Crazy Week #2
So you all though last week was crazy!!! Well I mean it was, but this week was pretty crazy too. In the past 2 weeks I have worked for a total of 4 days in Sewahon. This last week there was the possible threat of Typhoon Ruby to strike the Philippines. It missed us but it caused quite a panic. We went on lockdown again just like we did last year for Yolanda. So Wednesday we had p-day. Then Thursday morning we had our Zone Training meeting and were informed of the lockdown starting on Friday. Because we live up in the mountain we were told to get the things we need and then come back down to safety. So after training we did just that. Went and got extra things and then came back to Sagay. Then Thursday night the Zone Leaders called and told us and the Alimatoc Elders to come stay with them in Dian-ay. So Friday morning we woke up and headed to Dian-ay and stayed there until this morning! Then last night we got a call from the office saying Elder Derecho will be transferring. The problem is we were in Dian-ay. And they wanted us to be in Sagay at 8 am. We still needed to go back to Sewahon, he still needed to pack and the only transportation down the mountain at that time of day is a motorcycle. So that sure made things interesting. So we made it back up the mountain and got his stuff. On the way down I held Elder Derecho's suitcase on my lap on the motorcycle! It was pretty crazy! So right now I'm just waiting for companion to show up from Bacolod. I have no idea who it is. Also transfer day is actually next week, so there's still a possibility that I could transfer next week! It's killing me. President Lopez is just unpredictable! I don't know what's going to happen.
Also the wedding and baptisms that were supposed to happen last week got cancelled because of the Typhoon, that again didn't do anything here, but it's better to be safe than sorry! Then this next weekend we have stake conference so I have no idea when the wedding is going to be or when they'll be baptized or if I'll even be here. It's really unfortunate. But the work goes on! Also this past Sunday was the first time on my mission that I did not attend Church. Since we were on lockdown and couldn't leave. So that means it's also like the first time in probably like 2 years that I've missed church, so it's kinda weird! But it is what it is! I'm excited to find out who my new companion is and to get to work and to go back and visit all of our members and investigators in Sewahon who've probably been wondering where we have been! It's literally been a week since we've worked!
Also new rule. We are no longer allowed to 'chat' during emails. Kinda unfortunate but it is what it is! Let's be happy we were allowed to do it for 75% of my mission! The last 25% with no chatting will just make coming home that much more exciting! I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week and enjoy this wonderful spirit of Christmas! :)
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
12.3.14
Wedding!
So this past week was probably the craziest week of my entire mission. After my email last week I went on exchanges with Elder Goodmansen again in Colonia Divina to Baptismal Interviews again! Our exchanges went well and all was good until we woke up the next morning and he said that he had left the key to the study room in his bag which he had locked inside of the study room! So we had a problem! So we called his companion Elder Eyo since he had the extra key and told them to skip studies and come to Colonia in order to open the door for us. While we waited Elder Goodmansen tried to go all Boy Scout of America on the doorknob and pick the lock. In that process he managed to break the door knob. Then Elder Eyo and Elder Cicon showed up. Elder Eyo was sopping wet because it was pouring rain outside and he had no umbrella and had just walked for an hour from Alimatoc. Then Elder Cicon tells me that they didn't finish all the interviews in Alimatoc which means somebody needed to interview for them (which leaves me as the District Leader to do the job). Also Elder Derecho called and said Elder Ferrer didn't have an umbrella and he had lots of things to carry so I just said I'll just go with Elder Cicon to Alimatoc and finish their interviews for them. So we walked to Alimatoc in a slight rain and got a little lost as well because all the places to cross the river were flooded so we just went all the way around and came up the backside of Alimatoc. It took us probably over and hour and a half. Then the baptismal clothes that I had carried all the way that had just been washed got covered in mud when the bag fell off the crate that I had set it on. GREAT! haha Then Elder Eyo texts us Thursday night and says they have more people to be interviewed as well on Saturday. So Friday morning I went back to Sewahon and got to work for all of like 3 hours and then I went back to Colonia Divinia with Elder Eyo to finish their interviews for them. It was just the craziest week EVER!
