Feb 26 - A slow week

Climbing a "puno nga buco" or coconut tree

A river we have to cross

So pretty much I typed a huge letter just barely and it got deleted so I will try to redo it. This week we had a lot of funny stories. For example we talked to a guy on the street while we were tracting and he said “stop” to us...so we were like “why” and he said if he talked to the Mormons that a storm would come and flood and wipe out his rice fields. Haha, it was funny. We also went to what is called a "fiesta" which is similar to a block party in America. It is held once a year and people in a barangay just cook a ton of food and everyone then eats it haha. It is pretty awesome. Also mom thanks for the kitchen towel things you sent me because I sweat so much, now I just carry a towel with me to wipe my face haha. Things here are going pretty well. This week was somewhat slow but oh well. Thanks mom for sending me the missionaries names every week it is way fun to see who is leaving soon. By the way who is getting married? Trevor Reynolds (burkes son) or Travis Reynolds (Alan’s son) and when is it? Either way that is crazy haha. I thought of a few things for my next package. Some floss for braces. Like the kind that are hard on one end so you can thread it through for my permanent retainer. Also, some chicken seasoning, like Montreal or whatever we have at the house, because I am getting so sick of eating the same things every day. Third, some contact solution and a case. Just one bottle of solution because that will last me a long time, then if I ever need more I will ask. Hey dad that is cool you got to see that baseball game. Did KC just walk on or what? It is okay about the box,I figured you would open it when you got it haha. For general conference here we have to wait one week. We watch it in San Jose(about 15-20 minute jeep ride) at the stake center. That’s crazy that all those guys are coming home. I remember when they left and it seems so fast. Anyway I love you dad. Thanks for everything. You are a stud. Hey Barb I am glad you like your things. You opened it early but that’s okay. I can’t believe you are getting so big. If you want anything else just let me know! I love you! It is good to hear things are going well for everyone. Is elder Rebman home? Anyway i will talk to you next week. I love you all!

Feb 21, 2011 - Base Family Baptism

Elder Bosotros, Janet Base, Jackie Lou Base, Me (in back)

Gabriel Armanento (in front)

Base family baptism

Base Family

Elder Bosotros & I at some waterfalls

This place is amazing!

Eating my Valentines candy

A member's tricycle

Caribou

Hey everyone this week was a good week. Saturday I had my first three baptisms. They asked me to baptize them too so it was rad. It was a lady named Janet Base and her daughter Jackie Lou Base. Then a nine year old boy named Gabriel Armamento. I have been here the whole time while teaching them so it has been cool to see them understand things, start living them, and eventually get baptized. This week I broke our refrigerator haha but we got a new one so its ok. It was way old and broken anyway. I just helped us out to get a new one haha. So when I sent a package I put a flash drive in it with my pictures, when you get it don’t erase them please so I can know what to put on the flash drive next time I send a package. Just send it back when you can. I got the medicine so thanks mom. Only the starburst melted. None of the chocolate did. So just leave things in the bag I guess so it doesn't melt all over. This week flew by and was a way good week. I am finally getting tuned in and having fun. I had one funny story I thought of from this week. We were talking to a brand new investigator and just getting to know her and I told her I was from America and she asked where in a America so I told her Utah and she was like way excited haha then she was like "mayara ako isa ka auntie taga australia siya, kilala mo siya?" which is like "I have an aunt in Australia, do you know her?" Haha I was just like "no, America is big" Haha, she thought Australia was next to Utah haha yikes. Other than that it was a really average week. I am starting to understand and be able to converse even outside of the gospel lessons, like I was able to buy the fridge by myself and the guy gave me instructions and I understood. So that is exciting. I get along really well with Elder Jenkins who is my new roommate so that is sweet too. Nobody worry about me because I am liking it and starting to have fun. I miss and love you all! Talk to you next week. Hey her Burtney!!! Life is really good. Things are going well. Keep it up on all of your sports and piano. You are going to be so awesome. I love you so, so much. Be good. Love ya Barb Sorry I didn’t answer your questions. Yes there is milk but it is nasty. Also we have evaporated milk. The milk you buy is warm on the counter and way pasteurized I guess haha oh well. My bed is not very comfortable but it is made of bamboo and the mattress is like a couple inches thick. It’s ok. The food I miss most is lettuce, steak, Sunday roast beef dinners, p.s. yesterday I had the canned roast beef and potatoes that you sent. Way good haha. The only things I can think of for a package is contact solution and a case, some canned chicken like from Costco… really whatever haha if I think of more I will let you know but I am doing well. Love you

02/14/11 - I just understand gospel stuff...

