Kay sarap ng buhay

Gumbia Zone

hii. 

haha I had a block on school? that's too bad. Anyway sorry we're late we had an awesome P-day today because two elders are going home next week so we tried to do a lot today

march 10

Today after church we taught Angelica again, she told us she wants to get baptized! We were supposed to pick up a family on the way to Linglingay, but when we stopped by they were on their way to Cabanatuan; I guess their cousin got in a motorcycle accident and got sent to the hospital or something. Tonight at the DeGracia Family we had tinapa with ginisang sebuyas nang may itlog. Kay sarap ng buhay!

mar 11

For our P-day this week we went to Tatay Bustos' house and nag-ihawan kami. Elder Retaga and I ate until everything was gone. I don’t know why, but both of us were still hungry. The whole zone was there; we had bangus, tilapia, & BBQ. We put it all on a banana leaf and then kanya-kanya kain. Then after a bit of email we went to Friendship (grocery store)  and went home. Our FHE tonight was at the Soriano Family, adobong pininyahan na naman, napakasarap! (marinated pininyahan again, delicious)

mar 12

 Today I noticed as we were talking to people, the farther away we were from the bayan, the nicer the people were. Elder and Sister Fort came with us to visit Lola Aniana, napaka-daldalng tatlong ian. Afterwards Elder Bellen and I met a kid named Ronel, who let us in his house almost immediately. He's so rich I was genuinely surprised. Kuya Baldo work with us and we taught this one lady with a baby.We Finally got to teach the Newingham Family today. I asked if she knew Lola Aniana and she said "Buhay pa ba 'yan?" (Is she still alive?) For dinner, Kuya Baldo made us lumpiang masagana, napaka-sobrang sarap! Ang laki ng tiyan  ko. Talagang tumataba ako sa Munoz.

mar 13

 Today was strange. we had DDM this morning, but had to start early because to the byahe of San Anton Elders. Ince we left the house (in the afternoon), it was so hot I could die.  We visited the Sunido Family, another member pala sila! I've walked past their house a bunch but never seen any people.  The day ended with a snack and lesson at the Abutin Family.

mar 14

this morning we attended a graduation ceremony at San Anton High School; we sang a few musical numbers. The AP's worked with us today, it was the best. Before we had to leave for work, we stopped at MilaKrem since Elder Cohen goes home in 10 days (also, we got to use their car so it was easier to go there). After that we went on splits, I worked with Elder Tating. It would be great if he and I could be companions,  We taught the Newingham family again, Elder Cohen was surprised at how well they spoke English. We finished at Kuya Baldos house.

mar 15

What a day. Weekly Planning was easier than ever, so we cleaned the house spotless today. After lunch, the Fort's went with us to visit Lola Darrin, which I think helped alot. Afterwards we visited Kuya Ronel, but he was asleep because tehy went bik,ing yesterday until around 4:00am. Today is graduation for High School and Elementary, kaya we got fed almost
everywhere we went. Irene Garcia graduated high school,. so we ate pancit malabon and bilo-bilo. At the Abutin Family, bili-bilo and puto. After that we stopped by Teody's house, then stopped by the Parenas Family because their daughter graduated high school. Sobrand daming pangkain! Spaghetti, fried chicken, juince, soft drinks, at may ice cream pa!! Our last appointment was at the Francisco Family, kain na naman! Adobo, tinapa, itlog na may kamatis. Mamamatay ako sa busog! The light in front of our house burned out today, so I did my laundry in the bathroom after planning.

mar 16

Kamote. What a da na naman. Tiday we taught Angelica again at the Costales Family. After lunch, tatay Ramos worked with us for about an hour. We visited the Tubeje Family and tatay shared a great lesson with them. They committed to come to church, but we'll see. When we got back to the bayan we tried the Sunido Family, but no tao. We ended up teaching the DelaCruz Family and Mae & Irene. Parang nagsasawa na ako sa kanila. Mga bata kasi, sobra sa kwentuhang walang kwenta. We also saw President Pajaritp this evening at his sister-in-law's house. we wanted to teach, but she had friends over. Then I bought some juice for tomorrow at a tindahan and we went home. Sunday na naman bukas!

