26 July 2010

Hey everyone,


Things are still moving up here in Bani. We are starting to get more help from the members and we are currently focusing on getting things fixed or finished up from the last branch president. He left a bunch of things undone. We were looking for some baptismal records and found some from 2008 that hadn't been sent in yet to the mission home for recording. So for 2 years there have been members that Salt Lake doesn't know about. Then we have one member that wants to be Branch President, we told him that he doesn't, then he came when we were trying to fix things and organize. He said he doesn't wanna be branch president but we're pretty sure he does. Its not easy being Branch President, or Bishop, but its even harder when they the person they replace doesn't do his job.

Thats all the Drama for this week... Sorry.

We set a meeting to watch a movie with the other Elders in the District because President Aquino said we needed to, but they never came. I gotta address that problem today in District Meeting. Elder Pennock says I need to do it nicely, not fire and brimstone, hellfire and damnation. So we'll see how goes. Then there is a  companionship that have been fighting this week so I gotta try to help them resolve thier problems. Freaking Pride. It is the root of all evil. I'm not saying that I'm the most humble person but I at least have seen what destructive effects it can have on the missionary work. Batas is not doing the best, he just seems to have more and more problems. Trial after Trial. I feel pretty bad for him, but like there is nothing that I can do. We pray for him everyday, I know that if we was able to get him baptized he would have the Holy Ghost then he would have that extra strength and help but I don't know. I guess we just need to keep helping him. Then Huellas who we thought were golden are not really seeming that interested anymore. I guess thats just part of this work.



So in good news. We got to play mechanic last week, on Wednesday we went down and helped Batas fix his Motorcycle. Tuesday his piston broke and fell down in the motor. There were so many metal shavings in there. If he had the money to do so we should have cleaned everything out and rinsed everything down with oil, but he didn't have the money so we'll just see how long his motor lasts until it seizes up. It was fun and a learning experience for me and for Elder Pennock. Elder Pennock has never seen the inside of a motorcycle engine.

Joel Baleros came to church yesterday, and he brought his 2 kids. It was cool but his kids were not able to stay for sunday school and priesthood, just Joel.We had to change our schedule for one of our investigators. So we were not able to go to Joel last Friday but he said when we were there on Wednesday that whether we were able to go there or not on Friday he was coming to church. Then in Priesthood the lesson was on Proper use of the Priesthood but it kind of turned into Eternal Marriage and ordinances that happen in the Temple. It was great! He was asking so many questions and everyone was so willing to answer his questions.

Oh, we called an Elders Quorum on Sunday as well! Brother Calisaan. He is probably the 2nd strongest Priesthood in the branch and a great guy. He is one of the pioneers of the branch. One of the few that is still active.

We met a guy that is retired US Navy the other day. He’s Filipino, and just came back because he liked the lifestyle here better. It was cool because he came out just to talk to us. I was talking Tagalog to him and asked for English cuz it was easier for him. I was struggling so so bad! Ha ha I couldn’t speak English to him to save my life. When we left elder was like “Hey Elder you were struggling a little back there ha ha ha” Yeah it was pretty bad but good for laughs.

On Thursday we had to give a blessing to one of the members. We went there to teach her husband and when we got there her face was swollen! HUGE! I guess her daughter got mad, threw a small makeup mirror at her and after that it caused her whole face to swell up. The swelling was even down into her neck and it hurt her to talk! But she came to church yesterday and for the most part her face was back to normal.

Earlier this morning we had one of the members come up to our house and show us what was edible plants in our back yard. We found out that we have these things called kamote, Sili (Small peppers that are REALLY hot). Egg plant, a few fruits and stuff. It was fun. Then we had some members come and help us do our wash, they are filipinoes and so basically they did what we did in about ¼ the time. They were fast! Maybe someday I’ll be that fast too. Ha ha

Well, that’s all I got time for this week.  I gotta go to District Meeting and preach hellfire and damnation...I mean niceness and charity.


Be Good

Love you all

Elder Chase

19 July 2010


Hey everyone,


Well I don't have much to report on this week, just more of the same. Teaching, walking, and teaching some more. ha ha.

We had a new policy made in the mission that we can no longer have members wash our clothes, we have to do it ourselves now. I'll send pictures next week but basically we have a bucket and we put water and soap in it and rub everything together. It didn't go to bad today, I rubbed holes in 2 of my white shirts and turned my garments blue, but hey, I won't totally call it a failure. There are no bleach stains on my pants. ha ha! Better luck next week.
Batas made it a whole week without drinking so if he continues for 3 more he can have the Spirit and that will help him a lot more. And his life will get a lot easier. We are praying for him.

Huellas family are so close to being baptized but they have been devoted Catholic since they were kids and they are not sure that they wanna leave it. We just stress every time that they need to know if the Book of Mormon is true, cuz if its true then the church is true. If they got baptized they would be great members! Their whole family so we'll see what happens.

