The LOST EMAIL from January 31, 2011:
NOTE FROM ELDER LEE: here's what you WOULD have gotten that week! I really sent it, I swear! haha :)
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anyways, my report from this week is ok-lang (just ok).
well for one thing, last week I told you about that family in my ward that is related to someone in the my home stake, di ba? (right?) well this week I made sure to listen to the name. I didn't get it at first, because of the heavy accent they had when they were telling me the names. they kept saying kreepees". haha. so yeah, apparently they used to all live in this ward in Paglaum! Everyone knows them. They have alot of cousins and stuff here. Anyways, I thought it was pretty cool. haha.
As far as our work here goes, this week has actually been pretty tough. We had one day that was just amazing, meaning everyone we set appointments with was there, the lessons with them went great, we found alot of new investogators we felt really good about, and we were getting along awesome as a companionship. but the rest of the week.... not so great. haha. We have just had a rough time. Things have just been hitting all at once. Like as soon as we find good investigators, they go insane on us, and as soon as we start getting our less-active members to go to our branch in Murcia, President Tobias tells us we can't go there anymore for sacrament. Which is strange, because that's the area we are assigned specifically to work in. I mean, we trust his judgement of course, but it has just made things more difficult for us. But I have found alot of comfort in the scriptures and in my patriarchal blessing and other things. Did I tell you I was reading Jesus the Christ? I started it in the MTC and I am almost done now. Anyways, it's a great book. haha. Hopefully this week will turn around. Tomorrow I'm going on splits with our district leader so we will see how that goes! I don't know how to get anywhere in our area! hahaha.
Anyways, last bit of news. Today for p-day we went up to the mountains in a place called Mambukal. It was absolutely beautiful there and we had a blast hiking all day. I can tell I am going to be sore tomorrow, though. We are pooped. After we got the normal tourist hike done with, we decided to go on a 3 hour trek to the volcano here called Canlaon. We found someone who lived way out there to take us up there and he took us through all these "shortcuts" that were really just trekking through a forest with no trail. We literally hiked straight up the face of the mountain. So we got there fast, but it was TOUGH. haha. Well when we got there we found out that we couldn't go to the actual volcano peak without a permit, so we got a ride back down with the nice security guards with large guns. hahaha. It was fun.
Anyways, that's about it. halong guid!
-Elder Lee
From February 7th, 2011:
Tani, amoni and ulihing nga mensahe!!
I also wanted to say that I also found out that a bunch of people know Doctor Jarstad down here from when he came here to do his eye work. He stayed in my ward for a day and a ton of people know him. really small world!!
Well this week was another crazy one. We have still had alot of confusion on what we are supposed to do with our area, since we are currently serving under the Paglaum ward, but in an area with a group that is trying to become a branch. It was kind of a mess, but we finally had an opportunity on Thursday for President Tobias to come and talk with us for a good few hours. He and the Stake President and our bishop all had different visions for this area we are over, so we finally sat down and heard what President Tobias wanted us to do, since we are under his stewardship and not the bishop or Stake President. Then just yesterday President Tobias met with the Stake President and all the important people in the area in a really intense meeting and worked it all out. So FINALLY we all have one unified vision. We know what we have to do now, so hopefully this next week we can put it into action and make the needed changes. haha. That's basically it. Other than that it has just been a normal week of eat, sleep, and work!
Halong guid!
-Elder Lee
-Elder Lee
FROM February 14, 2011 <3 :
Maayong Adlaw sang Palangga man!
(Happy Valentines Day too!)
Well this week has been another interesting one. For one, we had Elder Teh of the Quorum of the Seventy who is in the Philippines area presidency come and tour our mission. On wednesday we all went to Bacolod and had a 6 hour long fireside with him and his wife. Recently I started a quote book, so I got alot of neat quotes from the conference! He touched on alot of different subjects, but basically it focused on having confidence and being obedient. We were asked to go to the meeting fasting to recieve personal revelation, and I can see that I totally did. It was a great reminder of alot of things. :)
We have had a big week of correlating meetings with the Stake President and Bishop, and now the ward knows what the vision for this area finally is too. At the moment, my companion and I are now working every other day in Murcia and Paglaum, but our main priority is building the ward in Paglaum, not the "almost branch" in Murcia. We have a few investigators in Murcia with baptismal dates for March. It's really exciting when you have people that actually WANT to read and pray and progress. hahaha. So now that we have a good amount of investigators in Murcia, we need to build up our teaching pool in Paglaum too.
