First and Foremost! I want to wish a Big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my father who will be turning 40 on Feb 1st. Yeah baby the big 4.0.!!! ha ha I'm gonna get in trouble for that one ha ah. Everyone wish him a Happy Birthday too ha ha.
It was a good week. We got to work in our area this whole week and we had almost all of our appointments cancel. That was kind of a bummer. But we had a ton of new investigators, but it was all wrong. We found them through our own efforts, its better if its thru the members; thru referrals. But its okay, we stayed busy.
Ray left for Singapore last week and he'll be there for a couple weeks. Him, Elder Gerbolingo, and I all hiked up to this place called 3 crosses last Monday evening and watched the sun go down. He told us a lot about himself and the change that he has seen in himself, he confessed that when I first gave him my Book of Mormon with all my marks, the first thing that went thru his mind was "Yes, I can use this against him and prove that what they are teaching is wrong," Then he said that every time we were there to teach he forgot all his questions. That is what will happen to someone when the Spirit is in the lesson.
We had a family referred to us last week that is great! Brother felt that he had something missing in his life and wanted to be taught. So we taught him. They are way interested in what we taught them and were excited when we told them we would be back on Wednesday to teach them again.
On Tuesday we had an emergency call from President Aquino, the sisters in Dinalupihan had an investigator that they were teaching, and Both Sisters had a really bad feeling about him, then they saw him pretty close to their house and they got worried. They called president, then he called us and sent us out there to put extra locks and secure the house. It was fun. And he took the sisters to the Mission home for the night. It was probably the most exciting thing that happened last week.
Last night we had a Member Missionary fireside we watch Pioneers of Africa. Wow the faith of those people was great! If everyone was like that in the church there would be no problems.
Well, that's about all I can think of tell you this week.
Next week hopefully will be better.
Love you all
Elder Chase
Monday, January 31, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
24 Jan 2011
What a busy week. We went all over the 2 Zones that we cover for exchanges.
The find is on, we have 4 Zone Leaders going home this next transfer, so the heat is on to find 4 new ones. So we've all been evaluating them and trying to help them. We've found 2 potentials but we'll see. It was supposed to be that we talk about it next week in Zone Leaders Council but they just sent an email that says its just gonna be next transfer so they won't know our suggestions. It was fun though getting to work with other missionaries. So it wasn't a total waste.
Then on Friday we had Interviews with President Aquino, he told us a while ago to "expect the unexpected" and that the interviews were gonna be long this transfer so I was getting all ready and practicing my teaching and stuff. When we got into the interview, he asked me if I had any questions or concerns. We talked a bit, he asked me if there were any more, I said, no. He said, okay, lets close. ha ha. Then they told me that because we're the ZL's he's not worried about our teaching.
If you remember brother Ray, he was gonna leave this week and go to Singapore then get baptized in the States. So I prepared his records so he could give it to the missionaries so he could get baptized. I rewrote it in English and cleaned it up, then he text us and told us that he changed his plans. He's gonna go to Singapore for 2 weeks then come back and get baptized by us! We were so excited when he told us that. He said "I started with you guys, and I want to finish with you guys." We are still planning the trip to Adam-Ondi-Ahman when I get back. He is an awesome guy and he thanked us for helping him remove the anger from his heart that he had towards the cop that arrested him for nothing. It has really been amazing to see the change in him as he has progressed in the gospel. He is not on Logic anymore but now he is listening to his feelings. He asked a question the other day. He said so after your a member, if you have a grocery store or a business like that, you should be closed on Sunday and you shouldn't be selling stuff like Alcohol or cigarettes, or wine or tea or stuff like that right? Ha ha I said, "well, the Lord lets us use our agency on that one." He replied "For me, its not right to sell that kind of stuff." He is awesome. He'll be baptized in like 3 weeks. The only sad part is that Elder Gerbolingo won't be here. Sad day.
Then another of our investigators, Noy, they are getting ready to get married. They got a little freaked out last week when the RS presidency started getting all excited about them getting married. I kind of sensed it, and he opened up last night and told us that he just wants to get it done quietly, like from a judge or some thing like that. His drive is right, because he wants to do it so he can go to the temple and do baptisms for the dead for his son that died a while ago.
I love the mission, there's nothing like it.
