Memories of a Mission – Page 23 – "We will work for the glory of our Lord"

Feeling Sick . . . and no TP

Monday, August 2, 2004

Well I only have 12 minutes to write do I’ll be brief. Yesterday I rested almost the entire day with Elder Sangco. We both have an LBM problem and mine was especially bad yesterday. I could hardly walk around and felt a little bit dizzy. Today was better but I’m still not feeling perfectly good. I’m also hesitant to use the CR because walang toilet paper doon[1] and I don’t know the Filipino way[2]. I guess I’ll have to learn. Yuck :(.

Elder Sangco Drinking something

We had district meeting this morning and that was good. Sister Bautista taught about becoming perfected. It was really a good lesson. After district meeting we had to eat out because we don’t have any gasul for our stove. It was really expensive which was hard because I’m now down to ₱80 which isn’t even $2 American. Hopefully I’ll get my bank card bukas and I’ll have money again.

Tonight we had a long, good, visit with D. and J.. They were committed for baptism but didn’t make their goal date. We revisited the 2^nd discussion and re-committed them. They are great but they have no marriage license and have been living together for a while. They have 2 children. They want to be legally married but D. doesn’t have a job and can’t pay for the certificate. I hope things will work out.

[1] Walang toilet paper doon: there is no toilet paper there.

[2] Obviously the Filipino way doesn’t involve toilet paper… They just used water. We actually had a mission rule that we were supposed to buy and use toilet paper but I didn’t know that at this point.

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Judy’s Baptism

Saturday, July 31, 2004

Well I got to see my first baptism today. It actually wasn’t as spiritual as I thought it might be but it was really powerful. Her name is Judy Santiago and she was really excited. After the pagbibinyag[1] she was just bouncing off the walls with joy. I hope that she will stay strong and active and also that she’ll feel the spirit strongly tomorrow at the confirmation in sacrament meeting. I only feel bad because I can’t really talk to her on a high level. I still can only readily say beginning phrases. However, I know that the Lord will bless me as I keep on working.

Elder Sangco, Judy Santiago and me at Judy’s baptism

Today was also interesting and hard because Elder Sangco was really sick. After the baptism, we just went back to the apartment. He has stomach and head troubles. It’s weird because I’ve eaten everything that he did and done everything he did but I’m not really sick. I am a little bit sick but I think it is because of the caffeine. That’s one thing that’s hard for me here. Everybody offers us Pepsi of Coke and if you don’t accept it it’s really rude I think. The first day they told us it wasn’t bawal[2] to drink it and that it would help with getting rid of worms etc. It really makes me sick though so I’m going to really try to avoid it from now on. I now know why I’ve avoided it in the past. The taste isn’t exactly the most masarap bagay na[3] I’ve ever drank.

[1] Pagbibinyag: baptism

[2] Bawal: forbidden

[3] Masarap bagay na: delicious thing that

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Service at the Barangay Office

Friday, July 30, 2004

This morning we had a real service project. We met the sisters of our district at 8:00. Well we were supposed to meet them but they were about ½ hour late. Anyways, we went to Brgy. Pasedina to do our service. The Barangay Office is by Nanay Jose’s house so she came to service with us. J. also came and met us there. We worked in the library organizing books. I was amazed at the books they had. They were all old but they had something on almost every subject. They even had Oedipus the King! Wow!

After that we went over to bahay ni Nanay Jose and taught J. the 6^th discussion. It went well especially considering that I’d never done it before in Tagalog. J. is great and she really is ready for baptism. Her date is tomorrow and so I’m really excited.

After we finished our service we went back to the apartment. Elder Catubag made a good meal for all of us. It was really Filipino and I liked it.

Later on in the day we went to visit Sister M P. Elder Sangco taught her the first before I got here and we got to teach her the third today. She was awesome because she’s already read most of The Book of Mormon. She hasn’t prayed yet but she believes that it is true. We had a really good discussion. It’s hard for her because her husband doesn’t really support her in investigating the church so she can’t come to church or anything. I’ll pray for her tonight.

Well the mission in general is good. My Tagalog gets better and better every day. I have a great companion Elder Spencer Sangco and the work is going forward. I’m really excited for what this two years holds for me.

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Broken Refrigerator

Thursday, July 29, 2004

Well today was one of those days that you always hear about being roller coaster days emotionally. This morning we went to the MIR (Manila Institute of Religion) to do follow-ups with the sisters in our district. Elder Sangco is the district leader and so he has to do that a lot. That was good I guess. The sisters are all really nice Filipinas.

After follow ups we got some more investigator records (IRs) copied and I mailed a postcard to my family. This morning our refrigerator broke because of the light switch so after coming back to our house after follow-ups we looked for help with that. The next door neighbor came and helped us so now we have electricity again. Wow was I happy because if I didn’t have a fan at night I would die!

We had a lot of good finding today and a discussion. The discussions were ok lang[1] and because the brother really wasn’t interested. We’ll follow up later and hopefully he’ll get better. Well it’s bed time again. Rules must be followed. Magandang Gabi! 🙂

[1] Ok lang: just ok

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First P-Day

Wednesday, July 28, 2004

Well for my first preparation day here this wasn’t much of a preparation day. I did get the room all swept and a little bit more organized but not nearly as good as I’d like it to be.

