Hey guys! Transfer day today. No worries, I am here with my companion for at least 6 more weeks. President told us he would probably put two more elders into the area again next transfer when the big batch comes in. So chances are we will be here for two transfers or more.
This week was pretty cool. But first I have to ask some advice. In week 4 of this transfer we have zone meetings. We have to make up some games to play while the president is doing interviews. There will likely be about 16 people there so if you can think of any games, please tell us soon. I don't want to do any of the usual ones they do here so I need your help.
I got your packages!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks guys! You are the best. I loved them. Our fridge is FULL of stuff now. We have a little "play station" in the apartment now. We had bought cereal recently and they come with free hot wheels and now we have all the stuff from our packages too! I mean, we'll give it to kids eventually but.....not yet. We also made french toast with some of the cinnamon.
I gave out a couple of the princess rings (I assumed they aren't for me) and I wish you could see the little girls' faces. Soooooo cute! Huge smiles like I just gave them the best present of all time.
All in all though, the highlight of the package was the decadent cookies. I forgot how amazing they are. Needless to say they are long gone. I am so spoiled.
So on to the rest of the happenings of the week. We taught an old man that I had mentioned before. His wife died way back and every time we teach, he tells us he wants to re-marry. Turns out though, that he thought it was a sin!!! We explained it's not. But I don't know if his motive is good. He said, "I want someone to cook and clean for me."
We had a brown-out last Friday - always on the worst day: weekly planning. It was soooooo hot! I also couldn't shave as we had no water so I went out and worked looking like a hobo. Worst part is we had a fireside that night (we were teaching about why and how to do home and visiting teaching) and I had to get up in front of everyone with a beard.
Now for a couple of stories about our investigators and less actives. We've been working with a family that has been struggling and Tatay never came to church but now he is hooked because of the Book of Mormon! He is like a changed man. He LOVES King Benjamin - rants and raves about the first chapters of Mosiah. He showed up at church yesterday with a nice white shirt on and a huge straw hat, clearly trying his very best to wear his best Sunday clothes. It was touching.
When I was on exchange, we taught one lesson with a less active member who is a returned missionary. I think I might have mentioned him before. I had thought that we may need to be bold with him but I realized, because of promptings, that we should be more kind and understanding. He really opened up. He struggles to find time to read the Book of Mormon. We decided we would go by every day and read with him for a little bit. While we were there I felt prompted to ask to see his mission pictures and he loved it. The spirit is a genius! He is really making some progress. He shares some great insights about the Book of Mormon too.
His daughter is the cutest little thing - little munchkin voice. She's only 8. I gave her a princess ring and it was
pretty much the best experience of her life.
I have been developing a stronger and stronger love for the people we are teaching. At our home teaching fireside we got everyone to practice teaching. Seeing them all do their best was so endearing. The spirit was really strong there.
Anyways, I have to go. I love you guys so much. Thanks for everything you do.
LOVE YOU LOTS.
Elder Dustan
Friday, March 23, 2012
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Machetes and the Rodent Resurrection - Week 44. Serving in Camalaniugan
Fast sunday is pretty exhausting in the hot filipino sun (oh, it got hot here again!). Great attendance at church though. I counted 140!!!!! Way good. A ton of our less actives came and a bunch of investigators too. Sunday School class was a bit odd as they got off topic and discussed whether or not animals would be resurrected.
We met with our young mother again (I mentioned her last week). She said she had a dream after we gave her a blessing. She said she was walking down a river and the water was shallow and she was with lots of people. They came to a fork in the river and they all went left (NO! - why would you choose left??) and as they walked the water got deeper and deeper and she was worried. It got up to her neck and then an old man with a beard who walked behind her said, "You should turn back", so she went back and went down the right way (that's better!) and then the water was shallow again and the dream ended. We discussed with her what it means to receive personal revelation and I shared a similar experience I had and how it was really special to me. She was really impressed with the whole experience and we made some progress with her in following the revelation she received. She then told us that things are starting to change. She had an answer to her prayers recently. We also got to meet her boyfriend for the first time. She seems happy.
We went to Lasam this week for a baptismal interview. It is way out in the mountains. The jeep that took us there was the sketchiest vehicle I have ever laid eyes on in my life. The windshield was smashed and TAPED together again. There was only a little spot in front of the driver where you could see clearly but he had to sit up and lean close to see out of it. The front right side was separating from the rest of the jeep and there was a huge rusting crack under the bench on both sides where we sat and I could not tell what was holding it on (besides the collective will of everyone on the jeep!). I was ready at all times to move in case the seat fell through the floor. It was packed with people and the lady beside me had a bag with some brine and fish in it and it REAKED! There was also a bag at my feet that was moving. I was told there was a dog in it. She told me to be careful because it would bite me.
I have been meaning to tell you for a while that we have a huge problem with mice and rats in the house. No rat sightings yet but the footprints on the walls are huge! I have seen the rats outside though. They climb trees and they look like racoons - dirty raccoons. But I didn't want to use poison on them because there is a room in the house that is always locked where the landlady keeps her stuff so if one went in there and died it would smell.
We have a pretty good extermination system going though - my machete. I have killed four so far. The first one I just stunned and then finished it off with a rock outside. The second two, I lopped their heads off (for reals! My aim is pretty sweet!). The fourth I got a little sloppy with and cut it in half and the front half crawled away from the back but didn't get far. Don't worry they WILL be resurrected!