I'll try and think up another fun story next week.
Love you all
Elder Chase
The find is on, we have 4 Zone Leaders going home this next transfer, so the heat is on to find 4 new ones. So we've all been evaluating them and trying to help them. We've found 2 potentials but we'll see. It was supposed to be that we talk about it next week in Zone Leaders Council but they just sent an email that says its just gonna be next transfer so they won't know our suggestions. It was fun though getting to work with other missionaries. So it wasn't a total waste.
Then on Friday we had Interviews with President Aquino, he told us a while ago to "expect the unexpected" and that the interviews were gonna be long this transfer so I was getting all ready and practicing my teaching and stuff. When we got into the interview, he asked me if I had any questions or concerns. We talked a bit, he asked me if there were any more, I said, no. He said, okay, lets close. ha ha. Then they told me that because we're the ZL's he's not worried about our teaching.
If you remember brother Ray, he was gonna leave this week and go to Singapore then get baptized in the States. So I prepared his records so he could give it to the missionaries so he could get baptized. I rewrote it in English and cleaned it up, then he text us and told us that he changed his plans. He's gonna go to Singapore for 2 weeks then come back and get baptized by us! We were so excited when he told us that. He said "I started with you guys, and I want to finish with you guys." We are still planning the trip to Adam-Ondi-Ahman when I get back. He is an awesome guy and he thanked us for helping him remove the anger from his heart that he had towards the cop that arrested him for nothing. It has really been amazing to see the change in him as he has progressed in the gospel. He is not on Logic anymore but now he is listening to his feelings. He asked a question the other day. He said so after your a member, if you have a grocery store or a business like that, you should be closed on Sunday and you shouldn't be selling stuff like Alcohol or cigarettes, or wine or tea or stuff like that right? Ha ha I said, "well, the Lord lets us use our agency on that one." He replied "For me, its not right to sell that kind of stuff." He is awesome. He'll be baptized in like 3 weeks. The only sad part is that Elder Gerbolingo won't be here. Sad day.
Then another of our investigators, Noy, they are getting ready to get married. They got a little freaked out last week when the RS presidency started getting all excited about them getting married. I kind of sensed it, and he opened up last night and told us that he just wants to get it done quietly, like from a judge or some thing like that. His drive is right, because he wants to do it so he can go to the temple and do baptisms for the dead for his son that died a while ago.
I love the mission, there's nothing like it.
I'll try and think up another fun story next week.
Love you all
Elder Chase
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
17 Jan 2011
Hey everyone,
Well it was another pretty good week. We stayed busy and it flew by faster than I wanted it to. As for the Investigators, they are doing good as well.
On Tuesday we went and did exchanges with the office elders. That was fun. I got to go to their area and work, we were up in the mountains. up and down and up and down. It was a nice change and to get out of the city. Elder Layugan, a relatively new missionary, I think about 6 months here in the field but he is magaling! (I think in English it means he's got Skills!) And I got to hang out with the AP's who I am pretty tight with. Then on Wednesday morning I came back to the area and worked for a couple days.
Friday we went down to Orani for District Leader Training. It is a little different being at those things when you are on the other end of the presentation. When you are in the teaching position not the being taught to. It went relatively well, except they only have us a half hour to do our workshop, I needed another 30 minutes. It was funny because before my mission, I wasn't a fan of doing stuff like that but its so much easier when you have someone telling you what do say through the whole thing. Except when you have dumb elders that like to contradict you say. Its part of the game I guess.
One of our investigators, Ray, the one that just got out of jail, has been growing and his knowledge of the gospel is flourishing. We've started teaching him at the church to minimize the distractions and in his eagerness to learn more about the gospel, he started coming to institute, held every Saturday night, right before the coordination meeting with the branch missionaries and the branch presidency. I think this is probably the best organized branch I've been assigned too. After Institute Ray saw us eating Ice cream at a place pretty close to the church and came and broke the news to us. Because of his situation of just getting out of Jail for 3 years, he literally has nothing, no money, he does have the clothes on his back. He has been staying with a family friend here in Olongapo. He was going to try and get his brother to come to the Philippines to help him out but his brother doesn't want to so Ray has to got to Singapore. He will be leaving on the 28th which means that he will not be baptized. But the good thing is that one of the members here has a friend in Singapore so she is gonna call her friend so that Ray can still go to church and stuff over there. Ray said he'll come back to the Phils. if his case goes thru. I hope so but me and him are planning a trip to Adam-ondi-ahman when I get back to the states. He heard about it in Institute and got way interested. That should be fun.
