fasting each Sunday

Dear Family

Feb 17

I've decided to start fasting each Sunday. To quote Bishop David H. Burton: "[You] must understand this program was not instituted primarily to save money". But that's kind of the reason. Also I'm too lazy to cook. Today was great. We had tons of people at Linglingay today, 22! then we taught three old ladies who we met this week, they wanted to know how to get to heaven. But they're old and couldn't remember a thing, it was actually really funny. We invited one to say the closing prayer, and while she was praying she said "Guide us and protect us in this, the... uh.. Terrestrial world, are we in the Terrestrial? Guide us in the Terrestrial world every day." To finish the day, we had dinner at the DeGracia Family. I LOVE missionary work.

Feb 18

Another great P-day! We played basketball this morning, but I'm awful at basketball. Afterwards I did laundry and we emailed. After a quick stop at Friendship and the palengke, we went home and cleaned the house and then Elder Bellen and I put together a workshop for interviews tomorrow. I love being in our house when it's clean. We were supposed to have FHE at the Corpuz Family, but they came to our house around 4:00pm and they said they had to go to Cabanatuan because of a patay. For two hours we tried to call people and set up appointments, but everyone was gone or too busy. We ended up visiting Tatay Ramos and talking to him for a few minutes, then we shared a short message and went home. Napakabilis ng panahon.

Feb 19

When I was in my first area, my mom wrote me a letter and said "4 months down, only 20 more to go!" and I was depressed for the rest of the week.  I have only 4 months to go and I would give anything to extend that time another year. We had interviews with President Martino, it was the best. Ever. I don't know how to adequately describe what happened or what I experienced. The most concise way to put it is it was sort of what happened when Jesus ministered to the Nephites (see 3 Nephi 17:17). I asked him why the time goes by so fast and he said "Eventually you get so involved in the Lord's work, time just becomes... Obsolete." The interviews took up most of the day, we didn't get to work until 5:00. Our workshop was about a good diet and exercise and how that helps personal and companion study. natutuwa si (glad of) Sister Martino. The AP's worked with us afterwards and we just drove their van around to appointments. Our last appointment was at Kuya Baldo's house. Litson Manok na naman. I never ever want to go home.

Feb 20

Today was... too much to explain in one word (diskarte ko kasi). This morning I talked to a Filipino who joined the U.S. Military in 1983 and only got home a few years ago, so he was great at speaking English. And mayroon siayang 65% na pagkabaliw. (He might have been crazy.) He talked about President Bush and how he never paid this guy we were talking to for all his years of service in the military and he told us all about his wives from other countries he was stationed in. He is the most... interesting man I've ever met in my entire life. This afternoon literally nobody would talk to us. That almost never happens here. I also met a less-active guy today, baliw din siya. They didn't have any ulam eka so they killed a dog, and when we showed up the dog had a huge hole in his neck and they were scraping the hair off the dog with boiling water. It was a very traumatizing experience. We almost didn't teach anyone today. Today was one of those days that makes me excited to go home.

Feb 21

I had a much better day than yesterday. We saw Tatay Ramos this morning and he took us to a few less actives who live close by. This afternoon we went to Crystel De Belen's birthday party and ate adobo tsaka pancit. I felt happier today ,but something was missing pa. We taught Nanay Borrie & her son, it was pretty good I suppose. Her son is a working student, so its a bit harder to find time to teach him. Today we talked about being more effective in OYMs during companion study, napakahirap pala! Brother Eligado today told us he is offended at some leaders in the branch.

Feb 22

This morning Elder Bellen and I went with the Forts for house checks, ang saya!(the fun) At lunch we printed off reports for SMC on Sunday and I bought paksiw for lunch. We went to Bical and taught this really poor lady who was super nice. Afterwards Elder Bellen and I had a long discussion about why people don't listen when they have a lot of money. It just bothers me because every single one of them agreed to come to this world, but no matter what they can't seem to recognize that. I suppose I dont understand because I grew up in the gospel so I've never lived any other way. Sa bagay, the people even rejected Jesus. I also met a 10-yr old kid who is so small he looks like he's six. He can't to basic math or read or  write because  his mom can't afford it. They're so poor he never eats breakfast, and his typical lunch is mangoes and bagoong sauce with rice. If that's not sad enough, his dad has been dead for years, and his 2 sisters and 1 brother where shot and killed a few years ago. As I listened to him and his friend tell me his story, I just wanted to cry. More than anything I wanted to take him home and wipe the dirt from his chin and give him a plate of food and a place to sleep. but I'm under strict rules as a missionary, I can't just do that, can I? We got punted a lot today so we were early at the DeGracia Family and finished at the Francisco Family.

