My First Typhoon & Baptism Date Set, All In One Week......

This last week Elder Sarmiento forgot to send me an email specifically for his Blog....but here is what he shared with his family.

Elder Sarmiento: "Hey I'm on and with the best story about last week"
Janessa & Austin: "What is it"?
Eric & Cassandra: "So whats the story"?
Mom: "We heard a Typhoon hit, how was it"?
Dad: "Lots of flooding I'm sure"
Elder Sarmiento: "FUN!  Like Dad says, It Could Be Worse.  So as Mom and Dad said there was a typhoon.  In our area it rained hard for 4 days where it seemed no end.  Now we have been told of its a typhoon one we can work. (this is where his mom has realized he's got the language better now...but  his english is becoming broken)  A Typhoon 1 is kinda windy and rain is pretty bad with some little flooding.  As we would go out and work it would be a Typhoon 1 maybe at times a Typhoon 2.  My companion and I kept on wondering if we should stop but instead we just continued.  As we finished the day and got back to our apartment we met up with the Elders we share our apartment with and talked to them.  For every companionship there is a phone.  Mostly everyone is on the Mission Plan where you can call any other Missionaries for free.  Of course with my luck...ours isn't, and that day we worked, the other Elders had their phone but it was dead.  As they charged it and we were talking, their phone lit up with a bunch of messages.  President and our Zone Leaders were telling us not to work.  So the next few days after were weren't able to work.  Then Saturday was the interview for my investigators baptism.  As we were happy for no rain we walked with determination.  Then we hit her street and found out.....there was a flood as high as up to half of the calf, so great!!!  We still had the Interview and she is getting baptized this weekend!  I can't wait!!!  And for the flooding....here is some pictures.

Walking Through Flooded Streets in Calamba....BAREFOOT! 

Ugh these boys........

In The Middle Of A Typhoon......Super Cool!!

Elder Sarmiento....No Words To Describe This 

But Do Notice He Is Standing In A Street Thats Flooded Next To A Wooden Boat!

Yep, He Would Take A Picture Next To That....

Relying On The Lord, Day by Day......

So this last week my companion had to go home, his 2 years are done.  All I can say is that this week has been super hard.  Getting a companion who is going home to work is difficult.  Something that was the hardest for him though was thinking if he helped the mission or if the mission helped him.  When he said that it got my mind going. Something  missionaries do often is judge themselves everyday.  I know I do it.  What we have learned also is that Missionaries will sometimes beat themselves up because as missionaries people see us a perfect examples.  People look to missionaries with all the answers.  As missionaries see their mistakes we sometimes feel as if there is no end to improvement.

I have learned through Christ we can become closer and closer to perfect.  When people look at themselves and shut down on their missions they begin to turn in on themselves and feel bad for themselves.  As we do that we drive further away form the Lord.  That is not what he want's.  I have learned VERY FAST a mission is hard.  Its even harder if you don't rely on the Lord.  A mission is interesting because for most its their first time to really rely on the Lord day by day.  As I have been out I have really worked on humbling myself.  That I can say is something that has been difficult.  The fact to realize that we need the Lord so much is interesting because when I was first out I thought I could do it all with only little help.  Now I know I need all his help to teach.  These last few weeks I have had so much help with the language, I have forgotten words in english at times.  In the moment of trying to figure it out I kinda freak out because I can't remember my native language.  From my fist day I now can see the help I have been given.  I know the Lord loves us all and I know that through the Lord we can become perfect and we can return to live with him again.  I know that this church is true.  

I miss you all and I hope your all doing well.  Until Next week INGOT PO!!!! - Elder Sarmiento

Elder Sarmiento....Kinda Looks A Bit Skinnier 

Some Homes In Calamba 

This Crazy Cow Want's to Follow These Boys.....Yikes

These Elders Are Having An Amazing Time!!!!

Putting My Full Faith In Heavenly Father......

Hello Everyone!!!!! So these last two weeks have been interesting....Last week I experienced a Philippino Hospital because I was sick. I never have been so scared in my life. I just had a cold and my asthma was kinda bad. Immediately they wanted to give me a shot!!! Luckily I know the word NO in Tagalog, ha ha.

