26 Oct 2009

Hey everyone,

This last week was really neat. We had a Zone Conference with Elder Micheal Teh of the 1st quorum of the 70. He is a really neat guy and he interviewed me and all the elders that were in my Batch. He doesn't hardly have a Philippino accent at all. He probably actually speaks better English than me! ha ha. A lot of the zone conference was about being a good missionary and applying what we learn in the Zone Conferences in our Mission work.

It's pretty cool over here because its just like a big camping trip. There are bugs everywhere, I'm getting eaten! Tapos (then) we cook on a propane stove, and sleep on foam mattresses. The only difference is, that you can throw your garbage anywhere and no one cares. And surprisingly with that things aren't too dirty looking. We use my leatherman for a knife for cutting food open and the can opener on it (I'm really glad I brought that).

The work is still progressing so things are good I suppose. I will have another Baptism this next Saturday, the 31st, a 14 year old kid named Mark Peralta, he's funny, and he went out proselyting with us last night after District Conference. His little sister is getting baptized too on the same day.

Yesterday we had 5 YM from the branch receive the Mel. Priesthood, it was really cool, so Elder Erispe and I are working pretty closely with them to make sure they head out on their missions year or so. Most YM here don't go out until they are 22 or 23 but hey at least they are going.

We are teaching the old branch president's son's girlfriend (sorry if that confused anyone) but Sister Inez is pregnant with Ralph's son and they are not married. We went on splits last night and I was with the Elder's quorum president (Brother Portolaso). Bro. Portelaso and I went to their house and had to tell them that Inez couldn't get baptized if they didn't get married and if they lived too long like that it could bring other problems. So we'll see what happens. Inez is a golden investigator though, we are flying through the lessons because she understands everything. It is really cool.

My investigators are progressing. The Iglesia couple especially, you should look them up and tell me a little about their religion. All I know is that they are a great and abominable church here and most of their members are stubborn and rude to the missionaries.

Our daily goal is to find 3 new investigators every day and on Friday we ended up finding 8 it was pretty cool. Elder Erispe at ako ay naramdaman Mabuting mabuti (elder erispe and I felt awesome).

I haven't eaten any bugs yet that I know of, but next Saturday we are returning to an investigator that cooks it so we are gonna eat some then. I'm so excited!!!!

We haven't had a rain storm this week yet, I don't think but its possible that they can happen at anytime. Who knows. Not having a TV or radio we don't really know the weather until its on us or a member tells us to get home cuz i typhoon's coming.

Oh, they start celebrating Christmas in September here, so I arrived and I think the second day I heard carolers, ha ha it was funny. Its a little different seeing Christmas lights and decorations in September.

They say that every American gets called "Joe" here. Because of my Korean background I've only been called Joe once and it was after 3 weeks of being here.

There's a chance that I could be transferred next week. I'm not exactly sure how to feel about it because I've gotten attached to the people here in San Marcelino.

Oh! We may be able to move into our new apartment this week. They keep moving the date on us though. So every day we have to travel 15 minuted from San Antonio down to San Mar. It gets kind of expensive (actually its only the equivalent of about 95 cents. But peso wise it gets mahal (expensive) oh well. We keep praying things will go through.

Oh just some tips from my mission president if any of you send packages:
Put the amount the package is worth, less than 40 dollars or it cost like 2000 pesos for me to get it.
Wrap packages really good with lots of tape and put pictures of Mother Mary or Jesus Christ on it.
Don't send perishable items,
and send it to


Elder Chase Westwood
Philippines Olongapo Mission
Km 140 National Hwy, Mangan-Vaca
2209, Subic, Zambales
Philippines

Well I'm outta time so until next week. Thank you for all your prayers!

I love you all,
Elder Chase