It's really crazy to try to explain the reasoning and everything, but basically, we realized that we just simply follow what the Lord, and what his servants, say. I especially realized that when I was studying from "our heritage" about zion's camp in the early days of the church, and how there really wasn't any point to it besides to test the faith of the saints and weed out those who wouldn't build the church. I totally saw that in some of our meetings. Over the past 10 or so years, the plans have changed over and over for this area and the members are starting to grumble about it. They are starting to grumble about things like going a whole 3.5 kilometers more to church. If we remember the early saints, they were moved from place to place like 6 or so different times! way more than 3.5 kilometers. I realized that maybe the Lord is testing the Saints here. Those with strong faith will accept the changes and those who won't... well... they won't be happy. Anyways, it was a learning experience for me and I am at peace with the decisions that were made by our leaders, even if I don't fully understand them. :)
There is one more thing I want to say about this week though, for some reason, we have had TONS of people tell us about their dreams! Like FREAKY dreams, too! It's hilarious! I don't know what it is either, whether its because we are white, or they can tell we are missionaries, or the water here makes everyone loco, but everyone has the need to share with us their latest "revelation". And it happens all the time, not just this week! hahaha! One of my favorites this week: this man dreamed that godzilla was attacking bacolod, and he threw a marshmallow into its mouth to make it sticky and stop eating everything, and then the man decided to lure godzilla and kill it. And for some reason, THAT'S how he knows the Catholic Church is true. I mean, really?!? That wasn't even a joke. He acted it out and everything. And that was just one example. It cracks me up! We get this all the time! hahaha!
Oh yeah! and another cool thing that happened this week was that one night I saw a bunch of fireflies. I actually caught one, too! It was just something i always wanted to do is all. haha. I really love the nature here. It amazes me everyday. There is no way this was all created by chance. :)
Halong guid,
kamo! Palangga ko kamo!
kamo! Palangga ko kamo!
-Elder Lee
From FEBRUARY 21, 2011:
Kumusta Pamilya ko!
Well, as far as this week goes, we are just beginning our last full week of this transfer, and I think my companion and I are finally getting along and doing good work here! hahah. It has been kind of a struggle compared to my last area, but we have had alot of talks and straightened alot of things out. :) Too bad we probably only have one week left. :-/ Next monday we find out what is going to happen. This transfer FLEW by!
Things aren't getting TOO hot here yet. But I can tell it's starting to amp up. Everyone says come March it is full on summer. yikes! hahah. But I've just gotten used to constantly sweating, I think. ;) and our investigators are doing well. We still have about 5 at the moment that we are focusing on, 2 with a baptismal date that is probably going to have to get moved. Our big struggle at the moment (just like every other week), is getting people to go to church!!! I swear that is the biggest problem here. And then once they come and are baptized, to get them to KEEP coming. haha. But like i said, that is our focus EVERY week. So not really anything new. haha.
I had a few cool experiences this week. One was late at night, we were at a park, and a huge group of kids came running up to us. I noticed one was standing off to the side and not talking, so while my companion played with them I took him aside and talked to him. He said both his parents died last year and he is living with his other neighborhood friends making money by yelling "BACOLOD!!!" over and over before a jeepnie (the transportation here) leaves then the driver tosses out 5 pesos and drives off. sadly, that happens all the time. for some reason i was impressed to talk to him about the plan of salvation, so i quickly said something to the effect of "through the gospel of Jesus Christ you can see your mom and dad again." then handed him a plan of salvation pamphlet. he told me he couldn't read but he liked the pictures, and that was that. well, that was 2 weeks ago, and this week he came running up to me and said that he found someone to read it to him. he was so excited. sadly, he's only 7 so we can't teach him, but for some reason i think he will find the gospel one day. :)
The other experience witnessed to me of the reality of the gift of tongues! This crazy old american man came up to us today in the super market and said something like "i'm not interested in your religion, but i have lived here 11 years and you missionaries know more ilonggo than i do in 2 or 3 months! "I am willing to pay ANYTHING to meet with your guys' tutor." We simply explained to him about the gift of tongues and that really, the spirit was our tutor. haha. I just thought it was an interesting experience. We have alot of americans or british people come talk to us and ask us how we learn Ilonggo and what different things mean. It's a great way to introduce the gospel! ;)
I also heard "naturally" by selena gomez over the speakers at the supermarket today and it made me think of Keira. Shout out to the little niece!!
Well i wish you all another awesome week! Halong guid kamo!! (Take care!)