Yesterday we had one of our golden investigators come to church yesterday, we started teaching him last week (2 weeks ago) and because he didn't know what to wear he didn't come to church last week. That was our fault, but he came this week and loved it! He was really listening to everything and was excited when he said that his wife was coming with him next week. In the first visit we gave him a Book of Mormon and when we went back he had already read the whole 1st Nephi. It was great! He also has lots of questions but its good because they are all really good deep questions; soul searching questions. Hopefully he will continue to progress.
Last Thursday we went tracting through this big old tract of farm land and it was MUDDY! And so much fun! ha ha We were soaked from head to foot and muddy as well! We forgot to wear boots that day! I took videos but they are too big to send so I'll just have to send them home on a USB and mom can post them to Facebook. We had a member with us and she got drenched as well but she asked if we could go thru the farm land so thats her fault. She made friends with a lot of our investigators! It is truely amazing the fellowship of a member in the conversion process! We should all be helping in whatever way we can. I can't wait to help them after my mission to make up for the times I didn't before.

Well sorry this is short but I really have no time! We had some things come up that weren't planned and they like to conflict with the planned things.

Talk to you next week.
Love you all.

Elder Chase

12 July 2010

Well a big Question got answered today...Am I transferring?...The answer is NO! and I'm so excited! I've been thinking a lot about it later and I have been having some of the feelings that I normally do when I transfer. But Elder Pennock and I came and checked the email first thing this morning and there was no transfer information in his email or mine, which means that there is no one transferring from our district. So that will be fun.


In other happenings this week. We went to Batas on Tuesday and took one of his friends that hasn't really talked with him in years (the friend is a member that used to be "king of the drunks"). When we arrived where he is always he was so drunk he fell over trying to stand up and greet me. I say "Batas! you've been drinking!!!!!" He replied. "Just a little bit!" Then I said, "Don't lie to me! You just fell over, you are wasted right now!" Then he admitted. So we turned to Preach My Gospel, something we should have done a while ago. There is a section in there on Addiction Recovery. So we took some ideas from there and made a plan with him. It was centered on things he is missing in his life because of his drinking, people that are affected, and alternative things he could do. It was good and I think he will stick to it this time. At least thats what we are praying for.

We also got a few referrals from members again this week. This one member we've been trying to schedule so that he could take us out to his referrals but because he has school now its been rough but we were finally able to go out and meet them. One of them used to be a very strong Jehovahs Witness and some of her old beliefs are still there. She heard that in our church we had the commandment to "go forth and populate the earth." Then she had a member from Mindanao tell her that we had a bunch of rooms in our church and they used those rooms to carry out that commandment. I was laughing so hard! She was really worried about offending us when she had the question. She almost didn't ask but I'm glad she did because that was the reason she hadn't tried to come into our church. It is truly ridiculous some of the rumors that go around. ha ha

We have a lunch appointment today where we are going to get to eat Frog. I'm so excited. Everyone here says that is delicious! But I haven't had a chance to taste it yet, so I'm excited! So is Elder Pennock, he's getting all sorts of strange food here.

Yesterday in church we went in for our PEC meeting at 8 and President Balad was like I need you to speak today for 10-15 minutes because the other person assigned didn't come. So I had like 20 minutes to prepare. It is cool, When you are worthy of the Spirit is not hard! You just get up and talk.

During Elders Quorum we had a Home Teaching assignment meeting with the Teachers and Melchizedek Priesthood it was good now hopefully we will be able to get that going here. We'll see.

Well I'm outta time, gotta run. I love you all and thanks for your support.



Elder Chase

5 July 2010

Family, friends and everyone else

Time goes way too quick. I hate it. I was just walking thru the bukid the other day and it dawned on me, that I'm almost half way done, I don't like it, I don't think I'm gonna come home. ha ha

No matter how hard I try to make a P-day a rest day, it never happens. When we get done emailing we have a meeting with the new Branch President. We are trying to get things organized and its a blast getting to participate and help get things going again. I asked President Aquino in interviews if I was transfering on the 13th he looked at me and was like, what in the heck makes you think you're transfering. Have you been being disobedient? ha ha He said if its okay with the Lord, I'll be up here for quite a while. We have one missionary here that only has had 3 areas. I told some members yesterday that I was going to get transferred and they started crying. I had to tell them I was just joking.

