"Welcome to the Reality of Life, Dear Jypsy!"

So lately, I have been in the process of getting employed. Since, I haven't worked things for my school, I finally decided to find myself a job. I have tried applying in the Missionary Training Center (MTC) under the employment of the Church. Thus far, I have no reply from them. It's all good though. So it seems that the job is not meant for me yet.

While browsing through the world of Facebook, I have come across some job advertisements, but it seems that a lot of them will either require me to have at least 2 years of college, or an experience in those certain fields of job. But lo and behold, I found a job that doesn't require me of both credentials. Without any idea of being hired, I gave it a try.

And with a very minimal confidence on myself, I still proceeded on doing the application. As I had submitted my name, I got a call from the company a day after. They asked me about my working experiences, and educational backgrounds. It seems that they were somehow accepting about my situation. And then, they scheduled me for an assessment test and initial interviews that would test my proficiency in the English language, and also asked about how loyal can I get when I actually start working. And so, I made it to the final interview. Somehow, when being interviewed for the account that I was going to be in, the operations manager was a little bit apprehensive due to the fact that I just woke up from a nap, and I was acting somehow a little bit weak in talking, and I was not energetic when I was answering his questions. But after doing a lot of prayers, the assessing manager informed me that I was hired, together with the other guy who I went to apply a job with.

After a couple weeks of waiting, I had the chance to have a job orientation and job offer, and the finale, the contract signing. Now, I am officially an employee to a company. And my job position is a customer service representative for a credit card company.

Well, many people have welcomed me into the demanding, and awfully stressful world of being an employee in the country. I should welcome myself then into it.

Welcome to the world of employment, Jypsy!!

I am in Love

Don't you just have that feeling when you think of that person who you really like and you think of being with them for eternity? And then suddenly, you just feel that that person is the right one for you? I always get it when I think of that lady who has been a best friend to me for years. Over time, I have come to ponder about it, and I sure have developed that love for that person.

But let me tell you a story on how we met, and how I fell in love with her.

It started when I first moved back to my home city, Makati. A wise bishop advised me to move to a different ward, since I live in Makati again. I moved into my home ward. And this soon-to-be-friend moved into the ward at the same time I did. We didn't really start getting to know each other until we attended Young Single Adult activities. The first one that we went to was a Valentine's activity. I was referred to her sister, and she was my Valentine's date. I had the chance to do a musical number, and I sang a Paramore song, and playing a guitar. I passed by their table, and she said that we should have a collaboration sometime. And so we did. Another YSA activity came, and we had something what we call a "Family Home Evening", since a lot of single adults have no family close by (parents and siblings). Afterwards, a sister who initiated another hang out time after the previous activity. We had a dinner in a restaurant with a karaoke bar. We stayed there until at least 3 o'clock in the morning. We laughed, we sang, and we had so much fun. Of course, with me loving music, I never back out on a karaoke. And for a lot of times, we sang a lot of duets together. And we sure blended like heck! It was lovely to the ears. We continued to attend activities until such time that we started hanging out just the two of us. We would go out to some plaza's, eat out, do a lot of random stuffs, and most especially- go to the temple. There came a time when we are both serving in the Youth organization for the church. We would go with the 12 year old's to 18 year old's men and women to find what they want to do in life. It was a fun experience, and definitely a learning experience for both us. There was more to handling youth people than actually caring for them and learning to love them as if they are your little brothers and sisters. We had so much fun for that.

As you all know, I served a Mormon mission. We both made a goal to go on a mission. We promised that we will do our best to return with honor, and become better people. And so we did prepare on doing so. I prepared myself, and so did she. I got called to Alaska, and a month after I got my assignment, she got her's as well. She got called to one of the provinces in the Philippines. It was truly a relationship that strengthened us each other without making any unnecessary commitments. And so, we had somehow an informal relationship. I actually didn't realize that I have feelings for her until such time that I actually left to serve for awhile in a nearby mission around Manila. I think the saying "You will never know that you love until you lose it beside you" is true. I was hurt for a moment because I can't see her for a span of 2 years. Apparently, it went longer than expected. The first 4 months were really hard for me. Knowing that I am only a bus ride away from both home and her, it was clearly a test of faith for me. But of course, I made a promise, first to the Lord, and to her that I will be ever faithful in and on my mission. And thus far, I did pretty good.

