We're tearing it up

I would send you guys pictures of the new area and everything, but every computer shop we've been to doesn't allow downloading so you'll just have to wait till I can find a better computer shop.

We are really tearing it up in our area here in Mabini!  We've been getting around five or more lessons every day which is making the days go really fast.  We have a baptismal date set too for December 17 but I'm pretty sure we are going to have to move it back because I don't think she'll be ready because she hasn't been coming to church yet.  I just don't know about her though because her husband is less active so it's kind of scary because we might be just baptizing a less active so I'm going to really see if she wants to to baptized and then we're going to re- activate her husband.  Well we're going to reactivate her husband no matter what.

So in our mission we have a standard of excellence that every missionary is striving to get and I've never reached it once in my whole mission.  The goal is 30 lessons in one week and this week we had 28 lessons!  I can't wait to finally hit it!

The area right now is a little different than any of the other areas I've ever had.  Everyone here speaks a different language, Ilicano!  Most people know how to speak Tagalog, but are pretty rusty so they basically just say a few words in Tagalog and then a whole bunch in ilicano expecting us to understand.  I can understand a little bit and speak a little too but there are sometimes when all I do is say, "wen."  Which just means, yes or yeah in ilicano.  It's makes some lessons pretty interesting and we usually all end up laughing because we have no idea what he is saying and what I am saying.  I am loving this new area though because we get to work all the way up until curfew which is a first for my whole mission.

I'm not feeling very good today so I'll write you guys next week and hopefully send you some pictures!  (I have some pretty good ones!)

Love you guys!

Elder Tribe

First well I've seen in the Philippines.

Getting transferred from Solano.

Having a merienda at the house of Nanay Felly

I wait for jeep while he gets a drink at Franks.  When they find out my middle name they all make fun of me and say lets go eat at "FRANKS!"

Mabini District, Burgos Zone

The night before transfers Elder Saguire and I were with Elder Volpe because his companion went home.  We had a huge farewell/birthday party for me and Elder Volpe.  It was really good and made me sad I was going to get transferred.  The night before transfers the Zone leaders also get to find out who's getting transferred before everyone else and because we were on splits with him we also got to find out early, but before he told me he had a good time torturing me and only dropping little hints.  When he told me it was a huge surprise to me and I didn't expect it at all!  I have two companions so that means I'm in a threesome for the cycle and I'm in Burgos zone.

  

Burgos zone is in the middle of nowhere and nothing is near by.  I think the church is the only real building in the whole zone that is nice.  I came in with a bad attitude thinking it wasn't going to be a bad area and my companions were going to be bad but so far it has turned out pretty good.  I've only been here half a week and we've taught a ton of lessons and have a lot of investigators.  I think we're going to be able to actually reach the standards of excellence that President Rahlf has set for us and I've never done that before so it's going to be awesome!  

The area is really rural and the people are really humble.  The area also used to be a Stake but then went back down to a Branch when everyone started to go inactive.  Everyone here seems to be a member but they are also all inactive basically so that's where we get a lot of our lessons.  

The apartment is really pretty terrible.  It's super dirty and falling apart.  There are roaches everywhere and the drain in the bathroom doesn't drain so it fills up with tons of water that the roaches seem to use as a bathtub.

The branch is really struggling here because it's run by a bunch of crazy old men but it makes going to church an pretty funny experience.  We have to teach Elders Quorum and then teach another class and then set up sacrament and then bless sacrament and then clean the building. 

 

Even though everything is struggling here the work is good and my companions seem to be good so far.  I'm just trying to set an example for them by being obedient.  Pray for me and my companions to have a good cycle!

Love you all soooo much!
Elder Tribe

This week feels like it lasted 10 weeks!

