Last few letters of December!!

December 26, 2010

Hey I just talked to you the other day so i don’t have anything to say but love ya and Merry Christmas!!!!
Jason

December 23, 2010

k so my number is 09214738025 I’ll call you to make sure you got it but just in case here it is and also I want you to call me on Christmas when Eric is opening presents but I’ll call you sometime on Christmas Eve (Christmas for me) just to make sure we got it figured out so that it will be easy k love ya jas

December 19, 2010

First I don’t know about Skype. My mission president said we could use it …. but the internet is really slow were we are so I think it’s probably just easier to call. But i don’t know!

Sounds like you have been having a lot of fun. We have our Christmas Party tomorrow. I’m excited it should be fun but I only get to see half my batch. The other half won’t be there but o well I guess.

Anyways not a whole lot has happened. I think I’ll probably call you on Christmas Eve to let you know the plan. It kinda is weird for me cause the time is completely switched and all weird but I’ll figure it out. I really want to open those packages and its killing me not to haha! But anyways I think I might just call you when Eric is opening his presents so I can hear how it’s going for a bit then just call later again but I’ll call Christmas Eve to give you my number and you can just call when you want! Haha! But anyways I’ll talk to you soon!
Jason

YUMMY food at Zone Conference!

Tuguegaro Zone Zone Conference

Tuguegaro Zone

(Zone Leaders: Elder Balaich and Elder Ferrer) 

12/12/2010

Well I don’t have much to tell you either. We have 6 baptisms scheduled for Jan 1st. They’re so far out cause we basically had to start the area out from scratch. We have to wait a month for each person to make sure that they’re ready to get baptized. So hopefully they follow the WOW and go to church then they can be baptized on the 1st.

But anyways other than that not a whole lot has changed. Christmas here is kinda lame. Some people get little trees and then put a few lights up. The problem is people here are poor so they aren’t going to go and drop a hundred dollars buying lights. They might have like one string or so kinda like our house! Haha! It really doesn’t feel like Christmas for me - I think it’s because it’s so hot. But it’s okay! It’s nice because it’s easier to focus on the true meaning of Christmas. President gave us this list of scriptures and we study one everyday until Christmas. It’s awesome! It’s supposed to be a companion thing but my comp doesn’t want to do it so I do it myself. It’s cool - each day there’s an assignment and a scripture. We are to do just little things like make a Christmas Ornament or give a Book of Mormon to someone just little things its fun.

That’s cool there’s a family that have been to the Philippines in the ward. They probably speak Cebuano.

That’s too bad dad didn’t get his Christmas goose. I miss duck hunting so bad but I think I’ll be home next year to get the best part of duck season so I’ll make dad take all of December off so that we can hit it hard! I can’t wait! Matthew keeps reminding me every week how little he has left on his mission. He told me today 4 cycles only that is really nothing … that goes by so fast - every cycle feels like 2 weeks! So that means in 8 weeks Matthew will be home haha!

I don’t have anything else to say!
Love ya and no I didn’t get the packages! It’s too soon. Haha!
Jason

12/05/2010

Well nothing to new here this week! It was a very eventful week but Iwon’t go into detail about it right now. I don’t have much more time! For Church we meet in this little meeting house. It’s like the size of ourfront room and kitchen so the members don’t really fit. Then the kids in thePhilippines are really misbehaved so it’s kind of hard to concentrate it’skind of a fiasco I can’t wait until the new church is done (March).

That’s cool that a bunch of other churches went (to the Mountain Home Stake Creche Exhibit) that’s so good everyone always thinks Mormons are these crabby people that just go around slamming other religions. I always get really offended when they saystuff like that. If they only opened their eyes they would see the truth. So I think that’s way awesome exposure to see them together.

As for BSU – they’re stupid and Brotzman should learn how to kick. He’ssupposed to be good enough to get drafted but apparently not. Maybe it just wasn’t meant to be. There’s always next year but I heard that BSU is supposed to go to the Kraft Bowl in San Francisco and play Boston but either way another crappy bowl either way if they lose it will be back to nobodies.

AS for snow I don’t want to talk about it. haha it’s still hotter than ever here.

As for Uncle Lee - he died? I thought he was still okay and everything – that’s weird.

That’s good about that kid’s testimony on prayer. I think that’s the biggest thing to learn every great miracle or great event happened most often because of one prayer or someone’s sincere desire so if they understand that if they see past themselves and let faith take a role then things happen that wouldn’t have otherwise.

Not a lot of new things happened this week but wait so I have 2 boxes on the way?
But anyways love ya jas

11/28/2010

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BSU LOST TO NEVADA I CANT BELEIVE THAT I’M NEVER GOING TO HERE THE END OF IT. That’s not good everyone is going to say they don’t deserve any sort of good game. Me and Pres were convinced they deserved the Rose Bowl but now who knows. What’s Nevada’s recordlike?

But anyways sounds like you’re having fun. I got the last two packages my comp was a little bit confused about the beef sticks! Haha! But I haven’t got the Christmas one - it will be a little bit still.

All is good here. We have about 30 investigators to go to each week so I feel like my bodies on death door step. I’m so exhausted but it’s all worth it. The Branch President loves me and my companion just cause we do what we’re supposed to be doing. But anyways today was a groundbreaking ceremony for the new chapel so that was fun.

Well I’ve got to get going. I’ll talk to you next week jas

Transfers! New Comp and Area!

New Area: Tagagero Zone (hottest area of the mission - so they say)
New Companion: Elder Sister

O ya I forgot it was Thanksgiving. It’s hard to remember things like that when it’s November and 100 degrees outside. We don’t do anything for Thanksgiving its not a holiday here so its just a normal day.
That’s too bad for Sister Banks - that would be hard - but Sister Banks is a really really good missionary so I think she will bounce back faster probably than anyone else (Sister Banks’ dad past away on the 11th of November). I don’t know her well I just know about her from her companions. That would be so tough.
Ya I bought you the first nativity I found - there were hundreds of them big and small, white or black, but I kinda figured the 12 footers would cost a bit more in shipping haha.
So here’s the news, I was a little shocked to find out I got transferred all the way up north also I was really shocked and swelling with joy to find out I am follow up training a Sister haha not kidding............................ his name is Elder Sister and he doesn’t speak a word of English. You know you’re a true Filipino when you don’t speak English for days and don’t use toilet paper..... haha just kidding I use toilet paper of course. But I’m in the hottest area in the Philippines or so they say and it is noticeably 50 degrees hotter.
The Branch consists of 40 active members in a small meeting house sacrament or church in general is kind of a fiasco but the people are awesome. They are so ready to change and work their tails off so I think this next 6 weeks is going to be the hardest most painfullest 6 weeks of my life. We’ve got our work cut out for us. I’m excited.
I got the package with the razor and stuff but I haven’t got the new one yet. I should soon. I can’t believe it’s almost Christmas – that is also hard to believe when its 100 degrees and no snow. We do have a little Christmas party planned the 18th or something not sure when.
Everything is fine with me. Nothing too new, just the same old stuff. I’m not sure how I’m going to call home. I haven’t even thought about that yet you’re kind off jumping the gun there. We’ve got a ways to wait. But I’ll let you know.

Anyways that’s about it for now. Hope you’re all enjoying yourselves!
Love ya - Jas

Picture!!

11/14/2010

Wow sounds like a good week! I can’t believe you already got the package that was fast! But she didn’t give me any options on how to send it. I asked her if it was the cheapest and she said yes. But who knows! Did the shirt fit Eric? Probably not huh! But not like it matters it was 3 dollars but they make Abercrombie here so I can get the real thing for 3 dollars a shirt. I can get pants and all that stuff too for super cheap. I’ve got a rep as the best barterer here in the Zone. It’s pretty funny.

So how funny was it when you figured out what a barrell man was! Haha! Shame on me! Hmpf! I know elders that have a whole collection from small to the size of a computer modem. I laugh every time I see them cause I’m just like good luck getting that thing home! People always buy stuff cause it’s cheap then they realize there’s no way they’re getting it home and end up just leaving it! It’s kinda funny! I have not got your package yet it will be either tomorrow or Thursday it just depends.
It’s a bit hot here for a Snuggie. I don’t think that would be the best! Haha! I would die.

