At the bowling Alley last week. (I sucked!)
Sunday, May 29, 2011
No Salt After 6
Sunday, May 22, 2011
I heart my Mommy
Happy Birthday Mom!
Monday, May 16, 2011
Another Day in Paradise
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Notes from Mother's Day Call
Garrett called for Mother's Day. He has been transferred to New Washington, Kalibo, Panay, Philippines. It is on the coast on the Northern tip of the island. He lives in a house with his new companion, Elder Wilhelmsen (Texas) and two other Elders. Their house is next door to Sampaguita Gardens Resort and near Maria Mercedes Water Park. He lives in the nicest house in the mission. The area is considered wealthy compared to his last area (Sibolom). It would even be considered nice in America. There is air unit in the Zone Leader's room, they can't use it much, because it costs too much. Still no warm shower. He loves his Mission President. He needs to learn another language in his new area. It is a mixture of Tagalog and Alkanon. He has heard that this new language is harder to learn than Kinaraya was, but he is up for the challange. It was 9:17 Sunday night for us and 11:17 Monday morning for Garrett. He called from an internet cafe, using Skype without video.
He loves the Bishop in his new area. There is more poverty in Sibolom and people were more willing to listen. New Washington is more wealthy and people aren't so willing to listen. From Siblomon the couple missionaries took him to Iloilo for a meeting. Then he took a 4 hour bus ride to New Washington with his zone leaders and other transferring Elders. Elder Wilhelmsen has been in New Washington for one transfer, so he is fairly new, too. He asked about Irene, since he hasn't met her. He asked about his room. We told him we tore it apart (we didn't). He asked about his truck, which we sold. He asked about Macy & Breck's upcoming trip to Boston. He asked about Emily and Brad's new baby, Peter. He talked with each of us individually and asked about what and how we are each doing. It is rainy season there. He has started wearing his second pair of shoes, which are waterproof, because he has already worn a whole in the first pair. He loves the pants he had made in the Philippines. They are thinner. They get soaked if they forget to bring their umbrellas. He was soaked during our call because he didn't take his umbrella. He is enjoying the cooler weather during the rainy season. He asked when Colton Gust, Clint Madsen and Nick Accordino (June) leave for their missions. He asked about Brian Knells wedding (April 9). He asked if Ben Rebman got his call yet (he hasn't). He said to talked Ben out of having a girlfriend when he leaves. Having a girlfriend really affects the Elder's ability to have a successful mission. He is surprized how many missionaries don't take it seriously. He said he worked really hard in Sibolom and "walked my butt off everyday". He can see other islands off in the distance. It is really pretty. Every "payday" we go into San Jose and buy groceries. He was happy to hear that Dalton is expecting a mission call. Brittney asked "are you whimpy now?" He didn't know how to reply. We all got a chuckle! Finally he said "maybe". He works out every morning and doesn't think he has gained or lost weight. He keeps in touch with Taylor Webster and Kyle. He wishes James Wulfenstein would write and he hopes James will go on a mission. He enjoys getting handwritten letters. They make his day. He eats a lot of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. He likes when people send jerky, because they don't have it there. He misses spices. They use vegetables to flavor food. He is surprised how much he likes rice now. He eats it with his hands or with a spoon. Never a fork. There is a tiny oven in the new house, but he doesn't know if it works. He hopes to send home a package "for mom's birthday with something little for everyone". During the week he is focused and then when it gets closer to his p-day he starts thinking about home and waiting for an e-mail. It's harder now that he has an American companion. People seem to think they are a joke... like two Joes. We asked about the dog bite and he said it was embarrassing. He has had a sore throat for a long time, but Sister Pagalon gave him some medicine and it's getting better. When he talked with Brittney she was shy. She told him about her chickens laying eggs and selling some to Papa Joe. He said "Barb, you're rich". If you have the equivalent to a $20 bill there the shops won't have change for it. They use very small amounts of