The reason it wasn’t much of a preparation day was because we had our fourth discussion with J. today. We taught about the plan of salvation and reviewed with her the Law of Chastity and the word of wisdom. As always she was really accepting. After our discussion we went to the Uni Mart with Nany Jose because she said that she would cook for us if we bought the food. Also we bought our other food for the week. I found good looking ramen like things that I’ll be able to cook better than my little disaster yesterday! I only spent ₱100 on the whole lot which is a little less than 2 American dollars. It’s crazy!

After shopping we went back to the apartment to drop of the pagkain[1] and then we went to do e-mail. That was a really interesting experience because we went of course to a public internet place. There were a ton of little kids playing games there and it was really loud. I got to write to my family and that was good. I only get to read one e-mail each week so it’s hard to communicate with other people. Elder Sangco needed a haircut but we were already late to an appointment to look for a new apartment so we didn’t go. Because of this, I didn’t get to write any letters to people other than my family.

After looking at the apartment for a bit and resolving a man’s concerns we tried to go visit Sis Tess to share an inspirational video with her but she wasn’t home. We went instead to visit Amye. I got my first OYM by myself when I talked to her brother. I felt good about it but after Elder Sangco told me that he OYMed him fifty times and nothing happened. But the Lord works in mysterious ways and perhaps he’ll want to listen someday.

[1] Pagkain: food

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“Fried Chicken”

Tuesday, July 27, 2004

Well sadly we didn’t have any discussions today. We spend a good part of the day just doing OYM’s so I am getting better at that. This morning we went to visit brother D. He is one of our committeds, or at least was committed, for baptism. We talked to him for a while. His concern is that he wants to be baptized but he doesn’t know how to explain to his parents about it. It’s really hard for him. Also he is living with J and they have a child but they have no official marriage document and they can’t be baptized until after they get that document. It was interesting and sad to see where he lives. His entire bahay[1] is about the size of a small bathroom in the states. It’s crazy how close together these people all live.

Well today I tried to cook fried chicken. It was cooking good but when I tried to eat it it was just charcoal outside and red sa loob.[2] It was bad. I ate what I could and then tried to fry some potatoes. That was even worse. I filled the whole room with smoke. Grabe Talaga![3] I finally just boiled them and then they were good. I’ve got to learn how to cook with no oven!

I have maraming mga[4] bites all over me. I guess my blood just tastes especially good or something. Well I’m tired na so pumupunta ako sa aking kama![5] Magandang gabi po! May magandang tulog ka![6]

[1] bahay: house

[2] sa loob: inside

[3] Grabe Talaga!: (colloquialism) roughly equivalent to “oh man” or “that was really crazy”

[4] maraming mga: many (plural)

[5] Pumupunta ako sa aking kama: literally “I am going to my bed” (Filipinos would never say it this way!)

[6] May magandang tulog ka: literally “you have good sleep” (Filipinos would also never say this this way. I’m just trying so sound smart.)

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First District Meeting

Monday, July 26, 2004

Well I have to write fast because I don’t have much time tonight. Today this morning we took a long bus ride to district meeting. Elder Sangco is the District Leader so he conducted and taught. He taught about the need for love in the mission and also about opening our mouths. I need to work on OYM (Open Your Mouth) because I’m always too afraid to do it. I need to have faith that the words will come.

Today also we gave a first discussion to three people. At first we were only teaching one tatay[1] but his asawa[2] joined us and then a friend. The original tatay wasn’t really interested and only invited us in because I looked like Harry Potter. The friend was really receptive and I think he may have potential.

By the way, we use “Harry Potter” to do a good building relationship of trust. The little kids love it. I’m wearing my glasses because contacts are too much of a hassle. Well it’s light out na![3] Magandang gabi po![4] 🙂

[1] tatay: father, daddy. We would often use this for brothers that we didn’t remember their name or just when talking about men in general.

[2] asawa: spouse

[3] na: now, also a participle used for joining some adjectives to their associated nouns

[4] magandang gabi po: good evening, good night (with respect). A common greeting after the sun has set or a way to say good bye to someone at night.

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Speaking in Church

Sunday, July 25, 2004

Well today I did the thing that most people dread and that I’d heard a lot of horror stories about. I got to talk in church. I get a brief message about the atonement and it went fairly well. The people all at least looked at me the whole time I was speaking. I was told afterward by the second councilor that I used too deep Tagalog and that they use “Taglish” here. I’ll have to work on that. The only problem I have is really being able to follow the conversation up to speed. I get better and better every day though. After our church meeting we taught Judy Santiago the 3^rd discussion. She has a baptismal date set for this coming Saturday. I’m excited for her. I hope that she’ll be really malakas sa simbahan.[1] We also did some work with Nanay Jose who is just now becoming more active.