Teaching is good. We teach usually about 20 lessons a week but lately it’s been more like 10 and then 100 member visits and less actives where we really focus on the members. We teach a pmg class every week. It’s so so good - we make them role play as to what they should say to their friends or in different situations its fun.
I did get the letters in the mail the whole BSU Article made me laugh it was awesome. Me and Pres always talk about BSU and he said that same thing. He was like ya everyone always says they don’t play anyone but yet they do play people and they beat them. He was like vt win ou win. oregon win he was like who do they have to play for it to be counted as playing someone the new england patriots?
But anyways that’s all I got for this week. But just curious did you go for a spin on Eric’s new bike. Just curious if you were excited enough to go for a spin on it. I can’t wait till Eric goes on a mission so I can have a new bike. haha just kidding I like mine!

Anyways love ya and don’t worry about Christmas. I can’t think of anything really except I do want new hunting socks good merino wool ones. Wigwams Ultimax or smart wool make good ones.

Haha! But seriously I want thin wool socks for summer. Don’t laugh.
jas

11/08/2010

hahaha great the last thing I read is my letters have been short lately and honestly I don’t have much new to tell you that’s the problem. This week was pretty typical except for one awesome thing is me and Elder Dahlin had splits with each other haha It was a lot of fun. We bought ice cream and taught a bunch of people and then just went home and talked about home and stuff. It was way fun! It’s just what I needed and nice to be able to talk to people who kinda share the same experience. The Philippinos don’t really understand life for an American back home. But this week I have been focusing on being more direct in a caring way because sometimes I think I am too bold and direct which everyone says is awesome but I feel like I could maybe say some things a little better. I’m at the point where Tagalog is no longer the problem and I just need to learn to talk like I would in America but in Tagalog. It’s a lot harder than it sounds. But like everything - it just takes time.

I really do miss my life back home and honestly can’t wait to get home but time on a mission really does go by fast and it’s going to be over it seems before it ever really started! Haha! Seriously!

I sent home a package the other day and it should get there sometime before next years Christmas! Haha! (It got here in 5 days!) Its just got some junk in it that I picked up here. It cost me a small fortune to ship it and I’ve decided that’s the last one I’m sending I’m just going to have to stuff everything in my suitcases for the home trip.

Good work on the missionary effort and I don’t think people realize it really is that easy especially if it is a referral or somebody who hasn’t already been harassed or had a negative experience with missionaries or religion in general. The problem is there are only so few that haven’t had missionaries knocking on their door - the secret is to break down the wall of discomfort however you can do it. If you’re able to do that they will listen. Simply put that’s really how it works. We can knock doors all day and get nowhere or we can focus on the people we already know (friends, family, or neighbors) they are already comfortable they know your reputation they’re already prepared to listen and not fight it. How many members really understand that it’s not about knocking doors or just relying on the missionaries to teach and convert them! Ya missionaries have to teach for them to become a member but they aren’t baptized just because they believe what we taught them they are baptized cause they trust you and other members then they learn what you believe or what the person with the good reputation believes through the missionary discussions. They’re already converted to you way before the missionaries get there. Keep up the good work.

My area’s okay but Bambang has been flooding a bit but nothing serious! But anyways one thing nice is since that storm it’s been 10 degrees colder which in turn makes me 10 times happier haha seriously!!!

Anyways that’s all I got for this week. I think that’s a bit longer for ya!

Love ya, jas

11/01/2010

Sounds like you guys are keeping busy! About the Elder Dahlin thing - Elder Dahlin just told me to tell you that cause we emailed at the same place last week. Your packages are all I need. HAHA!!

As far as Christmas goes - you can just skip it for me this year and buy me something really sweet when I get home like a new bow or something haha. Honestly don’t send me anything I won’t use or I can’t eat like balloons, party poppers, whipper snippers, or whatever kinda stuff like that! All I want is pictures! I like to see that stuff - also I was wondering if you could get the free fall catalog from Cabelas and whatever kind of backpacking magazine you can find.

One thing I really miss is just walking around with dad at Cabelas. But I’m sending a package to you guys so you should get it by New Years hopefully! Haha!

That’s awesome that Dads Ecuador bud is coming to visit - that should be fun. I can’t really imagine him up in the mountains that just seems silly to me.

We haven’t found any new investigators but we have been teaching a lot of less actives. They’re all great and I’m sure they will come back to church with a little push.

Anyways that’s all that’s new for me. Oh almost forgot to tell you! My old house in Burgos Sister Carlos told me that due to the typhoon it no longer has a roof! Haha! I guess 6 elders were there and the roof up and blew off and ended up in the field a little ways away. Pretty crazy huh!

But that’s all I have for this week!

10/25/2010

Yes I got the package and yes I have a fridge. We are very fortunate cause most people don’t. It’s part of the missionary standards that we need a fridge. It’s been missionary work as usual. Let Brian know I am in Almaguer not Bambang Mismo but Elder Dahlin is in his old area Bambang. They just baptized Jolina Valdez and Brian should know her - they live next to the church. I don’t know why but I thought Jace Riley went out after Matt. I lose track of everything that went on back home.

We sometimes make refreshments but usually they just take care of it. But Coach Mederios and Tesar are studs. Is Eric doing any sports right now?

Anyways sorry my email is short and not very informative but I feel like I don’t have anything new to say - maybe next week I will. But anyways I’ll talk to you later. Thanks for the long email!

Love you, Jas

PS: Elder Dahlin said to brain storm package ideas with his mother. And that the flood only made it neck high on him and he's a swimmer so no big deal hahaha. We laugh about the storm cause nothing happened here!

10/23/2010 Stop worrying MOM!

So just to keep all the mothers from worrying, our Zone Leaders told us today to get out and email cause I guess the moms are worried. So anyways my area didn’t even get touched. I guess when you’re this far south you miss out on all the action but it went through the center of my mission. Everyone else got it pretty bad mostly up north. But ya it’s like nothing ever happened in my area. It was like a windy day in Idaho for us. The good part is it has been a lot cooler lately and I’m not at all upset about that but anyways don’t worry all is well!

Jas

Lastest News about Super Typhoon "Megi"

Sister Carlos has posted from the Philippines....

"Wednesday, October 20, 2010WOW! What a TYPHOON So now we are officially residents of the PHilippines Islands. We've gone through our first Typhoon. This one hit at a level 4 in Ilagan and Cauyan areas--the highest level is a 5. Most of our zones south of here just experienced some wind...s and heavy rains. But here in Cauayan we had winds at 150 mph. I've never seen anything like it and the winds were even stronger in Ilagan.

All missionaries are doing well. Some are currently without power. The past two days we've been helping our missionaries move to suitable housing as a number of their apts flooded or the windows/roofs were blown out. All of these elders or sisters are happy and have plenty of food and water. They are busy rendering service to those in need under the direction of their branch leaders.

I always felt safe and so it was kind of exciting to watch from our vantage point here at the mission home. But today I went to an area that used to be lush and green and in every direction I looked there was not one leaf remaining on any plant. Just huge trees without leaves. It was quite eerie. I saw home after home completly devestated. Yet, I saw people out trying to saw off broken limbs to use as new support beams and all with smiles on their faces. These people are so amazing. WE've been without power and Internet for 2 days but it all just turned back on!I will try to post some photos and video in the next day or two.

THank you for your prayers. We could FEEL them here. We have so much to be thankful for at this time.

Typhoon Megi (report off the internet)

CAUAYAN, Philippines — Typhoon Megi inched away from the Philippines on Wednesday after killing 19 people, as relief workers scrambled to deliver aid to remote towns that were devastated by the storm.

The governor of the hardest-hit province of Isabela, Faustino Dy said that residents in three coastal towns had suffered massive damage to their homes and were left with limited food supplies after huge waves washed away roads.
"Their food supply is only up to Sunday. But going there is very difficult. There is no road to reach them," Dy told reporters in Cauayan, the closest city to the worst-hit towns.
Dy, who had flown by helicopter to the devastated areas, said that as many as 20,000 people were affected.
Many of them had survived by fleeing into the mountains before Megi hit, he and other officials said.
Regional social welfare chief Arnel Garcia said the government planned to send food and tents to the affected towns of Maconacon, Palanan and Divilacan but that both air and sea travel were dangerous.
"Helicopters have to pass through the mountains and the mountain ranges are often covered with clouds," Garcia said.
US ambassador Harry Thomas said in a statement that US military personnel and equipment that was already in the Philippines for a joint exercise would be diverted for typhoon relief.
"My embassy team is in constant contact with Philippine authorities and NGO (non-governmental organisation) representatives to determine how we can be of further assistance," Thomas said in a statement issued by the embassy.
Megi smashed mostly farming and fishing areas of northern Luzon with gusts of 260 kilometres (160 miles) an hour on Monday, making it the strongest typhoon in the world this year.
The three million residents of Isabela province and other areas of the Cagayan Valley farming region were the worst hit.
The government raised the death toll to 19 on Wednesday, up from 14 the previous day, after more detailed reports from around Luzon were compiled.
The civil defence bureau said it was still sheltering over 10,000 people in evacuation centres across northern Luzon while roads were being cleared.
Although the typhoon was already over the South China Sea, the government weather station said it had remained almost stationary on Wednesday, hovering over the western coast of the Philippines.
The typhoon, which is still packing maximum gusts of 210 kilometres (130 miles) per hour, is expected to continue hovering throughout the day before moving northeast towards southern China, the weather station said.
The first level of a four-step storm alert remained in effect over several provinces in the northern Philippines due to continuing rain from the typhoon.

