Week 7

Kumusta po, 

The last week was a pretty good week, busy, we were able to get some solid lessons in. Tuesday we had district meeting and found out that Elder Thomas and Elder Wooden were getting transfered. That kinda sucked. They were both a couple of solid elders. But then Thursday was transfer day, and we went up, mostly cause it was Elder Kelsons last one and he wanted to go. So we went, but at transfer meeting we got a new Zone Leader and Elder Ilagan and Elder Landeen are training. That means that there are 3 elders in our district who are being trained. Thats the most out of any district! The other two new elders are alright, one is Filipino and the other is American. It was weird to see the new missionaries on Thursday, I looked at them and was like man is that what I looked like! Just cause they were all out of it, not really knowing what was going on. Prob a combination of jet lag...and being in a completely foreign country. And I am still gettin in and used to the whole mission life and new culture, there is still alloot I have to learn. As soon as Elder Kelson is gone and I have a new comp and I am not considered "Fresh" any more. That I think is when things will be getting alot harder. Saturday we didnt get much done because Elder Kelson is the District leader so he had a couple of baptism interviews he had to do, and then we had a Area Presidency Broadcast for the new missionary program, and then elder kelson had another "Leadership training meeting" with the zone leaders. So that day all I really did was study. The Broadcast was great though, almost are whole ward counsel was there and the Presidency was very upfront about the problem. One of them said "You cant wait for "them" to come fix the problem, YOU have to fix the problem" he kept on saying "If not you who, if not now when." They said that the inactivity problem was huge here and that the Philippines was one generation away from going apostate. I think that scared some Filipinos. So hopefully this new program works, I am sure that it will if everyone does their part, the program came from the Brethren which means it came from God. So I am sure that it will work. The next day though in Church, we finally had ward counsel, it was great, they did exactly what they were supposed to do. Pick names of inactive members who were either former temple recommend holders or Melchizedek priesthood holders. So they picked 15 families and made a plan of how to reactivate them. 

Anyway on to the investigators, this week we taught some pretty solid lessons. We unfortunatly haven't been able to teach the Crisologo's this week which stinks. We keep trying but Brother Crisologo is always working. Something great happened this week though. We went to the Balagbaggans house (tatay is still sober too) with our fellowshipper Tatay Bintante and we taught about the atonement, a pretty simple lesson. Anyway Tatay Bintante kept saying to Nanay Balagbaggan that she should come to church and kept testifying and promising her all these blessings. Then when he was done I pretty much did the same thing, which was great cause Tatay Bintante was talking in Iliokono and I had no clue what he was saying, then I basically testified and promised the same thing as him, I think the spirit helped me alot there. But then Elder Kelson testified and such to her then Committed her to come to Church.. and she said she would!!! Are next lesson we showed up and talked about the plan of salv. and resurection, because they had two kids that died at birth. The spirit was so strong, we were able to tell them that they will see there kids again, and Nanay was a Catholic and so I think she likes the thought that her kids aren't going to Hell...(what a dumb catholic belief it I might say.) Anyway later that lesson Nanay said that she would see us Sunday at Church...which was awesome! So then on sunday we decide that we aren't going to take any risks with Nay, we are half way there and we see only Tatay walking to Church, we stop and ask him "where is nay?" he say"matitindahan siya." Which means she is going to go sell today in the palanke and not come to church like she said!! So Elder Kelson and I book it to Nanays house and are like Nanay are you coming to church you promised, she was like "Ya I still gotta eating then I will come over." We were like...okay...not to sure if she was lying to us. But we left and went to church anyway. So we got to Church and waited outside till church started and she never showed. So we went inside and were like dang Nanay lied to us!! But no no she didn't she showed up like 15mins late with her daughter, and they stayed for all 3 hours too! It was great! All the members were great too they kept on introducing themselves and talking to the balagbaggans! The villanazos came to Church too! I didn't really know what to do, that was the first time that we had that many investigators at Church!! Then later that sunday we committed John Nicole to be Baptized Feb 15, we are also going to commit Sarah, and Richard and his brother and maybe the Balagbaggans depending on whether they keep coming to Church and if Tay stays off the booz! So some our investigators progressed quite nicely this week. 

Sunday was elder kelson's birthday, he wanted a what would Jesus do braclet from this Cristian book store in Santiago. We also made these dilcious cheese things and then we made Mango smoothies that night. It was great! Well this week was pretty good, taught some good lessons and starting to be better at the language. 

Welp thanks for everything 
Ingat po 
Mahal Kita 
Elder James