Feb 23

I wish I could explain what it feels like to recieve revelation. Sometimes, especially when I ask questions, it's like my head opens up and answers or information or instruction just flood into my brain. it's one of the hardest things to put into words, but there's no mistaking it. When you're really truly receive revelation, it's the difference between sitting in a dark room with the light off or the light on. And sometimes it happens that quickly and its overwhelming. Anyway, this isn't doctrine, just my personal feeling concerning the matter.

Today we taught Angeline, Kevin Costales' friend and classmate, at the Costales' home. Talagang inihanda siya. Afterwards, Nanay fed us sinigang na baboy, best ever. After lunch Kuya Baldo went with is to Linglingay;  In the Bayan, we got punted everywhere. Tomorrow we have SMC, and all our neighbors are singing videoke right now Isda ka ba? Bakit? Ano'ng konekt? (If you translate that it probably wont make sense)

LOVE YOU Elder Williams

Missionary work makes people happy

Feb 10

Today we fasted because we don't have any food in our house. Not a single investigator came to church today, and only 9 people went to church in Linglingay. I don't understand. I feel like I've been more dedicated and hard-working in the last month than I ever have, but I don't feel like anything has come of it. Can't they see this? Why don't people get it? Don't they know that at one point in their lives they agreed to and accepted this? 

Feb 11

Today was the best P-day I’ve had in months. We woke up at 6am and cleaned our house spotless. Around 10:00am, we emailed, then I bought groceries and we were home by 1:00. At 2:00pm we were so bored we went to MilkaCrem and had Oreos and milk while we listened to Elder Elep (who is the funniest person in the whole world ever.) talk about really funny things like different colored eggs, seminary, and his friends. Our FHE was at President Sylvia's house and I learned he was assigned in San Clemente on his mission. napakaliit ng mundo! (very small world) He was the first missionary to open Bamban and he baptized the Eugenio Family! Today was.. great.

Feb 12

I know a lot of people who believe in coincidences, but is it too far-fetched to say that God can get certain people to meet without taking away their agency? We left our house this morning and it was a bit cloudy, but we didn't bring an umbrella. As we were walking, it was kind of umaambon. (showery) When the rain got super strong, we stopped at the first house we could to take shelter, and this old lady let us into her house. Once we sat down, she said she would have rejected us if it wasn't raining. Then we talked to this other old lady and she said usually she tells people she's Iglesia ni Cristo so they'll go away, but for some reason she let us in. We taught Vena and she wouldn’t hardly talk to us, I was surprised. I think she's still nahihiya kay (shy with) Elder Bellen. Kuya Baldo's Kuya was in town and he made some of the best ulam I've ever tasted: Gulay na ginisa nang may kremdensada.( Ginisa vegetables with kremdensada) I was so full I had a hard time walking.

Feb 13

Today was awesome. E Elephant (we call him that because he's fat and it’s okay to make fun of fat people here) gave a workshop in DDM about the Atonement. I was so tired I almost fell asleep, and I had a nap planned for lunchtime. To finish his workshop, he made me read a poem about a missionary complaining and then Jesus appears to him in a dream. Then I felt guilty so I read the Book of Mormon instead. We ate lunch at the Costales' home. Kuya Baldo worked with us today, it was great. We talked to a guy who lived in Australia for 4 years, and his 7-year old daughter and I talked to each other in English. Then we met an old lady who can't see a thing and today us to visit her friend’s tomorrow. We've really tried to teach rich people lately, and it’s actually turning out okay. I think usually missionaries avoid rich people because they don't want to get rejected, but it’s not been too bad for us pala. On Friday Elder Weimer and I are working together again, we're going to try to speak 100% English to the rich people.