Hey Everyone. Things this week went really well. I am learning the language so much better. Like it is finally clicking so I am happy. I teach like maybe 25-35% of the lessons now so it has been fun to actually be involved. This Saturday we have three baptisms so that is cool – the mom and 14 year old daughter of the Base family. The Base family feeds us like every night haha they are so awesome. Other than that, it is a nine year old in a member family (kinda lame cuz the dad should have baptized him over a year ago haha), but I still don’t understand much converstional language. I just understand gospel stuff and a little conversation. We got a new roommate this week named Elder Jenkins from Ogden. He played football at Fremont so he knows Coach Monkres. He’s the same age as me. He has been here only a few more months than I have though. So to answer your cooking question, mostly we just cook for ourselves. Like I cook a ton of omelets and egg things cuz they are cheap and good. I also eat tons of rice and spaghetti. I also eat lots of PB and J sandwiches and ham sandwiches. I try to eat just simple, fairly healthy things. A barangay is just a small neighborhood. Here in Sibalom we have 77 of them haha tons. It’s Similar to saying "The ledges" or "Kayenta" just a small neighborhood where everyone knows everyone. I got some letters today but I haven’t had time to open them yet. I got something that said don’t open until Valentines but I haven’t opened it yet sorry. But thanks for all your support and letters. Everyone has been awesome and it is good to hear from everyone back home, cousins and everyone! I am really excited to see the "Dixie Elder" it will be cool to hear from others in my shoes haha. I am definitely adjusting and becoming more in tune with it here haha, it took a while but oh well. I am way excited for Matt Mitchell he will love that call. In the states but new language too, the best of both worlds haha jk I have learned lots here I never would have if I hadn't been assigned foreign. Elder Gunnell is in Iloilo somewhere. Anyway, things are good. Love you all!

02/06/11 - Fiesta Day

A mans house fell down so we helped him pick it back up.

Hello everyone! Ol' Gare here from Sibalom. This week went very, very well. I am definitely adjusting way better to this place and starting to enjoy it. The dog bite wasn't really a big deal. Just a quick bite then he let go and I kicked it off haha. No mom I do not need you to send me anything :) At our house we do have a fridge and a little gas two burner thing to cook on. We also have a normal toilet. I sent home a package today so I hope it gets home in time for Britt's birthday and Mom and Dad's anniversary. I got lots of little things in there for you all. This week is the end of my first "transfer" which happens every six weeks. Some people change areas and some stay. I am staying with my trainer Elder Bosotros at least six more weeks. The next transfer is March 25. I am proud of Konner, that is rad he got baptized! When I get home he will be Britts age! I got a DearElder from Koby today so tell him thanks for me! Some funny thing happened this week. First of all we have a girl we are teaching that wants to be baptized when she turns 8. She asked us for an Aklat Ni Mormon and we told her we would bring her one. ooops. We forgot haha and so when we went back she was upset and said she wanted to say the opening prayer. In her prayer she prayed that we wouldn't forget her Book of Mormon again haha, so we made sure we had it the next time. We also taught a lady who is about 60 or 70 and we were talking about the Book of Mormon and she said she was told years ago the Book of Mormon came from the moon so that’s what she has believed all these years haha. Saturday we had a branch home teaching thing where we all met at the church and went to inactive members. I went to Barangay called Pasong where they where having what is called a "fiesta day." At fiesta day there are just a ton of people in a community that cook huge amounts of food and so we ate and ate and ate until we were stuffed. It was awesome. I ate something called "dinuguan" which is blood that you put over rice. It was nasty. I still haven't eaten balut and I don’t want to any time soon. Please tell gramps happy birthday for me today! Thanks for everything. I Love you all. Elder Christensen