money. He feels uncomforable taking pictures of the culture because people there don't have cameras. Breck asked about wildlife. There are fist-sized spiders, dogs everywhere, and rats. He ate belut (half developed duck egg). He doesn't like to eat at member's homes very much. They usually have fish. He hasn't eaten in restaurants. He said they try to cook American food, like pizza. We told him pizza is Italian. LOL! He likes rotessori chicken and top ramon. We never need to send toothbrushes, but floride toothpaste would be good, since their toothpaste isn't very good. He is afraid he'll get cavities. He chipped a tooth, but wants to wait until he gets home to have it fixed. He chipped it on a carmel apple sucker. He fell through a bamboo bridge that covered a large ditch colvert. He felt bad, but the people said don't worry about it. They people there are way happy, but they drink a lot and it's hard to get them to stop. They live together without getting married, but they call each other husband and wife. I miss little things like going to Breck's motel. There is no time for just a break. It would be so nice to just go sit in a hot tub. If you are working hard and doing your best here the time flies and before you know it you're home. He asked about the family trip to Havasu. I miss good pasta. We make pasta here, but it's just not the same. You could send alfredo sauce. I miss good food. I buy fruit here. It is so, so good. I bought a whole pineapple and ate it last night. It is so good and cheap. It would be way, way hard to not get anything from your family. Sometimes it's nice to get handwritten letters. It's kind of like the highlight of my week. We got lucky, we can buy peanut butter here and jelly. The closest to eating out I've done is this rice place. I get by fine. In our apartment we have 3 Americans a zone leader (Nebraska) and one Philippino who goes home in a month. He asked about Joe's homecoming. They listen to a lot of Justin Biber. I'm excited that when I come home it will be right in the middle of the deer hunt. You guys can pick me up and we'll go right to deer camp and the stay in the Aladin. He asked Barb what's your favorite subject at school and she said "recess". Barb told Garrett about her soccer, gymnastics and piano lessons. She will go to Toniquent next fall. He asked about my work now that tax season is over. In the pictures you sent, I think Brittney has changed, but the rest of you look the same. He said he listens to hymns on his i-pod. I miss The Ringer show are there any new shows? Is there a new bachelor? LOL! He asked about Macy's EMT testing. To be honest I was talking with Elder Jenkins and I said I kindof wish they didn't sell the F150. I would like to drive it when I get back. The driving is crazy here. Everyone drives all over the place. I do miss air conditioning. I wouldn't mind driving around with air conditioning. He asked us all what we drive (like we would all have new vehicles or something.) He teased Dad that he was having to mow the lawn now that Garrett is gone. When I get home we need to have a softball team. I want to play when I get back. We don't do anything here except basketball. It's fun though to play once a week. That's another good thing about the time I left. I'll only miss one football season. Just make me a fantasy team and I'll take over when I get home. He asked about Dixie High Baseball team. He asked about Trevor Reynold's getting married. He mentioned that he got a letter from Travis Reynolds and from Janell Reynolds. That was cool. I got a letter from Konner Taylor. It said "I'm your best bud." Every once in a while on p-day I write a personal letter to someone. How is Mandy. She sends me DearElder letters almost every week. He asked if we plan to make a trip to the Philippines. He said it would be fun to go like a year after he gets home. In January when I got your calendar I thought I would have to wait forever, but it just flew by and now it's May. He asked if we can do a voice recording of some kind for him. Just the other day I was trying to remember your voices. Could you just buy one of those cheap voice recorders and record your voices so I can hear them. I know it sounds wierd, but I'ld like to hear your voices. Did you guys look up the Jubilee on the internet. It was at Reneta Stadium and the Manila area stakes went together and did a bunch of cultural dances. The Tabernacle Choir came and sang with the Philippine Choir. It was really good. Macy asked if he wants a PAT ring (CTR in Togalog). He said "yeah, that would be cool".
