Oh My Gulay…….

This week has been so interesting.  My tagalog with my last companion had stayed the same, but now it's been better.  My companion has been helping me with the language a lot cause I have a lot of habits that are wrong and my teaching still needs a little work, but its been really good!!!

Here are my shoes and well I think I should be good but yea.

The first ones, the soles fell off.  That's from my first area (Calamba).  You can tell with how much walking we have been doing.  Yea, we do that much!!!!

So heres a sign from a Meeting House they used to have here, and through a bagio the meeting hows was destroyed (yea more broken language.  We are not quite sure what he is saying here but we think there must have been a storm)  So a family keeps it in their home.

Its official, I have lost 20 lbs since I have been here and well I have been reminded by one of my batch mates who is filipino that we are almost 8 months!!  Oh my gulay (vegetables)….ha ha.
This phrase has now become our family favorite expression.

P Day at a Japanese Garden, on top of a Mountain….So Cool!!!

Well I don't have much time so I go to go, but I will talk to you guys next week!!

Love and miss you all!!!
-Elder Sarmiento

BTW, I had a Bukai that was fresh.

Also this week and well I say the Lion King is real life!!! ha ha

We think what he meant to say is he saw wild animals like in the Lion King, in real life…..it's a Water Buffalo. 

Ok well I got to go, Love You All!!!

-Elder Sarmiento

Please Send Chocolate…..

Oh My Gosh!!!!
So something interesting just happened!! The man I met from the MTC, Junichi, he just told me in an email saying his neighbor who was a First Counselor in the Stake Presidency just got called to the San Pablo Mission as the New Mission President!!!  Talk about a small world!!  Ha ha I was so shocked to see the email and well it makes me realize even more that I am coming up to my 1 Year Mark!  Everything is moving so fast!!!

Well hey hopefully you guys can meet my future Mission President somehow….ha ha.  It's been a long week other than that.  After the Skype call we had a lot of work we thought we could make up, but after Christmas there were many people who were still busy so most of the last few days we were walking around and looking for people who may be interested.  Other than that we have been just being fed constantly.  We had a Christmas Party a few days ago and well, there they had Dugo…I think thats how you spell it.  It was a big plate of Balut that was cooked into a massive egg.  Oh my gosh it smelled so bad and tasted even worse.  My companion actually almost threw up just from it being in his mouth.  YEA HE IS FILIPINO AND ALMOST DIED.  When I had it I was crying and almost threw up also.  BY FAR THE WORST THING I HAVE HAD.

The last week though my companion bought me the Chicken Intestine off the people who cook them on the street.  It was alright, but very chewy.  It has been good though.  We have been having a lot of work and doing a lot.  Tonight we have our Ward Christmas Party so hopefully members bring more families.  Also yesterday for Church we had 5 INVESTIGATORS randomly come!!!  It was Great!!!  Three randomly showed up, but they were super interested and happy.  So this week we are hoping we will have close to 10 progressing investigators.

Well thats about it for this week.  Surprisingly I didn't cry after the Skype or get depressed but I was super happy!!!  Mainly cause I thought someone was pregnant or something…ha ha not gonna lie.  I was super relieved when no one said that…ha ha.

Well it's been great.  The Bishopric sent me a card so I just want to say thanks.  Also, when you send the package can you send Chocolates!!!!  I MISS CHOCOLATE FROM AMERICA…HA HA!!!.  Well thats is it so I am going to go but I love you all!!!

Oh BTW, I had to cut off 2 and 1/2 inches off my belt last night XD, Im going home 100 lbs lighter..ha ha!!
-Love Elder Sarmiento (jr. jr for the half person I am now..ha ha!!!)

Twas The Night Before Christmas……..

Twas the night before Christmas (in the states) and all through the world, so I decided to try to set up our family Google Chat, and forgot to tell Mom, oh well.   

As she slept all sung in her Hotel room bed, dreaming of her long awaited call from me is what was in her head.  

When along came a text with a Verification Code, 

yep it was from me on her cell phone.  

