So Much To Share.......

This Week Elder Sarmiento ran out of time to create his Blog Email.....here is what he shared with us. Week 2 in the Philippines for Elder Sarmiento SPIDER.....SPIDER......SPIDER.....POISONOUS SPIDER!!!! YEP That spider is so big, here it is in comparison to Elder Sarmiento's Shoe...... Here is a picture of his First Zone Conference in Calamba, it looks like it went well. Then Elder Sarmiento found Burger King....but according to the picture I don't think thats a Whopper....maybe a Whopper JR??? While walking they saw this sign.... Vote Boy Sarmiento for After turning down a street they ran into this..... St James School Oh but thats not it.....Of course no Sarmiento can resist finding the nearest Emergency Room for an Asthma Attack. Elder Sarmiento said this was the best Hospital and yet it was "So Sketch" according to him. ha ha He has Sweated A Lot!!! He has bumped his head many times getting into the Jeepney buses, the local mode of transportation. And he gets along great with his companion Elder Maniano. It looks like Elder Sarmiento is losing weight already!!!! Kita Kits - Elder Sarmiento's Family

The People Of Calamba Are So Humble.......

So I am in the Philippines!!! Where to begin....The People here are so funny. They look at me as if I am a Star, the kids look at me as if I am Godzilla...ha ha!!! What I love about being here is the ability of the people to look for the good in things. Most people here build their own homes out of scraps of things. Most of the people here can almost make it with living the way they do, but they all have smiles on their faces when they see the Missionaries. At church yesterday we had like 100 people attend. Some didn't have white shirts and ties. Some had to walk for miles to get to church. I truly have taken for granted everything I have back home. I have seen so many blessings I have received throughout my life. These people here are so humble. I love it here so much because these people are so ready to hear about our messages we have for them! I will admit, the work isn't easy. It's not easy because it is the Lords work. The Lords work and way, is to teach people one by one. To love them one by one. It is so much fun and I am so glad to be here! I miss you all and Love you all with all my heart! Until next week..... Mahal Kita!!!! -Elder Sarmiento

It's Time To Move On To The Philippines!!!!!

Hi Kevin!!! (family joke) So as you all may have seen my 2 moments of fame, I was on the Work and Salvation Broadcast. Small but, I was on! So this last week has been crazy!!! We had our In-Feild Orientation yesterday, where they pretty much talked about everything that we haven't learned about being a missionary in general. I have had a blast, but I am sad. It was a fun last week here in the MTC and it is going to be sad to leave all of the wonderful Missionaries in my Zone! I have been so happy to be a Zone Leader for people because I have been able to help them so much as they had began their first full week here in the MTC. But now its time to move on to the Mission Field in the Philippines!!!! I leave on Monday and I get in Wednesday at 1am....this will be interesting, ha ha. I am so excited and I can't wait! I hope everyone back at home is doing great! Brother....I mean Bishop Morris CONGRATS!!!!! I heard the news from a dearelder.com letter my mom sent me...ha ha. I love you all and cannot express the thank you all deserve that helped me get to this point now! The Broadcast was amazing! Ten minutes before the 12 Apostles walked in we had a feeling the Prophet wasn't going to speak, because there were no more open seats for him on the stand. But, as I and felt the spirit when the Apostles came in, I had something pop up in the back of my mind. It was a thought of "What makes these men so amazing in our church"? As I continued to ponder I was reminded of something David A. Bednar said in his talk about "Christlike Attributes". If you can find it, its an amazing talk. Anyways he said in his talk, "I know I cannot be an Apostle alone. I know that through the spirit, the lord helps me everyday be who you all see me as". This was something amazing to me! He also talked about how as missionaries we are called of God like him, but Apostles I have realized are Apostles, not because they are successful in life or have been in a War and have amazing stories, they are Apostles because they are intune to the spirit and are masters at passing along the word that the Spirit Directs. It was very interesting to me and I know that the more intune we become, through the spirit, the more we can be amazing as our Apostles. I have learned to love them more and more each day! They are truly called of God for reasons that are never ending. I love the Gospel and I know Jesus suffered and Died so we can return to him again. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen. MAHAL KITA!!!! - ELDER SARMIENTO

Travel Plans...and Footie Pajamas

So this week has been crazy!!! My pics aren't loading up so I can't send anything, but my companion and I have been chosen to be Zone Leaders. As part of being a Zone leader in our branch they have passed down footie pajamas for us to wear everynight as we check on our districts in the residence. Also thanks to the Johnson's; I have survived off of their Cinnimon rolls this last week. Thank you so very much for that!!! You guys are awesome!!! It's been amazing though, we have been able to learn the rest of the basic grammar of the Tagalog language. Now our teachers go into depth on the language. As we have been working harder, we have been getting so confused, but through our efforts and through faith we have been able to understand it all. This last Friday we also were able to get our flight plans!!!! I leave next Monday, July 1st. We are flying to Oregon and then to Tokyo!!!!! It's awesome!! Anyways I can't wait to get there!! ALSO if you see the broadcast look for me in the chior!!!!! It's gonna be amazing tomorrow!!! ANYWAYS!!! I love you all and miss everyone!! Hope you're all doing great!!!! I gotta go, but KITA KITS!!!!!

