05/29/2011

Hey Mother dear so our investigators are going to be baptized this Saturday. I can’t wait to get that done but now we’re the only ones because the other Elders investigators didn't make it to church. So there will only be 8 baptisms on Saturday instead of 10. But ya so nothing else has changed here. I told you all the good stuff last week.

So this week we were supposed to have an even nastier storm than last time and I’m in the area that it would hit the hardest but it missed us. So we lucked out even though I was kinda excited for it. So what’s the deal with all these tornadoes? It’s kind of crazy.

Sounds like you’re all having fun with Andrea back. Are you guys excited to see Matthew in a couple weeks haha crazy.
but anyways love ya guys talk to you next week!
Jas

Jason & Elder Baiting (?) during a Zone Meeting

Sister Carlos said ... In Ilagan the missionaries were asked to simplify their teaching. After a period of time to plan, the door opened and in marched their "investigators." Children who had volunteered to work with our missionaries. It was really fun to watch the missionaries teach these darling kids.

04/24/2011

Hey so we had another baptism this weekend. It was great! She is such a cool lady. I’m a little mad how only 2 people came to her baptism - the bishop and another lady we asked to speak that was it. I’m not joking there was the two, me, my companion, and 4 other missionaries. It was pretty sad that that’s the kinda support we get being in a Ward. I thought it would be different but I guess not. Also the other person we asked to speak texted us an hour before the baptism saying he has to work. Why he didn’t text us a week ago or say something the numerous times we reminded him, I don’t know. Then I had to give a talk with a 2 minute notice before sacrament. Haha! I love the Philippines. I really do love it, I’m just telling you the mentality of the people haha. But ya anyways we have been having fun the same old stuff.

Yes my companion is Filipino and he’s from Lagos. It is way far from here. His Tagalog isn’t that great because they speak a different language there where he’s from. We are kinda close to the mission home it takes about 1 hr 30 minutes to get there or so.

I can’t wait to get home and go to dollar movies because it’s gonna be like going to the expensive ones for me! haha. Eric is starting a lawn mowing business? Why does he need a new lawnmower for it? Who is his partner in crime?

I have been really lazy with taking pictures. I’m sorry - it just doesn’t seem like anything new to me anymore so I rarely see anything too exciting. You need to tell me what kind of pictures I need to take so I know when to take them. Haha! You think you do the same stuff everyday haha missionaries are the most routine people on the planet! Haha! Nothing changes here. Also you should probably send me a whole letter about what I should write about haha because I haven’t got a clue anymore haha.
Are you guys getting excited to see Matthew again? Its crazy how soon it’s gonna be. Its probably not even going to wear off that he’s home and then I’ll be in the airport – haha!
Anyways love ya lots family! Tell dad hunt deadlines I know are sometime in June so get them done early before you forget!

Love ya
Jason

Easter in the Philippines

President Carlos said this about Holy Week ...

“Remember, this is Holy Week in the Philippines. That means many of the services (banks, stores, etc) will be closed at least Friday-Sunday. I doubt any ATMs will work between Friday and Sunday...Some will be closed all week. Plan your business needs early in the week. Be mindful of the local religious traditions pertaining to Holy Week – AND be respectful of their practices. In some areas of the Philippines, real live crucifixion actually takes place. If you see anything unusual, please be sensitve to the fact that to these people, these are sacred religious observances. Be mindful also that Catholics do not eat chicken, pork, or beef during Holy Week."

04/18/2011 - Letter to Andrea

I’m like 90 percent sure that’s what’s happening. President said Nov 30 like last week again so I think so. I’ll find out for sure sure in about 2 months then its gonna be crazy. It’s so close it feels weird that I’ll be home that soon! Anyways how’s everything going getting ready for the move and what not. Nothing really new with me. I cut my finger pretty bad the other day cutting rice for a service project. It was pretty gnarly - it cut my finger nail in half but its fine. I didn’t even go to the doctor. It’s still sore but it looks like its healing fine. I didn’t want to call our nurse lady and be like I cut my finger. That’s the most exciting bit I have to say haha!

