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