We have 37 new investigators!!! The challenge will be to help them all progress. This place doesn't really have the best address system so it's hard to find people again (that guy we taught last week.....no idea where he lives and we feel real bad about it). Yesterday we had a one-day mission in Vintar, so all the ward missionaries (all 15 of them, because Bishop Augustine is awesome!) went to Vintar along with us full-time missionaries and visited with as many people as we could.
We are teaching a family and one of them is a tiny young lady who's 9 months buntis (pregnant). She's due any day and she LOVES the concept of families being able to be together forever. Elder Soriano taught this principle and asked me to share my testimony of eteral families. The pregnant lady was crying after the lesson (not because of me but because of that beautiful doctrine and the spirit that testified of its truthfulness) and it wasn't just hormones because her mom and sister were crying too.
I was showing my family pictures to some of the members and they loved them but then they started screaming and pointing at my leg. I looked down and only saw a piece of string. Then I looked on the other side and there was a spider the size of my hand! It was the biggest bug I've ever seen - so cool! They expected me to flip out but instead I grabbed my camera to get a picture.
There's a river in town and I didn't even know it was a river since it looks like a huge field of rocks. We sat on a big cement wall and then I realized it's a dyke and the water is way off. Apparently at some point (in September, I'm told) there's going to be some major flooding.
It's been pretty hot here. I think working in Fort MacMurray prepared me a lot as I was in cover-alls in 30 degree heat with hot pipes all around me. The food here is generally good but I ate at a sketchy restaurant in Vintar the other day and almost vomitted.
I had bamboo shoots which are awesome, and mung beans and I liked them too. I had a banana today. It was short and fat and really sweet but had seeds in it that are hard and you can't eat. Our neighbour also gave us avocados which grow on trees all over the place here (am I stupid for not knowing they grew on trees?). I love breakfast - rice for breakfast is great. We also eat and lots of eggs and meats. An old man bikes around every night with a side cart with a pot in it and shouts "BALUT!" Balut is a big thing here. I won't eat it though I don't think my system can handle it.
I remember Elder Nelson saying that we're safer on missions than our friends are back home plus with you guys all praying fror me and the prophet praying for missionaries in the temple every Thurday, I feel pretty safe.
Not understanding people is really hard. In a lesson I can say a few things about some principles and bear basic testimony but getting what other people say is still really hard. I didn't do my laundry right last Monday and it stunk realllly bad. My hands have cuts and blisters all over from doing laundry as you just rub the fabric against itself as we have no washboard - just a big bowl.
Our neighbour (not the Calaramos) is investigating the Church and told us she knows the Book of Mormon is true but won't get baptized for 2 years as she works for a Catholic school - not sure why she can't get baptized. We met two inactive members, the Agtaraps, and got them to come to Church. In Sacrament meeting the bishop announced that they had been called as ward missionaries! He didn't even ask them before hand, as far as I can tell. Is that even allowed? I'm glad he did though. Now we have more people to work with.
At the beginning of every month we get 8,100 pesos and we are given a JP Morgan card to take it out with. It's plenty, so don't worry. There's a million things I want to tell you and even show you but I'm out of time. Just know that I'm safe, I love all of you so much. I'm thankful I have a strong testmony of Christ because this is the hardest thing I've ever had to do.
Take care, and Keep the mail coming.
Stay safe.
-Elder Dustan
Monday, July 18, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Hang a Left at the Bathroom - Week 10. Serving in Vintar.
The flight to Hong Kong was sooooo long. We just sat in our seats for 13 hours straight. The breakfast on the flight was either "omlette" or "porridge". We forgot that it's a Chinese spin on these foods. The porridge actually looked like it could be whale vomit. It was white, with chucks of weird fish in it. We took the conveyer belts on the floor and it was so fun. You hardly even walk and you go so fast.
In Hong Kong I ate breakfast at McDonald's and got the egg and sausage with twisty noodles because it sounded fun. Turned out it was soup! Breakfast soup! I gave them a $20 american bill and they gave me back 100 and some Hong Kong dollars! I kept the reciept because it's so cool.
Then we flew to Manila. It was a quick and scary flight over the Pacific. When I got there I said hi to the passport lady and she went off in Tagalog. That's when I realized I have no idea what I'm doing in the language - it was a wakeup call! A man met us at the airport and they brought us to a hotel that the Church uses right by the airport. The temperature was 29 degrees so I thought it might not be so bad since it gets hot and humid at home but it was crazy hot! Everyone carries a rag to wipe their sweat! My first meal in the Philippines was KFC - chicken and rice. It was chopstick lickin' good! My only thought was, what would the Colonel think??
Anyways, we met a sister missionary in the hotel who was on her way home. A German man came up to us and asked us all about our church and we spoke with him and gave him a Book of Mormon. It was way cool. All of the native elders call Elder Tucker "Superman" because he looks like Christopher Reeves (pre-horse-ride accident). So true, I never even realized. Then we went to the MANILA TEMPLE!!! - so awesome and beautiful. It's huge and it really is a beacon to everyone. I loved it and I sat beside a little Filipina lady who was pretty much the oldest person I ever saw.
The traffic here is nuts! Four lanes in Manila and 6 lanes of cars. There are no traffic lights or stop signs that I saw but there wasn't one accident. People are really bold and agressive but somehow it works. Also, NO seatbelts. There are lots of palm trees and big leaves. Lots of rice too. I love it so far. We then slept in the hotel and at 11pm three men in suits walked into out room and woke us up! They scared us so bad but they turned out to be elders on their way home from their missions and they wanted to say hi to us.
The next day we went to the airport and flew to Laoag City where a man met us - which was good because they charged us a lot of money for our baggage. They only allow 20 kilos apparently, so it cost 25,000 pesos for the five of us. Phew, good thing that guy met us there. Laoag's airport is reallllly small! After we got our bags we met President & Sister Odgers and went to the mission home (which is a beautiful mansion of a place). We had orientation and some food, then visited with President Odgers who is really nice and very spiritual, and then we had some free time. I played Monopoly with a group of native sisters and Elder Thurston. No one won but I had Boardwalk so you tell me who's the winner! The next day we met our companions. Mine is Elder Soriano. He's a Filipino who lived in Manila until he was 14 and then moved to Winnipeg, so he's Canadian. Cool eh?