Back home I would have felt really bad - still do a little, but one thing is different now:
They are POOPING IN MY RICE!!!! You never poop in a missionary's rice! So now it's personal.
We taught a lesson in a motorcycle shop this week. Elder B and I were on exchange in Gattaran. The movie the guy was watching was Anaconda 5 - what's been going on in the movie industry since I've been gone?? It wasn't hard to compete with so the lesson was pretty good.
We got caught in a freak storm that day which ended up with us going to that motorcycle shop. We were being given a ride by a fellowshipper as our investigator was pretty far away. He had a motorcycle with a little side-car thing, usually used for carrying pigs. You just put a slab of wood across it and then you're good to go. I was sitting on the wood and then out of nowhere - dark clouds, cold wind, thunder, lightning and crazy rain. The rain really hurt too.
That was mostly what happened this past week. Today we bought some real meat at a nice place in Aparri called Monterey Meats so I won't have to eat hairy pork from the market this week. Yay!!
Our district is the best. We brought a box to the training meeting and they asked what was in it - was it food? The training was about overcoming fear. We told them that we caught a mouse alive that morning and it was in the box (they have rats crawling on them in their house at night and we have discussed many times our individual rodent problems so it was more believeable). We explained that whoever was brave enough could come to the front and grab the mouse with their bare hands and give it a kiss. They all freaked out (they are all Filipina sisters). It was hilarious! Then Sister A said, "Well you know, I have touched a hamster before so I'll try it!"
She got up and opened the box and saw that we had just put a computer mouse in it. She still played along though and acted grossed out and the others all freaked. Then she pulled the computer mouse out and kissed it and they all laughed. The training was great!
We had two visitors to our district training - the guy we blessed with President O who is going to serve a short term mission and a young single adult girl named M. She was less active but she had a strong spiritual experience at church and has been active ever since (I will tell you about her experience another time). She wants to serve a mission now!
This was a great week. I love my mission and am receiving personal revelation in my studies as well as for our area and those we teach. I read about the definition of the "elect" this morning and something sister O said came to mind. She said we will be surprised with who actually attains celestial glory and who doesn't. I realized that it is true. There are a lot of members who are content to float by - not excel but keep the commandments to the bare minimum. I realized what it means to be one of the elect of God. One sentence stood out the most: that they try with all their hearts. I am going to do all I can to be what God wants me to be here and when I go home. I pray and hope you will all do the same.
I love you all so much and am so grateful and happy for all you do for me. Hope you have a great week. Ingat!
-Elder Dustan
We met with our young mother again (I mentioned her last week). She said she had a dream after we gave her a blessing. She said she was walking down a river and the water was shallow and she was with lots of people. They came to a fork in the river and they all went left (NO! - why would you choose left??) and as they walked the water got deeper and deeper and she was worried. It got up to her neck and then an old man with a beard who walked behind her said, "You should turn back", so she went back and went down the right way (that's better!) and then the water was shallow again and the dream ended. We discussed with her what it means to receive personal revelation and I shared a similar experience I had and how it was really special to me. She was really impressed with the whole experience and we made some progress with her in following the revelation she received. She then told us that things are starting to change. She had an answer to her prayers recently. We also got to meet her boyfriend for the first time. She seems happy.
We went to Lasam this week for a baptismal interview. It is way out in the mountains. The jeep that took us there was the sketchiest vehicle I have ever laid eyes on in my life. The windshield was smashed and TAPED together again. There was only a little spot in front of the driver where you could see clearly but he had to sit up and lean close to see out of it. The front right side was separating from the rest of the jeep and there was a huge rusting crack under the bench on both sides where we sat and I could not tell what was holding it on (besides the collective will of everyone on the jeep!). I was ready at all times to move in case the seat fell through the floor. It was packed with people and the lady beside me had a bag with some brine and fish in it and it REAKED! There was also a bag at my feet that was moving. I was told there was a dog in it. She told me to be careful because it would bite me.
I have been meaning to tell you for a while that we have a huge problem with mice and rats in the house. No rat sightings yet but the footprints on the walls are huge! I have seen the rats outside though. They climb trees and they look like racoons - dirty raccoons. But I didn't want to use poison on them because there is a room in the house that is always locked where the landlady keeps her stuff so if one went in there and died it would smell.
We have a pretty good extermination system going though - my machete. I have killed four so far. The first one I just stunned and then finished it off with a rock outside. The second two, I lopped their heads off (for reals! My aim is pretty sweet!). The fourth I got a little sloppy with and cut it in half and the front half crawled away from the back but didn't get far. Don't worry they WILL be resurrected!
Back home I would have felt really bad - still do a little, but one thing is different now:
They are POOPING IN MY RICE!!!! You never poop in a missionary's rice! So now it's personal.
We taught a lesson in a motorcycle shop this week. Elder B and I were on exchange in Gattaran. The movie the guy was watching was Anaconda 5 - what's been going on in the movie industry since I've been gone?? It wasn't hard to compete with so the lesson was pretty good.