Then Sunday morning we were blest with 4 baptisms! :) That always brings a smile to ones face! Sister Lera, Sister Mary Grace, Sister Amy Chen, and Brother Bernie! It was a wonderful Sunday!
Now for the WEDDING! Sister Marissa (mother of Mary Grace and Amy Chen) and Brother Jear are getting married on Dec. 6 so that Sister Marissa can be baptized! We've been working on this for a while and have had quite a few road bumps and even talks of them splitting up, but now it's official! Saturday is the wedding and we're super excited! Sister Marissa will be baptized later that afternoon as well along with Sister Alma (great LDS name no?) haha It's amazing to be here in the Mountains, the work continues to go forward!
Our Branch President was informed that Our Branch is probably the top Baptizing branch in the World. The Philippines Bacolod Mission is the top baptizing mission, the Sagay Zone is the top baptizing Zone in the Mission, and the Colonia Divina Branch is the top baptizing Unit in the Sagay Zone! How crazy is that! And I get to be a part of it! It honestly has nothing to do with me though! I just happend to be assigned in the right place at the right time! In the month of October the Colonia Divina Branch had 20 convert baptisms. In November we had 28! Now let's see what we can accomplish in December! :) The Lord is truly hastening His work and I'm so glad and blessed to be a part of it! :)
I hope you all have a wonderful week! We'll talk to you soon!
So this past week was probably the craziest week of my entire mission. After my email last week I went on exchanges with Elder Goodmansen again in Colonia Divina to Baptismal Interviews again! Our exchanges went well and all was good until we woke up the next morning and he said that he had left the key to the study room in his bag which he had locked inside of the study room! So we had a problem! So we called his companion Elder Eyo since he had the extra key and told them to skip studies and come to Colonia in order to open the door for us. While we waited Elder Goodmansen tried to go all Boy Scout of America on the doorknob and pick the lock. In that process he managed to break the door knob. Then Elder Eyo and Elder Cicon showed up. Elder Eyo was sopping wet because it was pouring rain outside and he had no umbrella and had just walked for an hour from Alimatoc. Then Elder Cicon tells me that they didn't finish all the interviews in Alimatoc which means somebody needed to interview for them (which leaves me as the District Leader to do the job). Also Elder Derecho called and said Elder Ferrer didn't have an umbrella and he had lots of things to carry so I just said I'll just go with Elder Cicon to Alimatoc and finish their interviews for them. So we walked to Alimatoc in a slight rain and got a little lost as well because all the places to cross the river were flooded so we just went all the way around and came up the backside of Alimatoc. It took us probably over and hour and a half. Then the baptismal clothes that I had carried all the way that had just been washed got covered in mud when the bag fell off the crate that I had set it on. GREAT! haha Then Elder Eyo texts us Thursday night and says they have more people to be interviewed as well on Saturday. So Friday morning I went back to Sewahon and got to work for all of like 3 hours and then I went back to Colonia Divinia with Elder Eyo to finish their interviews for them. It was just the craziest week EVER!
Then Sunday morning we were blest with 4 baptisms! :) That always brings a smile to ones face! Sister Lera, Sister Mary Grace, Sister Amy Chen, and Brother Bernie! It was a wonderful Sunday!
Now for the WEDDING! Sister Marissa (mother of Mary Grace and Amy Chen) and Brother Jear are getting married on Dec. 6 so that Sister Marissa can be baptized! We've been working on this for a while and have had quite a few road bumps and even talks of them splitting up, but now it's official! Saturday is the wedding and we're super excited! Sister Marissa will be baptized later that afternoon as well along with Sister Alma (great LDS name no?) haha It's amazing to be here in the Mountains, the work continues to go forward!
Our Branch President was informed that Our Branch is probably the top Baptizing branch in the World. The Philippines Bacolod Mission is the top baptizing mission, the Sagay Zone is the top baptizing Zone in the Mission, and the Colonia Divina Branch is the top baptizing Unit in the Sagay Zone! How crazy is that! And I get to be a part of it! It honestly has nothing to do with me though! I just happend to be assigned in the right place at the right time! In the month of October the Colonia Divina Branch had 20 convert baptisms. In November we had 28! Now let's see what we can accomplish in December! :) The Lord is truly hastening His work and I'm so glad and blessed to be a part of it! :)
I hope you all have a wonderful week! We'll talk to you soon!