We are assigned to a new area which we are re-opening after being closed for 14 years. It's called Vintar and it's a short drive from Laoag City. I'm really struggling with the language because people speak so fast. Sometimes people speak Ilocano and I don't realize it's not Tagalog that they're speaking. Our area is like a little "city" - a few two-storey buildings which are rich peoples' houses then a bunch of one story ones, lots of sketchy little shops and lots of reallllly run down houses and shacks. I guess our apartment is nice - we have rice cooker. I've found 4 cockroaches thus far (sorry Mum but I have to talk about it). They really aren't so bad. They just sit there and run when you get near them. They don't bite or anything. We just spray them or sweep them outside. There are ants all over the place too. Actually, when I killed one of the many mosquitos we have, I looked down and it was gone as the ants took it (cool).
Our shower is okay. Only cold water which is kind of a blessing I guess - but no shower curtain. Apparently there should usually be a drain in the shower part of the bathroom and one in the toilet part. But we don't have one on the toilet side, so when we shower, the water sprays onto the floor near the toilet and pools up. So when you go to the bathroom you are standing in water up to your ankles (so gross). I'm officially Filipino, if you know what I mean - good old lefty. It's weird - you use a ladle to dump water on your butt and then wipe with your hand and soap. I just try to time it with my morning shower now. So far it's been working out.
We already have two new investigators - a guy named Roger down the road from us, who is really nice and speaks Ilocano and English. We taught him about God, the eternal nature of families and about baptism. It went really well. We're going back to visit with him today after p-day. We also taught an old man and he said the prayer in our lesson. He asked us to come back too. I mostly sit there and smile and try to understand what's going on. When I get what's going on, I say something if there's a break in the speaking but I'm really annoyed that I can't participate as much as I'd like.
We go to the Laoag 4th ward. On Saturday we watched a movie at the chapel in Laoag - "The Mountain of the Lord". Cool, because the chapel is on top of a hill in the middle of a bunch of small houses so it really stands out and you see the whole city from it - it's so amazing. After the movie they asked me to get up and speak about temples. I was so nervous. I bore a really simple testimony and it was humbling. We went to a lesson with some other elders after the movie as they were our ride back to Vintar. We all taught a family who are amazing and speak English, Tagalog and Ilocano so there was a lot of languages floating around.
The little kids here are so awesome. They run everywhere and are soooo cute and say hilarious things. They walk up to us and stop in front of us and salute like soldiers and say "Hey man!" and other typical English phrases. One day we followed a little path off the road (all the roads in Vintar's centre are concrete but then we discovered that behind the houses are little subdivisions of dirt and mud roads with shacks and stuff) and found a little dirt road with houses on it and some kids came up to us. I had my fake thumb from my magic kit and I did that disappearing hankie trick for them and they were amazed - for about 5 seconds, but they all loved it. Then I did Dad's coin trick and they loved it too. The problem was, they all followed us around after that for about an hour - right out of their neighbourhood, into the main roads and said things like, "Mr Magic! More magic!".
There are animals everywhere! And so many - all kinds of dogs, cats, lizards, roosters and chickens. I hadn't seen a dead one yet... until today - which was pretty cool because with all the traffic and no speed limits (for real) you'd think there would be lots of road kill. Not so. But today on the way out of our apartment, a big white van started and pulled into the road and I heard a pop and turned and saw that a chicken had been sitting against the tire. It started twitching and stuff and was all mangled. So gross and I was so sad. I guess I'm a bit of a woose because I felt so bad for it. My comp laughed.
Yesterday, at Church I bore my testimony and it went okay. They all said I have the accent but just need the vocabulary. We had PEC meeting after Church with the bishop (who is amazing and tri-lingual). In the meeting, the ward leaders decided to do a one day mission for the whole ward in Vintar to get it going. So this Sunday they will do that and hopefully we will get lots of investigators.
Our neighbours are really nice too. They are long-time Church members. The wife is about 4 feet tall and a little sharp but really hilarious. The husband is really quiet and kind. They help us a lot. I haven't done laundry yet but I will soon. In our mission we can do laundry whenever we need to - not just on p-day. Everyday we wake up at 6:30am, shower, exercise, then eat and study. We go out to work from 12 to 8pm. Our first night in Vintar we did what Bro. Welch suggested - we walked around and just said hi to people in Tagalog, just to pique curiosity. It worked. When we walk by people would say, "Hey Joe!", "Hey man!", or "Hello Sir!" and then we say "Kumusta po?" and they are surprised to hear us speak their language.
People stare at me here - it's weird. I'm not used to being something interesting. No white people - so everyone stares. Yesterday a girl walked by and stared at me for a moment, then grabbed her camera and took my photo, then she ran away. We take Trikey's everywhere. That's a taxi dirt bike with a little cart that is uncomfortable for two people but they fit lots of people into them. They are really low to the ground and really close to traffic too. Pretty fun.
I'm gonna catch one of those lizards before I leave. Their tails fall off if you grab them (But they grow back. I remember dad telling me about it when I was little and thinking it was so cool. Now I have them here!) so it'll be trickey.
I'm really glad we're an eternal family. There is really nothing better. It makes me so happy. I love you all so much. It's tough here, but its worth it. Trials really help us grow. Stay safe and stay close to Christ.
Don't forget a sweaty elder in Vintar.
Ingat po.
Elder Dustan
In Hong Kong I ate breakfast at McDonald's and got the egg and sausage with twisty noodles because it sounded fun. Turned out it was soup! Breakfast soup! I gave them a $20 american bill and they gave me back 100 and some Hong Kong dollars! I kept the reciept because it's so cool.
Then we flew to Manila. It was a quick and scary flight over the Pacific. When I got there I said hi to the passport lady and she went off in Tagalog. That's when I realized I have no idea what I'm doing in the language - it was a wakeup call! A man met us at the airport and they brought us to a hotel that the Church uses right by the airport. The temperature was 29 degrees so I thought it might not be so bad since it gets hot and humid at home but it was crazy hot! Everyone carries a rag to wipe their sweat! My first meal in the Philippines was KFC - chicken and rice. It was chopstick lickin' good! My only thought was, what would the Colonel think??
Anyways, we met a sister missionary in the hotel who was on her way home. A German man came up to us and asked us all about our church and we spoke with him and gave him a Book of Mormon. It was way cool. All of the native elders call Elder Tucker "Superman" because he looks like Christopher Reeves (pre-horse-ride accident). So true, I never even realized. Then we went to the MANILA TEMPLE!!! - so awesome and beautiful. It's huge and it really is a beacon to everyone. I loved it and I sat beside a little Filipina lady who was pretty much the oldest person I ever saw.
The traffic here is nuts! Four lanes in Manila and 6 lanes of cars. There are no traffic lights or stop signs that I saw but there wasn't one accident. People are really bold and agressive but somehow it works. Also, NO seatbelts. There are lots of palm trees and big leaves. Lots of rice too. I love it so far. We then slept in the hotel and at 11pm three men in suits walked into out room and woke us up! They scared us so bad but they turned out to be elders on their way home from their missions and they wanted to say hi to us.
