12-16-12

haha. Dad would love it, but when we come back I'll take him to some of the most frightening places in my mission. I would take you and Kenz and Kelsie to the best places and the things you would really enjoy, but I would only show dad the best parts. But he's right we do need to come back.

I can't take you there because I dont know if you could handle it.. Yeah I'll email on Monday and Wednesday  so we can get on skype and stuff. 

Mon 10

WE were supposed to go biking today at CLSU, but we called the missionaries in San Jose zone and invited them to come with us, since CLSU is basically the border of our zones, and they got there way before us. So the bikes were all taken when we showed up and didn't get to go biking.. Instead we went to PCC again and got some ice cream. Then we emailed and bought a few groceries and developed some pictures.. After that, we got done fairly early and went home and just laid around for the rest of p-day. I don't know why, but I ALWAYS am tired before I leave for work after lunch, but NEVER tired at the same time on P-day. I just need a nap, but it never seems to happen. I'm just tired all the time. We finished the day with FHE at the Oneza Family, it was way fun. Oh BTW I'm in a tri-panionship with elder Keene because his companion left yesterday.

Tue 11

Today we worked in Elder Keene's area today, so I don't really know where we went. But around 5:30, the APs texted us and said "Transfer announcements are in" so we went to the computer shop and got them, Elder Garcia is my companion for six more weeks! I'm so happy about that, I really like him. Then we made a fake transfer report that we used on Wednesday. After dinner we went to this old less active who is really rich and ate dinner. He told us how his house help makes him coffee every morning, and so we told him it was bawal (taboo)  and he said 'wait, but almost everyone drinks coffee. Even CATHOLICS drink coffee.' So we tried to explain that you can't do it just because everyone else does it. After planning we called the other zone leaders and asked about transfers in their area, there wasn't very many people who got transferred this time..

Wed 12

We met at the Munoz Chapel this morning and did transfer announcements. I announced the fake one and everybody believed it, it was so funny! They were all shocked at what happened, because we mixed up the transfer’s a lot. Then we had Elder Keene give the closing prayer, but when we all kneeled to pray, he said "Um.. Before I pray, I'm going to announce the real transfers.." Then everyone kind of shouted and were annoyed we had fake transfers, but that always happens at every transfers, so I don't know why they were surprised.. This afternoon we went to some place I've only been a few times and basically didn't teach anyone. It's weird teaching with three people.. I really like elder Keene and Elder Garcia, but a tri-panionship is the worst way to punish a missionary. I feel like I'm back at the MTC with Frearson and Stokes

Thu 13

Transfer day! We took elder Keene to Cabanatuan early in the morning , it was great to see all the other missionaries on this side of the mission, and just eat food and relax for awhile. As soon as he got his new companion, we went back to Munoz and elder Garcia and I went to work. We taught this old less active nanay, she's really funny and wants to do the right thing. 

Fri 14

This is the only area I've had that I haven't hated weekly planning! Every week it’s so simple! Teaching today was pretty great, we taught this less active today that we've had no progress with for weeks, but she came to church but last Sunday, so now we teach her a few times a week. During this one lesson,  A Family (some recent converts) told us about how sick Nanay has been but she just kept praying and then they had no money but she didn't complain, and then when it seemed like she wouldn’t live another day, her neighbor just came over and gave her some money to buy medicine and her daughter sent some money overseas and everything was good. I've taught a lot of spiritual lessons, but this was probably the best lesson ever

Sat 15

We went to Linglingay today, that really far area. Elder Fort is helping us to get organized and hopefully they'll get a branch out there someday, but we'll see what happens. We didn't teach anyone because the entire barangay had a meeting. So EVERYONE attended. Just our luck. Then we came back to the bayan and nobody was home there, either. I don’t know why but this week and last week we haven't been able to teach anyone.

Sun 16

Church was great today; a ton of less actives came today! But I feel like none of the active members were there, not even 100 people came to church today. We taught two recent converts today about temples, because yesterday they had a temple trip and they both did baptisms for the dead and had lots of questions. Also we talked to a part member family and set a baptism goal date for their daughter. It was postponed because her father had a WoW problem, but he talked to the branch president and we got it sorted out

so I'll just talk to you next week. I love you!

Elder Williams

REAL reason for Christmas, Jesus Christ.