11.24.14
Happy Thanksgiving!
Well this last week was a pretty normal week! Nothing too crazy happened. I was able to go on exchanges with Elder Goodmansen in Colonia Divina this last week so that I could interview their 7 candidates for baptism! Elder Goodmansen has been out for about 3 weeks, he's from Rigby, Idaho! We got a little lost up in the mountain on our way to President Mahilum's house since I'd only been there once and Elder Goodmansen is brand new and doesn't quite know his way around yet, but we found our way! So it was all good!
This upcoming weekend we have 4 baptism! Sisters Amy Chen and Mary Grace, and then the younger brother of one of RC', Biernie Alay, and then Sister Lera! It's going to be a white Sunday! :)
We also seem to have a huge trial of our faith every Sunday because it rains EVERY Sunday morning. It's a bit ridiculous. It always causes people not to attend church! But we still had 30 this last week with 10 investigators and 15 recent converts! So it was still a great Sunday! :)
This afternoon we're gonna go play us some ping-pong at the church! I'm super excited! The Filipinos play ping-pong like the Chinese. It's like watching the Olympics haha They stand right at the end of the table and hit the ball right after it bounces, it's kinda hard to pick up on, but i'll get the hang of it! I'm excited to play later!
I read this last week in Doctrine & Covenants 130:18-19. As we continue to build our knowledge throughout our live, especially knowledge pertaining to the Gospel we are not only increasing our advantage in this life, but we're increasing our advantage in the next life as well. It also says in verse 19 that this comes because of obedience and diligence. This means that whatever our Heavenly Father asks of us, we do it. We don't get to pick and choose! He knows what's best for us and as we follow Him we will be blessed beyond capacity! Just my quick thought for all of you! I just invite each of you to continue or to begin a more detailed study of your scriptures so that we all can grow in knowledge and intelligence!
Hope you all have a wonderful week!
I LOVE EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU! :)
Well this last week was a pretty normal week! Nothing too crazy happened. I was able to go on exchanges with Elder Goodmansen in Colonia Divina this last week so that I could interview their 7 candidates for baptism! Elder Goodmansen has been out for about 3 weeks, he's from Rigby, Idaho! We got a little lost up in the mountain on our way to President Mahilum's house since I'd only been there once and Elder Goodmansen is brand new and doesn't quite know his way around yet, but we found our way! So it was all good!
This upcoming weekend we have 4 baptism! Sisters Amy Chen and Mary Grace, and then the younger brother of one of RC', Biernie Alay, and then Sister Lera! It's going to be a white Sunday! :)
We also seem to have a huge trial of our faith every Sunday because it rains EVERY Sunday morning. It's a bit ridiculous. It always causes people not to attend church! But we still had 30 this last week with 10 investigators and 15 recent converts! So it was still a great Sunday! :)
This afternoon we're gonna go play us some ping-pong at the church! I'm super excited! The Filipinos play ping-pong like the Chinese. It's like watching the Olympics haha They stand right at the end of the table and hit the ball right after it bounces, it's kinda hard to pick up on, but i'll get the hang of it! I'm excited to play later!
I read this last week in Doctrine & Covenants 130:18-19. As we continue to build our knowledge throughout our live, especially knowledge pertaining to the Gospel we are not only increasing our advantage in this life, but we're increasing our advantage in the next life as well. It also says in verse 19 that this comes because of obedience and diligence. This means that whatever our Heavenly Father asks of us, we do it. We don't get to pick and choose! He knows what's best for us and as we follow Him we will be blessed beyond capacity! Just my quick thought for all of you! I just invite each of you to continue or to begin a more detailed study of your scriptures so that we all can grow in knowledge and intelligence!
Hope you all have a wonderful week!
