Hey everyone,
A couple weeks ago it was as if time had slowed down a ton, but not anymore, it is back to going very very fast. Holy cow. We went to Specialized training last Friday and had a good time. Learned a lot. And actually got to teach a little bit this week
We've been battling typhoons lately. That's been pretty fun. Getting soaked. It wasn't bad here (dang it), but up in Pangasisinan, where I came from, It was a signal 2 There was quite a bit of damage from what I heard. Then 1 missionary in my District is from Isabela, where the typhoon hit hardest (signal 4). So we are hoping that his family is okay.
Last week I fixed electric fans, and rewired some broken outlets in the house. I've got more to do this week. I had to bum some electrical wire off a member that is kind of a Mcgiver (I don't know how to spell his name, the guy that fixes anything). Me and Brother Valero get along really well. We go to his house every Thursday.
Work is still good here in Balanga, This area has farm land, and city in it, so i really look forward to the days that we are in the bukid, it gives me a chance to breath and relax a little.
Yesterday we went to pick up an investigator that is blind and he can't walk because of a brain tumor that he had when he was 9 years old. He's 10 now, well we went clear out to his house and couldn't find his mom, so they weren't able to go to church, it kinda stunk, If it weren't for PMG I'd say that we wasted our time going out there, but it says in PMG that "No effort is Wasted" at least we showed them our determination to get them to church. Satan is hard at work. He's affecting this work in so many ways. ahhh!! The health of the missionaries, the minds of the missionaries, the last minute problems that arise so that the member can't give the investigators a ride to church.
I had an interview with President Aquino on Friday, he got mad at me for doctoring myself. ha ha. I burnt my warts off with a nail and he got mad at me for that. Then on the other one, I cut the top off with scalpel blade then cauterized it. ha ha. He told me to buy silver nitrate then stick it on it.
On Tuesday, we were tracting, and all of a sudden the rain just came pouring down. So we ran to the Stake President's house to wait out the rain. They ended up feeding us dinner, Sinigang it is delicious. Then I kept thinking, we oughta go as soon as the rain lets up. But every time, I got ready to go, it got strong again. So we stayed, then we were talking about King Benjamin with President Baluyot, and His mother in law started having a really hard time breathing. Then everyone started running around crazy. Brother had to run and get the tricycle, Me and Elder gave her a blessing then we ran her out to the tricycle and they ran her to the hospital and me and Elder Memes walked home. When we were in the middle of nowhere the rain came shooting out of the sky like bullets and we got drenched! oh my gosh. There wasn't any skin that wasn't wet, then a Jeepnee driver had mercy on us and gave us a ride into the banyan. The cool part of the story is that we were supposed to stay at President's house so that we could bless sister. I am happy to report that Sister is doing fine now.
Yesterday we had a whopping 50 people at church, but the great thing is we got the bishop to call 2 more branch missionaries, and we had a great PEC meeting with him. I still have a lot of things I want to help them do before I transfer but we'll see how much the Lord lets me do.
Well, I gotta run. I love you all, Thank you for your support.
Elder Chase
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
18 Oct 2010
Hi Everyone!
Oh my gosh I love general Conference! We finally got to watch it yesterday and Saturday. There were so many talks that helped me so much with my investigators and helped me as well.
This last week has been a lot of travelling. I am so tired! Yesterday I was struggling to work. I couldn't keep my eyes open! Friday, Saturday, and Sunday we had to go to Orani which was about 1 hour away and we spent the whole day over there sitting and listening. On Friday we had Specialized training where I had to give a workshop. So that was fun. I have to do it again this week on Revelation thru the Book of Mormon. That should be an adventure.
On Tuesday I taught Elder Memes to extend the baptismal invitation. Ha ha every place we go he invites them to be baptized. It reminds me of Elder Calhoun in Best 2 Years. ha ha but our "investigators with a
baptismal Date" went from 4 to 15 ha ha. So that's good. We just need them to keep their commitments so they will be ready for baptism.
We have 1 investigator, 10 years old, and last year they found a tumor on his brain, leaving him blind and not being able to walk. But I tell you what. He is such a smart kid and he's so positive. ha ha I have never heard any negative thing come out of his mouth. He has a sweet personality. ha ha He'll sit there and joke with us and tell us secrets about his family. Next week we are gonna start going to his house and carrying to a nearby member so that he can go to church.
One sweet thing that happened. On Sunday, our funds were suffering a little bit, but luckily we ended up riding with some members and they took care of our fare. That was such a blessing. Oh my gosh. The members are really good to the missionaries over here just as long as they know you are doing your job as missionaries.