Last week we did so much traveling. On Thursday until Friday I did Splits with Elder Larson in an area called Bolinao, its the farthest north area in the whole mission, then Friday we went down to Alaminos for interviews. I think I talked the whole time during the interview, President was struggling to say anything. Then Friday after interviews we had one of the Assistants come split with us. It was Elder Erispe, My trainer, ha ha we were crossing this big bukid, or farm land. it was huge, and there were lots of weeds, and mud, yeah, he got a lil irritated, ha ha he said, Elder, I never did this to you ha ha, I was always nice to you. You couldn't do long walks when we were together, then later that night, he said, wow, you have changed a lot, in every way, so I think thats a good thing. It was good to see him too. When he was teaching it brought back memories of when we used to be comps. It was fun.
Saturday, we went to Alaminos at 7, had to be back by 8 for an activity, then stayed at the activity for an hour then had to be in Bolinao again for a baptismal Interview at 11, what a busy day. Then in the afternoon we were able to teach in our area. It was a blast. We have the Huellas family really close to baptism, they're just not quite sure that they want to leave the church they've been with their whole lives. I honestly can't blame them but I'm pretty sure they'll come around, all of their kids like the "mormon church" and they say they like the feeling there.
Sunday had a busy day as well. We got to teach Batas Ramos, he is our investigator with a baptismal date. He has been 2 weeks now sober and he is looking great. Except he wasn't able to come to church yesterday because his son drank some gas and was put in the hospital. It seems he never gets a break from the trials in his life. But he still wants to get baptized and is anxiously awaiting his baptismal date.

On Wednesday we had a service project in Alaminos, we painted and cleaned a classroom of one of the members, the public schools here are ridiculous. They are basically concrete rooms like warehouses, its sad, then our CSP on Saturday was washing the chairs in the church, it was fun, we had a waterfight.

Oh, Tuesday we got Elder Pennock and Elder Larson to eat Dog for the first time ha ha ha Success. All the sisters got mad at me for letting them eat it but they liked it ha ha.


Well i gotta run, I love you all

Talk to you next week

Elder Chase

28 June 2010

Hey everyone,

 

 Well, I can't exactly think of anything bad that happened this week, so I suppose that is a good thing to report.

 

First of all, Thank you to whoever sent me a package with Reese's peanut butter cups, reese's pieces, and jerky, They are delicious. they almost didn't make it to me.  Just as a general note, if you send me a package (I'm not hinting towards anything) make sure that you wrap it up really good in Tape, as in, not a single hole where ants could get in, becuase once they do, its really hard to get them out, especially when they are imbedded in chocolate.  I'm pretty sure that the Philippines is built on the biggest ant hill on the earth, because they are everywhere, and love to get into everything. Did you know that they can eat through plastic?! I didn't either until I got here.  Thats all about that. Thanks again to whomever sent me the package. I don't know because they had to tear it apart and clean everything in the office because it was infested, so the contents got to me but not the name of who sent it.

 

We got to teach Batas Ramos, (the Alcoholic) This week, 2 times actually! and to top it all off the Spirit told me to give him a Baptismal Date so we did.  July 24, as long as he can stay clean he will be baptized.  Its like in Jacob 5 where it says "spare it a little longer" and it will bring forth good fruit.  It was awesome, and I am so excited! He didn't come to church on Sunday, but we saw him later and he looked good so no problems!

 

Wednesday we had Zone Conference, it was a good one, about working with members, President Aquino told a story of a mission president that outlawed tracting or inviting people on the street.  All new investigators had to come from the members, Referrals! And it was successful! Just think of how great it would be if we were all totally submerged in missionary work and the missionaries didn't have to find thru their own efforts. That would be good for both the missionaries and the investigators din. After that we got 4 referrals the next day!!!

 

On Friday we went and cleaned the church with the new Branch president here in Bani. Oh yeah, we got a new branch president yesterday.  Hopefully he can train everyone how to do their callings and make this a functional branch again.  The new Branch President is the 2nd councilor in the District Presidency.  We'll see if we get a lot of complaints about it. I am hoping to stay here and help them get this branch back on its feet.  That would be fun I think.

 

Then Friday afternoon we we went and openned up a new barangay for procelyting.  It was a lil slow but hopefully we can find more people to teach.  A new member lives there and he desperatly wants his dad to change his ways and become a member, and hopefully his siblings.  We taught his dad, and he was really receptive, we will continue to teach him as long as he will listen.  You should of seen the smile on Joshua's face when we told him we taught his dad. ha ha It was great.

 

Saturday morning we spent down in Alaminos, we had to take Elder Pennock down to the Eye Doctor  because for the last few weeks now his eye has been really sensitive, and swollen up a bit on his upper eyelid.  The Eye Doctor found an eyelash in there and other than that he said that it might just be and allergy, so he prescribed a steroroid and artificial tears and sent us on our way. 

 

Then Yesterday, we had one of our investigators come work with us yesterday, he is 12 years old and wants to get baptised but can't becuase he has no support of an adult, we've taught his grandma and his aunts but the one thing they haven't done is come to church.  Oliver wants to get baptized really bad, he actually told us yesterday that he was going to tell his mom that he is getting baptized.  He comes to church every week. I think in the last 3 months he's missed 2 sundays.  He is a great kid.

 

We just got back from a Zone activity down in Alaminos with the Santa Cruz Zone and our Alaminos Zone. It was a lot of fun. we had a water fight! ha ha I think thats the wettest I've been besides the rain here ha ha. 

 

Well I gotta run

Love you all

 

Elder Chase