I LOVE EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU! :)
11.12.14
Seventeen!
How's life my friends and family? I hope it is just as great as mine! Although you may have a few more benefits than I do! ;) haha
These last couple weeks have been crazy! Last week I worked in Sagay for two days with Elder Newton and then came back to Sewahon and finished out a great week there. We missed out on two days of work but still had a full week of success! it was all backed by our 2 baptisms and our .............. 17 investigators who attended church! I was so surprised to see so many of them at church. They just kept coming and coming! The work is truly Hastening especially up here in the mountains and in the Philippines Bacolod Mission. I meant to mention this to you last week but when we had our Zone Conference, President Lopez shared a very amazing statistic with us that totally blew my mind. He said that in the month of October the Colonia Divina Branch (which consists of Alimatoc and Sewahon groups, 6 missionaries total) had 20 convert baptisms, which was more than an entire other mission here in the Philippines. He then said the "Colonia Divinia Mission." How crazy is that. I can't even imagine that. More than entire other mission. It's totally "mind bottling" hahah There's my movie quote for ya! ;)
Well we're here in Bacolod right now in preparation for our Mission Tour tomorrow with Elder Ardern! Tonight we are staying in the Silay West elders apartment! If you remember that is my last area! Which means I get to work with Elder Rakuro again and visit people in my last area which I'm kind of excited for! Oh and this morning we woke up to a pleasant rain. Which isn't a big deal when you have a car. However, when your transportation is a motorcycle it becomes kind of an issue. I cut a whole in a big black garbage bag and wore it like a poncho as we rode down the mountain! It was great. It could've been much worse! The rain only lasted maybe 20 minutes and then it stopped!
Well, other than that I don't think I have much else to say other than I LOVE YOU ALL! :) Hope you have a wonderful week!
How's life my friends and family? I hope it is just as great as mine! Although you may have a few more benefits than I do! ;) haha
These last couple weeks have been crazy! Last week I worked in Sagay for two days with Elder Newton and then came back to Sewahon and finished out a great week there. We missed out on two days of work but still had a full week of success! it was all backed by our 2 baptisms and our .............. 17 investigators who attended church! I was so surprised to see so many of them at church. They just kept coming and coming! The work is truly Hastening especially up here in the mountains and in the Philippines Bacolod Mission. I meant to mention this to you last week but when we had our Zone Conference, President Lopez shared a very amazing statistic with us that totally blew my mind. He said that in the month of October the Colonia Divina Branch (which consists of Alimatoc and Sewahon groups, 6 missionaries total) had 20 convert baptisms, which was more than an entire other mission here in the Philippines. He then said the "Colonia Divinia Mission." How crazy is that. I can't even imagine that. More than entire other mission. It's totally "mind bottling" hahah There's my movie quote for ya! ;)
Well we're here in Bacolod right now in preparation for our Mission Tour tomorrow with Elder Ardern! Tonight we are staying in the Silay West elders apartment! If you remember that is my last area! Which means I get to work with Elder Rakuro again and visit people in my last area which I'm kind of excited for! Oh and this morning we woke up to a pleasant rain. Which isn't a big deal when you have a car. However, when your transportation is a motorcycle it becomes kind of an issue. I cut a whole in a big black garbage bag and wore it like a poncho as we rode down the mountain! It was great. It could've been much worse! The rain only lasted maybe 20 minutes and then it stopped!
Well, other than that I don't think I have much else to say other than I LOVE YOU ALL! :) Hope you have a wonderful week!
Monday, November 17, 2014
11.3.14
This week we were blessed with a visit from President and Sister Lopez and the Mower Couple! It was so cool to have them visit and experience Sacrament Meeting here in Sewahon! It was also really cool because it was testimony meeting. I was conducting and was able to share my testimony and then it was funny because we had this drunk that we didn't even know who showed up and while Elder and Sister Mower were sharing their testimonies, in English, the guy was repeatedly making comments about how he couldn't understand, it was kinda funny, but he was in the back and we mostly ignored him! Then President went around inviting members and investigators to share their testimonies some were startled but stil shared their testimonies and others were scared and didn't but it was so cool to hear the testimonies of the members here. I had told one of the Young Women to share her testimony the night before and she came up to me before Sacrament and said "Elder, I can't do it!" So I said that's alright there's always next time. Then after sacrament I asked her what she would've done if President and asked her to share her testimony and she said "I was praying SO hard that he wouldn't call on me!" hahah it was funny! She lucked out!