The next day we went to the airport and flew to Laoag City where a man met us - which was good because they charged us a lot of money for our baggage. They only allow 20 kilos apparently, so it cost 25,000 pesos for the five of us. Phew, good thing that guy met us there. Laoag's airport is reallllly small! After we got our bags we met President & Sister Odgers and went to the mission home (which is a beautiful mansion of a place). We had orientation and some food, then visited with President Odgers who is really nice and very spiritual, and then we had some free time. I played Monopoly with a group of native sisters and Elder Thurston. No one won but I had Boardwalk so you tell me who's the winner! The next day we met our companions. Mine is Elder Soriano. He's a Filipino who lived in Manila until he was 14 and then moved to Winnipeg, so he's Canadian. Cool eh?
We are assigned to a new area which we are re-opening after being closed for 14 years. It's called Vintar and it's a short drive from Laoag City. I'm really struggling with the language because people speak so fast. Sometimes people speak Ilocano and I don't realize it's not Tagalog that they're speaking. Our area is like a little "city" - a few two-storey buildings which are rich peoples' houses then a bunch of one story ones, lots of sketchy little shops and lots of reallllly run down houses and shacks. I guess our apartment is nice - we have rice cooker. I've found 4 cockroaches thus far (sorry Mum but I have to talk about it). They really aren't so bad. They just sit there and run when you get near them. They don't bite or anything. We just spray them or sweep them outside. There are ants all over the place too. Actually, when I killed one of the many mosquitos we have, I looked down and it was gone as the ants took it (cool).
Our shower is okay. Only cold water which is kind of a blessing I guess - but no shower curtain. Apparently there should usually be a drain in the shower part of the bathroom and one in the toilet part. But we don't have one on the toilet side, so when we shower, the water sprays onto the floor near the toilet and pools up. So when you go to the bathroom you are standing in water up to your ankles (so gross). I'm officially Filipino, if you know what I mean - good old lefty. It's weird - you use a ladle to dump water on your butt and then wipe with your hand and soap. I just try to time it with my morning shower now. So far it's been working out.
We already have two new investigators - a guy named Roger down the road from us, who is really nice and speaks Ilocano and English. We taught him about God, the eternal nature of families and about baptism. It went really well. We're going back to visit with him today after p-day. We also taught an old man and he said the prayer in our lesson. He asked us to come back too. I mostly sit there and smile and try to understand what's going on. When I get what's going on, I say something if there's a break in the speaking but I'm really annoyed that I can't participate as much as I'd like.
We go to the Laoag 4th ward. On Saturday we watched a movie at the chapel in Laoag - "The Mountain of the Lord". Cool, because the chapel is on top of a hill in the middle of a bunch of small houses so it really stands out and you see the whole city from it - it's so amazing. After the movie they asked me to get up and speak about temples. I was so nervous. I bore a really simple testimony and it was humbling. We went to a lesson with some other elders after the movie as they were our ride back to Vintar. We all taught a family who are amazing and speak English, Tagalog and Ilocano so there was a lot of languages floating around.
The little kids here are so awesome. They run everywhere and are soooo cute and say hilarious things. They walk up to us and stop in front of us and salute like soldiers and say "Hey man!" and other typical English phrases. One day we followed a little path off the road (all the roads in Vintar's centre are concrete but then we discovered that behind the houses are little subdivisions of dirt and mud roads with shacks and stuff) and found a little dirt road with houses on it and some kids came up to us. I had my fake thumb from my magic kit and I did that disappearing hankie trick for them and they were amazed - for about 5 seconds, but they all loved it. Then I did Dad's coin trick and they loved it too. The problem was, they all followed us around after that for about an hour - right out of their neighbourhood, into the main roads and said things like, "Mr Magic! More magic!".
There are animals everywhere! And so many - all kinds of dogs, cats, lizards, roosters and chickens. I hadn't seen a dead one yet... until today - which was pretty cool because with all the traffic and no speed limits (for real) you'd think there would be lots of road kill. Not so. But today on the way out of our apartment, a big white van started and pulled into the road and I heard a pop and turned and saw that a chicken had been sitting against the tire. It started twitching and stuff and was all mangled. So gross and I was so sad. I guess I'm a bit of a woose because I felt so bad for it. My comp laughed.
Yesterday, at Church I bore my testimony and it went okay. They all said I have the accent but just need the vocabulary. We had PEC meeting after Church with the bishop (who is amazing and tri-lingual). In the meeting, the ward leaders decided to do a one day mission for the whole ward in Vintar to get it going. So this Sunday they will do that and hopefully we will get lots of investigators.
Our neighbours are really nice too. They are long-time Church members. The wife is about 4 feet tall and a little sharp but really hilarious. The husband is really quiet and kind. They help us a lot. I haven't done laundry yet but I will soon. In our mission we can do laundry whenever we need to - not just on p-day. Everyday we wake up at 6:30am, shower, exercise, then eat and study. We go out to work from 12 to 8pm. Our first night in Vintar we did what Bro. Welch suggested - we walked around and just said hi to people in Tagalog, just to pique curiosity. It worked. When we walk by people would say, "Hey Joe!", "Hey man!", or "Hello Sir!" and then we say "Kumusta po?" and they are surprised to hear us speak their language.
People stare at me here - it's weird. I'm not used to being something interesting. No white people - so everyone stares. Yesterday a girl walked by and stared at me for a moment, then grabbed her camera and took my photo, then she ran away. We take Trikey's everywhere. That's a taxi dirt bike with a little cart that is uncomfortable for two people but they fit lots of people into them. They are really low to the ground and really close to traffic too. Pretty fun.
I'm gonna catch one of those lizards before I leave. Their tails fall off if you grab them (But they grow back. I remember dad telling me about it when I was little and thinking it was so cool. Now I have them here!) so it'll be trickey.
I'm really glad we're an eternal family. There is really nothing better. It makes me so happy. I love you all so much. It's tough here, but its worth it. Trials really help us grow. Stay safe and stay close to Christ.
Don't forget a sweaty elder in Vintar.
Ingat po.
Elder Dustan
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Shipping Out! - Week 9 at the MTC
KUMUSTA!!! The new mission presidents had their training this past week. There were eight apostles here for that including Elder Holland and Elder Scott and Elder Ballard. We heard from Elder Bednar who gave a fantastic talk about being a "Preach my Gospel" missionary. It was awesome.
