Week 37 - Talofa Elder Faasavalu

Alcala

I got my new comp. His name is E. Faasavalu. He is from Somoa. He's awesome. Like seriously we have a great relationship, and the members love him. Yesterday we didn't go on splits but the members worked with us and it was way fun. Also we got a new district leader, E. Aarong. District meeting was way fun. We laughed the whole meeting.

Finally, one of our progressing investigators went to church. Melba Bitanga is her name. She is one of our 8 investigators with a baptismal date. This is the second time she has gone to church so if she comes 2 more times we'll plan her baptism.

Other than that this week was real busy, but not really with lessons. Transfer weeks are always like that. So hopefully next week, I'll have more to say. Also, we took pictures yesterday with one of our fellowshippers.  She should upload them on FB her name is May-May Tumamoa. I don't know how to spell her last name so that's probably not correct :p

E. Arorong is our DL, E. Echano got transferred to South Tugue, E. Saguire is training, so E. Wengreen got transferred, Sister Vi is training too, so Sister Romero got transferred.

Elder Swensen making Philly cheese steaks for the members.

Another picture from FB of a family Elder Swensen taught.

Elder Faasavalu and Elder Saguire

Week 36 - Traveling preacher

Alcala

This week went really fast.  We weren't in Alcala a whole lot this week. On Tuesday, we were in Tugue for DM and then we went on splits with the Elders from Solana.  Elder Echano and Llacona came and stayed at our apartment and I went on splits with Elder Echano. We went to see Gemma and her family. It was fun.

On Thursday, we went to Echague for E. Brandon's teeth. That took the whole day, but it was fun because we got to eat at SM in Cauayan. Just so you know SM is the biggest mall in our mission, that or Robinson's in Santiago. Also on the way home, I got to talk with this lady. She was from the Philippines, but she married an American from Atlanta and after they got divorced she moved to Japan and is working there. She just came back for the funeral of her mom. We talked from Ilagan to Cabagan, which is like two hours by bus. It was way fun, and I basically taught all of lesson 1 to her on the bus.

On Saturday, we went down to Tugue for a baptismal interview for the sisters there. Other than that this week has been busy, but pretty normal.  I don't really need anything in a package, just chocolate again. Last time was perfect.  I just found out I'm not getting transferred so that's great!

Week 35 - Giving the baptismal covenant

Alcala

Conference was good. There was a lot of talks about eternal marriage, so I don't know what that is saying for me. I don't hear much from old comps, but I heard my old ward is doing just fine. 

The people we baptized all live in the same area, Tamban. They are all pretty much family in some way or another. We have 6 more baptismal dates over there in Tamban for May. Elmer Riña, Melba Riña, Dexter Riña, Jemmelyn Riña, Fredie Bitanga, Edelyn Bitanga are their names. Their biggest struggle is quitting coffee and having money to cross the river for sacrament. If they go to church this week though we can have the baptisms on May 16.

Also in another area we have two more baptismal dates. Gemma Tejano, and her two kids, Irish and Anjo, and Angelbee Alnas. They live in Baybayog. Angelbee's only problem is her parents. Her parents don't want her to get baptized. She's 16 right now so we would have to wait until she's 18.  She said she is going to try and talk to her parents. Missionaries in the past have talked to her parents and they still don't want her too, but this is the first time she actually wants to talk to them. It's pretty funny. 

E. Brandon was the first person to start teaching Gemma. We honestly didn't know if she was going to accept the baptismal covenant so we were kind of reluctant to give it to her.  I just felt the spirit so strong in one lesson I just did it, and she accepted.  It was awesome. She always wants American food, so next time I want to cook Philly Cheese steak sandwiches for her.

We are going to the dentists in Echague on Thursday. The travel expenses are reimbursable, but I want have enough money to make it there and we can't get reimbursed until after we get back so I might need some money for that.

There are some awesome belts here that are made out of Caribou Ivory. I was thinking for Christmas I could buy one for each of the boys in our family.  I was also thinking about getting one for Adam, Zac, Aaron, and Brody. And for the girls I was thinking about getting pearls. That could be their Christmas presents.  I think this would be a cool thing for you guys to at least see a bit of the culture, and a good Christmas gift. I'll also send home a few cooking powders and instructions on how to cook the meals so you guys can eat Filipino on Christmas. I also have a few more gifts that I'll send from things that I got in the past.

I love you guys!

Week 34 - Awesome baptisms!

Alcala

Sorry, I haven't written much lately.  The typhoon didn't really do anything.  It rained a little bit yesterday, but that was it. Actually Easter wasn't much here. Friday is a government holiday for good Friday, but other than that, they really didn't do anything here. It was like a normal day.

 

The people who got baptized last week are awesome. They are in a part of our area that's on the other side of Cagayan river. The place is called Tamban. I hope by next year they have a branch over there. The members over there are just awesome. Also, later in the storm season they said it's impossible to cross the river so it would really help to have a meetinghouse over there. We haven't had much luck with finding lately so we've really just been working on our less actives and the investigators we have right now.

 

We have a baptism next Saturday. It is the Husband of one of the baptisms last week. He is awesome too. He used to have a problem with smoking and that's why he wasn't on the same date as his wife, but one day he was just like, I don't feel the urge to smoke at all anymore. He's like I'm not even tempted, and he hasn't smoked since then. He's really an awesome guy. Also during our church classes he listens like crazy. Even if it's a super deep topic like about the priesthood he'll listen and ask questions. He's a real cool guy.

 

The Tejano family is one of our investigators. We cooked tacos with them, I think 2 weeks ago. It was way fun and they have potential too to get baptized. DeLeon is the naynay that we always eat with. She is basically like my mom here. Whenever I get sick or have a headache she'll always takes care of me. She also said when I come back to study I should just live at their house because their daughter, Kim, just left on her mission and she said it's super lonely in her house so she wants me to stay there. She also really wants to meet you guys. She's actually not bad at English either. Anyways, let me know if you have any other questions.

 

I love you guys. 

3 awesome baptisms last week and tatay next week!

 

Tejano Family

 

Tacos with the Tejano's

Elders and the DeLeons

Dinner with the DeLeons