We had a super productive week this week as well! We had 10 investigators at church and we reached another high for me with 46 lessons taught with a member present in one week! We had 12 in one day! It was nuts! I also was able to go on exchanges again with Elder Cicon for interviews after our Zone Conference so that was fun. Although Elder Cicon got sick in the truck on the way up and puked. But it was all good! haha
Our Zone Conference was also pretty great. I unfortunately had no voice. I was asked to give a special musical number with Elder Butler and Elder Cruz but I couldn't sing. I always look forward to mission conferences because I get to sing bass when we sing but I had no voice so that really stunk. And then we sang a Christmas Carol for you guys and practiced parts and everything and I couldn't sing it was no fun, but it was still fun at the same time! haha I hope you all enjoyed it! I couldn't sing much but I nailed the last note that was super low ;) haha
Well I start off working Monday and Tuesday this week in Sagay while Elder Derecho works in Lopez Jaena. Then on Wednesday we will join back up and head back to Sewahon! It's kinda weird, but it is what it is! Missionary Work gihapon! ;)
I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week! :)
We had a super productive week this week as well! We had 10 investigators at church and we reached another high for me with 46 lessons taught with a member present in one week! We had 12 in one day! It was nuts! I also was able to go on exchanges again with Elder Cicon for interviews after our Zone Conference so that was fun. Although Elder Cicon got sick in the truck on the way up and puked. But it was all good! haha
Our Zone Conference was also pretty great. I unfortunately had no voice. I was asked to give a special musical number with Elder Butler and Elder Cruz but I couldn't sing. I always look forward to mission conferences because I get to sing bass when we sing but I had no voice so that really stunk. And then we sang a Christmas Carol for you guys and practiced parts and everything and I couldn't sing it was no fun, but it was still fun at the same time! haha I hope you all enjoyed it! I couldn't sing much but I nailed the last note that was super low ;) haha
Well I start off working Monday and Tuesday this week in Sagay while Elder Derecho works in Lopez Jaena. Then on Wednesday we will join back up and head back to Sewahon! It's kinda weird, but it is what it is! Missionary Work gihapon! ;)
I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week! :)
10.27.14
First Baptism in Sewahon!
We had our first baptism in Sewahon just yesterday! We baptized in the river which was pretty sweet. It was just kinda hard to find a good place to stand because there were a lot of big rocks in the water, not a very flat surface! But it was way sweet and went really well. Like I said last week, I presided at our sacrament meeting this past week and also at the baptism. It's so weird. It sounded so weird to hear "Presiding at this meeting is Elder Walters." Just doesn't seem quite right still, but it is!
We had a pretty successful week again this week! I reached my personal mission high with 39 new investigators in one week. It was pretty crazy! We made it out to two new locations within our area and met quite a bit of people. A lot of them seemed like they have potential and interest in our message! Should be exciting to get back to them again this next week!
I'm also excited because w have Zone Conference tomorrow here in Sagay! Which means good food and lots of things to learn and a time to visit with President and Sister Lopez! It's so nice to see them. We will also be blessed to see them again on Sunday, Nov. 2 in Sewahon. They will be attending our Sacrament and interviewing our candidates for baptism! So exciting!
Other than that, I don't have much news. I will be going on exchanges again this week with Elder Cicon in Alimatoc so that I can interview their baptismal candidates as well. Next next week is transfer day so there will be quite a few changes in our district since Elder Butler and Elder Sablan are both going home. So we will see some changes up in the mountain! haha
Hope all is well back in the States! Love you all!