We had a Zone Conference and Elder Chadderton and I conducted it. It was about good study habits. It was great (mostly because Brother Welch spoke). I shared some jury duty stories and everyone loved them. Elder Wong and Elder Partridge succeeded Elder Chadderton & I as the new Zone Leaders (since we are leaving soon).
I ran into Ben Collins in the cafeteria! He was speed walking past us and Elder Chadderton shouted out jokingly, "Hey, obey the speed limit buddy". Ben looked back and I called to him and we talked for a while. He is doing well.
These are my flight plans for Monday, July 4th:
I leave Salt Lake at 9:55pm on Delta Airlines, flight 875 and arrive in San Francisco at 10:55pm. I then leave San Francisco at 1:20am July 5th on Cathay Airlines, flight 873. I arrive in Hong Kong at 6:25am, July 6th. Then I leave Hong Kong at 9:10am on Cathay Airlines, flight 901 and arrive in Manila at 11:15am. I am told we then have a 12 hour bus ride on a nasty stick-shift bus up to Laoag. From my district, those going to Laoag are, Elders Thurston & Tucker and Sister Steele and I. Everyone else in the district is going to the Quezon mission which is a huge mission that they just split. An area authority will meet us in Manila. I have been assigned to be the flight leader. Probably because of my vast array of travel knowledge.....no that can't be it!
I did pick up my phone card three weeks ago. I'll call home at one of the airports. It looks like it will be a late night call for you - hope to talk to the whole family.
Finally heading to the Philippines! It's very exciting but I am nervous. I feel I'm not nearly advanced enough in the language to get by. I can talk about the Church in Tagalog but not comfortable with general conversations yet. Was that the way you felt Pa, or maybe a french mission is different? Hopefully it's normal not to feel fluent in the language as you leave the MTC.
Tomorrow night we are having fireworks at the MTC for July 4th celebrations but I'm pretending they are for today - HAAAAPPPPPYYYYY CAAANNNNAAADDDAA DAAAAYY. I've said that to everyone today.
That's great to hear about Niall. So glad he's home okay and doing well. I shared one or two of his mission stories you sent me from his home-coming talk in class and devotional review. The district loved it.
I got my last North American haircut. I leave for the airport Monday night at 6:30 so you can "Dear Elder" me once more before I leave.
We've been practising teaching lesson 2 from "Preach My Gospel" lately and I love it. It's the best lesson. It answers alllll the questions of life and it is so comforting. I gain a stronger testimnoy of it every time I teach it. I have really come to love the gospel more since I've been here. I can't even believe how blessed we are to have it. I can't wait to share it with the people of the Philippines. My teacher, Bro. Malina told us that we will likely need to learn Ilocano in Laoag. Bro Malina also shared a few things of his mission with us. He said nothing beats hard work and that the harder you work the hotter your future wife gets. it was weird as he's never been anything but a really strict, on-task teacher. He then passed around a picture of his wife and asked "did I work hard mga misyonero, did I?" ....he did.
Shona, the spiders are bigger than your face there! I saw awesome pictures, and don't worry I'll send you some too. ;) Maybe be careful with any packages I may send you too.....jus' sayin'.
Good luck Whitney, you'll be an awesome mum and God will guide you through anything you need help with. Say Hi to Ryan for me, I miss that guy and think of him everyday. I love you Ry-Guy! Talk to you soon everyone!!!!!!
Elder Dustan
We had a Zone Conference and Elder Chadderton and I conducted it. It was about good study habits. It was great (mostly because Brother Welch spoke). I shared some jury duty stories and everyone loved them. Elder Wong and Elder Partridge succeeded Elder Chadderton & I as the new Zone Leaders (since we are leaving soon).
I ran into Ben Collins in the cafeteria! He was speed walking past us and Elder Chadderton shouted out jokingly, "Hey, obey the speed limit buddy". Ben looked back and I called to him and we talked for a while. He is doing well.
These are my flight plans for Monday, July 4th:
I leave Salt Lake at 9:55pm on Delta Airlines, flight 875 and arrive in San Francisco at 10:55pm. I then leave San Francisco at 1:20am July 5th on Cathay Airlines, flight 873. I arrive in Hong Kong at 6:25am, July 6th. Then I leave Hong Kong at 9:10am on Cathay Airlines, flight 901 and arrive in Manila at 11:15am. I am told we then have a 12 hour bus ride on a nasty stick-shift bus up to Laoag. From my district, those going to Laoag are, Elders Thurston & Tucker and Sister Steele and I. Everyone else in the district is going to the Quezon mission which is a huge mission that they just split. An area authority will meet us in Manila. I have been assigned to be the flight leader. Probably because of my vast array of travel knowledge.....no that can't be it!
I did pick up my phone card three weeks ago. I'll call home at one of the airports. It looks like it will be a late night call for you - hope to talk to the whole family.
Finally heading to the Philippines! It's very exciting but I am nervous. I feel I'm not nearly advanced enough in the language to get by. I can talk about the Church in Tagalog but not comfortable with general conversations yet. Was that the way you felt Pa, or maybe a french mission is different? Hopefully it's normal not to feel fluent in the language as you leave the MTC.
Tomorrow night we are having fireworks at the MTC for July 4th celebrations but I'm pretending they are for today - HAAAAPPPPPYYYYY CAAANNNNAAADDDAA DAAAAYY. I've said that to everyone today.
That's great to hear about Niall. So glad he's home okay and doing well. I shared one or two of his mission stories you sent me from his home-coming talk in class and devotional review. The district loved it.
I got my last North American haircut. I leave for the airport Monday night at 6:30 so you can "Dear Elder" me once more before I leave.
We've been practising teaching lesson 2 from "Preach My Gospel" lately and I love it. It's the best lesson. It answers alllll the questions of life and it is so comforting. I gain a stronger testimnoy of it every time I teach it. I have really come to love the gospel more since I've been here. I can't even believe how blessed we are to have it. I can't wait to share it with the people of the Philippines. My teacher, Bro. Malina told us that we will likely need to learn Ilocano in Laoag. Bro Malina also shared a few things of his mission with us. He said nothing beats hard work and that the harder you work the hotter your future wife gets. it was weird as he's never been anything but a really strict, on-task teacher. He then passed around a picture of his wife and asked "did I work hard mga misyonero, did I?" ....he did.
Shona, the spiders are bigger than your face there! I saw awesome pictures, and don't worry I'll send you some too. ;) Maybe be careful with any packages I may send you too.....jus' sayin'.
Good luck Whitney, you'll be an awesome mum and God will guide you through anything you need help with. Say Hi to Ryan for me, I miss that guy and think of him everyday. I love you Ry-Guy! Talk to you soon everyone!!!!!!