10/18/2010 - Lockdown before Typhoon "Megi" Hits!

Well I wish I had something to tell you - we have been in lockdown for the last 3 days so I’m bored out of my mind! We got permission to go out and email for one hour then run back to the house. But so far it’s not very eventful - what a way to spend my pday huh!

But that’s awesome BSU’s number 2. That’s insane if at the end of the season they are 1 or 2 they have to get a BCS Bowl bid there’s no way. But who knows.

Saturday one of our investigators got baptized. She’s way awesome! She truly has it figured out and understands. I made a graham cracker cake for the baptism and it was fun but after we had to rush back to Bambang and enter into lockdown mode (it sucks) but I am with Elder Dahlin and Jenkins and their companions so there are 6 of us which is okay.

The typhoon isn’t supposed to hit us very hard. It’s supposed to be just a liitle one now. But we’ll see – there’s a lot of talk going on and I’m not sure what’s legitimate and what’s not.

Well that’s my week how was yours. Almaguer is small but the branch is really strong. I finally broke down and told my companion that tracting just isn’t working and we need to work with the members and have them help us find people to teach cause we haven’t found a good investigator in a while and we’re running out of people to teach. So hopefully they step up to the plate and realize it’s important. I know they can they just have to do it.

Anyways that’s my week, I’ll update you on the storm next week.

Tell dad to email me his hunting results and to start researching our big hunt for when we get back! Haha!

Love ya,
Jason

10/11/2010 Staying in Almaguer w/ Elder Sanglap

k I am in Almaguer or just Bambang Almaguer is to little to find on a map. Also they go by provinces kinda and I am in the Nueve Viscaya Province the second most southern area in the mission. Yes my comp is still Elder Sanglap Walang transfers sa amin (we didn’t have a transfer). Directions on the map find Salano then go South. You should find it.

As for bringing up Bishop Kelly and old games that’s just messed up. I’m trying hard to forget those. But that’s awesome I want to see BSU in a BCS bowl game. Who do they have left this season as far as good teams go?

If you liked President Monson’s talk on Gratitude listen to Holland’s it was so so good! I want to get the hard copy. I also like the Aussie guy - Heton Herron (Elder Patrick Kearon) or something like that. It was good too. People sometimes don’t realize how important it is to just take counsel from people that are looking out for you. It’s so simple anyways I liked them all I just need to get the hard copy. I don’t really like the talks on addictive substances and stuff it’s hard for me to stay completely focused but Sunday I realized that it was much easier to find something beneficial if I was putting my self in the shoes of my investigators instead of looking for only things that apply directly to me.

K I don’t want to be corny but I heard one talk and I don’t remember who it was but he said his parents died but they left him so much. Anyways I thought about Grandma Sillito when she died she literally had barely anything she didn’t leave any riches or anything that I know of but yet she was the most Christlike and truely Mother Teresa like person that I know but what I’m trying to say is she literally left nothing of worth as far as worldly things but she left so so so much more important things. She taught you and her kids to be strong in the gospel and to care little about yourselves and focus and cherish up the things that are important to you to always help anyone or anybody in need and do it because you feel the Christlike love for those people. Too many people in the world help others but they look at it in a helping themselves way. They help others then say hey hey look at me look what I’m doing I’m Christlike I’m like the Savior. and they don’t realize that they care too much about the world and they focused so much on worldly gain that they shadow out the truly Christlike people. I realize that the people that are truly Christlike and truly care often times are the ones that seldom get noticed. Their actions get overshadowed by the world and the unjust. I just thought about Grandma and even though I was young I don’t think she ever did anything just for her or she ever was worried about herself she truly understood what it means to have Christlike love. I’m so so so glad I heard that talk and had the chance to learn from her example just like you did. She left so so so much behind for us.

That’s sweet that Eric’s a Priest. He is getting old. I can’t believe it but anyways – what’s Jordan’s plans does he have any yet. As for the package i haven’t got it yet but I’ll get it in a couple days maybe.

Love ya, Jas

10/04/2010

October 4, 2010

hahahaha - I can’t wait to talk to President tomorrow. He is never going to hear the end of Utah State beats BYU ouch! That’s got to sting a bit.... but anyways so this week was pretty much like last week except busy. First we had District Meeting then we had to go to Cauayan for Finger Printing. I am now official - legal in the Philippines. Also I found out I’m not getting transferred and wer’re getting a cell phone in my area which is nice.

Also, I baptized that old man that always said funny stuff and he couldn’t walk down the font stairs so I had to pick him up and carry him down. It was pretty exciting. I was wearing Baptismal clothes that didn’t fit cause I didn’t wear my own. You’re going to laugh when you see the pictures it was pretty funny. But an awesome experience!

Today we had a little sportsfest with my whole District just for fun since it’s the last Monday of this cycle. I guess there isn’t going to be any transfers in my whole District which is kinda crazy usually people come and go left and right but I guess not this time.

That’s crazy that Jordan’s back - seems like he just left. There is not a single day that goes by that I don’t sweat 10 lbs. It’s really that hot!!! I can’t ever ever imagine living here and I can’t wait to sit in the normal weather and not be covered with sweat and all itchy cause I’m sticky. That’s how bad the weather is and it’s supposedly the coldest time now and I’m in the coldest area so you can imagine just how hot it really is.

Yep General Conference is next week and it’s my second in the Philippines. I love it – it’s so nice to just sit and relax and listen in a nice air conditioned building. I’m really looking forward to that.

Anyways, I’ll let you know when I get the package. I should get going and yes we still have a few baptisms on the calendar - hopefully they all happen.
Love ya Jas

I told Jason that Elder Cook from the Seventy is going to be in the Philippines and visiting some of the missions there. This was his response about that.
He is going to Tugegero for a training with Branch Presidents and stuff. I don’t get to see him or at least I don’t think so!

PS: Mom before I forget I’m going to need contacts!!

MTC Buddies 10-2010

New Temple in the Philippines!

Sister Carlos posted on her blog ....
"So exciting to hear President Thomas S. Monson announce a new temple to be built in the Philippines. It will be in Urdaneta, a province adjacent to our mission. It will be a wonderful blessing for our saints here who have had to travel 10-12 hours to get to the Manila Temple. Now, it will be as close as an hour from Nueva Vizcaya, the south part of our mission, and about 6 hours from the northern most portion of our mission, Tuguegarao. Next week, we will have a meeting with Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Twelve, and Bishop Keith McMullin of the Presiding Bishopric. I am sure there will be a lot of excitement at that meeting."

Announced by President Monson on October 2, 2010, Saturday Morning Session of General Conference!

09/26/2010

We didn’t get to do our English class cause Family Day at the church went a lot longer than planned. It was so so fun! I’m not sure if we were supposed to be there all day but our Zone Leaders where there and every other missionary in the District so I figured if they thought it was ok then it must be. It was so so fun though - probably the most fun I have had on my whole mission. It’s so different here. You would think that those activities would be dull and boring but it wasn’t. It was very fun! talaga but they had dances games talents all sorts of fun things but it was just fun cause everyone gets involved and they’re not shy or scared. They just go around and talk to everyone. In America we have all these cliqs (not sure on that spelling) and stuff. Little groups of people but here the District is like their friend group, everyone knows everyone, so it’s like one big family and they all act like they would around their family so they’re not scared to be funny or get laughed at. It was alot of fun really!

I’m kinda scared cause transfers are getting close so I hope I don’t get transferred. I don’t want another area but President kinda hinted that I might be opening a brand brand spanking new area and I really don’t want that responsibility right now. I would much rather just baptize the 10 or so people we have lined up and ready to be baptized than get transferred to something where nothing is set and nothing’s ready - starting from scratch sounds like too much work for me. I’m worn out as it is in my area with lots of support and success. But we’ll see! I think my branch will have a heart attack if I leave too! I finally know how to speak Tagalog and I feel way more affective now and the branch is getting amazing and I don’t want it to stop. But we’ll just have to see and if I get transferred, I get transferred I guess right?