We got caught in a freak storm that day which ended up with us going to that motorcycle shop. We were being given a ride by a fellowshipper as our investigator was pretty far away. He had a motorcycle with a little side-car thing, usually used for carrying pigs. You just put a slab of wood across it and then you're good to go. I was sitting on the wood and then out of nowhere - dark clouds, cold wind, thunder, lightning and crazy rain. The rain really hurt too.
That was mostly what happened this past week. Today we bought some real meat at a nice place in Aparri called Monterey Meats so I won't have to eat hairy pork from the market this week. Yay!!
Our district is the best. We brought a box to the training meeting and they asked what was in it - was it food? The training was about overcoming fear. We told them that we caught a mouse alive that morning and it was in the box (they have rats crawling on them in their house at night and we have discussed many times our individual rodent problems so it was more believeable). We explained that whoever was brave enough could come to the front and grab the mouse with their bare hands and give it a kiss. They all freaked out (they are all Filipina sisters). It was hilarious! Then Sister A said, "Well you know, I have touched a hamster before so I'll try it!"
She got up and opened the box and saw that we had just put a computer mouse in it. She still played along though and acted grossed out and the others all freaked. Then she pulled the computer mouse out and kissed it and they all laughed. The training was great!
We had two visitors to our district training - the guy we blessed with President O who is going to serve a short term mission and a young single adult girl named M. She was less active but she had a strong spiritual experience at church and has been active ever since (I will tell you about her experience another time). She wants to serve a mission now!
This was a great week. I love my mission and am receiving personal revelation in my studies as well as for our area and those we teach. I read about the definition of the "elect" this morning and something sister O said came to mind. She said we will be surprised with who actually attains celestial glory and who doesn't. I realized that it is true. There are a lot of members who are content to float by - not excel but keep the commandments to the bare minimum. I realized what it means to be one of the elect of God. One sentence stood out the most: that they try with all their hearts. I am going to do all I can to be what God wants me to be here and when I go home. I pray and hope you will all do the same.
I love you all so much and am so grateful and happy for all you do for me. Hope you have a great week. Ingat!
-Elder Dustan
Those Blessed Mosquitoes! Week 43. Serving in Camalaniugan
Hello! lalala!
I am doing really well. This week was pretty sweet. We gave a training to our districts. It was about love. We got up without our name tags on, no ties, one shoe off, all disheveled and gave a terrible lesson (most of which was scriptures from Songs of Solomon - that's a flippin' weird book). Elder T and I read from it in an uppity British accent. You should try it.
They were all confused and either were afraid that it was our real training or that they really weren't understanding what we were saying.
Most of the filipinos caught on that it was a joke but this one elder raised his hand and asked where the scripture was again! Then we discussed how the training sucked because some important things were missing. We shared how love is a requirement for the work. I felt a greater love for the people here this week.
We taught a young mother (she is 20 and has two kids - one of which is 3!). She is the sweetest girl I have ever met and is way smart too. I felt a great amount of love for her and her kids and we sat and discussed ways to solve a problem she has. We asked if she had gotten a blessing before. No one had ever told her that before! So we all fasted and then yesterday we blessed her and it was a great experience. We got eaten alive by mosquitoes while we stood still for the blessing though.
I changed a door knob this week. I, like the genius I am, locked myself out of the apartment and so we broke the old knob, bought a new one and replaced it using my pocket knife, a broken screwdriver and a big stone. We also did all the reports for the district.
I have been studying lately on the duties of the priesthood and am loving it. Now I have a better knowledge of what I should be doing. I never knew how serious and important certain things are - the little things really make it all.
It's soooooo good to hear from home and I don't think that will ever wear off. I very much love my mission.
Anyways, I love you guys very much and look forward to hearing from you next week. Take care of yourselves.
-Elder Dustan
I am doing really well. This week was pretty sweet. We gave a training to our districts. It was about love. We got up without our name tags on, no ties, one shoe off, all disheveled and gave a terrible lesson (most of which was scriptures from Songs of Solomon - that's a flippin' weird book). Elder T and I read from it in an uppity British accent. You should try it.
They were all confused and either were afraid that it was our real training or that they really weren't understanding what we were saying.
Most of the filipinos caught on that it was a joke but this one elder raised his hand and asked where the scripture was again! Then we discussed how the training sucked because some important things were missing. We shared how love is a requirement for the work. I felt a greater love for the people here this week.
We taught a young mother (she is 20 and has two kids - one of which is 3!). She is the sweetest girl I have ever met and is way smart too. I felt a great amount of love for her and her kids and we sat and discussed ways to solve a problem she has. We asked if she had gotten a blessing before. No one had ever told her that before! So we all fasted and then yesterday we blessed her and it was a great experience. We got eaten alive by mosquitoes while we stood still for the blessing though.
I changed a door knob this week. I, like the genius I am, locked myself out of the apartment and so we broke the old knob, bought a new one and replaced it using my pocket knife, a broken screwdriver and a big stone. We also did all the reports for the district.
I have been studying lately on the duties of the priesthood and am loving it. Now I have a better knowledge of what I should be doing. I never knew how serious and important certain things are - the little things really make it all.
It's soooooo good to hear from home and I don't think that will ever wear off. I very much love my mission.
Anyways, I love you guys very much and look forward to hearing from you next week. Take care of yourselves.
-Elder Dustan
Hail To The Chief! - Week 42. Serving in Camalaniugan
Haaaapy family day!