Elder Dustan
Sunday, June 26, 2011
What? 2 Languages?? - Week 8 at the MTC
This morning I went to Salt Lake City to the temple and the grounds. I left at 7am and got back at 2pm and then got a haircut, did laundry really fast and then went to choir. There are apostles all over the place here and they are speaking to us tonight at a special meeting!!!! It starts soon and I don't know when it ends so I don't know if I'll be able to send you a longer email.
The only really big news is.....TRAVEL PLANS!!!!!!!!!! I go from Salt Lake City to San Francisco to Hong Kong to Manila and then a long ride overland to Laoag. I don't have my flight plans with me right now but I hope to call home from one of the airports. It may be a late night phone call for you. I'll send you more about it on my next and final p-day which will be next Saturday not Friday.
I hosted new missionaries again this week. It was another great experience. So Niall is home. I can't believe his mission's over already! I miss him and wish I could see him.
I'm uber-excited for the Philippines! My teacher, Bro. Malina said that he knows I'm very prepared in the language which was comforting and then said that I'll definitely have to learn Ilocano as well. So we'll see how that goes.
I love you guys soooooooo much and miss you lots. I pray for you all the time. I learned lots about Christ this week and wish I could share it, and lots about Church history and loved it. Sooooo cool.
Elder Dustan
The only really big news is.....TRAVEL PLANS!!!!!!!!!! I go from Salt Lake City to San Francisco to Hong Kong to Manila and then a long ride overland to Laoag. I don't have my flight plans with me right now but I hope to call home from one of the airports. It may be a late night phone call for you. I'll send you more about it on my next and final p-day which will be next Saturday not Friday.
I hosted new missionaries again this week. It was another great experience. So Niall is home. I can't believe his mission's over already! I miss him and wish I could see him.
I'm uber-excited for the Philippines! My teacher, Bro. Malina said that he knows I'm very prepared in the language which was comforting and then said that I'll definitely have to learn Ilocano as well. So we'll see how that goes.
I love you guys soooooooo much and miss you lots. I pray for you all the time. I learned lots about Christ this week and wish I could share it, and lots about Church history and loved it. Sooooo cool.
Elder Dustan
Monday, June 20, 2011
How Aboot That, Eh? - Week 7 at the MTC
KUMUSTA!!! So here's what's been happening this past week. We got a new district!!!! Awesome! They are the new 2A district because the old one left on Monday. There are 8 elders and 4 sisters. No Canadians but one elder is from Montana and he likes hockey. I wonder if I looked that scared on my first day?
Elder Chadderton and I and the co-ordinating sister (Sister Packard) did a tour of the MTC, and told the new missionaries how to use their study time and Companion Inventory. Elder Chadderton and I did a mock inventory for them - a good one and a bad one. For the bad one I told him he leaves Kiwi fruit skins all over the dorm room and it's driving me crazy. The other New Zealander sister liked that. We had planned on playing a minor, minor prank on the new district. Bro. Welch told us of a friend of his who served in Japan, and his ZL's told him, once he got there, that because of earthquakes they had to wear their bike helmets to bed. So he wore his to bed for two weeks until they told him otherwise. So we were going to tell them that we had to sleep with our thermostats on hot so it wouldn't be a shock when we get to the Philippines. A little mean but so funny eh?
The rest of the zone had gym and we were orienting the newbies (this is on Wednesday night). We got back to the dorm and I realized there were no mattresses on their new beds....I realized our zone had stolen them before they went to gym. It was actually a genius idea. This one elder in new 2A turned to me (he's a big rugby player) and said that this happened to him once before in college and he threw the guy out the window! My response was "These windows don't open". Zing! Anyways, it was funny until I found out where they put the mattresses. There's a supply room in our hall that they only open on Fridays to get new bedding and stuff. It's locked otherwise. Apparently a staff worker from the MTC had opened it, went to do something else, the zone stuffed the mattresses in there, and the worker came back and locked it without knowing they were in there. What a way to start your mission! I felt so bad. They didn't really try hard to get back into the supply room either until we told them that unless they got the mattresses back they would give theirs to the new missionaries. They got someone down to the dorms real fast!
The whole new 2A is going to Quezon City ( a mission that is growing so much that they split it recently) and ONE guy is going to Laoag (pronounced LA-WOG apparently, good to know).
We got a new teacher in place of Sis. Maiello. His name is Brother Malina and he's Filipino. I can't speak for all the teachers in the other districts but our teachers' teaching styles works like this: you love the people you teach, you let it show that you love them, you teach them the gospel just a little bit more than the language, and you teach them really well in the language. If loving those you serve is essential in every other position in the Church, why would it not be when you're teaching people who will be learning to love a different culture, and teaching a gospel of love for two years?
The value of work can't be understated here in the MTC. I'm so glad I had work experience before I came. Thank you so much for sending my Tagalog hymnbook. It will be worn out before I even leave here ( not really but we use them a lot).
We're having a zone conference today after p-day. The ZL's are holding it and the teachers are helping. It's a discussion on how to better study and plan (very imortant). I started studying Christ (broad topic, I know). But Elder Russell M. Nelson told me that there are something like 18 pages in the topical guide with scriptures on Chirst and that you would understand and love Christ more if you studied them. I love it so far. I'll try to do at least half a page a week so I can really analyze each scripture. One of the things I am learning about teaching the gospel to people, is to teach them how to get answers to prayers and to be patient in the process. If an answer came right away, you wouldn't treasure it as much because you didn't really work for it - like many things in life, I guess.
Apparently I have an accent. A weird Canadian/Scottish mix. I don't believe it but apparently I say "aboot" and "eh" a lot. I know more about America than the U.S. elders know about Canada. I named all the states for them and told them I'd give them all the money on my blue card if they could name 5 provinces in Canada (you get 6 bucks a week on you card, the amount from last week carries over if you don't use it all. You only spend it on laundry soap, haircuts, and stuff form the vending machines and store.) They said, Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, Toronto (haha) and that's as far as they got. It was good.
This week I've realized how many great people have been put in my path and how big an effect they have had on my life. It says in my patriarchal blessing that it's not by chance that I've met so many great people along the way. I think of people at Church, in high school and even people I met in Fort MacMurray when I worked there that summer. I'm just realizing how great a plan this is, being here on earth - how intricate our life stories are, how small things we learn from encounters with people can shape our whole lives. Hopefully I will have the opportunity to do the same for the people in the Philippines.
We taught a really good lesson this week. We had planned it all out but felt impressed to teach something different as we were directed by the Spirit. Our grammar and vocabulary were so-so but the Spirit was strong. You don't feel grammar. You don't feel vocabulary. You feel testimony though, and you feel the spirit, that's why we teach people, not lessons.