But anyways sounds like you are having a lot of fun this week. We have a baptism on Wednesday and then we should have a few more next week but General Conference has kinda got us a little messed up. But the old man I told you about that thought Prophets were Astronauts - he is getting baptized. He’s pretty cool and funny.

Anyways that’s my little update. Other than that I just worked worked worked.
I’ll talk to you next week!
Love ya, Jas

09/19/2010

Haha! He actually ate that canned meat crap – that’s gross. No I eat it a lot too but it’s actually pretty gross. I just eat it to survive. I would rather have those kippered snacks or sardines things rather than the meat crap here. But anyways that’s the life of a Philippines Missionary!

But anyways this week was ok. Less active people are so much more difficult than just everyday investigators but we have about 13 people that should be getting baptized in the upcoming months as long as they stay on track. It’s really hard here cause we have some of the highest standards for baptism in the whole world. Matthew and I were talking about it back when … it’s sometimes really hard for people but if the believe and realize much more is at stake than their worldly lives they will suck it up and realize they don’t need beer or coffee and they can sacrifice enough to go to church or pay fast offerings and tithing.

I am now teaching English classes. Our first one is coming up this Saturday so I will let you know how that goes. I’m excited cause it should be pretty eventful. I know I’m going to get there and there’s going to be about fifty giggly girls but oh well I guess giggly girls can bring friends.

Today we had a zone activity. It was pretty fun! The only problem is I had no time to get anything done today other than go to this activity but it happens I guess and it was fun! We went to this huge shrine thing. It was pretty cool it was like a huge statue and it’s owned by this way rich Muslim guy and he opened it just for us and he didn’t let anyone else go in. I guess I wasn’t there to talk to him but that’s what they said.

It’s crazy how much has changed since I’ve been out! It’s crazy that Eric is 16 and I’m almost a year in the field it goes by quick. I want to see pictures of the cabin though and see how its going. I don’t know what else to write. Sounds like you guys are having fun and staying way busy. Andrea told me all about Bryson good thing he is ok now. How was your second trip in one year to England? I got to think I’ll probably never get to go back there but oh well I’ve got lots of other places to go.

I probably got to get going - Love ya Jas

PS: Here is a bit more about the Zone Activity Jason's Zone had in Elder Dahlin's words. (I borrowed it from Elder Dahlin's email this week)

"Today we had a zone team building and unity training, really cool! It was at Rizal Shrine in Bayombong ... really cool ... Rizal is a national hero here in the Philippines. The owner of the property had it closed to the public but we talked to him and asked if we could use it and told him what we were doing. He was cool. He spoke only English. He is from Jordan, not from the Philippines, he told his guards to only let the Mormons in. What a stud! Oh, and then he asked Elder Jakens how many wives he was allowed to marry. He told him one. Then the owner said: “Ahhhhh you are not as good as King David.” ahhh ha we had a good laugh about that!"

Elders Dahlin, Apin, Ward, & Hardman!

After Zone Conference - August 30, 2010

09-13-2010

k this week I don’t have too much to tell you. My companion was sick so we didn’t get out too much then he had a training so I went and worked in a new area so I don’t know really how my investigators are doing. I got to work with Elder Kelson in Bayombang which was fun.

President told us all that we could go to Bwanehe which is where the rice terraces are so we had it all planned out then all the sudden president said we couldn’t go so we got all pumped then president changed his mind. but o well I think we might get to go as companionships – I’m going to ask president about what happened but anyways there hasn’t been a lot of new stuff going on just the same old same old stuff.

I’m excited to get another package soon haha just joking but I do love packages that much too bad they’re so dang expensive otherwise I could get one once a week haha Just joking but anyways sorry this email is so short I really don’t have much to talk about there wasn’t a whole lot that happened but I’ll try to think of more stuff to write next week.

I do have a recipe for you, Andrea and Bill - I was going to send it to Ang but she didn’t email me so she doesn’t get it till next week. ok all you need is graham crackers, all purpose cream (i think its just cream that comes in the carton not yet whipped), and sweetened condensed creamer, then some fruit or cookies depends on you. all you do is mix 1part cream with 1part creamer (i like it better with a little more cream than creamer but its good either way) then you but a little bit of the sauce in the pan then a layer of graham crackers just lay them flat then a layer of fruit or a layer of crumbled cookies then sauce again then repeat until there is no more space in the cake pan. Then put it in the freezer and when it’s frozen take it out and eat it. It’s really really good you guys will love it no joke you might want to try it with grandma! It’s really pretty amazing you wouldn’t really think of it. One thing though make sure you don’t over do the sauce otherwise it’s really sweet.
But anyways

Love ya
Jas

09-06-2010

Sounds like you’re all pretty busy! I’m way busy now too we have so many appointments it’s crazy! My companion is a beggar (a missionary who begs to be able to teach someone) which is ok we’re just really busy now with investigators that probably won’t progress. My mission is more focused on finding the elect rather than just anyone -- but we do have some really great investigators the problem is the bulk of our investigators right now are not married to their spouse. In the Philippines the whole marriage thing is really really different. Here it is illegal to get a divorce which isn’t necessarily a bad thing but the problem is they have really low moral standards so it’s really hard for them to settle down to one person when they are worried it’s not going to work and they only get one shot -- so right now that’s kind of a big hurdle. We have 8 investigators that want to get baptized but are not yet married or can’t get married cause they were married to someone else before so it’s hard. We have a couple of younger people that are awesome so they should be baptized in a couple of weeks.

But anyways not a whole lot has happened this week. Last week we had a zone conference and Elder Edwards our area authority was there and he was a stud. He was a lawyer and he knew what he was doing he was awesome. Me and a couple Elders stayed and talked to him for about 30 minutes after our conference. He was super awesome.

One of my close friends in my zone Elder Kelson had a cousin that got shot and died last weekend so he was having a really hard time with that. I’m not exactly sure what happened but I guess he got to call his mom and it was pretty hard on him. I think he is ok now. But I don’t really have much else to say! Everything is going good here!

So I’ll talk to you later!
Love Jas

More Pictures!

Pictures!!

08/29/2010 - New Companion

New Companion: Elder Sanglap

08/29/2010

Ya so transfers were pretty sweet! I got a Filipino Companion and his name’s Elder Sanglap. I know him from my old zone. We had more fun than I had in a long time with him so it's way good my last companion was kind of grumpy sometimes but he liked to work so I had no complaints it was just quiet.

So ya at transfers I was sitting in the office and President found me and was like what are you doing in here, Elder Hale is looking for you? So I asked where he was and he was like inside. So I was like oh I see cause I knew that meant pres wanted to feed us and I was talking to Elder Riner and president said take him with you. Elder Riner didn’t know what was going on so I was like Elder Riner, trust me, you want to come with me and he was like ok and we went and had American Food again. It was so good! I look forward to transfers just for that -- they’re amazing cooks seriously.

I’m in the same area and I hope it stays that way for a while but I did get the package just now. Luckily someone, actually Elder Hale’s old companion had to go to Cauayan cause he is super depressed cause Elder Hale was his favorite companion and he misses him! (kinda sad but true – Filipino’s are very sensitive). But now Elder Hale's old companion is a good friend now because another Filipino was making fun of him cause he was crying so I was talking to him cause I know Elder Hale and just tried to get him to be ok and the other Filipino came up again making fun of him so I said that I was going to hit him so that he would be the one crying and we would laugh at him in a joking manner! If you understood Filipinos you would understand how they are! But anyways after that he saw I had a package at the mission home and he picked it up for me. I can’t wait to see what’s in it though I’m really excited actually. But anyways I’m going to go for now I’m going to get back on later this is just a warm up! Haha!
Love, Jas


Hey it’s me again … so I opened my package ate a granola bar and made macaroni and cheese and I almost cried. It was so amazing but it did get me thinking about steak and mashed patataas and got me missing all those delicious foods! Hahah! But it was worth the thinking!! The flashlight is also perfect that’s exactly what I wanted. The black one is pretty sweet and small but you were missing a few things in the package haha (like pictures and that book) but that’s ok you can send those later. Oh and also if you could find my old grey gameboy and a Pokemon game for it send that to me next time. My companion told me that when he was little (16 he said -- hahaha i made fun of him) all he wanted was a game boy and the pokemon game. Haha! but I told him if you could find it and he worked really hard this cycle I would give it to him! Haha! he goes home here pretty soon. He’s pretty cool. O miss my old comp but I think I actually enjoy my new one more sometimes. I don’t understand everything cause he talks really really fast and sometimes he eats all my food and bothers me a bit but other than that he likes to have fun and he likes to joke around. So he’s fun!