-elder SARMIENTO

Sorry for the late post...my mom asked me to update this for her last week and I forgot :/ my bad! If you have time, you can find Elder Sarmiento on the broadcast video 2 minutes and 22 seconds in. Here's the video below:

I have also recorded it and posted a video clip on Instagram and Facebook and I will tag Elder Sarmiento on the Facebook post. Since he leaves in two days, I'm guessing you should just start sending letters to the Philippines! My dad said you can send letters to Elder Sarmiento through Dear Elder to the San Pablo, Philippines mission for FREE! Who doesn't like free?

OK so where to begin......

This last week has been a breakthrough!!!!! I am getting the language more and more!!! Everyday is like an up and down experience. Bakit (why?) hindi ko alam!!! (i dont know!)  Its frustraighting at times but, it is interesting that when ever I am about to teach someone both my companion and I have been able to speak Tagalog better than we thought it was gonna be. We are having wonderful experiences here together. I love my companion so much!  He is so hilarious its great!

Anyways, the update for this next weekend is that next Saturday or Sunday we get our flight plans so we know where and when we leave for the Philippines!!!!!!!  :O  Isn't that insane!!!!  Its crazy to think I only have 2 weeks!!!  Also the 23!!!!!!  This next Sunday we are going to be singing at the Marriott center for the First Presidency.  They said on LDS.org that President Thomas S. Monson and Boyd K. Packer PLUS other Apostles are going to speak!!!  If you look at the announcement online it says it will be a Historical Event!!!!!!!  We all think that it may be a announcement the First Presidency is gonna make!!! Its CRAZY!!!!  We are all excited that we have this opportunity to be able to be in this experience! 

Another thing thats weird to think is that I am hosting this next Wednesday!!  I am so happy I get to do that!!  Also to Fathers out there HAPPY Fathers day!! To all my leaders when i was a Priest, Teacher, and Deacon thank you for helping me get set to be able to serve a mission.  It is so amazing to be here.  I love it so much!!  

Alam ko po na totoo po ang Simbahan ni jesucristo. (I know that the church of Jesus Christ is true!!!) its because of my leaders, friends, and bishops that kept me on the path to have the ability to be able to go on a mission. i miss you all very much but, I love my Mission more! 

Talk to you later!!!! -ELDER SARMIENTO :) 

For those a bit confused a "Host" is a Missionary who has been at the MTC for a few weeks and is able to greet new Missionaries at the Drop Off zone and walk them into the MTC to help get them processed.  When we approached the Drop Off Zone, we noticed so many elders but I didn't want to say goodbye just yet so we drove down as far as we could.  As we pulled into our spot we see it was a Sister Missionary.  We all laughed an said "Oh J, you get a girl to Escort you in".  As we were all crying and saying our goodbyes we look up and this 19 year old girl was crying herself.  Such a sweet moment.  They were all tears of joy but bitter sweet none the less.  Now Elder Sarmiento is able to do the same for some amazing family.  

As for the Broadcast next Sunday June 23rd, this is going to be a Historical Event.  They have asked 1,100 of the 2,400 missionaries at the MTC to sing at this event.  Elder Sarmiento will be one of 1,100, we will be glued to the TV watching for him.  You can view this on BYU Channel or online at lds.org.   For more information please log onto: http://www.lds.org/church/events/the-work-of-salvation-missionary-broadcast?cid=HPL2P05W01025&lang=eng

Sending Elder Sarmiento Letters Means So Much To Him

You can start sending letters to the Philippines for Elder Sarmiento to receive once he arrives there. 

Elder James Thomas Sarmiento
Philippines San Pablo Mission
Barangay San Juan, Alaminos
4001 Laguna
Philippines

You can also send him letters for free through dearelder.com, these letters are printed up and placed in envelopes as sent to either the MTC or Philippines as letters.  While in the MTC if you do this before 4pm PST he will receive it the same day.  If you are sending to the Philippines I think it may take at least 2 weeks. 

Instructions for dearelder.com:
Log Onto www.dearelder.com
Select from the drop down menu:  either Provo MTC or Philippines San Pablo
Then Select from the drop down menu:  Write Letter
Information is just like addressing an envelope, at the MTC his Unit# is 15 and the Mission Code is just Philippines San Pablo

He loves hearing from everyone, thank you to those who have sent packages and letters.

MTC San Pablo District June 2013

MTC Philippines, San Pablo Mission District Missionaries.  A few leave for the Philippines June 16th & 17th with the remaining Missionaries leaving the first week in July.  They will all be working together in San Pablo, and will be friends forever!