Feb 14

Tinatamad na kami ni Bellen. Si Pangulo kasi, nagsama siya ng dalawang pauwi na. Kanina, nakilala namin ang isang nanay na talagang makalimutan. Hindi niya raw alam and edad niya o kund ilan sila magkakapatid. Tawa kami nang taw ni Bellen. Nagsimula kaming magturo, pero hindi mapigilan ang tawa namin. Kamote. Kahit ano ang sinasabi niya,  sobrang nakakatawa dahil lahat na daw nakalimutan niya. Tinuruan namin si Nanay Borre; mga Americano pala ang katapat niya! Nagturo kami kina Vina at Tatay Corpuz. After nila nagpunta kami sa Bagong Sikat. Nagwork sana si Teody, ang labo niyang kausap! Sa una, mag-work daw siya. Tapos sasakay p lang. Tapos bibili pa raw saiy ng bulaklak. Iniwan namin siya; bukas na lang. Pagdating namin Kila Baldo, naturuan namin ang kapatid niyang babae. Kumain kami ng imbotido at isda. SZobrang sarap. Ayaw na ayaw kong umuwi. Dito na lang ako sa mission

Feb 15

 Elder Bellen worked in Guimba today, so Elder Weimer and I were in Munoz. We taught a (rich) guy, it was the best ever! At first he told us he was bust, but after a few minutes of talking he let us in and we taught him the first lesson. Seriously the best lesson ever/ honestly he only let us in because we spoke about 60% English. He also mentioned it makes sense that families should be sealed together, and agreed to pray about Joseph Smith. A person like him is worth 100 people saying "Oh, we're Catholic" or "No, I'm busy. Don't come back." The rest of the day was pretty dismal. We didn’t teach much, and almost nobody was home. But kahit papaano, we had a good day. Naks!

Feb 16

This was one of the best days I've ever had. Elder and Sister Fort came with us to see the Valderama Family; we helped them understand how badly this branch needs them and their experience. Teody came with us to Linglingay, it might not be so bad after all! We taught a guy last Wednesday and he told us moment before we showed up he just felt like he should go outside. Anyway we stopped by his house and he wasn’t there, but we stopped at Mercury Drug on our way home and saw him there! Anyway, he says he's coming to church, but we'll see. I was feeling pretty down for several days this week, but after the last two days I feel great. Today even though I was super tired literally felt the Lord carrying me from place to place (see D&C 84:33). Even though I didn’t sleep well and I hated the BYAHE and everything wasn't too great, I had so much energy today. I kept thinking "Why is Elder Bellen walking so slow? Doesn’t he understand we're in a hurry?" Missionary work makes people happier that anything else in the whole world

Love you Elder Williams

 

The zest of life

MTC Companions back together again!

Elder Freason, Elder Williams and Elder Stokes

FINALLY!  a good picture. 

Hello PO!

feb 4

This morning I read John's Taylors writing about the martyrdom of Joseph Smith. E Bellen and I went jogging today, I could tell he was having a hard time, but I'm just glad I have a companion who is willing to run with me and wake up early pa! We had a zone activity at CLSU today, we went biking and then to PCC. After email (which was great), we went home and rested until 6:00. At 6:00 we had FHE at President Pajarito's house. E Bellen ate so much food now he's working out right now to make up for it.

feb 5

134 days to go! But don't think I'm trunky, I'm just counting the days so they'll last longer. D&C 134 is really interesting. It outlines the churches stand of separation of church and state. I love missionary work. Today one of our investigators said she tried to come to church yesterday but took a wrong turn and they got lost. But then she said next week she's going to bring her husband (sana) and her kapit-bahay (neighbor). Also we visited this other investigator, but he wouldn't come outside (its rude here to knocks on doors. you're supposed to stand by the gate and say Tao po! and wait for them"). So while we're waiting this little kid walks by and says "Who are you waiting for?" We told him we were looking for the investigator and he told us to wait. After a few seconds he came outside and said "He says he's not here. But I know he's there, I just talked to him!" So we laughed for a minute and he eventually came out and it was a great discussion. E Bellen met Tatay Bustos today that was a lot of fun.

feb 6

We didn't have DDM today because of mission tour bukas, so E Bellen and I tracted in Lumang Bayan. We didn't teach any lessons but we just talked to everyone. This afternoon we finally taught Tatay Bustos (it’s been almost two weeks). E Bellen thinks we might not have any baptisms here, but we'll see. Anyway, we want to focus in the bayan since E Garcia and I were always in the bukid. Tomorrow we have Mission Tour.