Elder Hale is no longer in my zone as you know but Elder Dahlin is so I get to see him every week! It’s pretty sweet to see him again. Elder Riner got transferred too but he didn’t make it very far just a zone below Roxas but I think he will probably be short there but who knows.

Anyways though I’m having fun and enjoyed getting that package so much it was way awesome just what I needed but anyways I should probably be going.
Love ya, Jason

Breakfast at the Mission Home!! 08/26/2010

Elders Ward, Farley, Hale, and Riner

Pictures!!!!!

Let it Rain - Let it Rain - Let it Rain!!!

Elder Ward shares his backpack! JRW

A Philippine Sunset!

AWWWW!!

08/22/2010

It is really weird how quick the time does go by….. I was thinking just the other day Jordan is going to be home then shortly after Matthew then shortly after him me its really weird how quick it really is. This country really has grown on me. I wouldn’t want to leave if it wasn’t so hot 24/7. It is so awesome how it’s so care free and relaxed definitely not a place you or Andrea would like cause of the sanitation issues but other than that it’s pretty sweet.

We had an awesome baptism this week. The investigators have been investigators for a good 5 months and they decided it was time. It was so amazing there were so many people. Our mission baptized tons of people this Saturday and it was way cool cause president told us to pray for success and to focus on giving the baptism commitment and all the sudden 100 or so people get baptized it was way cool.

Sounds like you guys are having fun at home I can’t wait to play with the little kids and go hunting and stuff but at the same time I don’t want to leave the Philippines either its weird!

But as for you getting released that’s crazy I think I would be stoked for the time off haha. but that’s nice now you and dad can get up to the cabin and finish it with all the new free time haha! But yes I'm still sick but it’s much better I will survive. Other elders have it much much worst like no kidding I should consider myself lucky -- some elders have lbm (?) for months like 9 months straight that would suck. I think I'm the only elder on the whole mission that hasn’t had diarrhea once. I tell everyone I have a strong stomach. As for a US doctor that’s pretty funny mom good one... haha …. there is one in Manila actually they have a St. Lukes that’s where all the really sick missionaries go.

But thanks for the package I'm excited for it even though if I don’t get it this transfer it will probably be until next transfer so like 6 weeks but that’s ok it will just be all the sweeter when I get the package! But anyways we eat at the same members house every night she’s way funny she is the most talkative lady in the world haha! She has two daughters that are Eric’s age. They told me Eric is cute and that Eric should add them on facebook haha! I took some pictures over there but tell Eric they’re pretty cute too! Haha! But it’s weird here cause you always see 14 & 15 year old girls with kids and married and stuff. They graduate high school at 16. We don’t eat out much we usually don’t eat much for breakfast and have a quick lunch and leave. Then we don’t get dinner till 9 so we are usually starving by that time and eat alot. I am getting skinny but not like skinny skinny cause I work out all the time so I'm getting alot stronger but loosing fat cause you can't really eat bad food here haha so its a win win situation.

But anyways - funny story time …. so remember that guy that I told you was talking about astronauts? Well this week we asked him who the first people on earth were and he said "how should I know I wasn’t there." It was so funny he speaks Ilocano so we don’t understand much but we understood that and started laughing and he started laughing it was pretty funny. But I have a weird question at byui do they have or teach Ilocano too or can I take a test to get my Ilocano credits cause I started studying it too and I think I’ll probably speak Ilocano and Tagalog before I leave so I was just curious cause that would be alot of credits.

k funny story again! You won't appreciate this one but it’s hilarious ... so we were walking home and me and Elder Poloai were on splits and it was dark but we see this dog crossing the road and a huge bus driving on the road and in the Philippines they don’t stop for anything for people, dogs, goats … they don’t stop they just keep going. But anyways this dog was just walking so Elder Poloai grabs my arm and was like o....o.... o..... he couldn’t speak for a sec cause he was watching what was about to happen so the bus just smashed this dog - ran it over! Then another huge rice truck drove over the top of it and then another truck ran it over but the wheels didn’t hit it and he pulled over so we're sitting there with flashlights just standing about 7 feet from the dog just watching and the guy gets out of the truck goes to the dog and pokes it twice he doesn’t say a word to us just pokes it grabs it by the tail and takes it and puts it in the front of the truck like the cab of the big truck. Then I said to Elder Poloai “What - is that guy serious?” and my comp at the time said “yep”! it was so so funny the guy was seriously going to eat this mangled nasty dog and ride with it in the front seat the whole way home nasty huh. If you saw the dogs here you would be really disgusted they’re all diseased and nasty looking but anyways I got to get going!
love ya, jas

I wanted to tell you about a zone in the Philippines that I guess is supposed to be getting a temple and the success of the missionaries over there but I figured you would enjoy hearing from my president directly …. He is so awesome!

Dear Fellow Missionaries:
What a wonderful week it was for our mission! I am happy to report that this week, we have very, very few health issues. I had no personal calls regarding any problems with companionships. Whatever little issues came up, the Zone Leaders handled them. Thank you. This tells me that the things we have been talking about (obedience, divine companionship, no regrets, focus on your purpose), are taking hold.

The highlight of the week is definitely the 43 baptisms we had in the Tuguegarao Stake. It was a sight to behold. It was inspiring to see rows upon rows of white clothed people, waiting to be baptized. It was humbling to see a long line of people following each other into the waters of baptism. Truly the Lord was pleased! There were other baptisms in other parts of the mission, making this week one of the most productive for us. Thank you, Elders and Sisters for your efforts and devotion. I sense an increased level of spirituality and commitment from you. Your love for your investigators are evident in your letters to me. I am so grateful and humbled by the opportunity to meet some of your special investigators with special needs and unusual situations. I am impressed by how well they have been taught by you. I have been touched as tears flow and they expressed their testimonies and faith in the Savior, His atonement, and the message of the restoration. During these special interviews, these investigators, without exception, speak of their love for you. What a great testament to you, my dear friends.

08/15/2010

Yes mom I'm feeling a bit better still sick but better it’s ok I’m not losing work or anything it’s just stomach problems! It’s a usual thing here in my mission. But anyways sounds like you guys are having lots of fun. Sounds like a blast.

That is crazy how Eric is starting school already. Time really does fly. This cycle of my mission is almost over which is crazy and I know my comp is getting transferred which sucks. I would have hoped for 3 or 4 cycles with him but obviously that can’t happen haha! But ya anyways I have 2 baptisms this Saturday. I’m stoked for them -- they are awesome awesome converts they waited to really know if that’s what they wanted to do. They have been going to church for 9 weeks now so they’re really solid.

But with your new buddy just do what you’ve been doing. You have to set a good example then continue with it don’t just fade out all the sudden like we usually do and don’t be pushy I would just call the lady and ask if she’s still doing ok and everything with her daughter’s death. Old ladies are chatter boxes so as long as you get a conversation rolling it will work out. We had this lady that I saw on this porch one day and I could just tell she was a Catholic. She was wearing a huge decorative cross necklace and we went up to the porch and she said she doesn’t want to talk to us she doesn’t want all the conversations back and forth about religion and trying to convince her "we’re wasting our time" she said before we even opened our mouths and she said it in English. So of course I said Nanay you are really good at English where did you learn it? and like Nanays do she just went off talking how she lived in California and how she had a really hard life until her church paid for her to move to California and be some sort of priest lady. Then she started talking about Obama (she was a little racist but that’s beside the point) and she was just visiting and she was leaving soon but after about 30 minutes she says but I really think that my children could use a religion like yours cause see our church isn’t strong enough here in Indiana (a place we were tracting) they need something that will help keep the family closer. So we started teaching her kids later. They’re not progressing cause the church is far and they don’t want to go to church. But my point is that old people want friends and someone to listen they want to be congratulated for there accomplishments. And what not but anyways I would just talk to her and try to be her friend. That’s it.