In another cool experience. Last night, because of a mix up in the schedule we took 4 members with us to one appointment. I thought it was a lot, but it ended up being alright. One of the members works for the court system so she's all up on the laws and stuff. Our investigator's 1 problem is that they are not married so they can't get baptized. They said because sister had petitioned to go abroad to the states they couldn't get married because she petitioned. But luckily they said it to sister Cora last night she told them as long as they can prove that they weren't married when she petitioned they can get married. It was awesome! MY heart leaped for joy when she said that! So things are falling into place for many good people that deserve the gospel.
I gotta run.
Talk to you all next week
Elder Chase
PS I hope none of you are feeling neglected because you haven't got a letter from me. I honestly haven't had time to write. I'm sorry. Just know I love you all!
Well it was another pretty good week. We stayed busy and it flew by faster than I wanted it to. As for the Investigators, they are doing good as well.
On Tuesday we went and did exchanges with the office elders. That was fun. I got to go to their area and work, we were up in the mountains. up and down and up and down. It was a nice change and to get out of the city. Elder Layugan, a relatively new missionary, I think about 6 months here in the field but he is magaling! (I think in English it means he's got Skills!) And I got to hang out with the AP's who I am pretty tight with. Then on Wednesday morning I came back to the area and worked for a couple days.
Friday we went down to Orani for District Leader Training. It is a little different being at those things when you are on the other end of the presentation. When you are in the teaching position not the being taught to. It went relatively well, except they only have us a half hour to do our workshop, I needed another 30 minutes. It was funny because before my mission, I wasn't a fan of doing stuff like that but its so much easier when you have someone telling you what do say through the whole thing. Except when you have dumb elders that like to contradict you say. Its part of the game I guess.
One of our investigators, Ray, the one that just got out of jail, has been growing and his knowledge of the gospel is flourishing. We've started teaching him at the church to minimize the distractions and in his eagerness to learn more about the gospel, he started coming to institute, held every Saturday night, right before the coordination meeting with the branch missionaries and the branch presidency. I think this is probably the best organized branch I've been assigned too. After Institute Ray saw us eating Ice cream at a place pretty close to the church and came and broke the news to us. Because of his situation of just getting out of Jail for 3 years, he literally has nothing, no money, he does have the clothes on his back. He has been staying with a family friend here in Olongapo. He was going to try and get his brother to come to the Philippines to help him out but his brother doesn't want to so Ray has to got to Singapore. He will be leaving on the 28th which means that he will not be baptized. But the good thing is that one of the members here has a friend in Singapore so she is gonna call her friend so that Ray can still go to church and stuff over there. Ray said he'll come back to the Phils. if his case goes thru. I hope so but me and him are planning a trip to Adam-ondi-ahman when I get back to the states. He heard about it in Institute and got way interested. That should be fun.
In another cool experience. Last night, because of a mix up in the schedule we took 4 members with us to one appointment. I thought it was a lot, but it ended up being alright. One of the members works for the court system so she's all up on the laws and stuff. Our investigator's 1 problem is that they are not married so they can't get baptized. They said because sister had petitioned to go abroad to the states they couldn't get married because she petitioned. But luckily they said it to sister Cora last night she told them as long as they can prove that they weren't married when she petitioned they can get married. It was awesome! MY heart leaped for joy when she said that! So things are falling into place for many good people that deserve the gospel.
I gotta run.
Talk to you all next week
Elder Chase
PS I hope none of you are feeling neglected because you haven't got a letter from me. I honestly haven't had time to write. I'm sorry. Just know I love you all!
