District Leader

How are your lessons going with investigators? What kinds of things stop people from attending church or from being baptized? 

Usually people just straight up don't go to church. That's the biggest thing keeping them from baptism. In the whole Philippines, an investigator must attend 4 consecutive weeks and at least 4 weeks keeping the word of wisdom. In years past they had problems with people joining the church to take advantage of the support they'd get from it. 

This week was... hard. I got made district leader this week  I can safely say this has been the hardest week I've ever had since I've been here. I am thankful for the call to be District Leader, it has helped me in just the past few days be more organized and responsible. I want to be a good missionary, and I am trying. It's so hard. Being a missionary is the most difficult thing I've ever done emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. 

We found a great family this week, I am especially happy about it because even the father wanted to listen! Usually when a situation like this occurs, the father just leaves or goes in the house and doesn’t want to talk to us. This family is absolutely wonderful. I feel something different when I share with this family than I have with other families, but I can't explain it.

I actually didn’t take any pictures this week, not a lot happened that was worth taking pictures.

Over 7 months mark!

This was a pretty good week. We had a meeting on Thursday in Tarlac for all the trainers and trainees. We just talked about the same stuff I heard when elder Casilac was my trainer, but it was good to be there again. Saturday we had three baptisms, I ended up doing all three because elder Basilan's stuff didn't get here in time. Two of them I had to do over because their hair did not go all the way under the water.
natutututoako na mag-ilocano. huwag kayong gamitin ang translator kasi ito ang dialect ng mga taga-ilocos. naragsak ak dahil madi pai ammok kung kailan malilipat ako. ibig sabihin na ayos pa rin ang work namin kasi. natutunan ak met na sabihin 'ana tinagan mo' at 'tagmamano'. ammok met na 'makilabas kami!' ang expression dito sa pilipinas.
dont try to translate the bold lettering. its not Tagalog. its another laguage, ilocano.
Elder Basilan is doing great, our area is so much fun to work in. for the last 6 months  I've never wanted to leave. I've been here way to long. the same people at the same bakery give me the same bread every Monday morning on our way to Camiling each monday. The same less actives still don't come to church. The same guy with the red trike takes us to pit ao (a barangay in our area) regularly. We eat at the same restaurant every Wednesday before we go to district meeting. But i still love it here, its just getting so boring sometimes. ELder Gifford showed me some pictures from some of his friends who work at the Sled Shed in Rexburg, they went snowboarding at teton pass and places in the same canyon as Kelly's and somewhere in Montana. I don't know how they did it, but they found snow somewhere. I miss the snow so much 

That is super awesome about the baptisms.  You will be a pro when you get home. Hopefully you have as much success in the other areas that you serve in.  The roadkill pictures are well....fun.  Where is Elder Gifford from?  How soon are transfers?
the roadkill is on the highway near one of our areas. elder Gifford is from Rexburg. i thought i mentioned that, but maybe not. transfers are on Wednesday, but i know for sure i still have 6 weeks left


WARNING!!! GRAPHIC  ROAD KILL PICTURE BELOW!!!

This week was great

This week was great, we spent a lot of time with the Bamban Elders, Elder Revillio and Elder Bell. On Wednesday we had a zone practice for a song we never ended up singing. Thursday morning we had a zone conference with Elder Teh (The Philippines area president), so the Bamban Elders slept at our apartment Wednesday night. Thursday night they slept again at our apartment because we had exchanges on Friday, so Elder Revillio and I worked together. Then Saturday morning the four of us had a service project. The zone conference was great, but sister Martino kept falling asleep, it was kind of funny. On Friday we had three baptismal interviews for three of our investigators, they're all getting baptized on Saturday. One of them is the girl I told you about last week.

I also got  mail from Alex and Caroline last week, look what they wrote: 

"OH, here's something cool....the Indoor D1 Nationals are being held HERE in the NAMPA at the indoor track. And guess what team gets to help out?? US!!! So we get to help out and see and meet all of the insanely fast famous people :) It's so great and exciting. "

p.s. what are people saying on the blog? And did Kenzie and Kelsie find the music?

What an amazing week! That is really exciting about the little girl and the other baptisms.  I have actually thought of her often this week. Are you sending any pictures this week?   We would love one of you and your companion.  Did you guys feel the earthquake or hear about it? Not many people leave comments on the blog but at least 2 or 3 times a week somebody tells dad or I how much they love your blog and that they appreciate us keeping it up.  We are not sure we can get the sheet music.

That sucks about the music, but good people are still reading the Blog. Transfers are next week, which means Elder Revillio is leaving, everyone is so sad about that.

The other day I walked into one of our less actives home and was reminded of how poor they are. At this point, it’s natural and not even a surprise when I walk into a house with a dirt floor and no electricity, but for some reason I really noticed it that day. I also miss running a lot, even though those two are not related. But I almost never think about home or worry about anyone not in San Clemente. I heard about the quake, but that was on the other end of the Philippines. nothing happened to us here the Philippines is a huge area. I'm doing just fine. I'm sure if something happened Sister Martino would tell you right away.  I love you!

