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

A couple of extras

Our kitchen

This is how Elder Gunnell described the dog bite in his e-mail home. ....we were at the hospital Saturday night anyways. Elder Christensen was bit by a dog Saturday night. He didn't even provoke the mutt; it was just lying there and then bit him as he went by. So that night after talking to Sister Pagaduan, we were told to take him to the hospital here in Sibalom, which I now consider a worthless hospital. They asked about rabies and we weren't sure, and they freaked out, saying "What do we do for rabies?" So they scrubbed the bite with alcohol and iodine, and said watch the dog for ten days. If it dies then he has to get the shot. So to make sure he gets the shot, Elder Kleinman and I are thinking about going and killing the dog. Joke lang!! We wouldn't do that.

Jan 29, 2010 - Dog Bite

Typical home in Sibilom, Philippines

Filipino basketball hoop

Preparing fresh Papaya

Dog bite - at the hospital with Elder Kleinman

Typical home.

Hey everyone!

Elder Christensen here from Sibalom! Things here are going well. The people are just awesome. Last night we were at a part member family and they fed us a bunch of fresh picked papaya, then we went to an investigator and she had a full dinner prepared for us haha. Money! There was one funny story this week . We were teaching a part member family and there is a 7 year old that wants to be baptized in May when she is eight. We were showing her pictures of church related things and we showed her a photo of Joseph Smith. She then began like blushing and giggling so we asked why and she was like "gwapo gwapo gid siya" which is the equivalent of "Woah he is soooo handsome" haha it was funny I was laughing.

So the other highlight of the week. (Sorry mom!) haha I got bitten by a dog! I was just walking and there was a dog laying in the street so we were walking by it and when I was perpendicular to it the stupid thing jumped up and bit my left calf. It ripped my pants and cut me but nothing bad. It was more embarrassing than painful. We then called Sister Pagaduan and asked what to do so she said go to the hospital. So we went to the hospital and they cleaned it with some stuff then gave me a prescription of "Amoxicilin" which cost 75 pesos (like almost $2) and we have to keep an eye on the dog for ten days to see if he has rabies. But I am okay so don’t worry.

I got my package today at district meeting! Thank you so much! My house is in the map, too so I will send it home in my package which I am sending tomorrow. (We sent a Google map of Sibilom.) I got a lot of cool things to send so I am excited. I got a bunch of Dear Elder letters this week too! I got one pouch letter from Britt labeled December 23 haha. Then I got some from Koby Taylor and Melanie the Rebmans, Kyle Sherwin and Mandi Mathis. Also I got one from Jon Bowler so tell him thanks a lot for me!

We are staying really busy. We are preparing 23 people for baptism who committed for the next couple months! Tons! But like you said mom I don’t think they understand the commitment because last week we had eight investigators at church and this week six so we have lots of work to do.

Thanks for updating me on everything at home. I love hearing about all you are doing. Tell Papa Joe congrats for me! And I am so proud that Britt is being good and helping out around the house! She is awesome. You are all awesome, haha thanks for all your letters and support. It really is like the missionaries greatest gift to get letters and stuff haha! Anyway love you all! Bye

January 23 Letter

Well, what's going on everyone. Things here are getting better and better each week. I am picking up fairly fast on the language so I am glad about that. I understand most of the lessons but I can’t really talk back most of the time. Oh well, Elder Bosotros is a stud so he talks to them haha. So I have a few good stories this week. First we were teaching a nine year old how to pray so we showed her a pamphlet where it shows how but she didn't really understand so elder Bosotros kind of helped her out and wrote better instructions and she said she understood so we let her try. So she began and the English equivalent of her prayer was "Our heavenly Father, thank you for, we ask for, in the name of Christ, amen" haha I was laughing, but oh well it was funny. Another story was we were teaching a ten year old and he missed church so we went to talk to him and find out why. It turns out he was smoking and drinking with friends...yes, a ten year old haha. That is the first time I have taught the Word of Wisdom to a ten year old! We also had the opportunity to teach someone in the hospital. After we taught she asked for a blessing so we gave one to her last week. We went back to the hospital to see her yesterday and she wasn't there so we went to her house and she was up walking and way healthier that just one week ago. That was cool. Also one of my roommates investigators died so we had a funeral Thursday. I love the harmonica haha, I have been playing a little here and there when I have time. They love music here but it is bad. Like all the lame Justin Bieber songs and Shakira and stuff. They play it so amazingly loud too haha. Mom I was reading an article from the July 1996 Ensign about Missionary Moms and I thought you might like it haha. Oh yeah, so yesterday we went to pick someone up for church and they live across a little dip. As I was walking over the bridge I snapped the bamboo haha. Luckily I caught myself but it was sketchy. I have gotten to see some pretty cool things here already. Everyone reading this, have family prayer...It seems like a small thing but it has already affected some families we are teaching. Try it and I promise your family will be closer. Oh also tell Kyle happy birthday for me. It is on the 29th but I don’t have his e mail address. I love getting everyone’s letters and time isn't really an issue cuz we have a long time for e mail so write anything you can. It makes me feel like I am there haha. I am not going to lie this month seems like it took about a year but oh well I am sure as I pick up language it will be better. I hope all is well with everyone. Love You. Hey Mom, Dad, and Britt: How are you guys? Things here are really getting better and better. I think my mind is finally leaving shock phase and hitting "this is my home" phase. This month has been long and crazy but I am just hoping it gets better which I know it will when I can communicate. I really love your letters, it makes me feel like I am still part of the family, haha. The pictures were sweet too. I love the calendar I got for Christmas. It is hung right by where I study. Please take a bunch of pictures this year and do another one for next year, I would like that! The weather is getting really hot haha I sweat all day seriously. I know what dad means about working in the summer in St. George now! He is probably saying "I told you so" but yeah things are good. P days are nice because I am so exhausted from the rest of the week. I have been getting some of Grandma Hirschi’s letters but the mail system is sub par so the ones I get are from like mid-December, but oh well. Maybe you should just have her e-mail me? Whatever works. I will send a package soon so it gets to Britt by her birthday. Thanks so much Mom for the package. The meat and pancakes are awesome! And the American candy is money too! I hope you are all doing well and I love you so much! Hey sorry I forgot to answer your questions. The food is ok haha. Elder Bosotros is a good cook but I have been cooking a lot of pasta because it is easy and fast. The people are really awesome. I have a hard time communicating but they are way nice(most, at least.) Church on Sunday is ok. It is supposed to be at 8:30 but it usually is around nine. We have to do the sacrament because there is not enough priesthood but it is ok. I like Sibalom so it is cool. Our normal day we don’t tract at all. We have so many investigators already that it would not be efficient for us to get more. Our days are packed with appointments. Saturday we taught from 10 am to 8:30 pm with no lunch or anything we were worn out and hungry! All my stuff has been fine, my shoes and socks are good, my G's and everything really! I wash my own clothes once a week which gets old but oh well. I hope you got my pictures! I Love you all! Thanks for everything and talk to you next week.