Zone conference was great. As zone leaders we didn't have to do much but announce the mission business which was pretty much a list of common sense rules and practices that missionaries are supposed to follow. Apparently a surprising amount of doors in the mission are being kicked in because missionaries are locking themselves out - proof that the Church is true or it would have crumbled long ago in the hands of us fine missionaries.
Working with president O was great. We taught a less active family and he gave them a picture of the temple and said that they need to prepare to go there. They were all really excited about it. They are a great family. They have been coming to church for a few weeks now and the tatay got called as Sunday School President.
As a joke I introduced President O as the president of the United States and I guess it was more believeable than I thought, as at the end of the lesson, I asked them if they had any questions or anything they would like to say and one nanay said "I just feel really blessed to have the president in my home, all the way from the United States. We are just so blessed." - Oops!
I don't know how the president does it but he knows exactly what we are teaching and adds upon it perfectly even though he doesn't speak Tagalog. In teaching he speaks English and we don't translate for him but the spirit is there so strongly that they seem to get what he is saying.
The last appointment we had was with a 19 year old who has really wanted to serve a mission since he was 15 when he joined the Church. He is the nicest guy and quite amazing but then his dad pushed him to join the army a while ago.
We discussed it with the president and then talked with him and offered him the opportunity to serve a short-term mission first - right here in the Laoag mission. He kept telling us that his military training is in March so he can't. Then the president told him we would all fast and pray for him and gave him a priesthood blessing and left.
The next day, after zone conference, the president and I went to the chapel to have a correlation meeting and the young guy was there. He told us he couldn't believe it - his training was delayed until December! Sweet. So now he's going to be serving a short-term mission on april 3 and I think that once he gets into missionary life, he will just bail on the army and serve a full time mission.
Anyways, it was amazing. The president is such a spiritual man and so nice - and fun too! Elder D couldn't believe that I got to go on two exchanges with the president. Last Wednesday we exchanged with him, but for an hour the president and I split off and taught someone while the others taught someone else. Then, after correlation, the two of us and the district president went out to teach for 2 hours. It was a great two days.
We had a baptism on Saturday. It was at 5pm so we went an hour early and discovered that the water was a thick brown colour and that there was only one pair of baptismal clothes. We tried to fix all that and then beat it over to the home of the little girl who was to be baptized. It was pouring rain and we got soaked. We went with them back to the church and the baptism went well. She is so flippin' cute.
It's pretty cold here right now. I am not even using my fan at night anymore and I wear my long sleeved shirt in the house.
I am so happy I have you guys. Love you lots, and I think about you always.
-Elder Dustan
Zone conference was great. As zone leaders we didn't have to do much but announce the mission business which was pretty much a list of common sense rules and practices that missionaries are supposed to follow. Apparently a surprising amount of doors in the mission are being kicked in because missionaries are locking themselves out - proof that the Church is true or it would have crumbled long ago in the hands of us fine missionaries.
Working with president O was great. We taught a less active family and he gave them a picture of the temple and said that they need to prepare to go there. They were all really excited about it. They are a great family. They have been coming to church for a few weeks now and the tatay got called as Sunday School President.
As a joke I introduced President O as the president of the United States and I guess it was more believeable than I thought, as at the end of the lesson, I asked them if they had any questions or anything they would like to say and one nanay said "I just feel really blessed to have the president in my home, all the way from the United States. We are just so blessed." - Oops!
I don't know how the president does it but he knows exactly what we are teaching and adds upon it perfectly even though he doesn't speak Tagalog. In teaching he speaks English and we don't translate for him but the spirit is there so strongly that they seem to get what he is saying.
The last appointment we had was with a 19 year old who has really wanted to serve a mission since he was 15 when he joined the Church. He is the nicest guy and quite amazing but then his dad pushed him to join the army a while ago.
We discussed it with the president and then talked with him and offered him the opportunity to serve a short-term mission first - right here in the Laoag mission. He kept telling us that his military training is in March so he can't. Then the president told him we would all fast and pray for him and gave him a priesthood blessing and left.
The next day, after zone conference, the president and I went to the chapel to have a correlation meeting and the young guy was there. He told us he couldn't believe it - his training was delayed until December! Sweet. So now he's going to be serving a short-term mission on april 3 and I think that once he gets into missionary life, he will just bail on the army and serve a full time mission.
Anyways, it was amazing. The president is such a spiritual man and so nice - and fun too! Elder D couldn't believe that I got to go on two exchanges with the president. Last Wednesday we exchanged with him, but for an hour the president and I split off and taught someone while the others taught someone else. Then, after correlation, the two of us and the district president went out to teach for 2 hours. It was a great two days.
We had a baptism on Saturday. It was at 5pm so we went an hour early and discovered that the water was a thick brown colour and that there was only one pair of baptismal clothes. We tried to fix all that and then beat it over to the home of the little girl who was to be baptized. It was pouring rain and we got soaked. We went with them back to the church and the baptism went well. She is so flippin' cute.
It's pretty cold here right now. I am not even using my fan at night anymore and I wear my long sleeved shirt in the house.
I am so happy I have you guys. Love you lots, and I think about you always.
-Elder Dustan
Friday, February 17, 2012
Goudy Old Stout - Week 41. Serving in Camalaniugan
This week has been flippin' nuts. We went to Zone Leader Conference on Tuesday and Wednesday. I hate that bus ride.