I’m getting used to the culture here and I’m almost adjusted to the time. One thing that really bugs me is that about three-o-clock in the morning about 800 roosters start to crow and I really can’t sleep.[2]

Oh yeah, I forgot, I got to help with three blessings today. They were really good.

[1] malakas sa simbahan: strong in the church. (roughly translated)

[2] Our apartment backed up to a cock fighting arena and everyone that fought cocks there also stored their animals there. It was stinky and noisy. I always thought that roosters were supposed to crow once when the sun came up but oh no, they start really early in the morning and don’t ever stop. Eventually you just have to learn to sleep through it. That apartment also was very unsanitary. There were not screens on the windows and the roof leaked on my bed whenever it rained.

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My First Day of Proselyting

Saturday, July 24, 2004

Today we also visited the Gonzaleses. They are strong active members of the church and he is the ward mission leader now. They are awesome. We also visited for about an hour with Nanay[2] Jose about coming back to church. She has trouble because her son attends a Catholic school and she feels. I hope she’ll come back.Well I guess you could say that today was my first day of proselyting. We got to give a good first discussion to Tory and Jed. They are a good couple with three children. We met Tony last night after we taught George the first discussion. They are very promising. I think they are coming to magsimba bukas[1] but I’m not sure. I hope they do. During the discussion the spirit was there and we committed him to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. I need to remember to pray for him. We also went to the baptismal interview for Judy today. She will be baptized next week. Her friend, Juris, who was also taking the discussions, is moving and can’t get baptized because her mother won’t let her. It is too bad.

My first room, it was very wet when the ceiling leaked and it leaked a lot. The window also had no screen so we were bombarded by insects all night long. I think I got bitten several hundred times in that bed!

Well I am physically and mentally exhausted so I’ll go to bed now.

[1] magsimba bukas: come to church tomorrow.

[2] nanay: mother. We would also often call older women, especially in the church, Nanay.

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Welcome to Greenhills

Friday, July 23, 2004

Well I really need to start writing more. A lot has happened since I wrote last. Well to make things short I’m here in the Philippines now. A few highlights from the flight over here. I got to talk to my family for a long time at Los Angeles. It was really good to hear from them and to get to talk to them a little bit. They are all doing well as far as I can tell and are really happy since returning from their trip to Canada. I didn’t get to place any of the Book of Mormons that I wanted to because I was always sitting next to missionaries on the planes. Well I also wasn’t very assertive and I feel bad about that. As my travel group was talking to a lady in the airport we were approached by a man who said that we all should go and break our legs and that we were all false teachers etc. I was surprised but not really because I’d heard of people like that before and sort of knew how to deal with it. I also talked to a Spanish man in the airport for about an hour about the church. It was really hard because I don’t really know any Spanish. I did end up getting his address though and I’ll send it in to the church. I got to talk to mom again from Taiwan and that was really good. I’m really going to miss all of them. I love them all very much.

Well here I am in the Philippines. It’s really weird to think that this is really here and I’m really out in the field. We got here two days ago and when we first got off the plane we were greeted by the office elders, Elder Belliston one of my friends from college was there so it was good to see him.

We went straight off to the mission home and had pizza. It was really good. Oh by the way the weather is HOT! I can’t believe how hot and humid it is here. After we ate we had a little mini orientation and then went straight to bed. Sleep was masarap.[1]

The next morning I had an interview with President Beck. That was good as well. We ate breakfast with all of the trainers who had arrived by then. We still didn’t know who our trainers were so it was kind of tense. Breakfast was bacon and pancakes. It also was masarap.

After breakfast we had our long orientation that lasted until about 11:00. I got my trainer. His name is Elder Sanco. He is Filipino and only speaks a bit of English so it’s kind of hard to communicate. My first area is in Manila Zone in the Green Hills ward/area. We went straight to work yesterday and by the end of the day I was convinced that I didn’t know any Tagalog. They all talk so fast that it is really hard to understand. Last night I was feeling really down and discouraged but I had a good prayer and felt a little bit better.

This morning I got up and had a wonderfully cold shower. I loved it. We went out and did a service project with the two other Elders who are living with us and two sisters, Judy and Juris. We helped a little school in a barangay[2] in our area and then followed up on Juris and Judy’s commitments. They have a baptismal date for the 31^st and I hope they will make it. They don’t really feel that close to me yet but hopefully that will change. I’m always really tired and I still have to go to an afternoon’s worth of work.[3] Oh well. With the Lord all things are possible.

This afternoon was interesting. Well it was actually really good. I got to teach my first discussion in Tagalog. I guess it went okay but I’m always improving. I got to teach the first outline to George who lives behind a little shop on the street.

We found out tonight that Juris, one of our potential converts, her mother doesn’t approve and she is having a hard time. We’ll stop by tomorrow to see if we can’t help.

[1] masarap: delicious, tasty.

[2] A barangay is the equivalent of a neighborhood. There are usually around 100 families in a barangay and they are led by a barangay captain. The captain knows everyone in the barangay and can be very helpful if you are trying to find someone that doesn’t have an address.

[3] Elder Sanco really liked to take long lunch breaks and he would often take a nap after lunch so that’s why I was able to journal so much during lunch.

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