Afterwards, the Provo MTC made a big turnaround for me. Knowing that my mission didn't start until such time that I have entered the MTC, it felt long somehow that I still have 2 years left until I can get to see her again. But I still have the promise in my heart and mind that I will do all that I can to finish my mission with honor. There was no time for homesickness, no time to be idle, and most definitely no time to become disobedient. And so, I did all that I can to become that missionary I needed to become. We still kept in contact through email and letters. But on the last transfer that I had, I was impressed to ask in prayer on what I need to do when I get home, and if I needed to get married, who should it be. I focused mostly on the who part of my prayer. (Disclaimer: I was and still am focused on my mission when I was doing the prayer). And many times with those question, it would always come out as "Go ahead and she will be the one of which you need to be married with in the temple."

Well, if that is what I need to do, then like Nephi in the Book of Mormon, I shall say " I will go and the things which the Lord has commanded". Apparently, I just need to do something about it in order for me to really show my love for her, and most especially, to become more obedient.

Now, off to do some loving actions!

Now What??

Now that I am home from my mission, there is a multitude of things I really want to do. But first things first. And I have to be honest, I don't know which one I should do.

I am a huge goal maker. I love making goals and plans. But now that I just got home, it appears that I don't have any plans for next few months or so. So, I would like to ask some few suggestions on what should I do within this coming weeks and months that are ahead of me.

Where in the world did I go?!

I have been gone for about 2 and almost a half year.
Well, Jypsy. Explain yourself!

It's pretty simple. I went on a mission.

What? Did you join the military or the FBI or CIA??

Well, not exactly. I went on an ecclesiastical mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also well known as the Mormons.

What does that supposed to mean?

To put it simply, I went out to go teach the people about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Meaning to say, I was wearing the black name tag with a name of an Elder _____ (and of course, mine was Casia), together with the name of the Church.

I was assigned, as previously posted, to the Alaska Anchorage Mission. But on the side note, I was held here in the Philippines for awhile due to some delays with the arrival of the letter for my visa. While waiting for it, my stake president (a lay minister who oversees on the bigger geography on a  city or clusters of cities) was inspired to request from the Area Presidencies to assign me immediately on a temporary assignment. And alas! I was assigned in the Philippines Quezon City North Mission. For the span of 4 months, I was waiting for my visa and all that jazz in order for me to enter into the US. A lot of prayers was rendered by me and fasting in order for me to get out to my assigned mission. I'm not saying that I didn't like being here in the Philippines. I was just more excited to go on my original assignment. But I have to admit, I sure learned a lot of things while serving in that mission. Not to mention, I was assigned to 3 different areas. My first area was in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. In that area, I was there for about a good 3 months with 4 companions. Next one was at Camarin, Caloocan. In there, I was about 2 companions for a month. And my last area in the Philippines was Fairview, Quezon City. Perhaps, that is the shortest time in an area that I have been to. Well, maybe one of the shortest. There, I was with my last 2 companions, and I was near the mission president, his assistant's (who are also missionaries), and the office missionaries. And after a week, and almost a half, I flew to Salt Lake City to head to Provo for my training in the Missionary Training Center. There, I was with about more than 9,000 missionaries who are going through their training before heading to their field of labor. There, I was trained with the fundamentals of what we teach to people.

Then I went to Alaska!
If I wasn't a missionary, I would have considered it a vacation.
Why is that?
Let me tell you.

My first area in Alaska was Ketchikan, the fishing and salmon capital of the world. I have spent about 4 and a half months in there. In missionary terms, I was there for 3 transfers. Then the next stop, the Tongan area in Anchorage! I love serving in the language areas. You go beyond the city limits sometimes, which I love to do. I was in there for only a month and a half, 1 transfer. And then, I got thrown in Dutch Harbor, . I would honestly say that perhaps, Dutch Harbor was the place where I struggled, and grew in the knowledge of the gospel. I was there for about 2 months, and we left back to Anchorage  in the middle of the transfer, putting me in the Spanish branch for about 3 weeks before the transfer ended. That was pretty brief, but I sure had fun learning Spanish at the same time. It's funny because some Hispanics were shocked to see an Asian kid speak Spanish to them. No later than expected, I got transferred to another language speaking area, which I wasn't really desiring to do. I got thrown to the Hmong branch, where I have stayed there for 7 and a half months straight. But included in that time was when I trained a new missionary. Afterwards, I was assigned somewhere else in Anchorage with a limited boundaries, and limited mileage at the same time. I was sent to the Turnagain ward, near the Turnagain straight. There, I was called to train another new missionary for 3 months, putting it into a 2 transfer cycle area. Then after, I got transferred to the ultimate Filipino area, Kodiak islands. There, I finished my last 6 months in that island, working with a lot of Filipinos, and actually using my mission language (which is Tagalog) to teach the Filipino people. I thought that having an island fever for 2 to 5 months was bad, 6 months was a bit too much for me! But hey! It was all worth it. I did all that I can, despite the challenges that came to our companionship, area, and people that we are teaching.