feb 7 

This may have been the best day in my entire mission thus far. E Illustrismo and Mosquera slept at our house last night so they wouldn't be late (also, they have no cell phone because they lost it). We woke up at 4am and left about 5:30am. Sonny Corpuz took us in his jeep to Guimba, were we picked up the missionaries there, then we drove to Paniqui, where our mission tour was held. Paniqui and Camiling were the only other zones there, but I saw E Stokes for only the second time in my entire mission. E Nielson taught all the zone leaders about leadership before the actual meeting, and in less than two minutes he explained to us why Catholics, 7th Day Adventists, and Jehovah's Witnesses don't worship the right way. Catholics are so worried about Mother Mary (who is wonderful. She was the only one worthy enough to be the mother of the Son of God.. eka.) That they don't focus on the redeeming or enabling power of the Atonement. 7th Day Adventists are so worried about what day Sunday is that they hardly keep it holy. And Jehovah's are so caught up in Jesus' name they don't properly worship. I had a really cool revelatory experience today. We have this part member family, that I want to help so much because the wife isn't a member, and her husband is an LA. 

feb 8

Another great day. We had weekly planning, and then the San Jose ZLs came to our house around lunch time because we have a special ZLC with E Nielson at the mission home. After lunch, the four of us set off for Tarlac. We left at 1:30 and got to Robinson Luisita around 4:45. At 5:30, we had dinner and ice cream at the mission home with E Nielson & his wife, and President & Sister Martino. After niyan, E Nielson taught us about the difference between kumilos (act) and pinakikilos (acted), especially in missionary work. He taught us also about becoming and discipleship. Basically, everything he taught us just blew my mind. The way I feel right now is the way I felt after my first ZLC when we talked about Light. When he was done teaching, we closed with a prayer and now we're all just upstairs talking to everyone.

feb 9

This morning I woke up and took a hot shower, sa opysina pa ni Pangulo! Ang sarap pala ng buhay ng missionary!(the President opysina more! The zest of life) I felt like I was at a hotel. Sister Martino (because she's a saint) made us all scrambled eggs and ham for breakfast. After a short devotional and message by Sister Martino (since President was already on his way to... somewhere), we all went to the mission office to get supplies and tumambay na konte.(and hung out for a little while) On the way home, we stopped at NE Pacific for lunch. O Babilonya. Namimissko kadakayo. We went with E Gifford and DeClaro to MacDo since they would take the same bus as us going home. We got to Munoz around 2pm and went to Linglingay. Work wasn't that great.. I'm really losing hope because nobody will let us teach and nobody comes to church anymore. We taught Mariss and Mae this evening and then I took Elder Bellen to the Parenas Family, but nobody was there pala. nakakapagod talaga ang pagiging missionary! (Fatigue actually being missionaries!)

anyway my times up.. I'll email you again next week.

Love you!

E Williams

19 months 2-3-12

jan 28

Sakit talaga sa ulo ang pagiging Head pain actually being ZL. We had zone goal setting this morning and everyone was super tahimik. (Silent) Hardly anyone spoke a word. Afterwards, we went to email and there was a brownout.  To make things even better, today is MCR Reporting and zone goals day. So we spent an eternity in the computer shop. Afterwards, we ate at Jollibee, went back to Munoz, then cleaned our house. Tomorrow we have ZL/DLC, so Elder Retaga and Weimer joined our FHE tonight at a members.

jan 29

I broke one of my new pens today, nakakainis! (annoying) This morning while we were getting ready to go to Cabanatuan. Once we got to Cabanatuan, we had McDonald's (yeah, it’s kind of a big deal) for breakfast and then the mtg started. President Martino talked to us about the Atonement, it completely blew my mind. He shared some things I never even thought about, like why Jesus performed the Atonement on this earth and if we have always had free agency there was always sin, even in the pre-mortal world. I found out today that next week we have a mission tour with Elder Nielson of the Philippines area presidency, and Friday night we have a special ZLC with Elder Nielson at the mission home. After the meeting today, we got on an aircon bus and went home. We were only able to visit people. Every lesson we taught was about things we learned earlier at ZL/DLC. It's starting to get cold and windy again, I don't know if I like it very much. I mean, my parents wrote me last week and said it’s incredibly cold there (-12F), but 70F is cold, too! (Relatively. Plus wind chill.)