-Elder Lee
FROM FEBRUARY 28th, 2011:
We are also teaching two girls who have a cousin that is a member and lives close but is in a different stake, so they want to go to church there. We had to talk to them about coming to our ward, and continuing there after they are baptized. And there are actually like 3 more inestigators that have had problems, but I don't have time to explain it all. hahah. It's been an exhausting week, lots of surprises for us, but I think things will start to look up soon. :)
Anyways, bring on another 6 weeks, eh? hahaha. I can really see that I have learned a TON this transfer. and me and Elder M are getting along great now, so we'll see how things continue to look up. :) The work of the Lord will go forth! :)
Well, as far as this week goes, we are just beginning our last full week of this transfer, and I think my companion and I are finally getting along and doing good work here! hahah. It has been kind of a struggle compared to my last area, but we have had alot of talks and straightened alot of things out. :) Too bad we probably only have one week left. :-/ Next monday we find out what is going to happen. This transfer FLEW by!
Things aren't getting TOO hot here yet. But I can tell it's starting to amp up. Everyone says come March it is full on summer. yikes! hahah. But I've just gotten used to constantly sweating, I think. ;) and our investigators are doing well. We still have about 5 at the moment that we are focusing on, 2 with a baptismal date that is probably going to have to get moved. Our big struggle at the moment (just like every other week), is getting people to go to church!!! I swear that is the biggest problem here. And then once they come and are baptized, to get them to KEEP coming. haha. But like i said, that is our focus EVERY week. So not really anything new. haha.
I had a few cool experiences this week. One was late at night, we were at a park, and a huge group of kids came running up to us. I noticed one was standing off to the side and not talking, so while my companion played with them I took him aside and talked to him. He said both his parents died last year and he is living with his other neighborhood friends making money by yelling "BACOLOD!!!" over and over before a jeepnie (the transportation here) leaves then the driver tosses out 5 pesos and drives off. sadly, that happens all the time. for some reason i was impressed to talk to him about the plan of salvation, so i quickly said something to the effect of "through the gospel of Jesus Christ you can see your mom and dad again." then handed him a plan of salvation pamphlet. he told me he couldn't read but he liked the pictures, and that was that. well, that was 2 weeks ago, and this week he came running up to me and said that he found someone to read it to him. he was so excited. sadly, he's only 7 so we can't teach him, but for some reason i think he will find the gospel one day. :)
The other experience witnessed to me of the reality of the gift of tongues! This crazy old american man came up to us today in the super market and said something like "i'm not interested in your religion, but i have lived here 11 years and you missionaries know more ilonggo than i do in 2 or 3 months! "I am willing to pay ANYTHING to meet with your guys' tutor." We simply explained to him about the gift of tongues and that really, the spirit was our tutor. haha. I just thought it was an interesting experience. We have alot of americans or british people come talk to us and ask us how we learn Ilonggo and what different things mean. It's a great way to introduce the gospel! ;)
I also heard "naturally" by selena gomez over the speakers at the supermarket today and it made me think of Keira. Shout out to the little niece!!
Well i wish you all another awesome week! Halong guid kamo!! (Take care!)
-Elder Lee
FROM FEBRUARY 28th, 2011:
Kumusta kamo!
Well! the results are in. I'm staying in Murcia for another transfer and with the same companion.
This was another good week. Looking back on it, we got a lot accomplished. For one, I rode on a carabaw! haha. that was pretty fun. :D but seriously, this week me and Elder M did some pretty good work. As far as numbers go, in the last week of the transfer we brought the area to the highest it has been for 10 months. So we are all ready for another 6 weeks, where hopefully, we can get it up to mission standards.
It has been a pretty tough week as far as our investigators go. for reals. haha.EVERY single one of our focus inestigators had big problems come up. every one! We are teaching about 4 or 5 boys who are all around 18 (we're teaching them seperately) who one by one have all told us for different reasons that they can't keep meeting with us. Some it is because of their parents. Some because of persecution. But every one of them has said that they know it's true, and they feel really good every time they talk to us, but for various reasons can not join the church or even go to sacrament. So that was kind of disheartening.
Then we have this investigator who really wants to be baptized and is totally into the gospel, but has a kid and is living with his girlfriend unmarried. Well to be baptized obviously they need to be married. Basically we talked to him about prayer and how to make big decisions.
We are also teaching two girls who have a cousin that is a member and lives close but is in a different stake, so they want to go to church there. We had to talk to them about coming to our ward, and continuing there after they are baptized. And there are actually like 3 more inestigators that have had problems, but I don't have time to explain it all. hahah. It's been an exhausting week, lots of surprises for us, but I think things will start to look up soon. :)
Anyways, bring on another 6 weeks, eh? hahaha. I can really see that I have learned a TON this transfer. and me and Elder M are getting along great now, so we'll see how things continue to look up. :) The work of the Lord will go forth! :)
anyways, good luck with all that snow back at home! I miss snow! hahaha. have a great week everyone!! palangga ko kamo kag halong guid!
-Elder Lee