After I got my antibiotic medicine I had to rest in the apartment for about 3 days. That was tough. Throughout the three days I experienced Satan's power. I say that because the three days all I thought about was Home. I thought about my family, friends and things I would be doing if I was home. It made this week so hard.  I didn't want to work, I didn't want to do anything except go home. Around the end of the week my companion asked what was wrong, he thought he did something that made me angry. As I told him my struggle he completely understood. He also told me from that point I need to trust in the Lord, so I did and went to bed ready for tomorrow. That next morning I still had a struggle, it made me angry and I tried to figure out why.  Saturday night I was writing in my journal and as I did I received revelation.  My faith in the Lord was low.  I had no faith that the Lord would bless my family and friends.  So as I finished my journal entry I wondered how can I strengthen my faith.  I searched in Preach My Gospel and came across the Bible Dictionary, under Faith it says "When we have Faith in the Lord we act with Obedience". I had received the answer I needed.

When It came to Sunday I tried my hardest to be exactly Obedient, and it came with Amazing results. Throughout Church I was able to understand what people were teaching in Tagalog!!  Then after Church we had three appointments, all investigators!! So we went and I lead the Teaching!!  These Lessons were so amazing and the best Tagalog that I have ever spoken!!!! This is something that I can truly testify of!!! Through Faith and obedience the Lord Blesses us!! I know this to be True!!  My desire to serve has grown massively in just one day!!

Well this is my news for the week!!! Hopefully you're all doing amazing. I love the work out here!! I miss you all but, I know the Lord needs me here. I have learned things that feel like it would have taken me a year to learn, it's Amazing!!!

Well,  Ingat Po to you all!!!! - Elder Sarmiento

This was such a hard week for Elder Sarmiento, and as him mom I can truly say my heart is full. I have been chosen to be this great young mans mom and he has shown us great strength in his dark hours. I am grateful he has the knowledge and faith to turn to Heavenly Father and trust in him to help him through his trials. I am blessed to have such an amazing and great Son in Elder James Thomas Sarmiento.  My heart is truly full of gratitude and love.

The Investigators We Meet.....

Hey so how is everyone!!! This week was Awesome!!!  We had Zone interviews with President and I got all of you dearelder.com letters then!!!  Also I emailed President this week, I was having trouble and told him the truth.  He really helped me and he told my Companion that I was so Honest to him, that made me happy cause we only have our President for a year then then around this time next year we will get a new Mission President.  For both, I want to be a good Missionary who isn't a burden.

Also this week a Missionary had fought with a member and got transferred.  The missionary who replaced him is an Australian!!! I actually had a full understandable conversation with someone is in English the first time in the field besides President...ha ha.  Other than that yesterday we had been trying to meet with an investigator.  As we waited outside her house there was a group of four guys were drunk across the street from us.  As we waited two had been trying to get our attention asking what our message was. They were being so disrespectful and even when an older man told them to stop and that we were Servants of the Lord, one man continued and said he could beat us up.  My companion was getting so angry and I felt like if he came over he would surely want to fight.  If he did all I could think of was picking him up and throwing him on the ground.  This guy compared to me was like a foot shorter and 80 lbs at least.  I don't think I have ever wanted to stand up for something, like Standing up for the Lord and hi work that we do.

As we left the situation we couldn't feel the spirit the rest of the day.  Although in my mind I was so mad and didn't understand.  It came to the point where i was in bed and couldn't sleep.  Finally I realized that Satan had taken over my thought.  So I prayed for the ability to stop thinking about this little thing and go to sleep.  As I finished my payer I fell asleep within minutes.  I truly realized the next morning the power of God over Satan.  Everyday I learn something new and I learn more about Jesus Christ and God.  Something my President said to me is that the reason why this work is so hard is because you never have had to rely on the Lord everyday to help lead and guide you in everything you do.  I don't think I have realized I need to Humble myself so much.

On my Mission I can truly say I have begun the process of humbling myself.  It is hard, but I can already feel its rewarding effects.  One I think it's all the weight I have lost so far...ha ha.  Anyways the Mission is Amazing!! The things I teach and do everyday not only helps others understand the Lord but it helps me too!!  A mission is truly something that is amazing.  I am so happy to be here.  I love it so much and I can't wait for the up coming challenges.  I know through faith I i will triumph over them all.  I love and miss everyone.  You all are amazing people!! I only have 22 months left!! Its crazy to look at time and see what it can be fast if we make it meaningful.  Anyways I got to go, sorry if my english is becoming worse, but that is good thing right?  Ha ha.

Well INGOT PO TO YOU ALL!!!! - Elder Sarmiento

This Dish is Rice and Fish of 1,000 Bones....Very common dish to eat there

Elder Sarmiento found someones Sweater Vest.....I think he is getting used to the Humidity there???

The Train Crash in Spain is what this family was watching