I'm finally getting used to life in the City.
Sorry this is short but we gotta go to a neighboring zone and clean their apartment and I gotta fix the broken appliances. Ha ha I'm the mission fix-it Elder.
Well gotta run.
Elder Chase.
Oh my gosh I love general Conference! We finally got to watch it yesterday and Saturday. There were so many talks that helped me so much with my investigators and helped me as well.
This last week has been a lot of travelling. I am so tired! Yesterday I was struggling to work. I couldn't keep my eyes open! Friday, Saturday, and Sunday we had to go to Orani which was about 1 hour away and we spent the whole day over there sitting and listening. On Friday we had Specialized training where I had to give a workshop. So that was fun. I have to do it again this week on Revelation thru the Book of Mormon. That should be an adventure.
On Tuesday I taught Elder Memes to extend the baptismal invitation. Ha ha every place we go he invites them to be baptized. It reminds me of Elder Calhoun in Best 2 Years. ha ha but our "investigators with a
baptismal Date" went from 4 to 15 ha ha. So that's good. We just need them to keep their commitments so they will be ready for baptism.
We have 1 investigator, 10 years old, and last year they found a tumor on his brain, leaving him blind and not being able to walk. But I tell you what. He is such a smart kid and he's so positive. ha ha I have never heard any negative thing come out of his mouth. He has a sweet personality. ha ha He'll sit there and joke with us and tell us secrets about his family. Next week we are gonna start going to his house and carrying to a nearby member so that he can go to church.
One sweet thing that happened. On Sunday, our funds were suffering a little bit, but luckily we ended up riding with some members and they took care of our fare. That was such a blessing. Oh my gosh. The members are really good to the missionaries over here just as long as they know you are doing your job as missionaries.
I'm finally getting used to life in the City.
Sorry this is short but we gotta go to a neighboring zone and clean their apartment and I gotta fix the broken appliances. Ha ha I'm the mission fix-it Elder.
Well gotta run.
Elder Chase.
Monday, October 11, 2010
11 Oct 2010
Hey guys!
Well, I made it through my first week in my new area! Barely! I'm assigned in an area called Balanga, Bataan. And its a City. ahhh. Can you believe it? I'm trying to still come to terms with it but I'll be okay. The Lord saw it fit to put me here and boy is it going to be a project.
We need to find a bunch of new investigators and help the ward out a ton. No problem though, its kind of the same situation I was in when I got assigned in Bani. The people are way nice here and yesterday we had the Primary program. We, as priesthood holders got to be part of it and stand in front of everyone and sing. The Bishop wasn't around though, they said he was at work. I dunno. But the stake president was there so I got to meet him. He's a very nice guy.
Last Tuesday I left Alaminos with 3 other missionaries; 2 of which traveled clear to Balanga with me. We got here about 4 pm that afternoon, wow was it a long day. Then we went to a couple appointments after I got here.
My Companion is from Bacolod, his first language is not Tagolog, so we're working on that, and his english. Then he does have the Philippino accent so he's helping me with that. After 6 months with an american I lost it and people couldn't really understand what I was saying. His last companion was trunky and ready to go home so he didn't learn to much from him. So I've had to train him again on a few things. Its gonna be fun. He's a good kid and he's pretty agressive, he'll talk to anyone anywhere. So that should pay off.
One cool thing is that everyone thinks I'm Filipino cuz I have squinty eyes and dark hair and I'm skinny, and kind of dark skin. I LOVE it!
Wish me luck on my project and until next week.
Elder Westwood.
Well, I made it through my first week in my new area! Barely! I'm assigned in an area called Balanga, Bataan. And its a City. ahhh. Can you believe it? I'm trying to still come to terms with it but I'll be okay. The Lord saw it fit to put me here and boy is it going to be a project.
We need to find a bunch of new investigators and help the ward out a ton. No problem though, its kind of the same situation I was in when I got assigned in Bani. The people are way nice here and yesterday we had the Primary program. We, as priesthood holders got to be part of it and stand in front of everyone and sing. The Bishop wasn't around though, they said he was at work. I dunno. But the stake president was there so I got to meet him. He's a very nice guy.
Last Tuesday I left Alaminos with 3 other missionaries; 2 of which traveled clear to Balanga with me. We got here about 4 pm that afternoon, wow was it a long day. Then we went to a couple appointments after I got here.