So on Tuesday this week we had splits with the Villaverde Elders, Elders Castacio and Faasavalu.  I went with Elder Castacio and we worked in Lamut while the other Elders went to Salamague.  We got a couple lessons in before it started raining super hard and we didn't have an umbrella.  We waited for a little while for it to stop before we went to our next appointment.  At the appointment we were about to start when I got a call from Elder Saguire telling me that the AP's called him and he needs to go to Cauayan because he is going to train.  So before we even started, we said goodbye and went over to get E. Saguire.  We ran and got everything together and then I dropped him off at the junction and he went to Cauayan.  Then, all three of us (Villaverde and I) slept at the Zone Leaders apartment

.

The next day the Villaverde Elders got up early and left and then Elder Volpe and I went on splits because his companion was in Cauayan with my companion.  We then went to the Valdez families house and had a service project.  Only Elder Volpe and I showed up so we just sharpened our machetes and went to town on their garden.  It was a good CSP especially because I got to see the Valdez family again!

The next day we got our companions and then had another CSP but this time it was cleaning our meeting house.  We sprayed the walls with a house and then squeegeed the floors.  It took half the day but it was worth it because the good lunch the Balubal family fed us.  

On Thursday we had Zone conference.  That's where the AP's and President Rahlf come teach.  This time they taught about being a successful missionary.  I learned a lot but I'm having a hard time remembering it.  I also forgot my notes so that doesn't really help.  They emphasized about being obedient and how obedience is the first law of heaven.

On Sunday, since it was my last Sunday in Lamut I got up and bore my testimony.  Everyone said it sounded like I was going to cry but I wasn't even close but I am going to miss them especially the Quinones family!  I'm not going to miss the area one bit but the members I'm going to miss a lot!

  

Well, my companion is now going to train so I'm getting transferred.  Hopefully I get put with a good companion.  

Well I love you guys and thanks for the probably best emailing session my whole mission!  

E.Tribe

This last Tuesday was the last time I'll have to teach district meeting this cycle and it's an amazing feeling!  It relieves a lot of stress not having to worry about what to teach all the time!  After District meeting we got to eat at Mrs. Bakers!  It's the best place to eat in the mission.  I ordered some kebab thing and it was amazing and then had a banana cream pie!  After getting all these letters about pies and stuff it was good to actually get one for myself.

Lunch at Mrs.Bakers

We had a service project this week in my area.  It was in a place that was pretty far away but it was to help some less active members.  When we got their a lady runs in and says in English, "What religion are you?" We told her Mormons and she freaked out, stomped her feet, and then ran away.  The President then just told us it's okay and it's not a big deal.  We painted the inside of the church.  The church we painted wasn't our church it was some other church the less actives in that area made up.  Pretty sure if anyone else knew about that they'd be excommunicated.

Painting the church

We had some good times this week and got some new investigators!  We contacted the referrals we've received and taught them one lesson but it was so loud we didn't get to teach very much.  I'm going to go back this Tuesday when we go on splits with the Villaverde Elders.

Also the other day we had our first appointment around 12 and we hadn't been to his house in a while.  We walked up to his house and saw his bicycle and his hat so we knew he was home so we sat outside his house saying "Tao Po" over and over again so he would come out.  We sat around waiting for him to come out because he has arthritis, but he never did so right before we were about to leave we said "Toa Po" one more time.  MISTAKE!!!  All of a sudden we hear Tatay inside start screaming and swearing he walks outside with a huge knife and as soon as he realized it was us he said "Kayo pa la" or oh it's you guys (in a surprised/shocked sort of way)  right as he saw us he ran back inside and said I"M SICK!!!!!!!  Elder Saguire and I were really surprised and just walked away kind of silent not knowing what to do.  Elder Saguire thinks we should go back but I know it's going to be the weirdest thing ever and I don't know if he'll still be mad.

This is also probably my last week in my area here in Lamut.  Transfer day is this next week on November 5.  I'm gonna miss the area but I'm also excited to get a new one.

Love you guys!

Gwapo ohh

Climbing coconut trees

This dog is so nasty it needs to die!

Pray for me!

Colorful bug getting eaten by ants!