Away from her bed she flew like a flash, checked her email and then thought….

"Wasn't he supposed to call later tonight, not last"??  

As I sat in front of the Computer I realized….

OOPPSS this went right to her phone.  

Not knowing all of this, my mom in Utah and my sister in Texas 

both couldn't sleep, 

they had a feeling I was on a computer, yep they felt the spirit so sweet.  

Christmas Day in California came, and as I tried to wait I could no longer…

 so I began my Christmas Gift to my family and emailed mom with the following..

"Hey its me and I want to Skype"!!

 Mom gathers the family and friends all around the computer, 

and for a good 30 minutes

 a Comedy of Errors ensues, its ok it wouldn't be a 

Sarmiento Family event without some laughter and tears too.  

The internet I was on was super slow, so I had to switch computers….OH NO!

 I tried to Skype and Google+ & then realized….. 

Oh great, I forgot all my passwords I wrote down at home!!! 

 Mom looked at Dad and They then said "we need to have a quick prayer" 

& within 5 minutes  Janessa & Austin had me on Skype,  

it was our Christmas Miracle right there!  

After a few minutes of this I was able to get my Google+ group to work and we were all on together, including Elder Broc Thompson, one of my Companions who is now an RM, Kumusta my brother!  

Blessings come in all packages, this I can testify to….

Merry Christmas to all, and make sure you say your prayers to.  

Love-Elder Sarmiento

Elder Sarmiento is in need of some items so we will be sending him a
Birthday "Balikbayan Box" around January 15th,
if you wish to send him something let us know.

Our fist Attempt with Skype…Then Onto Google+

Elder Sarmiento Telling All His Stories 

Elder Sarmiento hearing that his little Sister Makayla turns 16 in 2 days…Yikes

Elder Sarmiento Realizing his little Sister will be able to date…….

Only 5 more months until his mom can do this again…and the countdown begins.

Here we are all round the Lap Top taking pictures of Elder Sarmiento, such a fun night.

Make Sure Your Ready & Waiting For My Skype Christmas Call…….

So the day of Christmas the time for you will be at night!  I will email you before we Google Skype.  So make sure you are all ready and waiting for the email.  I don't have time so I will just wait to say everything in the Skype Call.  Just be prepared cause I can only talk for 30-45 minutes.

Well I got to go but, take care everyone LOVE YOU!!!!!
-Elder Sarmiento

Accept It, Before It Excepts Us…..

ANO BA YUNG?!
For STARTERS Kacy Morris I give Congrats!!!!  Hopefully you read these..ha ha.  It's hard to realized but, even when I am not in America, life still moves forward.  Ha ha just kidding.  So this week has been a great week!  We have been teaching the ex-Mayor of my area and this last week he committed to Baptism!!!!  The area has been a little rough but who says the Salvation of souls is easy!!!

This last week with my companion I have really had a great learning experience.  With a lot of people they look for the SECRET or for the BEST THINGS in a Mission.  Honestly there isn't really just one thing here that makes a Mission a Mission.  What makes a so amazing for people is the fact that the Lord, through the holy ghost, teaches us what is the SECRET or the BEST THINGS for us, not for the Mission.  In a Mission it truly is more of a learning experience for yourself than anyone else.  What makes a Mission so unique is where you are assigned, is where the Lord wants you to go.  Now I have also learned that it is never easy nor should it ever be easy on a Mission.  I have felt as if I have missed so much but, when in fact the things I need for my life I have learned here on a Mission.  This to the point of my Mission now is what makes my Mission so great and memorable to me.  I love it here so much!!!  I have learned so much also not only for the time now and here, but for the times that are to come!!

Alam ko po na ito ay totoo!!  Alam ko po na ang abanghelyo ni jesuCristo ay para sa ating.  All we have to do is accept it before it excepts us!!! MAHAL KITA!!!!!!  INGAT PO KAYO!!!!
-Elder Sarmiento

Mission Tour Week!!!!!