We always sit at the back of the bus so we can spread out more. Hanging on the back seats were some clothes. More specifically, a dirty old pair of briefs and a stinky pair of socks. Turns out they belonged to the conductor. After carefully making sure they didn't touch any part of our skin we moved the dirty clothes to another part of the bus and the conductor came back and asked where the pair of briefs and socks went!
The bus broke down and we waited a long time but still got there on time (way lucky there are no speed limits in this country).
We have President O coming to work with us on Wednesday!!! There is a zone conference in Claveria zone on Tuesday and then ours is on Thursday so he will work with us Wednesday..... just a little nervous. We are also in charge of conducting the zone conference and getting programs ready and assigning people to do stuff. I never knew that there were rules for conducting. Pres. Packer gave a great talk on it but I can't remember what it's called.
We had fun making the programs though. Who knew font styles were so hilariously named??? We settled on "Goudy Old Stout", but it was close. We almost went with "Wide Latin". That is something I will put on my resume: "Yes I speak Wide Latin".
We have a baptism this Saturday. The little daughter of the 1st counselor in the branch presidency. She should have been a child of record baptism but her previous three baptism attempts didn't work out. She is afraid of water. She is sooooo cute though - it's all I can do not to pinch the cheeks off her little face! She's so shy too - Possibly the shyest person I have ever met. So I will keep you posted on that.
We had to sleep in Aparri on Wednesday night last week. It was fun. One of the Elders there is terrified of spiders. I saw one of the biggest I have ever seen in their apartment. They were going to kill it but I stopped them. I just hate seeing such a big creature getting killed. It's clearly very skilled at bug killing because it has gotten so flippin' big (it might be eating small dogs too though) so it makes no sense to kill it. Turns out it's a really jumpy little guy and was really hard to catch.....in that we didn't... in that it ran into their bedroom and hid in the floor boards and they were both really mad at me for keeping it alive. "Shelob" will be back for them!
I slept on the half-couch-thing there as mattresses here tend to give rashes and little red bites. The couch was pretty bad though too. Aparri is right on the ocean so it was really windy and cold and I had no blanket so I was in and out of sleep most of the night.
I was called upon out of nowhere to give a talk on Sunday. A little nerve wracking. I also got mail!!!! I got THREE letters from TB. She is way flippin' masipag about writing. It was good timing too as I had a long bus ride ahead of me. So as soon as I have a spare minute I will write back.
We have been a little stressed with all kinds of new meetings and responsibilities but it's crazy how our past experiences prepare us for the future and also just how specific the promptings of the spirit can be. So simple but when you really sit and look at the in's and out's of it, it's so crazy! Like dad taking me home teaching when I was younger was a great preparatory experience that I didn't even realize until my mission.
I finished the Book of Mormon for my 3rd time. I felt again that it's true. I'm finding that a mission is giving me a great opportunity to learn about some of my strengths and I realize that I have recognized and added upon those strengths because of the things I have gotten from the Book of Mormon. It also helps me see my weaknesses and that is so important as I know I need to keep getting better. If you do what you always did you are going to get what you always got.
I am still enjoying my mission even if I am more tired than I have ever been before. Thanks for your encouragement as well as from the whole stake back home. I always feel loved.
I love you lots.
-Elder Dustan
We always sit at the back of the bus so we can spread out more. Hanging on the back seats were some clothes. More specifically, a dirty old pair of briefs and a stinky pair of socks. Turns out they belonged to the conductor. After carefully making sure they didn't touch any part of our skin we moved the dirty clothes to another part of the bus and the conductor came back and asked where the pair of briefs and socks went!
The bus broke down and we waited a long time but still got there on time (way lucky there are no speed limits in this country).
We have President O coming to work with us on Wednesday!!! There is a zone conference in Claveria zone on Tuesday and then ours is on Thursday so he will work with us Wednesday..... just a little nervous. We are also in charge of conducting the zone conference and getting programs ready and assigning people to do stuff. I never knew that there were rules for conducting. Pres. Packer gave a great talk on it but I can't remember what it's called.
We had fun making the programs though. Who knew font styles were so hilariously named??? We settled on "Goudy Old Stout", but it was close. We almost went with "Wide Latin". That is something I will put on my resume: "Yes I speak Wide Latin".
We have a baptism this Saturday. The little daughter of the 1st counselor in the branch presidency. She should have been a child of record baptism but her previous three baptism attempts didn't work out. She is afraid of water. She is sooooo cute though - it's all I can do not to pinch the cheeks off her little face! She's so shy too - Possibly the shyest person I have ever met. So I will keep you posted on that.
We had to sleep in Aparri on Wednesday night last week. It was fun. One of the Elders there is terrified of spiders. I saw one of the biggest I have ever seen in their apartment. They were going to kill it but I stopped them. I just hate seeing such a big creature getting killed. It's clearly very skilled at bug killing because it has gotten so flippin' big (it might be eating small dogs too though) so it makes no sense to kill it. Turns out it's a really jumpy little guy and was really hard to catch.....in that we didn't... in that it ran into their bedroom and hid in the floor boards and they were both really mad at me for keeping it alive. "Shelob" will be back for them!