Elder Revillo, Elder Bell, Elder Basilan, Elder Williams

God will tell you

I hope you're still awake. nasira ang relo ko. Kaya, ewanko kung ano'ng oras na sa inyo. (I have broken watch. So, What time ewanko if you).  This was a pretty good week. One of the families we've been teaching since November is a part member family, we're teaching two daughters right now, ages 11 and 14. On Wednesday we visited, and the 11 year old told me about an experience she had at school. Some kid asked her about her religion, as was surprised when she wasn’t part of Inglesia ni Cristo. She told him she goes to the Mormon church because we have a prophet. He asked how she knew that, and then she replied "just pray about Joseph Smith. God will tell you."
 That’s probably the greatest thing that has happened to me since I've been here.
My neighbor (the mafia guy) is doing some major construction on our house. He hired a guy to do some welding for him, and I had to take pictures, because he's welding in sunglasses and flip flops. It's the best.
I got your package, the yoshi shirt is awesome! I also need some face cleaner. One of them that you sent to me had a major kulang. (less) With the liquid stuff, I need a piece to attach to it. It's hard to explain. If you get another one you'll see what I mean. One of them you sent to me doesn't have it. Ask the missionaries there about Elder Harelson. He's the kid I helped at the MTC. That seems like an eternity ago, the MTC. I feel like I've lived in San Clemente my entire life.
I've had balut three times since I've been here. I kind of enjoy the taste. There's this soup stuff that you drink before you actually eat the duck. It's hard to describe the taste. It's not even like I'll eat it if it’s available, I'll actually go looking for balut. I hope you don't think I'm weird.

You are the earliest you have ever been! We start watching for you about 8pm and it is only 7:20.
 
Nice! We’re early because we are going to the SM Mall in Tarlac, Kaya, kailiangan namin mag-email mas maaga (So we can email earlier)

So glad you liked the Yoshi shirt!  I saw that during Christmas and knew you had to have it!   What kind of stuff do they sell at the SM mall?  That is a really cool story about the family you are teaching.  Those are you payback moments for all your hard work.

 The SM mall is just like a regular mall, its super westernized. the first time i went was a shock, because I spent 4 months in the bukid (field) and then went to SM. it was... intense
p.s. I think the patriots will win the super bowl

Your pictures are fun except the rat!! Sooo gross!!!  Dad and Kenz have had dreams about you lately. Kenzie’s was that you came home for spring break.  And Dads was about you coming home because your mission was over and you were just home in the house.
PS I think the giants might win...and we are missing having you here for the super bowl

 I also have weird dreams about being home. Once I was just home for the weekend and everyone was so disappointed in me because I came home early. It was freaking weird. Not even Tim would talk to me, but nobody believed me that I was going back to the mission on Monday.

We will let you go! 
Mahal Kita (love you)



 mom

mahal ko rin kayo! (I still love you)
Elder Williams

1-29-12

Elder Williams  and Elder Basilan

So I’m on right now, but my emails will be sporadic while I’m on because I have tons of 'paperwork' to do for reporting to the mission president and zone leaders and things about our work this month. Sorry about last week, we put a limit on our computer time instead of just open time, and it ran out before I could say goodbye. But right now we have open time so it’s no problem. How are things in America?

p.s.... parang.. kakaiba ung tagalog n'yo ah. kasi pag 'direct' translation, siempre naiintindihan klayo, pero ngyaon naiintindihan ako ng tagalog. ibig-sabihin, ang hirap ng tagalog n'yo kasi. i-aapreciate ko ung efforts n'yo na magtagalog. mahal kita. 

(p.s. ... like .. different Tagalog cheating. Because  the 'direct' translation, of course klayo understand, but I understand Tagalog now. meaning, the difficulty of cheating Taglalog because. I appreciate efforts to speak tagalong that which is here now. I love you)

also, can you have kenzie or kelsie do me a favor?

What would you like Kenz and Kelsie to do?  TELL US ABOUT YOUR WEEK! and your companion.

cge pasentya po talaga. Kasi sa miyerkoles sa feb 1 so ibig-sabihin kinakailangan namin na i-report kila pres at mga AP ung work nmin sa month na ito. pero medyo okay na. ayos talaga ang noong linggo. noong lunes ng gabi, pumunta kmi sa isang pamilya for FHE, at medyo ayaw nila na mag-FHE pero kapag nagsimula tau na kumanta, ang lakas ng espirit sa bahay nila. tapos martes may lesson kmi sa isang investigator, at isang miyembro, (ang pinsan ng investigator) ay nag-share about sa pamilya. sobrang lakas ung spirit talaga.

may tanong po ako sa inyo. pangit ang face ko kasi red palaga. talagang wala na ung acne, pero red pa rin. ano'ong dapat kong gawin?

cge (indicates respect or politeness) please patient actually. Because on Wednesday Feb 1 meaning so we needed to press reports and the AP kila i nmin to work this month. but pretty okay. Actually settled in the week. on Monday night, go kmi a family for FHE, and they do little to FHE but when stalking began to sing, the strength of their home Espirit. Tuesday lessons kmi done with an investigator, and a member, (the cousin of the investigators) have been shared about the family. i really super strength spirit.