Sunday, May 1, 2011
The Jubilee was Awesome
A service project
Elder Jenkins & I
Hey everyone! This week has been really good, and flew by! So the biggest news is that I found out I will be transferring this Friday so next week’s letter will be from a different area and a new companion. I won’t lie, I will miss Sibalom. There are a lot of awesome people here and the work was going good as well. This Saturday we watched the “Jubilee" which was a huge, huge celebration of the church officially being in the Philippine Islands for 50 years. I can’t believe it here. In 1961 there was one member and now there is over 630,000 and growing so fast. The Jubilee was awesome. They did a ton of cultural dances and also the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang with the Philippine National Choir. You should look it up to see if you can watch the videos. Then Sunday we had an area conference to which the area 70 came and also Boyd K. Packer and Quentin l. Cook from theTwelve. It was cool to hear them address things specifically to the Philippines and the missionary work here. There was also really good speakers. I am pretty excited for a new comp haha. We were doing ok but have been together 18 weeks so "buhay ron" or a long, long time haha. It will be weird to get a new comp cuz it will only be my second here in the field so it will be different teaching and I will also have to learn a different language. Either Hiligaynon or Aklanon depending on where I transfer. (There are more than 100 languages and 400 dialects in the Philippines.) Hiligaynon is fairly similar to Kinaray'a but just different vocab. It will be wierd. I am really getting to where this language is easy and I can communicate well. I have had a weird cough and sore throat the last few days so hopefully it goes away because it is hard to speak the language here with it like that. That is fun that you got to go to Havasu haha. I am jealous sometimes of things like that. I am glad everything is going well with you all and you are all staying happy and healthy. The weather here is bad haha it is so hot here. I also had a lady wash all my shirts last week and they are so, so much whiter than usual haha. I’ll do it again this week. That is crazy about all the natural disasters going on in the world. Regarding next week, I will try my best to call you early Monday morning here...so Sunday evening there. I will try earlier than I normally e-mail but I can’t guarantee anything since I have no clue where I will be. Also, we cannot do video. Voice only on the Skype. Either way I will get ahold of you and it will be sweet to hear from you all :) I love you all! Bye, Bye.
Hey Papa! This week has gone really well. I will be transferring to a different area this week so that will be cool, I guess. I have been meaning to tell you about some funny things here. I told you they use bamboo for everything but this week we were in a different area and the power lines were all tall bamboo haha. I was laughing. Also, when they build a house, they use bamboo for scaffolding haha. It is funny how much they use bamboo in their life. I think it is crazy that baseball is almost over already. Anyway I love you tons, dad, and can’t wait to talk!
Hahahahaha Britt that is rude...you miss me not really, but just a little haha I miss you! jk that is so awesome that you ran track in Vegas I am so proud of you Barbs. You are getting so big. I love you so much!
Monday, April 25, 2011
I hid the eggs and E. Jensen found them ...
A little cart thing that they hook to a Karibaw and pull things
Our Easter eggs
Hey everyone, this week went really well. Easter week here is crazy. On "Holy Thursday" and "Good Friday" all of us missionaries had to be in our apartments by five due to the celebration of Easter here. The way they celebrate is by getting way drunk and worshipping Jesus statues and some of Mary...it’s weird. But I got some nice rest. As for my Easter, it was fine, we went to church in the morning and then for my lovely Easter dinner I had some canned American chicken that mom sent me :) At night time we also had a mini Easter egg hunt haha with the eggs I got in the mail (for everyone wondering, yes I am lame, I know, back off) haha. I hid the eggs and Elder Jenkins found them. I had already eaten the candy inside so there was no prize but oh well haha, definitely a different Easter than I am used to.
