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!