Lastly, Celetial breakfasts! Every Friday we go to the temple. And then we go to the temple cafeteria where they serve real good food (I am starting to get tired of MTC food). I look forward to it every week. Today I had an omlette, 4 pieces of bacon, hashbrowns, two biscuits with gravy - awesome!
We learned a new way to ask for things sa Tagalog: "Pahingi po ng ___?". So I started saying "Pahingi po ng Amen?" (can I get an Amen?). It's so funny to do to people while we're walking or to Tagalog teachers.
Anyways, this MTC experience is the single most impactful experience of my life, and it'll never happen again so I'm trying to make the most of it. It shows me how to appreciate life more - the small things more, and the big things too.
Alam ko po na totoo and simbahan ni JesuCristo. Alam ko po na totoong propeta ni Josep eSmit (how they say it haha) at totoong buhay propeta ni Thomas S Monson. Alam ko po na mahal po ng Diyos tayo. Mahal kita. Sa pangalan ni JesuCristo Amen. Pahingi po ng Amen? Haha.
Till next Friday! Love ya. Ingat po! Magandang araw!
Elder Maalikabok (Dusty).
Elder Chadderton and I and the co-ordinating sister (Sister Packard) did a tour of the MTC, and told the new missionaries how to use their study time and Companion Inventory. Elder Chadderton and I did a mock inventory for them - a good one and a bad one. For the bad one I told him he leaves Kiwi fruit skins all over the dorm room and it's driving me crazy. The other New Zealander sister liked that. We had planned on playing a minor, minor prank on the new district. Bro. Welch told us of a friend of his who served in Japan, and his ZL's told him, once he got there, that because of earthquakes they had to wear their bike helmets to bed. So he wore his to bed for two weeks until they told him otherwise. So we were going to tell them that we had to sleep with our thermostats on hot so it wouldn't be a shock when we get to the Philippines. A little mean but so funny eh?
The rest of the zone had gym and we were orienting the newbies (this is on Wednesday night). We got back to the dorm and I realized there were no mattresses on their new beds....I realized our zone had stolen them before they went to gym. It was actually a genius idea. This one elder in new 2A turned to me (he's a big rugby player) and said that this happened to him once before in college and he threw the guy out the window! My response was "These windows don't open". Zing! Anyways, it was funny until I found out where they put the mattresses. There's a supply room in our hall that they only open on Fridays to get new bedding and stuff. It's locked otherwise. Apparently a staff worker from the MTC had opened it, went to do something else, the zone stuffed the mattresses in there, and the worker came back and locked it without knowing they were in there. What a way to start your mission! I felt so bad. They didn't really try hard to get back into the supply room either until we told them that unless they got the mattresses back they would give theirs to the new missionaries. They got someone down to the dorms real fast!
The whole new 2A is going to Quezon City ( a mission that is growing so much that they split it recently) and ONE guy is going to Laoag (pronounced LA-WOG apparently, good to know).
We got a new teacher in place of Sis. Maiello. His name is Brother Malina and he's Filipino. I can't speak for all the teachers in the other districts but our teachers' teaching styles works like this: you love the people you teach, you let it show that you love them, you teach them the gospel just a little bit more than the language, and you teach them really well in the language. If loving those you serve is essential in every other position in the Church, why would it not be when you're teaching people who will be learning to love a different culture, and teaching a gospel of love for two years?
The value of work can't be understated here in the MTC. I'm so glad I had work experience before I came. Thank you so much for sending my Tagalog hymnbook. It will be worn out before I even leave here ( not really but we use them a lot).
We're having a zone conference today after p-day. The ZL's are holding it and the teachers are helping. It's a discussion on how to better study and plan (very imortant). I started studying Christ (broad topic, I know). But Elder Russell M. Nelson told me that there are something like 18 pages in the topical guide with scriptures on Chirst and that you would understand and love Christ more if you studied them. I love it so far. I'll try to do at least half a page a week so I can really analyze each scripture. One of the things I am learning about teaching the gospel to people, is to teach them how to get answers to prayers and to be patient in the process. If an answer came right away, you wouldn't treasure it as much because you didn't really work for it - like many things in life, I guess.
Apparently I have an accent. A weird Canadian/Scottish mix. I don't believe it but apparently I say "aboot" and "eh" a lot. I know more about America than the U.S. elders know about Canada. I named all the states for them and told them I'd give them all the money on my blue card if they could name 5 provinces in Canada (you get 6 bucks a week on you card, the amount from last week carries over if you don't use it all. You only spend it on laundry soap, haircuts, and stuff form the vending machines and store.) They said, Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, Toronto (haha) and that's as far as they got. It was good.
This week I've realized how many great people have been put in my path and how big an effect they have had on my life. It says in my patriarchal blessing that it's not by chance that I've met so many great people along the way. I think of people at Church, in high school and even people I met in Fort MacMurray when I worked there that summer. I'm just realizing how great a plan this is, being here on earth - how intricate our life stories are, how small things we learn from encounters with people can shape our whole lives. Hopefully I will have the opportunity to do the same for the people in the Philippines.
We taught a really good lesson this week. We had planned it all out but felt impressed to teach something different as we were directed by the Spirit. Our grammar and vocabulary were so-so but the Spirit was strong. You don't feel grammar. You don't feel vocabulary. You feel testimony though, and you feel the spirit, that's why we teach people, not lessons.
Lastly, Celetial breakfasts! Every Friday we go to the temple. And then we go to the temple cafeteria where they serve real good food (I am starting to get tired of MTC food). I look forward to it every week. Today I had an omlette, 4 pieces of bacon, hashbrowns, two biscuits with gravy - awesome!
We learned a new way to ask for things sa Tagalog: "Pahingi po ng ___?". So I started saying "Pahingi po ng Amen?" (can I get an Amen?). It's so funny to do to people while we're walking or to Tagalog teachers.
Anyways, this MTC experience is the single most impactful experience of my life, and it'll never happen again so I'm trying to make the most of it. It shows me how to appreciate life more - the small things more, and the big things too.
Alam ko po na totoo and simbahan ni JesuCristo. Alam ko po na totoong propeta ni Josep eSmit (how they say it haha) at totoong buhay propeta ni Thomas S Monson. Alam ko po na mahal po ng Diyos tayo. Mahal kita. Sa pangalan ni JesuCristo Amen. Pahingi po ng Amen? Haha.
Till next Friday! Love ya. Ingat po! Magandang araw!
Elder Maalikabok (Dusty).
Friday, June 10, 2011
Fourth Floor - Toilets & Firecrackers! - Week 6 at the MTC
Kumusta po kayo!!!??