I slept on the half-couch-thing there as mattresses here tend to give rashes and little red bites. The couch was pretty bad though too. Aparri is right on the ocean so it was really windy and cold and I had no blanket so I was in and out of sleep most of the night.
I was called upon out of nowhere to give a talk on Sunday. A little nerve wracking. I also got mail!!!! I got THREE letters from TB. She is way flippin' masipag about writing. It was good timing too as I had a long bus ride ahead of me. So as soon as I have a spare minute I will write back.
We have been a little stressed with all kinds of new meetings and responsibilities but it's crazy how our past experiences prepare us for the future and also just how specific the promptings of the spirit can be. So simple but when you really sit and look at the in's and out's of it, it's so crazy! Like dad taking me home teaching when I was younger was a great preparatory experience that I didn't even realize until my mission.
I finished the Book of Mormon for my 3rd time. I felt again that it's true. I'm finding that a mission is giving me a great opportunity to learn about some of my strengths and I realize that I have recognized and added upon those strengths because of the things I have gotten from the Book of Mormon. It also helps me see my weaknesses and that is so important as I know I need to keep getting better. If you do what you always did you are going to get what you always got.
I am still enjoying my mission even if I am more tired than I have ever been before. Thanks for your encouragement as well as from the whole stake back home. I always feel loved.
I love you lots.
-Elder Dustan
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
"Where's Elder C?" - Week 40. Serving in Camalaniugan
This week was possibly the craziest other than the night a fight broke out at Franks (I haven't eaten there since). It was my first week as a senior ZL and being a DL at the same time in a new huge area.
Let's start with Monday night. After P-day ended, the other elders came over and then we went out to work. I was nervous for Elder C to leave. He's a very fun guy and speaks just enough Ilocano that they all love him. So it seemed we spent the whole week going to the people we are teaching and hearing them say, "Where's Elder C?" and then being visibly disappointed when they found out it is just us two now.
On Tuesday we ran out of propane (no ovens or anything, just those propane camping stoves). Then we got our electric bill. It's a 5 week month so we only got to withdraw today so I had very little money last week. I, at one point, had only 9 pesos left - all coins. It's like paying in quarters for everything you buy. Our area is now huge and as we were a little short on money till today, we walked A LOT (my legs feel like death!). As a result, we were out a little later and then got to bed late from doing laundry so this week was a little rough.
On Tuesday (transfer day) we took everyone to the junction. All those in the areas around here being transferred go to the junction (in Magapit) where the buses come by. As zone leaders, we are responsible for overseeing the transfer of missionaries to and from our zone. We waited for a bus and then waited for the others to arrive on another bus.
We had a crazy day Saturday!! We have been getting punted all week. We were out in Fusina, a far but beautiful area and after getting punted, went to see D who is the coolest investigator. She is so prepared. She is 19, loves reading the Book of Mormon and really thinks things through.
On Our last visit we taught about our relationship with Christ and it was a reallly good lesson. Then on Saturday, her uncle and his family were there so we taught them all. We started talking about the Book of Mormon and even though we were just trying to see if she had a testimony of it yet, she ended up testifying of it's truthfulness to her family. It was amazing!
Her uncle is wayyyy cool (he has a handlebar mustache!). He has never tasted alcohol before and never has smoked. He has been wondering lately about his relationship with God. He was doubting that God loved him at all but lately he has been trying to find answers and blessings have been coming. He was so excited to read the Book of Mormon and loved that he has his own copy now.
I had a huge realization as never before of the power of the Holy Ghost, the truth that God has a specific plan for each of us and that as long we follow those simple promptings of the spirit it will all work out for good.
Anyways, I am doing well. this was a bit of a rough week, but we still had tons of fun, laughed lots (not gonna lie, some of those were by myself...). My companion is way nice and we are getting along well. Still loving my mission - no change there. Tons of crazy experiences and tons of lessons that would take me years to learn if I wasn't here. Serving a mission is honestly just common sense.
I am also feeling really comfortable with the language. I feel like I can get by anywhere here in Tagalog and can see the progress now. Language study is something I really look forward to every day - can't wait to learn a new word. Also we were worried we would get really low numbers this week (which we actually did) as we got punted a ton and are both new and the area is too. But on Sunday we had 29 progressing less active members at church, while the average and a respectable number to have, is around 8 or 9. We owe every bit of it to just going out and doing what we should, having fun while we do it, following the spirit, and specific, sincere prayers. For reals, I have seen so many specific answers to my prayers this week, it's crazy.
Anyways, I love you guys lots.
-Elder Dustan
Let's start with Monday night. After P-day ended, the other elders came over and then we went out to work. I was nervous for Elder C to leave. He's a very fun guy and speaks just enough Ilocano that they all love him. So it seemed we spent the whole week going to the people we are teaching and hearing them say, "Where's Elder C?" and then being visibly disappointed when they found out it is just us two now.
On Tuesday we ran out of propane (no ovens or anything, just those propane camping stoves). Then we got our electric bill. It's a 5 week month so we only got to withdraw today so I had very little money last week. I, at one point, had only 9 pesos left - all coins. It's like paying in quarters for everything you buy. Our area is now huge and as we were a little short on money till today, we walked A LOT (my legs feel like death!). As a result, we were out a little later and then got to bed late from doing laundry so this week was a little rough.