But anyways one more short story for you about old people -- so we are teaching this old guy he speaks only Ilocano. He can’t read and he can only hear out of one ear and if you are yelling at the top of your voice so this man’s family are all members except him so we are teaching him about prophets. We said one sentence in Tagalog and his kid screams in his ear Ilocano so he can understand. So we are teaching and we tell him prophets are called of God and he was like I believe in prophets cause if we didn’t have prophets we would have airplanes (are translator tells us) so we’re thinking ok ya I guess whatever you say. Then we continue on and ask if he believes there’s a prophet today and he says of course there is if there wasn’t any prophets how in the world could they land on the moon. So we find out he had prophets and scientist or astronauts mixed up haha! It was so funny and after that my chair broke in half and I fell on my butt and he was just laughing his head off he is so so funny. I have pictures of him! It’s hilarious. So I guess that lesson didn’t go so well!

But anyways I got to get going.
Love ya, Jas

08/08/2010

Sounds like you have been having fun -- ya that’s crazy about the sister that knew Matthew. Why did her parents move to Mountain Home? Is she cute? Haha! Just joking!

But anyways yep transfers are in 2 weeks. This cycle has gone by way fast - I’m not excited for transfers cause we pretty much know my comp is gone. He has been here a long long time so I’m kinda sad about that. But oh well - we’ll see how it goes you never know. Also I’ve been sick lately and I don’t know why. It’s really weird but Sister Carlos takes care of us and she’s really on the ball about that stuff. She’s awesome!

But anyways we have a bunch of investigators - things are going really good. But nothing too
crazy has happened so ill just talk to you next week!

Love ya, Jas

08/01/2010

I don’t have to much to tell you but I guess I can tell you a story from awhile back I forgot to tell you -- so of course here in the Phillies we get lots of catcalls cause we’re white and gwapo (handsome) : ) but anyways unfortunately the catcalls don’t always come from just girls there's all these cross dresser gay guys that always say stuff. My companion taught me how to say slang for I'm going to hit you. So we were walking down the sidewalk and this cross dresser called me sarap (which means delicious) so I said babasagin ko mukha mo (which means basically I'm going to hit you) the gay guy did this little yelp gay surprised thing and was like you can speak Tagalog. Haha! My comp was just dying from laughter it was pretty hilarious.

But anyways I was talking to Matthew and he said he only has 10 months left. It’s crazy the time goes by so freaking fast. It’s crazy especially when you have a comp that works hard. We’re already half way through our cycle and I feel like I just got here. I'm scared cause I know my comps getting transferred and I’m going to have to endure another workless cycle haha! No I might get another hard worker who knows. But I’m going to send you some more pictures so you better enjoy them. oh the picture of the flash light the one on the left the red one is kinda what I want but it can be any color. The brighter or shinier the better.

There’s not very many baptisms on really soon but we have 6 investigators with dates so we should be looking at some soon. It’s kinda hard cause my comp had a really hard comp to work with last time so he didn’t have a lot to work with now we kick butt and we have 6 dates. That’s how it works -- the harder you work the more you have! But anyways I cant think of anything else to tell you - you can ask me a whole bunch of questions if you want I don’t care cause life here is just normal to me now so I always forget little things but oh well I guess I'll talk to you next week. We might come email again later so if I think of anything else to tell you I might write you again cause this internet shop is way better than all the rest it's fast too.

I know something else happened funny this week but I can’t remember what it was so I guess I’m going to have to start writing things down cause I forget too easily,

Anyways I’ll talk to you later!
Love ya, Jason


Matt's letter
Ya it’s way sweet. I’m excited about my new area for sure. I like it here a lot better haha but ya it does go by way fast it will be over before you know it especially when you work hard. This week me and my comp slaved, like seriously killed ourselves, we had about 20 member presents and like 10 others also with 40 oyms that’s like way way awesome for our mission. We had to waste a bunch of time with district meeting and stuff cause my comps the district leader so we have to waste basically a whole day every week to get to Solano for accounting and district meeting and this week we had to give a presentation to little kids about hygiene and go spend a bunch of time doing other peoples baptism interviews. So for all the time helping other people we still crushed it this week.

But anyways keep up the good work. The Tagalog is great I feel like I need one more cycle and I’ll be able to say whatever I want. I can basically say what I want now but sometimes I trip up. Haha but anyways I’ll talk to you next week!
Love ya, Jason

07/18/2010 - Oh What a Difference a Week Can Make!!!

New Area: Nueva Zone
New Companion: Elder From Colorado (No name yet!)

Brett is marrying Amanda! WOW! You know who she is .... she is the one I walked down the aisle with at Charles' Wedding! That's crazy that Luke is going to Afghanistan though.... but anyways God does answer prayers and I got the best area in the whole mission. It’s so awesome I’ll send you Matt's email so you can read about it. My comp is way cool too - he is from Colorado so he’s American as you probably understand.

But anyways you better make sure dad is in the mountains every weekend instead of partying and what not and weddings and birthday parties haha! So what did Brad C. say about his pack I sent him. Remember that’s cabin-finishing-incentive! Just joking!!

My Tagalog is way way good now. I can talk to anyone I want about anything now. It just sort of clicked. The Elder before me I guess is still not that great at Tagalog so everyone is shocked that I can speak it and have been here less time. It’s funny but the Elder before me here is really a funny kid. I've met him a few times. But the best part of everything is I am now in the same zone as ELDER HALE AGAIN yes it’s awesome haha. But I’ll give you Matt's email so you can hear about the area and don’t forget about the stuff you’re supposed to send me.
But anyways - love ya

Jason’s email to Matthew:hahahaha your email is so perfect! Let me tell you about my new area. First I live in an apartment that has air conditioning. There are only 2 houses in my whole mission that have it. Also I don’t need to use it cause it’s cold enough and we don’t need it. I'm way way up in the mountains we had to cross a river yesterday that went up to our waist! It was so sick I'm in the Neuve Vizcya Zone and it's in the middle of a mountain range and our zl area that’s way close has a McDonalds. I had McDonalds the other day..... wow my area is so so sick it’s like Logan! I'm up in the mountains and surrounded by mountains but the only thing that sucks is walking to our investigators’ house. It’s so freaking high and up a hill but it’s all worth it. When you get up there you can see all the area it’s way way cool. We’re definitely coming here when you visit and skipping my last area hahaha. but it’s all roses and daisies here! Haha! But anyways love ya and talk to you next week! I might even send you some pictures. My comp is way tight too. He is diligent and likes to work it’s sweet. But ya he knows how to send pictures so I’ll send some!
love ya

2nd Email from Jason ….
I forgot to tell you my little story about my new President. I feel like he is my best friend! So the first time I met him we talked about football and stuff, then on Tuesday he came to our zone and interviewed some people and when I first got there he’s like Elder Ward come visit with me and before you didn’t get special interviews unless you were in trouble so I was like thinking what the heck -- I didn’t do anything! I went in there and he was like how you doing and I was like good everything’s fine and then he said well I just wanted to talk to you a bit. So do you hate BYU now that they’re in the same conference as BSU? I laughed and was like… I like them still but it’s gonna be hard for me to continue if they beat BSU! He was like you mean when THEY beat BSU and I laughed! Then he was like I just wanted to let you know I'm transferring you to the Nueva Zone and I was like what really cause before it was all secretive and you didn’t know until the night before so I was all shocked. He was like ya I know you wanted to spend the rest of your mission in Burgos but it’s a nice place Nueva Zone and then he started laughing and was like but if you would rather stay in Burgos your whole mission that’s fine I can make the arrangements and I started laughing and was like President I think I can settle for the Nueva Zone. He laughed and was like ya you’ll be really settling I mean good work, beautiful place, alot colder, but heck if you want I can leave you in Burgos. haha it was funny!

Then at transfers me and Elder Hale were walking through the office with our new comps and President was like Elder Ward come in her and then he was like Elder Hale come too and my new comp was like what the heck they’re in trouble already and was all worried! Me and Elder Hale just talked to president in his air conditioned office about football and just random stuff and then we left and my comp asked what it was about and I was like nothing! It was funny but then later we were about to leave and we were with a bunch of missionaries and President was like Elder Ward come here for a sec and grab your companion so we went into the Mission Home and he said do you like pasta? He was like do you want to eat here and of course we said yes and we sat down and he was like okay if you say you love BYU you can have ice cream, pasta, and salad so I was like no problem I love BYU and so we ate and stuff. My Comp was like what is this all about, I feel like a VIP cause he like singled us out from all the other missionaries! It was funny! Then I was like this is the best day of my life and President was like why’s that? I said I got transferred, I got fed American food with ranch dressing, and I got a hard working comp! It was way funny! I feel like he is my best friend already! Haha!
But anyways -- I got to go!
Love ya - bye!