Hello! I'm writing the long email right now so huwag kayong magalaala ( do not have to worry)

Yes the mission home is moving

It’s moving because it’s a way better location, it should have been moved a long time ago.

Philippines Angeles Mission

F. Tanedo Street

Tarlac, Tarlac 2300

Philippines

Mon 3

Today was... Stressful. We went to some place next to a river that wasn't that great and played silly games and ate some cold spaghetti. Then we were supposed to have an FHE at a less actives house, but she canceled on us, so we had FHE instead at our Branch Mission Leaders home.

Tue 4

Today was the best. We had basically nobody to teach, which is rare in this mission.. But the day ended with a dinner appointment at a members home, and Elder Abrenilla and Elder Keene came with us

Wed 5

Today we had DDM in San Antonio, Elder Bells area. It's so far away I wonder why people live there. We took a trike for close to an hour just to get to the meeting house. It was Elder Abrenillla's last DDM so we had a testimony meeting. Elder Keene spoke English, Elder Bell and I spoke taglish, Elder Abrenilla and Elder Mosquera spoke Cebuano and Tagalog, and Elder Garcia spoke Ilokano. It was really really cool. For lunch we went to a member’s home, and she told us about the time she spent in Hong Kong for work and that's where she got baptized

Thu 6

Me and Elder Abrenilla worked in Munoz 2 today, it was way fun. At first, I was worried because I thought he would be lazy since he was on his way home, but he worked way hard and we had such a good time. Then we taught a part member family; their daughter was supposed to be baptized this weekend but two weeks ago we found out her dad (who was going to baptize her) has a few problems with the word of wisdom. They told us about how nothing but problems have come into their life and their family this week, and Elder Abrenilla told them to stop arguing because it won't fix anything. It was the best lesson ever, Elder Abrenilla taught like he new about every problem they had

Fri 7

I worked with Elder Bell today in Munoz because Elder Garcia did a baptism interview in San Antonio. We got punted in just about every area we went to, I think we got punted ten times the entire day. We ended dinner at a less-actives home who is a little bit too obsessed with the missionaries, and she went less active because the last missionary here didn't like her very much. But she made us my favorite meal in this country, Itlog with kamatis and ampalaya and tuyo. Look it up on the internet..( Eggs with tomatoes and bitter and dry.)

Sat 8

Today was Elder Abrenilla's last day of missionary work. We worked until 7, and then attended a district activity with Elders Keene and Abrenilla, and Elder and Sister Fort. They fed us dinner (menudo with pinya) and we went home. Elder Keene is still scared of the ghost, so he fell asleep in my bed (because our room isn't haunted I guess) and I stayed up with Elder Abrenilla while he packed all his clothes. I tried to talk to him and get him to tell me stories from his mission, but he hardly talked. He mentioned about 4 times how sad he was and that his entire mission, he couldn't wait to go home, but now it's here and he'd give anything to stay. It made me really sad as well, I don't want to leave either. I've been here so long that things are just easy for me now and I don't have hard time with anything. I already struggled to adjust to a new country and culture,  I don't want to have to do that again in six months

Sun 9

Best Day Ever. Around 1pm, Elder and Sister Fort picked up Elder Abrenilla and took him to Cabanatuan, and Elder Keene became our companion. We worked until six and then went to the Christmas Devotional at the church; it was the best ever. After the meeting was over, it was dark outside, and I just FELT like there was snow on the ground. It was then I realized that it's not gifts or lights or snow or anything else that brings the spirit of Christmas, but it’s the REAL reason for Christmas, Jesus Christ. That's why I feel this way, but the snow and lights and cookies and gifts just add to the excitement. After the devotional, I walked out of the chapel and was honestly surprised that I didn't see snow.

Well my time is up, so I'll talk to you next week. I love you!

Elder Williams

Ghost Hunting and 17 months

Monday Nov 26

This morning we had zone goal setting, my LEAST favorite part of being a missionary. After Email and lunch, we had a district activity at the Philippine Carabao Center, it was so much fun. Then E Garcia got his hair cut and I talked to some riff-raff and invited them to learn about the Gospel, but... no dice. We had FHE this evening at the Costales Family and brought Nanay Borre, a less active, and her son, an investigator. Elders Bell and Mosquera also came with us because we have DL/ZLC tomorrow, so they're sleeping here tonight. Right now we are all sleeping side by side in our room on the floor. We're going ghost hunting later, E Bell and I put baby powder all over Elder Keene's room because lately he's been hearing the ghost walk around his room