Monday, January 10, 2011
10 Jan 2011
I am pretty sure I haven't been this happy in a long time. Oh my gosh. When you see the progress of investigators and happiness that the gospel can bring to thier lives it is great!!!! There is no feeling like unto it. I think I just had the best Sunday yesterday in my whole mission!!!!! ha ha You wanna hear about it?! Good! ha.First: Background: Brother Rowell, Sister Flor, and their cute family. We met brother while he was smoking outside of his house, we talked with him a little bit, then talked to him about the Book of Mormon and told him we were gonna come to his house. We went to his house and he wasn't there but we sat there and just BRT-ed with his family, (BRT means build a relationship of Trust). Then we invited them to church on Sunday. We said we would drop by and pick them up.
They were all there waiting for us and we went to church. They LOVED it! oh my gosh. Every time I looked at brother and sister they had huge smiles on their faces! ha ha and their kids loved it too! ha ha Even though brother had to leave 3 times to take a smoke during the service he always came back. Then in Gospel Principles class he turned to me and was like "give me one of these" as he held up the manual. I just laughed said okay! If you want it, its yours.
This other investigator, Ray, he came on vacation here from New York, about 3 years ago and just got out of jail about 3 weeks ago, where he's been for about the last 3 years. The day after he got here he got set up and thrown in jail for drugs. It was pretty ridiculous. Anyways, he just got out and is very very interested in the church and as long as he doesn't leave the country too quick he'll get baptized. While in jail he read the bible 3 times and after 2 days he had read from the cover to Mormon in the BOM. We told him to start over and go slower and think about what he was reading, he was like oh okay ha ha. He came to church as well and loved it!
Then after the service we taught this family that the branch pres. father brought to church and towards the end of the lesson I asked them how church was. The ol boy started crying! He said it was the greatest feeling. He loved it and was excited to come back before we parted he gave us both hugs.
After that lesson we went to the hospital and took the sacrament to one of the sisters that was down here in Olongapo for training. Friday she woke up and said her stomach hurt really bad. So they went to get it checked and it turned out that she has every kind of amoeba and e.coli. Cool huh? My hats off to her. Her name is Sister Degraffenried, she's from Utah. She's pretty tight. I was giving her a hard time about going big or going home. I was checking out her room at the hospital (Her room not her). I came to the realization that got ripped off up in Alaminos! She had a shower, a fridge, a TV (not that I wanna watch TV, I'm just saying). Anyways I'm thinking about getting sick again. ha ha. Joke!
We had a big Training for the new missionaries, their companions and all the missionaries that were new last transfer. That was fun. All the Zone leaders took a day of training where we did a workshop for a few hours. Elder Gerbolingo and I were on Thursday, and it actually turned out really well for my first workshop as a Zone leader. I give my Comp the credit for that one. He was awesome. I even had things I learned from what we taught, which is always great.
Oh, just in case you guys wanna send me any other CD's please just send hymns. I gotta start being more obedient now.
Well I can't think of much else to say to everyone...Sorry.
Love you all
Sunday, January 2, 2011
3 Jan 2011
Well, Happy happy new year to all of you,
How did you spend your new year?
I was at the Mission Home washing dishes until midnight ha ha GREAT! It was actually really fun cuz the Mission Presidents wife was there and we were joking around and having a good time. ha ha. So maybe your asking the question, Why was I at the mission home? Well, we had Zone Leaders Conference, oh yeah, I'm a Zone Leader now. There are 5 new Zone leaders this transfer and there will be 4 next transfer. Its pretty crazy.
To be honest I'm a little overwelmed with the new assignment of being a ZL but I know I can do it. Just every time I think about how many missionaries that I get to serve its crazy. We have 3 districts with 4 companionships in each district; 24 missionaries I think. President Aquino has been on a math kick lately and he always makes my head hurt when he starts going off adding stuff and multiplying then dividing and doin all that stuff.
Maybe I should back up though. On Tuesday I transferred and got here to Olongapo. Upon arrival at the bus terminal I thought that I was gonna be going back up north, but it turns out that I got assigned here in Olongapo, a City even bigger than Balanga. HA HA! I jinxed myself when I said the Lord loved me because all my areas have been farm land. ha ha. My companion is Elder Gerbolingo, good luck saying that. Its pronounced like JerbOleengO. Parang ganon (kinda like that). ha ha. He was my house mate up in Alaminos when I was assigned in Bani. He is a great Elder and I am so excited to be able to be companions with him. He is very Christlike and maybe I can learn something from him. He will be going home after this transfer so I have to hurry up and learn everything I am supposed to do.