So next week is transfers so I will like 99% sure get a new comp but I will find out for sure next Monday. I don’t know if I will still be here in Sibalom or not. Regarding the flash drive mom, I would like you to send the pink one that I bought here so I can see if I can put those photos back on my camera. My memory cards are huge so I won’t need the room and sometimes it is just cool to look at the old photos. If no that is fine though. I am not sure if it works anyways. So I think I will just do Skype on Mother’s Day, but I am not sure what day we will actually call. I will let you know next week. All the companionships in my mission now have cell phones so if that fails you can call me. I cannot call you though with the phone, you to me only. But I will finalize things next week. I am jealous you are all at Lake Havasu! That is too bad the boat won’t run smoothly. It is missing its caregiver (me) :) You are absolutely right though with that Italian restaurant. I would get chicken parmesan and LOVE IT. The cheese here sucks they don’t have normal milk or cheese so that sucks but oh well. In the next package do you think you could send me just like a bottle of lemon pepper? I have loved using the spices I got from you. It is so nice having variety.
Mom I have a question, who is Mark Johnson? I get a letter from him weekly but I have never met him. He has some disease he said in his letters but fill me in please! Thanks. That is sweet! I am way proud of Britt for doing so well in the track meet and science fair! She should use my acceleration thing for free I have, if she wants. That would take lots of time getting her to and from though. Things here are going well. This week it has started raining almost every day for at least a half hour or so. Apparently wet season starts around May, which is awesome because it is so hot it is insane. I just am drenched all day. I won’t lie, transfers will be nice but I hope I get a really obedient companion. Even if we are way different, if my new comp is hard working and obedient I will be fine with him. Alright I love you all and will talk to you next week!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
I put my hankerchief over my head like a wuss!
Hey everyone. This week was a good one! I will start with the baptisms of Jim Weaver and Ernesto. We first we got there and they did not have a suit big enough for Jim (he is like 270+ lbs.), so President said he could just be baptized in his church clothes and he went with it so that’s what we did. I was the one performing the baptism and as I baptized Jim his foot slipped out from under him and he fell like horizontally to the floor of the font. Then I had to get soaked and grab him and like dead lift him out of the water. I was cracking up. Then he was soaked because those were the only clothes he brought but he had a towel. It was a disaster to say the least haha, but oh well. Ernesto's went perfect though ha...I kept apologizing to Jim but he was just like "things like that happen it’s not your fault" so it was okay. He really is awesome. He has read the entire Book of Mormon, gospel principles book, and multiple ensign magazines. He’s a stud. I went on splits twice this week with two awesome elders, Elder Loe from Delta, Utah and also Elder Oldroyd (zone leader) from Lone Peak. They are both way rad and I had a blast with them. Regarding the cock fight (bulang or sabong in Tagalog) I didn’t dare take any photos because everyone was staring at me and I felt weird pulling out as camera like they would just think, stupid white boy haha. Also it is so hot here right now, supposedly the hottest time of the year. Obviously in St. George it is hot in summer but this is something else. Like THE SECOND you get done showering, you’re sweating. Even with a fan right on you. Prostelyting is nuts haha I am constantly looking for shade to walk through and if there is none I just put my hankerchief thing over my head like a wuss. Lots of people use umbrellas but I would feel gay doing that. I'd rather burn :) Really there wasn’t a ton that happened this week other than preparing those two for baptism. I have gotten lucky and already been able to baptize eight people. Mom I got your letter in the mail today and a bunch of DearElder’s which I haven’t read so I will reply to those later. I am happy for you that tax season is over and I hope everything worked okay for the year. Now go take a break and a massage :) Anyway I love you all! Dad, how are you? I am doing good here. Every week as I learn more I am liking it more. I won’t lie I am struggling with my comp but I will find a way to deal with it. My roommates are good though. I am glad to hear baseball is going well and you all got to go to Vegas and watch some games. That’s funny about the Dixie College coach at Players. We (Taylor, Keira and I) would eat there every once in a while my senior year and talk to him lots. He is way nice. Tell everyone hello for me! That’s too bad you haven’t gotten to go hunting much yet. I want to see some photos with a big tom turkey in it! Thanks so much, Dad, for everything you do for me. Love you!
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