you take part in His work, the greatest work ever to exist in this time. "

Sister Gonzales
Philippines Cauayan Mission
November 2022 - May 2024

05/11/2022

"Today I make you a promise. It’s a simple one, but it is true. If you will listen to the living prophet and the apostles and heed our counsel, you will not go astray” (“His Word Ye Shall Receive,” Ensign, May 2001, 65–66).

05/11/2022

We will have our class today at 5pm. Thanks and See y'all later.

01/11/2022

Congratulations Sister Maria Isabel Abello 😍😍

Serving a mission was my least priority before, but I know that when the spirit prompts you with a desire to serve the Lord, you must obey to go and serve Him.

I want to serve the Lord because I love Him and the gospel of Jesus Christ brings me many blessings. I want to share the blessings with others by sharing His gospel. His gospel helped me surpass many trials. Because of His gospel, I know that I am loved. It made me a better person, and I knew my worth as a daughter of God. Even though I had to sacrifice so many things for myself, I felt the outpouring of love from my Savior, and it persuaded me to serve Him. I know that my desire to serve the Lord and share His gospel is more important than anything else in this world and that no time and sacrifices are wasted.

I know missionary work is difficult because salvation is not a cheap experience. But I know the Lord will guide and be with me on my mission. I know He will strengthen and mold me into the best version of me to serve my brethren in Legazpi, where so many souls are waiting for me. I am super happy and blessed to have this opportunity and privilege to share His gospel with others so they may also feel the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and our loving Heavenly Father. I know that they may know that He has a plan for us: to have peace in this world and eternal happiness in the next life to come.

“And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them” (1 Nephi 3:7). As we go and do whatever He wants us to do, He will always prepare a way for us if we will be willing to trust and obey Him.

I am Sister Abello, called to serve in the Philippines Legazpi Mission. I will go, I will serve. I am one of the 4600.

Sister Abello
Philippines Legazpi Mission
December 2022 – June 2024

26/10/2022

Congratulations Elder John Jenly Tirazona !!

He was assigned to labor in the Philippines Cebu East Mission and will prepare to preach the gospel in Cebuano language. He will begin his missionary training on Friday January 13, 2023.

1. What made you decide to serve?
“Serving a mission was always at the back of mind since I was a kid. It was something I thought I just needed to get over with. I think my turning point was FSY 2018, during those blissful 5 days I learned a lot and I think one of the few moments I really felt the holy ghost in my life. I felt the love and happiness that the gospel I knew all my life was really there, that before I just took for granted. When I pondered about it, I realized not all people is as lucky I am. I think that thought is what started my desire to serve others!”

2. How does attending an institute class increase your desire to serve?
“Attending Institute as well as seminary is what really pushed me to keep on studying the gospel of Jesus Christ. I had friends that I studied alongside with, and not to mention the amazing teachers that I had. I learned a lot in institute, I sometimes think that attending institute and/or seminary might be troublesome at times but one thing I learned is that when we don't what to do something like going to church, go to church; if we don't what to pray, then pray. The same applies here, I never regretted my decision to attend these wonderful classes even if sometimes it causes my schedule to be a bit tight. I can confidently say that Institute and seminary is one of the main catalysts of my growth of my faith in Christ and his gospel.”

3. What are the challenges that you've faced when you decide to go on a mission? And how did you cope up?
“One of the challenges I felt during my decision is whether to go and serve or continue my studies. To make the long story short, I decided to serve a mission because as I read the Book of Mormon one phrase always pops-up and that is "Seek first the kingdom of God, and ye shall prosper in the land". Though it pains me to decline offers from universities I would happily study in, but I don't want to delay and risk losing the testimony in my heart. Talk with your family, friends, leaders, the missionaries, I'm sure that they will be your source of strength, as they did with me.”

The Lord will bless you and the people under your service because of your decision to serve Him over anything else.

“May we choose to build up within ourselves a great and powerful faith which will be our most effective defense against the designs of the adversary — a real faith, the kind of faith which will sustain us and will bolster our desire to choose the right. Without such faith we go nowhere. With it we can accomplish our goals.
Although it is imperative that we choose wisely, there are times, yes there are, when we will make foolish choices. The gift of repentance, provided by our Savior, enables us to correct our course settings, that we might return to the path which will lead us to that celestial glory we seek.
May we maintain the courage to defy the consensus. May we ever choose the harder right, instead of the easier wrong.
As we contemplate the decisions we make in our lives each day — whether to make this choice or that choice — if we choose Christ we will have made the correct choice.”

-President Thomas S. Monson

Elder Tirazona
Philippines Cebu East Mission
January 2023 – January 2025