So this week was a great week!!!! Tuesday we had a Quorum of the 70 come to our mission and talk to us.  He taught us about the Atonement.  It was interesting because he pointed out something most people don't see.  That is the atonement is so that bad me can become good, but it's also for members so that they can become from Good to Better to Best to Saint.  That is something I never thought about.  As we learn in scriptures we can understand that we are given the ability to repent and be baptized becoming clean from sin.  Now after that we can even become better.  As people on this earth we are not perfect.  So if we are not perfect why should we try?  The Savior has set the path so that we can follow it.  Now no one is perfect, but as we follow the path at time we will be led off of it.  The things we need to do is be led back.  Now as we do this it is sometimes tough.  We can learn through the Book of Mormon that we can ask for strength to be led back.  As we do this we can learn and become better people.  Now the reason why we should try is because as we try, as we ask the Eternal Father, we can improve our lives in ways that can bless us now, later and even Forever.  This concept for me was really just what seemed unreal before I left the mission.  I heard this life after death and well it seemed a little unreal.  As I have been on the mission and live this gospel every day as close as I can I have realized that it is true.  For many people it's hard to understand this, but the way I know this is because I have felt the spirit touch me in a way that nothing and no one else could.  I know that we can be strengthened in trials and as we use the atonement in our lives we can become from bad to Good to Better to Best and even to Saint.  I know that this is true, I have seen these trials and these blessings in my life.  I know that our Father is always here with us and all we have to do is ask for help and guidance.  Well I don't have a lot of time but I hope this all makes since.  I love you all and know these things are true!!!!!!! In the name of our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ, Amen.  - Elder Sarmiento

It's My 6th Month Mark…...

So 6th MONTH MARK!!!!! ANO BA YUNG!?! NOW IT'S BEEN 6 MONTHS AND WELL. BUHAY PA!!!!!  I put the part I don't know the language but, alam ko po na!!!!

Can't wait til Christmas!!!!  The Ultimate Test!  My father.  I cannot wait to have the chance to speak to my father in his native language.  When I had my mission call, all I was excited for the most was learning the language my father knew and my grandparents.  I didn't expect the trials and experiences that I would get with learning the language.  All I can say is that the gift of tongues is real.


Through this gospel I have been able to get to the place that I am at now.  The language is pretty good.  At least people can understand the point I am trying to get.  Anyways, Thanksgiving is almost here!! All I can say is well the things I could say that I am thankful for is never ending.  What I will say is that I am thankful for God the Eternal Father and his Son Jesus Christ.  Through them I have been able to receive this chance to serve the people of the Philippines, along with that I am so thankful for my family now when I say this I mean everyone.  People think families are just the families you are born into.  The actual correct family is everyone.  The people here on this earth are all brothers and sisters and the ones who has crossed paths with me have blessed my life in ways that they don't know.

Thanksgiving is an amazing Holiday we can remember of the things we are grateful for.  For me on that day I will not only thing of the things I am grateful for but I will also look for the blessing I will receive on that day.  I know the Lords blesses our lives every day, every min., and every hour.   The problem is that we focus so much on other things we may feel rushed, may have a bd day, and feel depressed.  All I can say is the Lord blesses us every day.  I know it because I have seen the blessings.  Most are small but , can effect your day so big.  I encourage all who are reading this to maybe try this on Thanksgiving.  As you can see these blessings not just on Thanksgiving, but on other days if not every day your life can feel so amazing.


I know the Lord is always with us.  We are LITERALLY HIS CHILDREN.  Like any other father here on the earth he helps us and guides us every day.  As we can notice these things we can have happier, better lives.  Alam ko po na ang ebanghelyo ni jesucrist ay totoo.  Alam ko po na nagdusa si jesucristo upang po kami magsisi at susundin niya.  Sana ito ay tama.  Kung hindi pasensyia!!!!  Ingot po kayo- Elder Sarmiento

We again see Elder Sarmiento's english and grammar a bit more broken…..we love it!!!