One great thing about being here in Olongapo is that I have really just about anything I need here. There are some really good tailors here so I'll probably try them out.
Tuesday, because of a miscommunication, I ended up going out to Lubao, where a Zone was having their district meeting because they didn't get the memo that they were supposed to be in Olongapo. The AP's took me out it was fun; 3 Americans in a mission vehicle. Elder Erickson drives like a Philipino ha ha its great. But I didn't know what I was supposed to do! ahhh!! My companion told me that I was gonna go with them and he was gonna stay and handle the other zone. I think it turned out alright. Talk about baptism by fire.
On Sunday the same thing happened. I was planning on just trying to get to know people, and taking it easy. Yeah that didn't happen. I confirmed a new member that I didn't even know. I bore my testimony, taught Gospel Principles, gave a blessing. It was crazy, but fun. My companion said that is how the members will get to know you best. It was really neat to confirm that brother yesterday because I didn't know his background, or even know his name before I did the ordinance I had to rely wholly upon the Spirit to give the blessing. It is always amazing the blessing that are promised that come thru you.
Then last night after a training with the Branch Presidents, auxiliaries, and missionaries from Pres. Aquino, the Pres. Manglicmot worked with us, the BP and we went to rescue some inactive members.
I love the mission and things are looking positive for the next little while. I'm way excited.
I love you all, be happy, be positive, be true.
Elder Westwood.
How did you spend your new year?
I was at the Mission Home washing dishes until midnight ha ha GREAT! It was actually really fun cuz the Mission Presidents wife was there and we were joking around and having a good time. ha ha. So maybe your asking the question, Why was I at the mission home? Well, we had Zone Leaders Conference, oh yeah, I'm a Zone Leader now. There are 5 new Zone leaders this transfer and there will be 4 next transfer. Its pretty crazy.
To be honest I'm a little overwelmed with the new assignment of being a ZL but I know I can do it. Just every time I think about how many missionaries that I get to serve its crazy. We have 3 districts with 4 companionships in each district; 24 missionaries I think. President Aquino has been on a math kick lately and he always makes my head hurt when he starts going off adding stuff and multiplying then dividing and doin all that stuff.
Maybe I should back up though. On Tuesday I transferred and got here to Olongapo. Upon arrival at the bus terminal I thought that I was gonna be going back up north, but it turns out that I got assigned here in Olongapo, a City even bigger than Balanga. HA HA! I jinxed myself when I said the Lord loved me because all my areas have been farm land. ha ha. My companion is Elder Gerbolingo, good luck saying that. Its pronounced like JerbOleengO. Parang ganon (kinda like that). ha ha. He was my house mate up in Alaminos when I was assigned in Bani. He is a great Elder and I am so excited to be able to be companions with him. He is very Christlike and maybe I can learn something from him. He will be going home after this transfer so I have to hurry up and learn everything I am supposed to do.
One great thing about being here in Olongapo is that I have really just about anything I need here. There are some really good tailors here so I'll probably try them out.
Tuesday, because of a miscommunication, I ended up going out to Lubao, where a Zone was having their district meeting because they didn't get the memo that they were supposed to be in Olongapo. The AP's took me out it was fun; 3 Americans in a mission vehicle. Elder Erickson drives like a Philipino ha ha its great. But I didn't know what I was supposed to do! ahhh!! My companion told me that I was gonna go with them and he was gonna stay and handle the other zone. I think it turned out alright. Talk about baptism by fire.
On Sunday the same thing happened. I was planning on just trying to get to know people, and taking it easy. Yeah that didn't happen. I confirmed a new member that I didn't even know. I bore my testimony, taught Gospel Principles, gave a blessing. It was crazy, but fun. My companion said that is how the members will get to know you best. It was really neat to confirm that brother yesterday because I didn't know his background, or even know his name before I did the ordinance I had to rely wholly upon the Spirit to give the blessing. It is always amazing the blessing that are promised that come thru you.
Then last night after a training with the Branch Presidents, auxiliaries, and missionaries from Pres. Aquino, the Pres. Manglicmot worked with us, the BP and we went to rescue some inactive members.
I love the mission and things are looking positive for the next little while. I'm way excited.
I love you all, be happy, be positive, be true.
Elder Westwood.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)