Sometimes, it's hard to admit that you had a successful mission due to the fact that you see a lot of success of a missionary through how much baptism's they had, or how many people they have reactivated to come back to church, or how many families you have witnessed to get sealed for time and through out all eternity in the temple. But now, and with a lot of testimonies of so many people, I have planted the seed of the gospel  into their hearts. Now, it's up to them what they want to do with it. And several times, the Lord has answered my prayers that I have done well. Even a member of the mission presidency and my mission president himself were the answers I got.

I can never describe my over-all experience as a missionary. There are so many things that has truly changed my life for the better. But of course, I shall never forget the root of all the good things that I experienced in my mission: my family. I have seen how the gospel has helped them. It's my turn to help the people receive the gospel.

Oh man, I love my mission so much!

Wanna join the club?

Getting Closer to the Edge

Well, starting today, I only have 15 days left before I head to the MTC, which I would be having my training in Provo, Utah. And it's getting near on wearing that  famous black name tag, not to mention that awesome name that starts with Elder.

Brace yourselves to see me wearing that black name tag!

I still wonder how would be my first feeling when I get to have my own name tag, always wearing that plain white shirt, and always having a companion with me by my side at all times. It would be pretty much weird at first, but I'll be getting the hang of it in no time!

Anyways, I'm still under the preparation period where things are still on their way, not to mention the waiting part on our approval visa letter from the Headquarters. But patience precedes me after receiving my own ordinance in the temple just last week. And I can never forget how happy I was to receive that ordinance.

Now that some have been done, we should start doing the other important things.

A Long Time Longing

So now I have my mission call, what now?

OF COURSE! WE CELEBRATE FOR THAT!!!

And by celebration, I mean to do nothing of a sort.

Apparently, I am way too busy to think of going partying. Not to mention, I have to process a lot of paper works pertaining to my mission travelling needs. That includes my passport, visa, plane ticket, flight schedule, Yaddah Yaddah Yaddah.


But since I'm doing all things are done now accordingly, all I need to do is to wait for good results.

And now........ we wait!

"Called to Serve"

For all those who are searching for the Hymn #249 in Google or wherever, don't blame me you ended up in this blog of mine! It's just how I roll, baby!

Anyways, back to the real thing.

So yeah. Last Tuesday, June 19, 1:00 pm, I was proof-reading my PB (Patriarchal Blessing) and editing the misspelled words, ungrammatically arranged sentences. Then my bishop sent me a text message that he has received my mission call. You would probably have an idea what I did when I saw that text. If you don't, I was jumping my butt up and down the kitchen floor, until I ended up going to the room and jumping up and down again. And after that, tears started rolling out of my eyes....mushy? Yes, it is.

After a few weeks of waiting, the long-waited call is here!! And I am about to touch it!!

So, I still have to attend my institute class. And since the teacher in my Religion 130 is my bishop in my ward, he has my call.

And a planned Family Home Evening in our chapel has been done, except my expected people who were supposed to be there weren't. It's kinda sad, but it's still good. I have my call, that's what matters most to me. Many had made their guesses on where I would be assigned. Even my  bishop gave out his guess even though he knows where I will go. AND NOW, THE OPENING OF THE MISSION CALL!!

Excuse me for my hideous shoes, they're for my snowy first area.

And now, the reading of the call:

Alaska Anchorage Mission.

Yep, you see it right! It's all the way to Alaska. And I didn't even imagine to be assigned there. Not to mention it's going to be a snowy, cold, frostbitten area. But I'm guessing I can stand it.

Bottom line, I still can't believe I am serving at the Lord's errand. To be a part of the Great Army to preach the Gospel.

And now... We wait