But anyways I’ll talk to you later.
Love ya
Jason

PS: Don’t forget … figure something out with mom so we can talk in May alright - love ya jason

04/18/2011 - Elder Biating

Companion: Elder Biating - from Lagos Philippines

Okay so its gonna be short again! I’m sorry but anyways nothing a whole lot has changed. I have actually been sick all week but it’s kinda funny because now I got everyone else sick. I still have a runny nose but its getting better.

When I got transferred I got a new companion - Elder Biating so he is my companion for a while. Also we have some really good investigators one is getting baptized on Saturday and then 6 more should follow in the next 3 weeks. So we’re doing good.

Anyways all is great here - just living the missionary life. Yep Matt’s home in 2, I’m home in 7! Matt was a little surprised that I’ll be home only five months after him. I’m about 95 percent sure me and Elder Riner will be leaving the Philippines on Nov 30 so that’s soon.

Anyways love ya
Jason

03/27/2011 - Transfers!

Transfered to Ilagan.

Okay mom – don’t panic I’m sorry I didn’t email. I was at the hospital with my sick companion. He is okay now. Actually he was okay after they gave him medicine he was fine in like 15 minutes so we just hung out and played with the gadgets haha. But we didn’t get a chance to email.

But anyways everything’s great here. I did get transferred. It’s a bit different but it’s okay. I am now in Ilagan. It’s actually a ward so it’s so much different. Nothings changed except my area this is probably my second to last area crazy huh. Time goes by so fast. Matthew will be home in 3 months – that’s crazy! He will be home before we know it.

When you get home and aren’t touring the whole world without us would you find out what I have to do to apply for school in January? I want to go to school January and summer and have fall off. Let me know what you think.

Anyways everything’s good here. I wish I had something more interesting to tell you. Sorry my emails are getting so lame I just don’t know what to tell you cause there is nothing too new.

Love ya Jason

PS: I almost forgot … me and Elder Dahlin live right next to each other haha as in our houses are connected!

03/13/2011 - Moved to Higher Ground!

Hey mother!

So sounds like you guys are excited for the vacation. It’s been getting really really hot lately but its okay I think I’m used to it now and have accepted it, haha! But anyways not a whole lot is new. At our baptisms there usually is nobody to play the piano so we just sing without one it sounds terrible. I think they could even give a Ward Family Reunion a run for their money it’s that bad! Haha!

Transfers are getting close. I’m pretty sure I’ll be transferred but I’m not sure. They are on the 24th.

So earthquake update … so we where sitting there teaching a lesson and I look down at the cell phone and we had 6 missed calls. We already heard that there was something big that happened in Japan and everyone was freaking out here in the Philippines so I knew after getting 6 calls we were getting evacuated. I called our Zone Leaders and they said go buy 72 hours of food and get to Tuguie so we took off to Tug. We hungout and played games then in the morning they texted and said false alarm go back. So I don’t know if something happened in other parts but nothing happened to us. I haven’t heard anything about it yet!

Here we have 7 endowed members so you guys have more than 20 times the amount we do. Haha we don’t even have a piano player, needless to say sacrament meeting is interesting but it really isn’t too bad. Lang Kasi the branch is getting way better and they will have a church all finished in April so that’s cool.

Anyways have fun on your vacation.
Love ya, Jason

03/07/2011

This week we had a baptism. It was good! I got to be the baptizer and conductor because nobody really could go so there were about 8 people not including missionaries. But it was good we have a bunch of people that should be getting baptized in about a month so I’m excited for them the only problem is I’m pretty sure I’m getting transferred. I’m not positive but I think so. I’m kinda tired of getting transferred to areas where I basically have to start by scratch and then when I leave the other Elders get all the fruit of my labors haha! But oh well – I’m sure they will remember me either way but ya so nothing else really happened this week.But I did get your package thanks it’s awesome. I’m trying to figure out how to get music on the ipod. It’s harder than I thought because I guess the ipod has some protection so you can’t put the music from just anywhere on there. But I’ll figure it out. It’s way cool though it has some pretty cool features on it. Another problem is that my speakers don’t work with it but that’s okay because I can get new ones that will work for super cheap here so it will work but anyways thanks a ton I can’t wait to use it.

Well I don’t have anything else to say!
Love ya, Jason

Tuguegarao Zone Conference 02/2011