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!