Sorry about the late email. its the end of the month so I had to do a bunch of paper work for President Martino and my zone leaders about our work this month. this was a good week. Yesterday we had family home evening with the senior couple, E and S Roberts (Elder Roberts is from Ontario. cool, right?) and he shared a story about his dad walking around the farm and looking at dirt while he and his brothers moved pipe all day long. I don’t want to write the whole story, but thanks. I know the decisions you've made for me in the past were the right ones, even if I wasn't happy about them.

I got an email from Rowland today, his mission is almost over, and that scares me. I also never ever want to leave San Clemente. If I could live in San Clemente I totally would. If you and dad come to the Philippines when my mission is over, we are definitely traveling to San Clemente. Sorry about the Tagalog, it’s a lot of misspelled slang, hopefully you know someone who can translate for you. 

The Tagalog is sometimes hard to translate but we manage.  We know you well enough to kind of get what you are saying.  We would like you to elaborate more on Elder Roberts and the decisions because that does not make sense.

hahaha google translate! pangit ftw! (ugly; not good) I said its weird when you send me things in tagalog because it’s how they would be said in English, so when I read with the Tagalog part of my brain it sounds weird.

Anyway, E Roberts told a story about him and his brothers moving pipe on their farm, and his dad would walk around looking at dirt all day, and he was mad because his dad never did any work. But now he realizes his dad was looking at the dirt and studying it so he'd know when they should move the pipe again.

His point was parents made very calculated decisions about important things, like whether or not I can hang out with Rowland and Brycen on Saturday night even though we have church in the morning and I just got back from a cross country race that weekend. What I’m trying to say is thank you for keeping me safe and making the right choices for me my entire life.

 oh sorry again about the late email!

 mahal na mahal ko kayo

SO CUTE!!

ang week ko ay mas maganda kaysa noong lingo

This week our email came in all Tagalog.  I have tried to translate it.  Much of it does not translate very good but you can understand what he is trying to say.   I was able to ask him a few questions to get some of the words or what he was meaning.  Enjoy....  
 
ang week ko ay mas maganda kaysa noong lingo. kumain ako ng balut. okay lang ang lasa niya. Si E. Basilan ang bagong kasama ko. Astig siya talaga.

Ang isang babae, si sister reno, ay nagalalaba. Ka-branch kami. Ayoko magbayad 300 pesos bawat linggo para sa aking paglalaba, pero ang hirap ng buhay nila. Sa pangkain, minsan 800 pesos bawat linggo, minsan 1200 pesos. mahirap na magsabi kasi.

okay lang this week. may primary activity kami noong saturday, nag-games kami tapos nag-chastize nila kami kasi makulit sila at  ayow nila maging reverent sa sacrament hall. nag-games kami tapos, may candi ako sa kanila tapos nahulog ako kasi nag-attack ko sila. sakit 'yan talaga! Pero masaya ako kasi. Ayow na ayoko malipat! ayow na ayoko umiwa! gusto ko mag-asawa dito (Joke!)

pasentya po talaga kasi. Gusto ko ipadala ang package sa inyo, pero hindi siya ang priority ko.

ito ay ang listahan ng priorities ko:

1. mga investigators

2. mga less actives

3. gawaing misyonero

4. mga meetings

5. p-day

6. ipinipadala ang mga bagay sa inyo.

Basta. tatanggapin ninyo ang lahat bago uumiwi ako. pasentya sa inyo talago

P.S. kung magpopost ka ito sa blog po ninyo, sabin mo: sorry about all the bag tagalog

mahal ko kayo,

Elder Williams

 

The week is better than last week. I eat Balut. okay just taste him. 

and well the new Elder Basilan with me He truley is cool.

A woman, sister Reno, does laundry. You we branch. (She is in their Branch) i do not pay 300 pesos per week for my laundry, but the difficulty of their lives. In Pangkain, sometimes 800 pesos per week, once in 1200 pesos. Because hard to say. ( he is charged 300 pesos per week for laundry but pays 800 to 1200 due to the difficulty in their lives)
okay this week. primary activity we have on Saturday, when we finished games they chastise us who because they annoying ayow they become reverent in sacrament hall. who we finished games, I have them done candy fell because they attack them.  

 

patients really po because. I would send the package to you, but it is not my priority.
This is my list of priorities:
1. investigators
2. the less actives
3. missionary
4. meetings
5. p-day
6. ipinipadala matters to you.

Just. You will receive everything before I went home. Patients with you talago
P.S. If you post this to the  blog Please, you sabin: sorry about all the bad Tagalog
I love you,
Elder Williams