THE BEST TWO YEARS

Year 2019 I can say that I was nothing.

No love life, didn't worried about my future, and had no plans for myself.

I'm that kind of person na super insecure sa sarili. Yes I have a friends but they are just my cousins.

Every Sunday I saw them na nag sisimba with their family, until I realize to myself.

"Ayy sana all" napapa sana all nalang kase ako like hahaha paano naman yung family ko.

My mom wasn't here kase she's an OFW at mga kapatid ko lng yung kasama ko.

One time my one cousin inaya ako..."Uyy JP magbihis ka nga" he said

"Bakit san ba punta??" I asked
"Sama ka saamin mag simba tayu." he spoked

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nung nasa church na kami, my goshh it's my first time na pumasok pero pinipigilan ko yung luha ko those time like, wahhh sana all buo ang pamilya.

I'm already graduate na sa senior high but d ko na pinatuloy na mag college.

Every Sunday palagi na nila akong niyaya kaya palagi narin akong sumasama until pinakilala na nila 'ko sa mga missionaries.

So far masaya naman ako. Super challenging, like gosh andami ko nang nalaman agad  about the church, pero nung una nahihirapan akong intindihin ang lahat, until I was baptized na and confirmed as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

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I attend the every activities, but yung mas pinaka unforgetable is yung FSY.

Dun talaga ako na convert as a member, and dun nadin na strengthen yung faith ko as a youth.

FSY made me realize kung ano talaga yung purpose ko, dati napapasabi ako na "I'm useless" but FSY proved me that I'm wrong. Worth it pala ako.

Dun talaga nabago yung paningin ko, it change my thoughts, my desires, and my plans in life.

Dun ko narin naintindihan on how important the gospel in our life.

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After ng FSY I told the bishop na mag mission ako and then guess what happened....

They've got shocked and proud of me. I attend the Mission Preparation and Seminary and Institute class.

Those time nag bago na talaga ang lahat saakin.

And yung pang ilang beses ko nang umattend ng seminary and institute class, may roon'g topic yung teacher namin na never ko talagang kinalimutan and it was my favorite.

Before the class nag start lumabas muna sya dala yung 2 plastic cups and pag pasok nya may laman na yung isang cup.

Puno yung cup ng buhangin and the other is empty tapus may dala pa syang 4 stones.

He challenged us na dapat mapa kasya namin lahat ng bato at buhangin sa isang empty cup.

We've do the challenge pero d namin nagawa yung gusto nyang mang yari and he explained the lessons saamin.

"The stone represent as our goals in life or the most important things in our life such as missionary work, reading the scriptures, studies, Temple marriage and more, in short it represent as God's plan for us. The sand represent as the useless things or worldly things, temporary happiness and temptations."

Those time I realized and learned also na dapat kong unahin kung ano yung nararapat, so made a routine and I do manage my time.

Palagi naman akong nag mimissionary work together with my best companion na sister.
Everytime nachachallenge kami until na sanay kami.

kung saan² nalang kami pumupunta kasama yung missionaries and dun ko talaga na feel at nalaman kung ano nga ba talaga ang TRUE HAPPINESS.

"Brother JP, e text mo nalang kami kung missionary kana huh" sabi pa ng mga missionaries saakin. Heto talaga yung tunay na kaseyahan.

Until the right time came, d ko na talaga pinalampas yung chances na maka pag serve.

nagkaroon ako ng goals sa sarili.

hindi pa sana ako papayagan ni mama pero sabi nga nila "sa bawat gusto may paraan" and ayun nabasa ko din sa DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS 4:3 na "if we have a desire to serve, we are called to the work"

Kase nga if we "TRUST IN THE LORD" (Prov. 3:5-6) "We can do all things through Christ" (Philippians 4:13) because " Nothings impossible" naman (Luke 1:37).

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Nung dumating na yung calling ko... Inupdate kona kaagad si kuya Jem. He told me naman na sa Sunday ko lng basahin kaya ayun sinunod ko naman.

I messaged my companion naman at yung mga missionaries na dumating na yung calling ko, with sending a screenshot na "WELCOME TO MISSIONARY PORTAL."

And nung Sunday I revealed my Mission call after namin mag MCM ..

"Dear Elder Ruiz,

You are hereby to called to serve as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints." intro palang napapangite na ako like goshh tears of joy naman tohhh..."You're assigned to labor in Philippines Angeles Mission"

wahhh grabiii napapaiyak yung mga parents, S.A, and youth, while yung cameras naka tutuk saakin like ayu ko sanang umiyak pero grabi napapawisan ako kahit may aircon namn.

many who've congratulates me pero mas da best yung congratulate ni idol saakin charrott pero ganun proud kami to both of us as mag best friend.

"sunod kayu saakin, dapat pag balik ko, aalis nadin kayu, dapat maging madaya kayo saakin" I spoke to all youth and to those preparing for mission

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bago ako hinatid sa air port most of the youth says "bahala na basta di ko mag hibi yahh" pero guess what happened....

Umabsent pa talaga sila para lang makakasama lng sa paghatid saakin sa Talisay Airport.

They cried like I see kung gaano silang lahat naging proud saakin, I'm fully prepared na talaga to every aspects of my life.

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to make the story shortttt

I return with honor and syempre I made my mother's proud of me pero bago ako umuwi bumili ako muna ng asin.

Nung dumating na ako sa Talisay Airport my mom was with the Bishop and our Stake president but my companion sa pag work wasn't there hahaha.

They've surprised me like shocking my mom was a member na din and yung missionary na nagturo sa kanya is one of the investigator na naturoan ko sa field tapus nag serve mission like it was the greatest miracles para sa akin.

"ma heto na po yung pinabili mong asin" sabi ko pa

"huhhh" napa tulala lng sya at napa luha seing me was changed.

I can say that, it was the best two years of my life.

I have nothings to say but The Lord will do everything para sa ating lahat.

He will destroy our plan just to made our life better, and by chosing His plan, we will become a better person in the future.

Basta "if it's good for you and for God, go for it" yun kase yung sabi saamin ng seminary teacher namin.