"power and great glory"

My blog post is a little late this week.  Elder Williams asked me to keep a lot of his letter out of the blog this week.  I felt like I needed time to read it several times to decide if I needed to leave out more than he asked and I did.  Our family is really missing him and are counting the DAYS until his return.  It has been and incredible journey and cannot wait to see him again.  It has been 2 years since he received his mission call and at times it feel like it goes so fast and other times it feels like time has stopped.  We have been blessed from his service to the Filipino people.  It is amazing that you can really love and appreciate people you have never met.  We love the people of the Philippines and they will always have a special place in our hearts. 

Mar 3

Work started today immediately after church, we taught Angelica about baptism today. Linglingay was pretty disappointing today, but soon it will have two missionaries of its own... eka. We finally taught Reino today (the guy Elder Weimer and I taught), it was great! The only other memorable part of the day was we ate barbeque & had Sprite at the Soriano Family's home (they have a son on a mission right now, so we go there pretty often.) Then we had dinner at the DeGracia Family: Munggo at tinapa kasama ng saging. (Legumes and along with dried bananas) Ayoko magpamataas, ngunit mahal talaga ako ng Diyos

Mar 4

P-days lately are the best they've ever been. I think it’s because life is sometimes that like it’s like life. I know my English is awful lately, but can't you all just cut me some slacks?

OK sorry. trip ko lang kasi. We had practice for our musical number in Zone Conference on Wednesday; it helped a lot having Elder Fort teach us. And reporting today was so easy! I love the new MCR so much. Today wasn't too busy of a day. After email we ate at Hubby's then went to Friendship. We got home around 2:30 then cleaned the house and enjoyed some kwetuhan with the San Anton Elders

Happy Birthday McKenzie! 

Mar 5

This time last year, my dad wrote me a letter and said "Well, it's that time of year again. The time when the town stops to celebrate McKenzie's birthday with a week-long celebration." haha. Today was a good day.  We went tracting today in Bagong Sikat and nobody would talk to us. It was bad enough na we went to the Fort's home to ask for referrals, but I forgot they can't speak the language so they don't really know anyone

Mar 6

Today at Zone Conference I saw something that has changed everything about me and the way I look at life. This morning we were sitting in the chapel waiting for the meeting to start, and Sister Martino was saying hello and talking to the missionaries. It was during this time that I looked into her eyes and I actually saw "power and great glory" (1 Nephi 11:28). I don't know how to describe it adequately, but it's something I've never seen before in my entire life. And I'm sure I saw it, because I saw it again during the opening song. I saw a husband and wife, eternal companions, who had lived in such a way that the only thing keeping them from exhalation was death. We talked about the Doctrine of Christ today, but it was the same stuff from ZLC. Once we got home we walked from house to house and got punted over and over

mar 7

We taught Lola Aniana today, her house is HUGE! The upstairs was so big to get from one side to the other we had to walk back downstairs and up a different staircase. We taught a lady today about baptism and she comitted to Apr 6, but then told us shewas going to Pasay and wouldnt be back until May. patay.. Why can't I ever have a story like they put in the Ensign or Liahona? We knocked on a bunch of gates today but nobody would let us in.

mar 8

Today Guimba 3 had a baptismal interview, so Elder Weimer and I worked in their area. The baptismal interview was.. a very edifying experience (see D&C 50:22). It was someone who was first taught by Elder Abuan almost two years ago but then she moved to Leyte and just recently got back. 

Not much else happened today, we ended the day with pandesal and hot chocolate

Mar 9

Elder Bellen and I went to Linglingay but only taught one lesson, but she's going to Manila in a few weeks, so we can't do too much to help her out. 

We stopped by the Espiritu Family, nobody was home. Once we got back to the bayan we taught Mae and her Friends, then the Oneza Family.  the hardest thing I've ever had to do is watch people make the wrong choices, even when some of them have mad  the right ones previously and turned away from that. And my entire mission its been pretty easy to get baptisms and help people come back to church, but what's happening to us is strange, almost foreign, because up to this point in my mission I've had pretty good success and the people have been pretty nice.

ok my times up. I love you!

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