Tuesday Nov 27

Well, Elder Bell and I caught the ghost! but that's later.. Today we got up around 5:00am so we could go to Cabanatuan for our ZL/DLC. ZL/DLC was great, we talked about the life of Jesus Christ and how it affects us. Every time we have a meeting with President Martino, I always leave feeling so happy. The Assistants gave a great workshop about Christ like Attributes and told us to prepare ourselves for Christmas Zone Conference. I tried to sleep on the way home but Elder Bell and I just talked instead. When we got home, I found Elder Keene listening to music and laying on my bed. I guess he was too sick to work. So we bought him medicine, and he thinks he got robbed because his money and the utilities fund are missing.

OK back to the ghost:

 So before we went to bed, Elder Bell and I agreed we would wake each other up if we heard or saw anything. I laid in bed from 10:30 to 12:30, and about that time we heard a pounding noise in the floor, but we weren't sure what it was because we didn't know where it came from, so that scared us enough that we didn't sleep. Around 2:30, Elder Abrenilla (Elder Keene's companion) got up and walked out of the room, and I said to Elder Bell: "Elder Abrenilla is going to die!" He went to the bathroom, and instead of coming back and going to sleep, he walked into the kitchen, and I knew for sure he was dead; because hey, its 2:30am and the kitchen is close to the piano that the ghost plays sometimes. So we watched him turn the light on and just stand there for about 10 seconds. After that, he turned it off and walked back into the room. Then he stood in front of the closet, opened it, and shouted "May Tao!" which means "there's someone here!' I know I'm not crazy, because Elder Bell saw all of this as well. I asked him about it this morning, he said he didn't remember it at all. I think he's been sleepwalking. Case closed! And we didn't even have to use a vacuum!

 Wednesday 28

Today we had a zone training meeting and explained all about what we learned at ZL/DLC. Afterwards, we ate some cake (happy birthday Elder Verano!) and went to Manila Grill (a kind of lame restaurant). I was annoyed about the cake because nobody wanted to leave, then they forgot my order at Manila Grill, plus they forgot my order and didn't cook it, and the jeepney on the way home played loud music while we tried to make phone calls about the zone t-shirts. When we got home, Elder Keene shared some JIF peanut butter, and everything that ever bothered me went away. Then I felt bad for being annoyed about everything, and the day ended up being really great.

Thursday 29

We had a zone CSP, it was so much fun. We painted the Barangay Hall in San Anton, Elder Bell and Elder Mosquera's area. We all got home late because it took so long to paint, but we still had pretty good work. Everyone else told us they were exhausted from the CSP so didn't work as hard as they would have if there was no CSP. Then we taught a less active, Tatay Bustos, and he made silly jokes about me being a short American

Friday 30

Weekly planning was so easy, which rarely happens. Today I worked with E Abrenilla, my kabahay, in his area. We walked through the squatters area, it was so sad. It was just a bunch of poor people with dikit-dikit bahay. I don't know which Filipino leader let this happen, but people here just live in cement squares. We were supposed to eat dinner at a less actives house tonight, and when we showed up, she said she just back from San Jose, so she wasn't able to cook. I was so tired, right after planning I went right to sleep.

Saturday 1

Nakupo! its almost christmas! THe elders in munoz branch 1 had a baptism today, almost nobody showed up. Afterwards we had lunch at a members home, and they took us to this really far area called LingLingay after lunch where we are holding a sacrament meeting every week because there’s a lot of members but they can’t go all the way to church every week, its way too far. President Martino said if we can keep a steady attendance of 40 or 50 every week, he'll send a request to the Area Presidency to build a meeting house there. I probably won't be here to see it, but it'll happen someday. We had dinner at a really rich member’s home; it was sort of like a catered dinner because it was so fancy. I ate until my stomach was about to burst, I had a hard time walking home tonight.

Sunday 2

We had the special sacrament meeting today, it was great! I was surprised at how many showed up. There's one old lady who was baptized almost 30 years ago, she was so happy that we had a sacrament meeting for her and her family. The Forts came with us as well, they're going to keep track of the progress there.  They made eggs, tomatoes, and ampalaya with tuyo for dinner, and we ate by candelight with our bare hands. It was the best dinner ever.

Anyway my time is up, I’ll talk to you next week

Tell McKenzie to email me!

I love you!

Elder Williams