On Tuesday (transfer day) we took everyone to the junction. All those in the areas around here being transferred go to the junction (in Magapit) where the buses come by. As zone leaders, we are responsible for overseeing the transfer of missionaries to and from our zone. We waited for a bus and then waited for the others to arrive on another bus.
We had a crazy day Saturday!! We have been getting punted all week. We were out in Fusina, a far but beautiful area and after getting punted, went to see D who is the coolest investigator. She is so prepared. She is 19, loves reading the Book of Mormon and really thinks things through.
On Our last visit we taught about our relationship with Christ and it was a reallly good lesson. Then on Saturday, her uncle and his family were there so we taught them all. We started talking about the Book of Mormon and even though we were just trying to see if she had a testimony of it yet, she ended up testifying of it's truthfulness to her family. It was amazing!
Her uncle is wayyyy cool (he has a handlebar mustache!). He has never tasted alcohol before and never has smoked. He has been wondering lately about his relationship with God. He was doubting that God loved him at all but lately he has been trying to find answers and blessings have been coming. He was so excited to read the Book of Mormon and loved that he has his own copy now.
I had a huge realization as never before of the power of the Holy Ghost, the truth that God has a specific plan for each of us and that as long we follow those simple promptings of the spirit it will all work out for good.
Anyways, I am doing well. this was a bit of a rough week, but we still had tons of fun, laughed lots (not gonna lie, some of those were by myself...). My companion is way nice and we are getting along well. Still loving my mission - no change there. Tons of crazy experiences and tons of lessons that would take me years to learn if I wasn't here. Serving a mission is honestly just common sense.
I am also feeling really comfortable with the language. I feel like I can get by anywhere here in Tagalog and can see the progress now. Language study is something I really look forward to every day - can't wait to learn a new word. Also we were worried we would get really low numbers this week (which we actually did) as we got punted a ton and are both new and the area is too. But on Sunday we had 29 progressing less active members at church, while the average and a respectable number to have, is around 8 or 9. We owe every bit of it to just going out and doing what we should, having fun while we do it, following the spirit, and specific, sincere prayers. For reals, I have seen so many specific answers to my prayers this week, it's crazy.
Anyways, I love you guys lots.
-Elder Dustan
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Tag-araw is Here! - Week 39. Serving in Camalaniugan
Today is transfer list day and some crazy stuff happened. Last night we had a brown out and it started around 7pm and went until 1 am. I would have been totally fine with that but the tag-araw (the summer time) has started! It was so cold here up until this week. I asked around and apparently it's now summertime and it's sooooooo flippin' hot.
Last night we were at the apartment for accounting as we do every Sunday night. We had no fan because of the brown-out and were tormented by mosquitoes. We couldn't shower before bed because the water pump uses electricity. We all went to bed but couldn't sleep. I finally drifted off at one point and woke up totally soaked and could hear the buzz of mosquitos all around me.
Finally at one a.m. everything just jumped on all of a sudden. I thought everyone else was asleep but we all cheered when it did (yay!). I had to sit in front the fan for a while to dry off before I went to bed again. Now I have to wash my sheets again. Laundry takes a long time because it's all done by hand in a pail with a washboard but it will be easier now as there will only be two of us in the apartment. Camalaniugan-2 is no more as there is just one big area now. My companion, Elder C is transfers tomorrow to Callaguip, a tiny little area by Laoag. It was actually Elder T's first area - he was there for four transfers! It's not much bigger than my home town of Morewood and it's been open to the missionaries for a long time. In most areas the people call us Brother, Brud, Pastor, Joe etc. But in Callaguip, everyone in town knows them as the elders, even non-members.
As for me, I am going to lead the zone and Elder T will become my companion and a new ZL. I was a little freaked out there as I am a brand new ZL and now have to show someone else what to do. I was a little confused about who the DL's would be but apparently we are the DLs too, so we are in charge of....everything. It's going to be a challenging transfer.
The other areas in our district are Lal-lo 1 and 2 and it's a well known fact in the mission that some of the most effective and attractive sisters are assigned those two areas right now. So we are going to be poked fun at a little for that. It used to be the same in Vigan and they started calling it the Relief Society district.
Yesterday, church was a little different. We usually have little to no members, investigators or less actives from our area attending. They are all from the other area. But yesterday we had all kinds of people show up. Even Tatay U, the less active member who is afraid of going to church because Satan always puts huge obstacles in his way when he tries to. He really knows the gospel too - he could just never overcome that. But he did yesterday!
Tons of others came too. I think I mentioned that last Sunday, a little old man was kind of hanging around outside the church and you could tell he wanted to come in but was shy. The members noticed and talked to him and he came in and attended all 3 hours. Turns out he speaks a dialect of Ilocano called Ifugu or something like that (he speaks no Tagalog). So as much as we tried we couldn't help him out - just smile and shake his hand.
Then yesterday, just after sacrament meeting we saw him moseying along the path up to the door. But then he turns around and leaves so some members run after him but he disappeared. Then I see a figure in the door window on my right, the one by the sacrament table (like back home) and he's standing there looking in. So the clerk ran over and opened it.
After church, we were walking to the apartment for lunch and there is all kinds of construction going on there. I accidentally kicked this huge piece of dicarded concrete at this old man with crutches who was sitting at a waiting shed (like a dilapidated bus stop made of concrete). It rolled across both his feet, and I felt soooo bad and apologized a bunch. The missionaries will have to work hard with that guy to get him baptized.
