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