20 months

 All of these pictures are old ones.  They have been sitting in his camera for some time.  Glad he finally decided to share.

Feb 24

When we got to church this morning, the alarm was going off... President Pajarito was the one who set it off but doesn't know the password eka to turn it off. So we listened to the siren for about 20 minutes before someone who knew the password showed up. Do you know what its like when someone uses their agency and decides to come back to church? I can't read their mind or know what they feel, but it makes me so happy. Today we had SMC with President Javier, one of President Martino's counselors. He told us na President Martino was in Cabanatuan for stake conference. Basically he just told the entire branch president they need to be better at what they do. Also he told us to be better in PEC meeting. For lunch we went to the house of Nanay Duran's mother, who's been dead for years but today we celebrated her 'death anniversary'. In the Hpilippines kasi they like to celebrate deaths be throwing big parties with tons of food. We gave a blessing to Lolo Saddi, a really old guy who hasn't left his bed in months. We had dinner at the DeGracia Family, ginataang langka. Ang sarap kumain sa bahay nila!

Feb 25

I love E Bellen. Because of him, MCR day is no longer a hassle. I dont know how he does it but today he made it painless. We had zone goals, email, ate lunch, then went to Milka Krem. at 3:00pm we came home and tambay'ed for a few house. At 6:00 we visted the Costales Family, afterward the Minda Family, where we were fed popcorn and bread with cheese. ZLC na bukas! hindi ako makapaghintay!

Feb 26

Today was great. We woke up at 2:40am to make it early on the bus to go to Tarlac. Once we got to the mission home, we had interviews with President and the AP's/ Sister Martino made toast and juice with yogurt and a banana for breakfast; I felt like I was in America. We're strating a new reprorting system this month so we spent the day talking about it, kagulo naman kasi!! We talked about the Doctrine of Christ, because President Martino feels like for the last year our focus has been way to much on less-actives. To end the day we had a testimony meeting, it was one of the best ever. There was alot of ZLs there for the first time, but that didn't matter (see 3 Nephi 26:16,18). Then President pronounced a blessing upon us and if I ever had any doubt whether he was called of God, today it has all been removed.

Feb 27

 What a day. I woke up early this morning so I could be the first one to shower (Baka mamaya kasi kindi na mainit ang tubig). Sister Martino made us cinammon toast for breakfast, and we ate lunch in Cabanatuan From Cabanatuan to Munoz, E Giffor and I talked about snowboarding and skiing and Targhee & BigSky and the book Freakanomics, nakakatrunky naman! I didn't really want to work today, but on the brightside the bathroom is fixed! Literally nobody was home today, and everyone we talked to said they don't want to listen. It's ahrd to be motivated when everyone says no; I have alot more respect for missionaries in other countries. Ano kaya ang kailangan para magkaroon ng tunay na pag-unlad dito?

Feb 28

This morning was really disappointing. After jogging I was tired all through personal and companion study, and we went out to work. We tried to teach people but not a single person let us in. Then I bought sinigang na baboy from a street vondor, but he gave me almost no gabi. Ang damot naman. this afternoon was better ,we taught a guy who wanted to quit smoking and couldn't hear very well. We went tracting in Bagong Sikat and talked to an old lady who was locked in her house because she didn't have a key to the gate. After about an hour passed we walked by her house again and it was open. She was sitting outisde with two other people, so nag-tao po kami ulit. Her friends looked at us but didn't move. After a while, one got up and went inside and the other came and talked to us. She might have been baliw and we didnt understand her. So E Bellen mumbled something really fast, the old lday said "oo, sige!" and we left. For dinner we ate gulay and popcorn.

March 1

This mornin we had a Zone Training Meeting and the power was out. It was a good meeting, but because the reporting changed it was super sakit sa ulo. When we got home, E Bellen cooke some tsamba-tsamba for lunch and Kuya Baldo worked with us. We went to Bical and found little success, I enjoy the bayan so much more. We taught Lola Hidalgo again and comitted her to baptism. We saw Sister Sylvia and got invited to dinner this evening at their house. But it was the birthday & wedding anniversary of Brother Sylvia pala. Also Brother Oneza's birthday as well, so dalawang kainan! E Bellen hurt his foot today, but he 's not sure what happene.

MArch 2

This morning we taught Angleica again at the Costales home and ate curry-curry and pinapaitan. I dont like the fact that I'm used to the culture here, because  I rarely make note of cool or interesting things. But today I made a list because I talked about it with E Bellen"

1 We ate pusit (octopus) for lunch

2 A spuer drunk guy was shot-putting rocks at someones house and everyone just watched

3 A small kid was pooping in the uncovered drainage ditch that runs through Camachile, and his friends just watched while they waited for him to finish.

4 A lady in a tricycle sidecar was breastfeeding