Monday, August 22, 2011

body

silly scripture of the week is 19:26

well last week transfers came and went, even though it seemed as though i was transferring, the call is that i'm staying. it took forever for us to get transfer announcements (4 hours late, we played scrabble for a while) and apparently, there was an unexpected surprise that kept them busy. i think it was a few unaccounted new elders who president had to put in with zone leaders.

finally got a new water filter after 6 months of drinking from a filter that was black on the inside when it's supposed to be white.. now we have a single stage filter instead of three. they'll have to replace it more often, but i won't have to wait forever to get a clean #3 filter.

so last Sunday, elder woodford killed a giant toad. (apparently they're poisonous anyways) and all the kids in primary were upset at him for it. it was funny watching them yell at him for it. and i was like where is he? i was thinking of getting the body and having someone make a palete (travel money) pouch out of it. i already have a frog pouch but this one was HUGE so it woulda been a good one. but i figured i'd just see if there are any big ones next time at the market. the other frogs are probably gambling next to it's dead body.

this week, there was hardly any work done because i had LBM again. it was because i ate some meat the wasn't fully cooked. but i wanted meat, we've been starving. We ain't had nothing but maggoty bread for three stinking days! (not really but you know what i mean) so the next few days were spent on the toilet or in bed next to the toilet.

one of my favorite deserts here is actually quite simple to make, and is really good. it's called mango float. you need; a few mangoes, lots of graham crackers, condensed milk, cream, and if you want, you can put sugar (probably powdered). what you do is, you mix the mango, condensed milk, cream and sugar. you layer the graham crackers on a pan so that nothing can pass through, then you put the cream/condensed milk/mango/sugar mixture on top, lay back on the graham crackers, then the mixture until you have around 5 layers. then you freeze it. and enjoy.

well i better get going, storms coming...

August 15, 2011

silly scripture of the week is Hosea 7:11

Ladies and gentlemen, can I please hove your attention? I've just been handed an urgent and horrifying news story. And I need all of you to stop what you're doing and listen. if anyone wants to send hot tamales or beef jerky, that would be very much appreciated. thank you.

 

for the zone activity last week, it was alright. it was not effectively planned (or planned at all for that matter) and could have been much better if we just had our regular preparation-day. i sat inside a two story chapel (they have a few of those here) sitting next to the Air Conditioner the whole time trying to get a nap in. so it wasn't a huge waste, just a really big one. maybe next time we'll be allowed to go to the beach, or we can plan for the bowling alley or explore the island.

 

but the night was a pretty good one anyways, so it made up for the wasted afternoon. we had a Family Home Evening at the mission home, with President Tobias and his family. we also had a few recent converts and investigators there (it was for them) it was a really nice evening and dinner. we ended the night by celebrating Elder Reidhead's birthday burning the giant pile of trash that we had accumulated over the past few transfers. (like 3-4 months)

 

Well last week, i forgot to write down a few baptisms. how could i have forgotten such an important event? because i didn't write it down. one thing that you learn on your mission is how to remember things. (HINT: you don't, you write it down) and also how to be more organized so you don't forget the hundreds of people whom you come into contact with and what you've taught them. or whom you've baptized this week. it helps to manage stress as well when your organized.

 

i had 4 baptisms this last week. Elder Woodford baptized lovely Rose Boracio Glaraga. I baptized Angelica Bernadas Deseo, Ana May Bernadas Deseo and Rhoann Bernadas Deopita. there are still more people here in Fifth ward being prepared, but transfers are coming up soon... so we'll have to see what happens.

 

During my stay in fifth ward, i've led 14 people into the waters of baptism, and i've become very close with every one of them. it's going to be really sad to leave. this week has really seemed like it would be my last week here in fifth ward. i'm not sure if i'll be transferring or not but the general feel is that i will be transferring soon. this ward has been a great place for me, there are a lot of great people whom ive led into the waters of baptism. But the reason why there were so many was because the members are wonderful and they've done so much missionary work and have helped out in so many ways. when i come back here, fifth ward will be the first place for me to visit, without a doubt.