I'm a Zone Leader now. Crazy eh? On Sunday they picked new ones because the older district leaves this Monday! We'll become the oldest district. Elder Chadderton and I are ZL's and Elder Stoddard is District Leader. Every night we go room to room and "tucker everyone in" like the old ZL's did. It involves lots of back slapping because that apparently makes guys feels less gay! I can't go to choir now on Sundays (which is when we practice for the Tuesday Devotional, and I always went to both) as I have meetings all day! We had a meeting with all the Zone Leaders in our dorm building and this slick-haired cocky Brit elder got up and said in all seriouness, "I have nothing to complain about since I know that my zone is the best in the building." What a blighter! (pardon my British). He then complained about another zone breaking the 4th floor toilet and now it "explodes when flushed" (there was a 5 minute discussion on what colour the water is when it explodes, I could hardly contain myself, it was so funny). Elder Chadderton and I have yet to find the right toilet. We've flushed almost all the toilets on the 4th floor, so we're getting close!
They also complained about our zone because someone rigged the shower curtains with firecrackers so when you pull the cutain it blows up. They also rigged the paper towel dispenser. I know who it is though. It's this new elder I call "Botchi" because his name is sooooo long and that's the first part of it. He can perfectly imitate a small dog's bark. We heard it coming from the bathroom one night and Elder Taurabakai got all excited saying "There's a dog, there's a dog" ( I hope he doesn't eat Botchi. Dog being a delicacy where he's from). Anyways, he's out of firecrackers so no more of that!
Actually, we're really good at being disciplined, on task and making good use of study time.
Elder Cohen told me my first day here that, "your study time will make or break your mission". I feel like it's making it right now.
I got Ryan's Dear Elder, and if you get me his address I'll send him a letter soon.
Sister Maiello is gone! She needed to be with her family before her sister goes to school in the Fall so they can all be together, as her dad is sick. She told us why each of us is special and sang "Be Still My Soul" to us. We then sang "God Be With You Till We Meet Again" to her sa Tagalog (it's possibly the most beautiful song and even better sa Tagalog).
We taught TRC in Tagalog only yesterday. We were supposed to talk about our favorite foods and then teach the first lesson. The lesson went so well. I felt so confident in my ability, which was purely the Lord helping me because I'm really not THAT good at remembering things. It was a really cool feeling. And then I blew the food task. The guy asked questions about food and my responses were soooo embarassingly funny.
After TRC we have a gospel question time with Bro. Welch who is the best. He rememebers pretty much every quote by a General Authority ever. I wouldn't be surprised if someday he'll be a General Authority. We talked about Christ and how we have a Saviour who has felt all pains that we've felt because He's lived them. He was tempted just like us except He never gave in to any of them. He wasn't always perfect. He developed that and became a true God through the grace of his Father. It is really comforting to know that we have a Saviour who is perfect, who is incapable of failing us.
Finally we talked about 1 Nephi 7:17. Nephi prays for God to help him break his bands, and God answers him but humbles him at the same time by loosening them instead. Elder Bednar said "Nephi didn't pray to have his circumstances changed, rather he prayed for the strength to change his circumstances". I am really starting to understand things better now.
We discussed two powers of the gospel. There's the redeeming power of the gospel that makes bad people good, but there's also the enabling power of the gospel that allows good people to become better than they could on their own. That verse and an understanding of the enabling power of the gospel, the ability to call on the power of heaven, is so great. I honestly feel that if God needed me to, I could move the mountain outside this MTC (even if I needed to use a shovel!).
We just found out today that we have a Norovirus outbreak at the MTC. It won't get me because I'm planning on being a germaphobe!
We now say "ay graBE!" (emphasis on the BAY, and roll the r) it pretty much means "Oh my goodness" or "yikes", etc. From what Bro. Welch tells us anyway.
I pray for everyone at home every day. Scritch the dog for me. Stay safe. SOBRANG MAHAL KO PO KAYO!
Elder Dustan
I'm a Zone Leader now. Crazy eh? On Sunday they picked new ones because the older district leaves this Monday! We'll become the oldest district. Elder Chadderton and I are ZL's and Elder Stoddard is District Leader. Every night we go room to room and "tucker everyone in" like the old ZL's did. It involves lots of back slapping because that apparently makes guys feels less gay! I can't go to choir now on Sundays (which is when we practice for the Tuesday Devotional, and I always went to both) as I have meetings all day! We had a meeting with all the Zone Leaders in our dorm building and this slick-haired cocky Brit elder got up and said in all seriouness, "I have nothing to complain about since I know that my zone is the best in the building." What a blighter! (pardon my British). He then complained about another zone breaking the 4th floor toilet and now it "explodes when flushed" (there was a 5 minute discussion on what colour the water is when it explodes, I could hardly contain myself, it was so funny). Elder Chadderton and I have yet to find the right toilet. We've flushed almost all the toilets on the 4th floor, so we're getting close!
They also complained about our zone because someone rigged the shower curtains with firecrackers so when you pull the cutain it blows up. They also rigged the paper towel dispenser. I know who it is though. It's this new elder I call "Botchi" because his name is sooooo long and that's the first part of it. He can perfectly imitate a small dog's bark. We heard it coming from the bathroom one night and Elder Taurabakai got all excited saying "There's a dog, there's a dog" ( I hope he doesn't eat Botchi. Dog being a delicacy where he's from). Anyways, he's out of firecrackers so no more of that!
Actually, we're really good at being disciplined, on task and making good use of study time.
Elder Cohen told me my first day here that, "your study time will make or break your mission". I feel like it's making it right now.
I got Ryan's Dear Elder, and if you get me his address I'll send him a letter soon.
Sister Maiello is gone! She needed to be with her family before her sister goes to school in the Fall so they can all be together, as her dad is sick. She told us why each of us is special and sang "Be Still My Soul" to us. We then sang "God Be With You Till We Meet Again" to her sa Tagalog (it's possibly the most beautiful song and even better sa Tagalog).
We taught TRC in Tagalog only yesterday. We were supposed to talk about our favorite foods and then teach the first lesson. The lesson went so well. I felt so confident in my ability, which was purely the Lord helping me because I'm really not THAT good at remembering things. It was a really cool feeling. And then I blew the food task. The guy asked questions about food and my responses were soooo embarassingly funny.
After TRC we have a gospel question time with Bro. Welch who is the best. He rememebers pretty much every quote by a General Authority ever. I wouldn't be surprised if someday he'll be a General Authority. We talked about Christ and how we have a Saviour who has felt all pains that we've felt because He's lived them. He was tempted just like us except He never gave in to any of them. He wasn't always perfect. He developed that and became a true God through the grace of his Father. It is really comforting to know that we have a Saviour who is perfect, who is incapable of failing us.