The other day I was reading parts of the books of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel and couldn't help but see the difference in their missions. Ezekiel and Daniel both served in kings courts. They, of course, both had trials and problems, but Jeremiah was left to teach the people - an in-the-trench type mission. He had times where he was almost overcome with his trials. He was even put in the stocks and was eventually stoned. But even when he was almost overcome, and even a bit angry with the Lord, his testimony was so well rooted that he almost couldn't help but preach the gospel. I loved that. We have had so many times here where we have been overcome because of stuff that happens on a mission (seeing people you teach make poor choices, getting sick, persecution etc) but even when I felt like I couldn't do it anymore - couldn't open the apartment door one more time, my testimony almost wouldn't let me give up. It's then that I turn to the Lord (I have almost made it a kind of habit, which is the best habit I have ever made) and without fail, literally in every instance, I received the appropriate help - help that is perfectly suited to that situation. It's pretty sweet. I also have to mention the great
stories that come from a mission, the hilarious things that happen are a huge part of me being able to keep going. Thanks for helping me get my testimony rooted on the foundation of Christ. I love you guys LOTS! INGAT
-Elder Dustan
Last night we were at the apartment for accounting as we do every Sunday night. We had no fan because of the brown-out and were tormented by mosquitoes. We couldn't shower before bed because the water pump uses electricity. We all went to bed but couldn't sleep. I finally drifted off at one point and woke up totally soaked and could hear the buzz of mosquitos all around me.
Finally at one a.m. everything just jumped on all of a sudden. I thought everyone else was asleep but we all cheered when it did (yay!). I had to sit in front the fan for a while to dry off before I went to bed again. Now I have to wash my sheets again. Laundry takes a long time because it's all done by hand in a pail with a washboard but it will be easier now as there will only be two of us in the apartment. Camalaniugan-2 is no more as there is just one big area now. My companion, Elder C is transfers tomorrow to Callaguip, a tiny little area by Laoag. It was actually Elder T's first area - he was there for four transfers! It's not much bigger than my home town of Morewood and it's been open to the missionaries for a long time. In most areas the people call us Brother, Brud, Pastor, Joe etc. But in Callaguip, everyone in town knows them as the elders, even non-members.
As for me, I am going to lead the zone and Elder T will become my companion and a new ZL. I was a little freaked out there as I am a brand new ZL and now have to show someone else what to do. I was a little confused about who the DL's would be but apparently we are the DLs too, so we are in charge of....everything. It's going to be a challenging transfer.
The other areas in our district are Lal-lo 1 and 2 and it's a well known fact in the mission that some of the most effective and attractive sisters are assigned those two areas right now. So we are going to be poked fun at a little for that. It used to be the same in Vigan and they started calling it the Relief Society district.
Yesterday, church was a little different. We usually have little to no members, investigators or less actives from our area attending. They are all from the other area. But yesterday we had all kinds of people show up. Even Tatay U, the less active member who is afraid of going to church because Satan always puts huge obstacles in his way when he tries to. He really knows the gospel too - he could just never overcome that. But he did yesterday!
Tons of others came too. I think I mentioned that last Sunday, a little old man was kind of hanging around outside the church and you could tell he wanted to come in but was shy. The members noticed and talked to him and he came in and attended all 3 hours. Turns out he speaks a dialect of Ilocano called Ifugu or something like that (he speaks no Tagalog). So as much as we tried we couldn't help him out - just smile and shake his hand.
Then yesterday, just after sacrament meeting we saw him moseying along the path up to the door. But then he turns around and leaves so some members run after him but he disappeared. Then I see a figure in the door window on my right, the one by the sacrament table (like back home) and he's standing there looking in. So the clerk ran over and opened it.
After church, we were walking to the apartment for lunch and there is all kinds of construction going on there. I accidentally kicked this huge piece of dicarded concrete at this old man with crutches who was sitting at a waiting shed (like a dilapidated bus stop made of concrete). It rolled across both his feet, and I felt soooo bad and apologized a bunch. The missionaries will have to work hard with that guy to get him baptized.
The other day I was reading parts of the books of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel and couldn't help but see the difference in their missions. Ezekiel and Daniel both served in kings courts. They, of course, both had trials and problems, but Jeremiah was left to teach the people - an in-the-trench type mission. He had times where he was almost overcome with his trials. He was even put in the stocks and was eventually stoned. But even when he was almost overcome, and even a bit angry with the Lord, his testimony was so well rooted that he almost couldn't help but preach the gospel. I loved that. We have had so many times here where we have been overcome because of stuff that happens on a mission (seeing people you teach make poor choices, getting sick, persecution etc) but even when I felt like I couldn't do it anymore - couldn't open the apartment door one more time, my testimony almost wouldn't let me give up. It's then that I turn to the Lord (I have almost made it a kind of habit, which is the best habit I have ever made) and without fail, literally in every instance, I received the appropriate help - help that is perfectly suited to that situation. It's pretty sweet. I also have to mention the great
stories that come from a mission, the hilarious things that happen are a huge part of me being able to keep going. Thanks for helping me get my testimony rooted on the foundation of Christ. I love you guys LOTS! INGAT
-Elder Dustan
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