My Companion is from Bacolod, his first language is not Tagolog, so we're working on that, and his english. Then he does have the Philippino accent so he's helping me with that. After 6 months with an american I lost it and people couldn't really understand what I was saying. His last companion was trunky and ready to go home so he didn't learn to much from him. So I've had to train him again on a few things. Its gonna be fun. He's a good kid and he's pretty agressive, he'll talk to anyone anywhere. So that should pay off.
One cool thing is that everyone thinks I'm Filipino cuz I have squinty eyes and dark hair and I'm skinny, and kind of dark skin. I LOVE it!
Wish me luck on my project and until next week.
Elder Westwood.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
4 October 2010
Hey everyone,
Well we had the baptism yesterday for Mary Jane Bautista. It was sad because only a few members stuck around for it but she seemed pretty excited still, I was disappointed though. But that’s how it goes sometimes. She will be confirmed in 2 weeks. I hate waiting that long but that’ll be how it has to be because next week we have General Conference. Sadly I will not be around for the confirmation.
Today we just got out of our transfer meeting and I will be transferred. I am so sad about it but I know that the Lord needs me in another area to help someone else. This last couple transfers have been very rewarding, Our area is flourishing and we have been having 10+ investigators at church lately. Even though I am leaving I know that I am leaving the area in good hands.
Christmas season has now started here in the Philippines. Ahhh. Elder Pennock is already singing Christmas songs ha ha ha. I don’t know why but I’m such a scrooge. Its crazy how much times flies.
Saturday we went to Bolinao to do a baptismal interview because they told us that it was gonna be at 10 on Saturday. When we got there, we found out that there were no people at the church. Then the Eders showed up and were like we moved the time to 1:00 because our CSP time got changed, I was a lil frustrated. There is a serious lack of communication here in the Philippines that I really have a hard time with. It is so ingrained in their culture, I don’t know that it will ever change but one thing I try and teach to my companions is to be on-time always or run on gospel time. And always let people know what’s going on.
The husband of the lady that got baptized last week, he is golden! Oh my gosh. Since we taught him the first lesson. He has been reading the Book of Mormon every day. He cooks breakfast for his family and then sits and reads. The joy of his family is indescribable, he used to drink but not anymore and when he saw his wife get baptized he said that he wanted that to happen to him too. And he wanted the same feeling that he felt when she went under the water. We told him that it will happen and he will have the same feeling every day of his life, as long as he stays worthy. My only regret is that I won’t be around to see him be baptized but he is ready and will be baptized and that will have to be enough.
Huellas family is about there too and I think that they will be baptized soon enough. I just am praying that they will continue to investigate and grow in the gospel after I am gone.
Well I gotta run.
Until next week, in my new area,
Elder Westwood
Well we had the baptism yesterday for Mary Jane Bautista. It was sad because only a few members stuck around for it but she seemed pretty excited still, I was disappointed though. But that’s how it goes sometimes. She will be confirmed in 2 weeks. I hate waiting that long but that’ll be how it has to be because next week we have General Conference. Sadly I will not be around for the confirmation.
Today we just got out of our transfer meeting and I will be transferred. I am so sad about it but I know that the Lord needs me in another area to help someone else. This last couple transfers have been very rewarding, Our area is flourishing and we have been having 10+ investigators at church lately. Even though I am leaving I know that I am leaving the area in good hands.
Christmas season has now started here in the Philippines. Ahhh. Elder Pennock is already singing Christmas songs ha ha ha. I don’t know why but I’m such a scrooge. Its crazy how much times flies.
Saturday we went to Bolinao to do a baptismal interview because they told us that it was gonna be at 10 on Saturday. When we got there, we found out that there were no people at the church. Then the Eders showed up and were like we moved the time to 1:00 because our CSP time got changed, I was a lil frustrated. There is a serious lack of communication here in the Philippines that I really have a hard time with. It is so ingrained in their culture, I don’t know that it will ever change but one thing I try and teach to my companions is to be on-time always or run on gospel time. And always let people know what’s going on.
The husband of the lady that got baptized last week, he is golden! Oh my gosh. Since we taught him the first lesson. He has been reading the Book of Mormon every day. He cooks breakfast for his family and then sits and reads. The joy of his family is indescribable, he used to drink but not anymore and when he saw his wife get baptized he said that he wanted that to happen to him too. And he wanted the same feeling that he felt when she went under the water. We told him that it will happen and he will have the same feeling every day of his life, as long as he stays worthy. My only regret is that I won’t be around to see him be baptized but he is ready and will be baptized and that will have to be enough.
Huellas family is about there too and I think that they will be baptized soon enough. I just am praying that they will continue to investigate and grow in the gospel after I am gone.
Well I gotta run.
Until next week, in my new area,
Elder Westwood
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