A letter to Kennady:

Hey kenna benna. I like sparklers for the fourth of July do you like sparklers I also like yummy foods like frog legs and dogs. Do you like frog legs and dogs? But in my new area all the people are really really nice and there are little girls that like to talk to Americans but they speak a different language that we can’t understand. Also in primary they color pictures also! But sometimes they color on the wall and get into trouble cause that’s bad. You should make your Uncle Jason a craft and send him it in the mail cause he misses his favorite girls. And he needs a craft. He needs one from you and Taylor and then lots of pictures. But I hope you are having fun in England! I’ll be home soon.

Elders Riner, Naylor, Ward, & Hale ....

07/05/2010 - Happy 4th of July! (HOT!!!!)

New Mission President - President Carlos

So I'm glad you got the package. I was a little worried about it but I guess it made it. Sounds like you guys are having fun. I celebrated the Fourth of July yesterday. It consisted of telling Elder Hanks hey it’s the Fourth of July - Happy Fourth and that was it. Then I had to explain what the Fourth of July was to my comp in Taglish because I didn’t know how to say fireworks, Independence and a hundred other words haha so it was a rough explanation but afterwards he says you mean New Years hahaha it was so funny! I was like no we do New Years when it’s a New Year and he was like oh ya us too. Haha! It was so so funny!

But anyway this week I don’t really know what to say except we have no water in our apartment again and it’s really starting to freaking drive me crazy! It would be bad if it was cold but it’s not it’s a thousand degrees here so it sucks cause you sweat and you can’t take a shower when you want. It’s so lame so much for the mission housing standards huh I think 50 percent of the houses here don’t meet the standards haha its just like nobody complains and nobody says anything and most areas have no other options. But I wish I could just spend one day in an air conditioned house - just one day! We also didn’t have any power last night from 6:00 until now - we might have it now but who knows. That’s pretty much my life this week. I'm so excited to get transferred this week seriously I can’t wait -- less than 2 weeks. Haha! But anyways I hope your enjoying your fourth tell everyone I said hello!

06/27/2010 (Burgos Area)

Hey mother dear, how’s Canada? I'm going to tell my comp you’re in Canada cause he is moving there soon he’s going to be excited. His dad told him that the church basketball courts are inside the church and he was like what inside no that’s crazy there’s no way. He’s like a little kid seriously its funny! But anyways how is Canada? That’s crazy that Kim is getting a divorce that just sounds crazy to me I guess but I wish I could go to Edmonton I want to go to somewhere that sells real food. I ate frog the other day. It was pretty good just like chicken they weren’t lying but the only thing is there isn’t much meat so you have to eat like 50 of them to make a meal out of it.

Ok so to add to the list of things I need haha flashlight, elk hunting the west Eastman, way mini preach my gospel and gel soles for my shoes haha! That’s the list for right now! Haha!

But anyway. So last night we had no power again I don’t know if I told you this but in the Philippines they shut the power off or it dies like every other day and at night time its so miserable cause its so hot I can’t sleep. I hate it but it always takes them 6 or 7 hours to fix it cause they’re all freaking lazy here seriously but if I find the guy who’s in charge of the power we are going to have a word about this. I swear he does it on purpose! I bet he sits there just thinking o it looks like the powers been on for a whole day now in Burgos lets shut it down and then he sits there and is like that should piss them off! Haha! But anyways I hope you’re having a good week. It’s been mostly uneventful when you talk to dad though this week tell him to write me and tell me what hunts he put in for it’s killing me I want to know haha!
Well I’ve got to go!
Mahal Kita, Jason

Matt's email:
Ha that’s sweet too bad you didn’t get to eat it. I love crab. Right now I'm no where close to the ocean so we don’t see crabs but people buy them at the market and stuff they usually buy just little ones cause they’re cheap but they eat them different they cook the whole thing and rip off the big shell and eat its guts. It’s actually not bad it’s like the yoke of a hard boiled egg in texture kinda chalky like but tastes salty and weird - but overall it’s ok. The frog legs I had last week were way better seriously they say it tastes like chicken and it does but the only problem is there isn’t much meat so you have to eat 20 of them to satisfy your hunger and plus you can’t help but think how they get them. In my opinion anything you can go out and grab in the backyard with no effort shouldn’t be eaten but I didn’t get sick and I thought it was good so win win there.
But this week nothing cool has happened seriously it’s been kinda uneventful not a lot of good work and our investigator that I have been teaching for 4 months now didn’t go to church again so I probably won’t get to see her be baptized I'm pretty sure unless I don’t get transferred which I cant see me not getting transferred but who knows. I haven’t got your belts yet cause they don’t sell them in my area they sell them in the mountain provinces and I don’t want to give anyone the money to get them cause here that money might just accidentally disappear. Haha! But anyways – I’ll talk to you next week!
Mahal Kita - Jason

06/20/2010 (Burgos Area)

First off I hope Eric wasn’t driving my truck! Haha, just kidding! I’ve accepted the fact that he might have it all adopted by the time I get home haha. grabe! matagal na! magging asawa mo. Naintndian ka ba magging lola mo na. haha mabuting bagay hind pwede mo naitindian kung ano nagsulat ako tunkol sa iyo. Haha, just kidding if you get a translator and find out what I said haha!

But anyways, I miss Elder Hale too! It really does suck like seriously sucks but o well that’s life! What’s silly is we're not allowed to write each other either. Weird huh - but whatever.

I guess Pres. Carlos has been visiting alot of people. He went and saw Elder Naylor’s parents the other day! Haha - they have a picture with them that’s so weird.

Things are good though - beside the fact i miss Elder Hale - he made things so funny and fun! My comps great! He works hard now and we’re doing really good. I found out that last year they had 8 baptisms total for all of Burgos and I have already had 7 there. Everyone thinks I'm a missionary stud but in all seriousness it’s a 100% luck like no joke. I just happened to be at the right place at the right time. (I know he realizes it isn't all luck - that he is getting a lot of help from a loving Heavenly Father who is helping him spread the Gospel! : )

But anyways the flashlight is an led but the one Elder Hale had from bed bath and beyond i don’t want – it’s a wind up one. He has another one he got as a gift for caddying at a golf course so that’s not going to help just tell Charles he will get me a good one and pay him for it or have dad. But anyways I don’t want a maglite either.

Ya me and Elder Hale would talk about England all the time. We had a baptism Saturday and we have like 6 more on the 11th so hopefully we don’t have any road blocks before then. No I'm not taking the fiber tablets. I'm just fine I'll save them just in case i develop a problem but for the mean time I'm alright.

I don’t even want to talk about football and hunting that’s the only thing i miss (well besides my lovely family of course) but i could use the book “Elk Hunting the West the Eastman’s Way” you can find it at sportsman’s or cabalas or order it at the Eastman’s magazine company. (Haha! Does he really think I am going to send this to him? : ) Haha! But seriously i don’t want to talk about it haha.

Tell dad I decided I want to become a lawyer but have a backpack company here in the Philippines! haha its fun! i just need to find a cheaper way to ship cause i shipped the backpacks and they cost me 2100 pesos to make but yet 2700 to ship! It cost more to ship it than to make it. Lesson learned .... but if my package doesn’t make it I’m going to freak out!!!! haha (but it’s ok I’m registered hahaha)! wow that would have been funny if Elder Hale heard that.

Kenna sounds too grown up and it’s crazy I’m not going to see them forever. that sucks but o well it will be so much better when i finally do see them but anyways i should get going.
mahal kita - Jason

06/13/2010 (Burgos)

o great so now Charles is never going to join the church! hahaha! But anyways WOW - What the heck BSU in the Mountain West that’s so freaking awesome!!!!! They get to play real teams now and they will get a BCS bid if they are Conference Champs for sure - there’s no way they can’t! That’s sweet!! Too bad I’ll miss it.

I got my package! o and I don’t need FOOT POWDER just body powder but it’s ok I read the stuff and it has the same ingredients just more powerful so I just use it for my body so it’s ok it will work ok if not better.

So funny story about before Elder Hale left … so after our first real rain storm I had to run and talk to Elder Hale about it. So I'm sitting there talking about it and then he was like wait what about that thunder and lightning he said he was seriously scared and was scared to hold his umbrella cause he thought he was going to get shocked then he said that’s the loudest thing ever (quote)"I almost crapped my pants the first time." It was so funny and then his comp said ya he was a bit scared he didn’t know if he should stop and find shelter or run for the house. it was funny!