Finally we talked about 1 Nephi 7:17. Nephi prays for God to help him break his bands, and God answers him but humbles him at the same time by loosening them instead. Elder Bednar said "Nephi didn't pray to have his circumstances changed, rather he prayed for the strength to change his circumstances". I am really starting to understand things better now.
We discussed two powers of the gospel. There's the redeeming power of the gospel that makes bad people good, but there's also the enabling power of the gospel that allows good people to become better than they could on their own. That verse and an understanding of the enabling power of the gospel, the ability to call on the power of heaven, is so great. I honestly feel that if God needed me to, I could move the mountain outside this MTC (even if I needed to use a shovel!).
We just found out today that we have a Norovirus outbreak at the MTC. It won't get me because I'm planning on being a germaphobe!
We now say "ay graBE!" (emphasis on the BAY, and roll the r) it pretty much means "Oh my goodness" or "yikes", etc. From what Bro. Welch tells us anyway.
I pray for everyone at home every day. Scritch the dog for me. Stay safe. SOBRANG MAHAL KO PO KAYO!
Elder Dustan
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Last Week of English! - Week 5 at the MTC
It's Biyernes!!!!!!!!!! I went to the temple this morning and did a session. It was awesome as usual. TRC (Training Resource Centre) last night was our last TRC in English. From now on we will be teaching whole lessons sa Tagalog. Scary.
Heard about the postal strike. Uber annoyed with Canada Post. You guys will have to double up your "Dear Elder" output! (ha ha)
Brother Welch, our teacher, told us a story this week about one of the first times he bore his testimony of the Book of Mormon on his mission sa Tagalog. He said he knew with all his "pusa" (instead of puso which means heart) that it was true. So he actually said I know with all my cat that it is true! Pusa is cat. I laughed so hard. Learning the language is coming along well. We are memorizing verbs now. We are at the point where we can say pretty much anything we want if we sit down and work it out. It's just hard to do in your head. Although we did teach a really good lesson about the Book of Mormon last week.
Elder James, in the district ahead of ours, broke his arm goofing around with Elder Taurabakai. They're like best friends and they were trying self-defence stuff and he flipped him. So Elder James is going to stay back with our district until he's ready to go.
In a week we will be the oldest district in the zone! It honestly feels like just a week ago I got here. Time flies. The new district is doing really well. We try to look out for them. We got new sister missionaries but Sister Steele is still our companion during class time.
NHL comes to WINNIPEG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So excited! I screamed and ran to tell the only other elder in our zone who likes hockey. I hope they call them the Jets. Keep me up on all the hockey news.
Thanks for all your letters! I've heard from so many people back home and I really appreciate it.
I really do love it here. Some days I think I'm doing great at teaching and speaking Tagalog and the next, I think I'm terrible at it. The Lord keeps me humble ( and that's when I'm most successful I noticed).
I realized yesterday that I really missed Ryan! Someone said that they would hide in someones suitcases to get to somewhere and I thought of Ryan - he said that to me when I was leaving. Tell him hi, and get him to "Dear Elder" me about his new lawn tractor. He must be very excited and I can't wait to hear about it.
I have decided that I'll never stop singing. It's the best! It shows how happy you are and it's contagious. Our district sings all the time. But don't worry - only uplifting music!
Our teacher, Sister Maiello is leaving! She wants to be with her family in California. Her dad is sick and she misses them. She was crying when she told us. She leaves Wednesday. She struggeld with leaving but she prayed and prayed and got her answer. It really showed me how you should make those kinds of tough decisions. You really have to listen hard to the spirit. We're going to sing her the hymn, "God be with you till we meet again", sa Tagalog. She will love it.
I'm so happy to be here. I know without any doubt that I'm in the right place. I'm learning how awesome the Book of Mormon is and how to pray with real intent. Nothing is better than offering your deepest desires, emotions and thoughts to your Father in Heaven. When I do it, I ALWAYS get answers!
Say hi to everyone for me. Love you lots.
Elder Dustan
Heard about the postal strike. Uber annoyed with Canada Post. You guys will have to double up your "Dear Elder" output! (ha ha)
Brother Welch, our teacher, told us a story this week about one of the first times he bore his testimony of the Book of Mormon on his mission sa Tagalog. He said he knew with all his "pusa" (instead of puso which means heart) that it was true. So he actually said I know with all my cat that it is true! Pusa is cat. I laughed so hard. Learning the language is coming along well. We are memorizing verbs now. We are at the point where we can say pretty much anything we want if we sit down and work it out. It's just hard to do in your head. Although we did teach a really good lesson about the Book of Mormon last week.
Elder James, in the district ahead of ours, broke his arm goofing around with Elder Taurabakai. They're like best friends and they were trying self-defence stuff and he flipped him. So Elder James is going to stay back with our district until he's ready to go.
In a week we will be the oldest district in the zone! It honestly feels like just a week ago I got here. Time flies. The new district is doing really well. We try to look out for them. We got new sister missionaries but Sister Steele is still our companion during class time.
NHL comes to WINNIPEG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So excited! I screamed and ran to tell the only other elder in our zone who likes hockey. I hope they call them the Jets. Keep me up on all the hockey news.
Thanks for all your letters! I've heard from so many people back home and I really appreciate it.
I really do love it here. Some days I think I'm doing great at teaching and speaking Tagalog and the next, I think I'm terrible at it. The Lord keeps me humble ( and that's when I'm most successful I noticed).
I realized yesterday that I really missed Ryan! Someone said that they would hide in someones suitcases to get to somewhere and I thought of Ryan - he said that to me when I was leaving. Tell him hi, and get him to "Dear Elder" me about his new lawn tractor. He must be very excited and I can't wait to hear about it.
I have decided that I'll never stop singing. It's the best! It shows how happy you are and it's contagious. Our district sings all the time. But don't worry - only uplifting music!
Our teacher, Sister Maiello is leaving! She wants to be with her family in California. Her dad is sick and she misses them. She was crying when she told us. She leaves Wednesday. She struggeld with leaving but she prayed and prayed and got her answer. It really showed me how you should make those kinds of tough decisions. You really have to listen hard to the spirit. We're going to sing her the hymn, "God be with you till we meet again", sa Tagalog. She will love it.
I'm so happy to be here. I know without any doubt that I'm in the right place. I'm learning how awesome the Book of Mormon is and how to pray with real intent. Nothing is better than offering your deepest desires, emotions and thoughts to your Father in Heaven. When I do it, I ALWAYS get answers!
Say hi to everyone for me. Love you lots.
Elder Dustan
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