jan 30

This morning, Elder Bellen woke up at 5:00am and went for a run! Best day ever! But I'm embarrassed how out of shape I am, after only a 30 minute jog my legs are sore. Last night I had this really weird dream that I was done with my mission. I remember my interview with President and seeing my family. The most vivid part of the dream is after my interview; both President Martino and I were crying our eyes out. I didn't want to leave and he didn't want to let me go. I remember coming home and being so... depressed. Ano kaya ang ibig-sabihin noon? Elder Bellen and I gave a workshop today about everything we learned at ZL/DLC, it went pretty good I think. Kuya Baldo worked with us today, we had so much fun. We taught this old guy who believed everything we taught but didn't want to get baptized because "its just the tradition here that we get baptized when we're still little." Then we visited  our recent convert, and taught about the Atonement because she doesn't know anything about it. I'm so tired. Today at lunch I laid down for about 20 minutes and almost couldn't get out of bed again. .

jan 31

I weigh 66 kilos. This is more than I've ever weighed before in my entire life. I want to be around 60 kilos when I get home, but I'm not worried enough to do anything about it. We started an 'exercise program' today, so I'm going to keep track of my weight each day. Work today was.. fulfilling. We've had a lot of OYM's to teach and a lot of people wanted to listen to us. Elder Bellen has an attribute that Elder Abuan had, they are both great with people. They always find a way to relate and make them feel comfortable. Anyway we taught a kid with only one leg about the Atonement. Except the part where I got bit by two bugs on my arms, it was a great lesson. We were way ahead of schedule today so we visited a member family and they fed us dinner.  She made the two of us eat by ourselves because we still had appointments and she didn't want us to be late. . On the way home we got our support money at the ATM and I bought some pandesal. Kay sarap ng buhay ng missionary. (With zest for life)

Feb 1

We went jogging again this morning, and sarap pala! Around 8:00, Elder Fort and Elder Lutz came and installed a new water filter in our house, its great! It's the filters we used to have when I was new, I don't know why they ever switched to the other one. After weekly planning I got a haircut and bought some food. Work was pretty goood today, I just do whatever Elder Garcia and I did, but next week we'll try different things. I love Elder Bellen, He's the only companion I've had that discusses lessons immediately afterwards. Sometimes today we had great lessons, sometimes not. We're working on teaching by the Spirit; twice today I found myself not listening and had nothing to say when it was my turn to speak. The worst part about being human is being such a slow learner. Why do I constantly make mistakes, even when I know what's right from wrong? Kay hirap naman pala ng buhay ng tao. (65 kilos pala.) Also, today I stared my D&C countdown, which means I read one section from the D&C each day until I go home. 138 days to go.

Feb 2

65 kilos ulit. I really enjoyed today. 137 days. The Fort's worked with us in the morning and we visited the Valderama Family, it was wonderful. They are so... mabait. After lunch (I had eggs with tuna and tomatoes) Tatay Corpuz took us to Linglingay, but I'm starting to lose hope. Before, we could teach so many people but now they're always gone or busy. I hope tomorrow will be better. This afternoon, we went tracting in the bayan, which has been untouched for 3 months. Elder Garcia said that’s the only place he ever worked with Heidemann; he was so tired of it we never went there. Everyone we talked to was super mabait, nagulat pa ako! Hopefully someone will listen to us here, it'd be great to teach someone close to the church. Later tonight we visited the Baldovino Family, but didn't get to teach. Only Rhea was there, this is what she said "Nasa Angeles kasi si Kuya. Wala pa si Mommy, at lasing si Tatay ko." I've never been so tired before. Nakakapago ang missionary work.

Feb 3

66 kils. 136 days. I read about the Lord's instructions for Zions Camp in D&C today. Today we went to church and Lorri, Irene, and Mariss all got interviewed for callings. While they were waiting, they stopped us and were really scared because they didn't know what the interview was for. In Linglingay, only 9 people went to church! I was pretty disappointed, but it can't be great every week. This afternoon while we were working.  Around 5:30 we stopped by a members home and they fed us barbeque and donuts. Then we looked at all the pictures of their son who is serving in the Tacloban Mission and taught them and taught them about missionary work. Jogging kami bukas!

ok I'll take some this week. Well my time is up, I'll talk to you next week, I love you!