Anyways did dad tell you about the flashlight I want. I want a small aluminum one but not way small just short and stubby dad knows what ones I'm talking about cause the flashlight I have just doesn’t cut it and the ones you can buy here suck. So just a nice lite aluminum one like they sell at Charles’s uncle’s store. Dad knows I want a good one that you would want to use for hunting. Elder Hale had a sweet one. But have dad figure it out.

Ya I went to the cultural event it was cool! But Cebu is in the other part of the country basically it’s closer to Manila from here than Cebu. Cebu is at the bottom of the country and I'm at the very top so I don’t think there’s any chance I’ll ever make it to the Cebu temple. Illango is a language that they speak in the Bacolod mission. There are thousands of different languages here in the Philippines. Elder Hale is in an area where they speak ifugao and I'm where they speak Ilocano and Neuva Vizcaya they speak straight Tagalog and there’s probably another 12 languages in other parts. It’s crazy but they speak Cebuano in Cebu so that’s way different. There’s 2 major languages Tagalog and Cebuano - usually the people can speak at least one of those 2 languages buts depends sometimes they can’t. So the foods are all different too. The different languages are different tribes of people so some of them make and eat different foods.

But anyways I'm running out of things to say I’m sending a package next Monday of a bunch of stuff so get excited just joking you won’t be too thrilled mom but the boys will be. Hopefully it doesn’t cost me an arm to send it.

But anyways love ya enjoy your week in the real world! Jason

06/07/2010 (Transfers but stayed in Burgos)

Companion: Elder Pangan
Roommates: Elder Hanks & Elder

Elder Hale got transferred NOOOOOOOOOO! Seriously it sucks haha but I'm holding in there! haha It’s ok I'll pull through!! But anyways the week has been good. We have 7 baptismal dates. I don’t know really what to tell you other than everything’s good.
I didn’t get the package yet and it’s going to be awhile I'm sure. I wish I had good England food or American food I am so so sick of rice. I seriously am used to it but I would give anything for a big steak. So that’s crazy it’s bad weather. It’s bad weather here too but it’s a little different meaning hot and crazy all together. I don’t have much time left. Everyone is done except me, surprisingly so I’ll talk to you next week have a good week!

Here is Matthew’s letter from me!

So this week has been really good I'm staying in Burgos like I thought but that’s ok it was a good week. We have 7 investigators with baptism dates that’s so crazy! Burgos last year had a total of 8 baptisms in one year. Me and my comp or going to have way more than that and we have people coming back to church. It’s so awesome!

What people really need around here is just a reality check and they need someone to talk to them with common sense. Seriously though, in the phillys the biggest thing for us is being bold. A lot of missionaries go and teach less actives these lessons that they’ve heard a billion times and wonder why it makes no difference and they still don’t come to church cause the missionaries just want lessons and don’t take the time to find the problem and just write down they have a lesson that made no difference like seriously the people here don’t understand like people in America do! So here they need to hear reason or lessons for them not lesson 1 or lesson 2 but their own lesson just for them and sometimes they don’t even need a lesson. This one lady was all offended and she wouldn’t come to church for the last 6 months and we went to visit her. My comp was trying to teach her and she was obviously busy so I asked why don’t you come to church and she said something about they didn’t give her son food in primary and she was offended. I said well I don’t know what happened but I know that going to church is important and if we didn’t have trials and obstacles then we wouldn’t build faith cause if everything in life was easy and perfect and we had everything we wanted we wouldn’t have faith or we wouldn’t see the need to get closer to God or GO TO CHURCH. She looked at me and was like Elder I think you’re right. And I said Sister Abad we are really in a hurry I really hope you’ll come to church tomorrow but we’ve got to go and she said she’ll try. And she came to church and walked the whole way it was so far too. It was so good. Sorry about the long story but that’s my spiel on being bold and saying what you’re thinking as long as it’s not overbearing. My comp just looked at me and was like wow that was good and we started making jokes about how she was mad at Elder Ward and that she was going to yell at me and join the inglesian church to bash Mormons cause Elder Ward was so blunt! Haha! It was a good day but we were just joking around about it but it worked and she came. People just need someone to explain it so they can understand they don’t need to hear restoration 12 times or Plano ng kaligtasan 100 times they need straight up reason!

Sorry but the phillys are great! I don’t have any sweet stories this week but I got your backpack it’s sweet and you’ll get to see it in 1 year! Haha! But it is really sweet it’s just like a small hunting pack it’s sweet you’ll like it. Anyways keep up the good work there and keep the comps in line!

love ya Jason

Pictures!!! Sent home in May 2010! (Burgos)

05/30/2010 (Burgos Area)

Wow! Life sounds pretty crazy in the Christiansen family haha a wedding, twins, barbeques every Saturday man o man! Well tell Brad to make sure he keeps his priorities in order (meaning the cabin) before he focuses on things like weddings and grandkids. Haha! just kidding but anyways knowing Britani she probably wants to get married up at the cabin anyways! Haha! But seriously.... you should send me the Christiansen’s email so I can email them one day.

I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures. You need to send some to Matt. I feel like the pictures I had didn’t even show you the real Philippines the next ones will be better. Haha! I got new pictures of caribou (Water Buffalo) and real rain (which is way stronger and crazier than I could have ever imagined). Videos of the freaking loud thunder, bats, snakes, and all sorts of stuff on the new memory card, when it’s full I’ll send you that one!

It’s pretty crazy but ya anyways transfers are in 4 days so we’ll see what happens there. But funny thing about the pictures I sent you -- so we go up there to the post office place and I'm like I want to send these and they’re like ok well do you want to register them and I'm like no that sounds stupid so I was like no just send them and they’re like well then you can’t and I was like k I want these to make it to America if they will make it without registering then good lets do it but if I have to register them than ok. So I'm thinking registering is some huge process and they’re like o you have to register them and I'm like ok whatever register it then and lets move on I don’t care as long as it makes it. She hands me a receipt and that was it! So now it’s a joke with me and Elder Hale cuz whenever Elder Hale sends something I'm always like well let me send it I'm registered and it will make it to America and stuff! HAHA! We think it’s cause it was discs and not just a package. You have to pay like 25 pesos more 50 cents and for some reason they call it registering. It was funny so I'm always joking about being registered cause it was a big long misunderstanding conversation when I was talking to them about it haha. But anyways ya im glad you liked the pictures.

This week I ate pig feet. It was interesting but not too bad in all seriousness. But I wouldn’t go out of your way to try it haha. The baptisms were great and everything’s just fine. But anyways I just remembered I need to write that letter to Bro Gibbons so I’ll talk to you later.
love ya
jas

A few snippets from his brothers' emails!

To Matthew:
ya so this week was a good week! We had our interviews and I think I’m stuck in Burgos for a while or at least that’s what President made it sound like. but we get a new President next cycle. It’s crazy I barely got to know President. Haha!

But ya I’m getting used to my companion and I’m just dealing with it. I found out if I don’t tell him to get up or if I don’t tell him lets go work and just let him call all the shots basically like I feel he is supposed to we get out earlier, we work harder, and everything goes smoother. I found out that pushing him makes him want to work less. So before I felt like I was doing everything and now I feel like he’s actually contributing it’s been better. Sometimes I guess it hinders to push people like if I push him we might not get out till 2 maybe even 3 but if I just let him be we sometimes get out when we’re supposed to so I’m learning to be more patient and relaxed.

But I forgot for a young women activity they had a beauty contest. It was so funny - they would dress up in modest clothes and walk down the runway and one time there was some yw who weren’t ready and they were calling their names and no one came and so this old "large" lady as a joke walked down the runway strutting and stuff it was so so so funny I almost died laughing!.

But ya anyways other than that our week was just okay -- we didn’t teach a whole lot of lessons this week cause we were really busy with district stuff and ward activities and our baptisms but we got a few good referrals for a change so we’ll see how it goes.
Talk to you next week.
Jas

To Eric:
You better get dad to get the cabin finished so I have somewhere to stay when I go hunting. That's crazy that school is out, everyone here just went back to school this last week so their schedule is way different. There's nothing really to fun they can do in the phillys during the summer cause they don't have any money and everything fun they have already done a million times so it gets old for them so they work with us. It's fun -- they will climb trees and get us fruit and we show them how to talk to the little girls they like but are too embarassed to talk to so we help them out but i tell them that it will cost them one mango and they will find a mango tree and up they go. The little kids around here are awesome! Anyways have a fun summer!
Love ya, Jas