We had our first baptism in Sewahon just yesterday! We baptized in the river which was pretty sweet. It was just kinda hard to find a good place to stand because there were a lot of big rocks in the water, not a very flat surface! But it was way sweet and went really well. Like I said last week, I presided at our sacrament meeting this past week and also at the baptism. It's so weird. It sounded so weird to hear "Presiding at this meeting is Elder Walters." Just doesn't seem quite right still, but it is!
We had a pretty successful week again this week! I reached my personal mission high with 39 new investigators in one week. It was pretty crazy! We made it out to two new locations within our area and met quite a bit of people. A lot of them seemed like they have potential and interest in our message! Should be exciting to get back to them again this next week!
I'm also excited because w have Zone Conference tomorrow here in Sagay! Which means good food and lots of things to learn and a time to visit with President and Sister Lopez! It's so nice to see them. We will also be blessed to see them again on Sunday, Nov. 2 in Sewahon. They will be attending our Sacrament and interviewing our candidates for baptism! So exciting!
Other than that, I don't have much news. I will be going on exchanges again this week with Elder Cicon in Alimatoc so that I can interview their baptismal candidates as well. Next next week is transfer day so there will be quite a few changes in our district since Elder Butler and Elder Sablan are both going home. So we will see some changes up in the mountain! haha
Hope all is well back in the States! Love you all!
10.20.14
Who will Preside?
This past week was pretty stinking crazy if you ask me. I mentioned how I experience things last week for the first time in my mission but this week I experienced even more. First off on Thursday we tried to go down the mountain to Sagay to get our support, but we couldn't because all the rivers flooded and the bridges were overflowed! So we had started our ride down but then had to return back home. Then that very day we went and visited a new area in Sewahon II. The rode going up to Sewahon II from Sewahon I was like a river itself. We just took of a shoes and rolled up our pant legs and walked up the 'river'm it was crazy! We did however reach a high for my mission with 33 Lesson to taught to Investigators with a member present, and 14 other lessons taught! We were very busy! However our investigator sacrament attendance was only 6, but that will continue to improve. We have a baptism this Sunday so I'm excited for that!
So the answer to "Who will Preside?" is written at the top of the message. Starting next week we're switching our Sacrament Meeting to the morning which means that our Branch President and members from Colonia won't be able to attend, which leaves Elder Walters to Preside at Church! How crazy is that? There's a first for everything!
Today we're having our p-day in Sagay and then tomorrow I will head up to Alimatoc again with Elder Cicon this time. Elder Sablan will interview our baptismal candidate and I will interview their's up in Alimatoc. Elder Cicon is only in his 2nd transfer so this will be fun! :)
Other than that I don't have anything else to say! Not sure when I will be on next week, but I will continue to have somebody email you so that you know when I will be on!
Love you guys, have a great week! :)
This past week was pretty stinking crazy if you ask me. I mentioned how I experience things last week for the first time in my mission but this week I experienced even more. First off on Thursday we tried to go down the mountain to Sagay to get our support, but we couldn't because all the rivers flooded and the bridges were overflowed! So we had started our ride down but then had to return back home. Then that very day we went and visited a new area in Sewahon II. The rode going up to Sewahon II from Sewahon I was like a river itself. We just took of a shoes and rolled up our pant legs and walked up the 'river'm it was crazy! We did however reach a high for my mission with 33 Lesson to taught to Investigators with a member present, and 14 other lessons taught! We were very busy! However our investigator sacrament attendance was only 6, but that will continue to improve. We have a baptism this Sunday so I'm excited for that!
So the answer to "Who will Preside?" is written at the top of the message. Starting next week we're switching our Sacrament Meeting to the morning which means that our Branch President and members from Colonia won't be able to attend, which leaves Elder Walters to Preside at Church! How crazy is that? There's a first for everything!
Today we're having our p-day in Sagay and then tomorrow I will head up to Alimatoc again with Elder Cicon this time. Elder Sablan will interview our baptismal candidate and I will interview their's up in Alimatoc. Elder Cicon is only in his 2nd transfer so this will be fun! :)
Other than that I don't have anything else to say! Not sure when I will be on next week, but I will continue to have somebody email you so that you know when I will be on!
Love you guys, have a great week! :)
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