August 8, 2011

silly scripture of the week is 1 kings 18:27-28

so i've been eating as much as i can lately and i still don't ever gain any weight. it's kinda nice for my looks but probably unhealthy. it's because i am always working as hard as i can and it wears me out. lately, i've been really stressed out (a mission is stressful, who woulda guessed) so it's kinda affected me physically. mainly, it's made me really skinny.

the other day, elder apao (an elder in the other companionship in 5th ward) got hit by a trike which was parked and got hit by a truck. he's ok though. his companion (elder reidhead) had his birthday the other day, and we decided to have a bonfire. so elder woodford bought some diesel and poured it on the big trash pile in the back that we've been waiting to burn. (because it was raining and it was all still wet) and the gas blew up in his face like a firecracker. he's good, he wasn't hurt. the pile didn't light though. we'll need to try again later tonight. this time record it from a safe distance.

elder woodford found out that for rats, a plunger is an efficiently deadly weapon. it traps the rat and then the rat gets plunged to death. he likes to get them with the plunger. that was the sixth rat we've killed and we have become exceedingly efficient at it.

in the philippines, they kind of disregard the commandment of "graven images" so they worship statues of jesus or mary a lot. and they also call jesus "papa jesus" it leads to a lot of strange traditions and rituals (such as people crucifying themselves) one thing that is cool about it is the pictures they make, like a smiling jesus. i've literally never seen a picture of jesus just smiling until i came here.

another thing about the Philippines is that everyone is always late so we schedule our baptism services for 2:30, fully aware that it won't start until around 3:30 or 4:00. and we tell everyone that our meetings are at 1:30 and we end up getting there at 2:00 and we are still the first ones there.

well i gotta go, i have a zone activity that i gotta go to and then a Family home evening at the mission home tonight at 6:00 (7:30 probably)

July 31, 2011

Silly Scripture of the week is Proverbs 28:15

i'm down to 180 lbs, weird...

so our water filter is nasty. also our water is disgusting. we have been drinking tainted water for a while and there doesn't seem to be a set date when we'll have clean water. because they haven't ordered new water filters for our house for months, our water literally smells like feces... it doesn't matter though, i'm sure that i have a million amoebas by now from drinking water from chungys. (house window store type things) just had to get that off my chest, it gets annoying how nothing we have works properly and we have to bug the office elders forever to get replacement things or try to fix it ourselves when the missionary health guide say "do not risk your health or safety to save money" and "ask for a replacement" like our filter, FUEL BURNING STOVE, rice cooker, fans, toilet...

this is just one of many things that you will learn on a mission, patience. and also how to survive with limited resources.

well i think that i could write a few things down this week to help prepare friends back home preparing for a mission. things will probably be a little different depending on where you go, and if you head to the Philippines, i could get really in depth about what you need to do but these i think would be the basics.

SPIRITUALLY: avoid temptation, Satan will tempt you big time no matter what before your mission. he will try everything to keep you from going. even if you think you're good, he could throw you a curve ball the night before you leave.

READ: PMG (Preach My Gospel), Our search for happiness, our Heritage, Jesus the Christ, true to the faith.

WATCH: The District 1, The District 2

MEMORIZE: Our Purpose (PMG pg 1), 1st vision (PMG pg 37), D&C 4, Baptism invitation (PMG pg 40), Baptism Prayer.

STUDY: Preach my Gospel Chapters 3,8,10

when leaving for the MTC:

Bring: Grooming kit, lot's of shoes and socks.

don't bring: Umbrella, backpack, blanket, more than 1 towel, jeans, sweater, books, binder, alot of; shampoo, soap, shaving creme.

you shouldn't bring a lot of things to the MTC because you may have to dump it or send it home. sending things home from the MTC is actually pretty cheap, i sent 30lbs worth of stuff home and it cost me 7 dollars. but excess luggage fees run around 100 dollars. if you go to Bacolod, throw away ALL of your Tagalog books at the MTC you won't ever use Tagalog ever again. and pack your luggage under 40lbs. in the MTC, you can easily get soap or shampoo from the free boxes lying in every residence hall. and there are about 4 boxes on each floor and 4 floors in each hall. or you can buy stuff from the bookstore (they give you 6 dollars every week). if you bring it with you, you might toss it when your about to leave.

you can probably practice the teaching process. which is really just an unwritten process from Preach My Gospel:

1. How to Begin Teaching (pg 176)
2. Follow Up (pg 200)
3. Teach people not lessons (pg 182)
1. ask inspired questions (pg 183)
2. Listen (pg 185)
3. Resolve Concerns (pg 187)
4. Teach Doctrine (ch 3)
4. Commitment (ch 11)
1. Ask direct Questions (pg 197)
2. Promise Blessings (pg 197)
3. Testify (pg 198)
5. Close with Prayer
6. Reading Assignment (pg 190)
7. Return Appointment

July 24, 2011

silly scripture of the week is THE ENTIRE SONG OF SOLOMON

well this week has been alright.there isn't much to update on. apparently i have a big nose because about 5 people have said that out of the blue.

apparently rockport shoes are really durable. if anyone wants to send anything just message me.