2014-09-29 Family Day at the Beach

This is us at the Computer Cafe, and right after we all got hair cuts. Then the man with his hand on my leg is Brother Manly! Haha he is super funny and super legit! He basically is the reason we have a church here in Taytay. He Moved here a few years ago and requested that there should be missionaries here. The group met at a shack outside his house until we started renting a house for church about a year ago. He also gives us really good referrals, i'll tell you about one of them later! He was also group leader for two out of the three years the church has been here.

So this week was good! WE HAD AN INVESTIGATOR COME TO CHURCH! This is the first time we have had an investigator come to church hahaha. Their name is the Twantes. It's an older couple. Brother Twantes felt the spirit so strong that he cried. They were a referral from brother Manly. We also had the most people we have had at church in a long time!!! We had 45 people! Which is definitely an improvement from 17 people two weeks ago (Including us, so really only 12 members). Anyways, we have been focusing a lot on reactivating and strengthening members! We had a family day on the beach on saturday (Same place as where we baptize), and a lot of people came which i think contributed to the 45 church attendance, but it's going really good here! anyways, im sorry for not writing much but my companion just finiched, so i need to finish, and i've been dowloading all the pictures you sent me too! I love you guys so much!!!

Nathan Emailing from Internet Cafe

 Missionaries with Brother Manly at the Family Day at the Beach

 Family Day at the Beach with Members from the Group

 Missionaries on TayTay

 Nathan and Brother Manly

Nathan at the Internet Cafe

2014-09-22 The Typhoon Missed Us

     So guess what I just found out!!! The Minions in Despicable Me, they speak tagalog... So if you ever want to hear the language that I am speaking, watch that movie and listen to them speak. Haha we have a district activity once a transfer, and for it, they have a list of approved movies, so we are going to watch Despicable Me 2 later today. In that movie, haha if you can remember, they say baboy when they are talking to each other and stuff, haha, well anyways, i just learned this week that that means pig. I just thought that was really funny. Next monday, I'll write you and tell you how much of what they say I can Understand. Speaking of the language, I am getting better. I can definitely feel the gift of tongues in my life. Right now, I am doing really good at understanding, but my speaking could be better. When were in a lesson, and we're talking about doctrine I understand most of it, but when it comes to just regular conversations, I need to understand more. My trainer is doing good at giving me opportunities to teach, and its coming along slowly but surely.

     About the typhoon that hit, it wasn't that bad here on the island, just some rain that made it super muddy, which is hard to bike in. On the mainland however, they flooded badly! Like the pictures of it were crazy!

     And that picture you sent me of that Sister missionary in Washington D.C. I know her brother pretty well haha small world. (Just a note, we went to the Washington DC Temple visitors center and met a Sister Connley from Arizona, she had a brother that went to the Philippines Manila mission, come to find out he was on the plane with Nathan and in several of the pictures that Nathan sent to us.  It was amazing to think we met her here in Washington DC.)

     So I sent you a picture of the Mural Family. They are legit. We fast every sunday for them and brother Manly and his family. This is really hard, because fasting was never my strong point. Please pray for them though, they are really faithful and strong. People are so poor here, like its ridiculous, and we aren't allowed to give them money or anything. It's hard to watch them struggle to feed their family, and put a roof over their head. 

     This area is so cool. I'm sure you saw the pictures that i sent, you have to admit that is one of the most beautiful places on earth! I;m finally getting used to being hot and dripping with sweat all the time haha I love it here! Okay anyways, i love you, and i'm gonna end now and try to send a few more pictures!

 Three families out our ward

 This is from when we went to find crabs on the beach late at night, I told you about that last week.

 This is what most of the roads around here look like

 This is a sea cucumber we found. We cooked it up and ate it.

Me and Sherwin a member. He works with us a lot, he's really nice!

2014-09-15 Teaching and Crabbing

So we've been getting a lot of rain here too haha. It rains all the time. It sounds like Jenny's funeral was really good and inspirational. So last week I told you about some of the families I am teaching. I want you to especially keep the Mural's and Brother Manly in your prayers. Poverty is a so bad here. Mural's have no job and no money. Brother Manly just lost his house and has no where to live. These are two of our strongest members here, if they left to find work or a house, it would be devastating to the church here. So please pray for them, we had a special fast for them yesterday... Sunday. Another one of the strong members here is being sued, like brother Manly. The members here are having such a hard time. But I firmly believe if they are faithful through these trials, and pay tithing etc.. they will be the strong base that the church here in Taytay needs. The people here are so open! Rarely will you find someone who isn't willing to listen to us, but it is hard to find people who will give up their old life, be baptized, and follow the Word of Wisdom, Law of Chastity, and pay a full tithing. Those are the three hardest things for them! 

So this week, we went crab hunting on the beach at night for family home evening. We got three families together, and all the man went. Elder Sinco and I, just rolled up our pant legs, put on flip flops and walked through the little pools of water that the crabs were in. We caught so many! They were all pretty small though. We also caught sea cucumbers. So this week I ate crab for the first time, sea cucumber for the first time, muscles for the first time. And then later in the week I ate a rice soup with pig intestines, liver, and heart. It was pretty good! I like all the food here. Today for lunch I bought a deep fried fish with rice, it still looks disgusting, but it tastes good. 

We are going to Puerto Princessa again today, this will be like the third time i've been there. It kinda stinks because it takes like 5 hours to get there! But they have a lot of things there that you can't buy in the little city I'm in here! As for packages. I don't think i need anything, but if you could send me some pictures of you guys that would be good, just email them I'll print them out eventually! So anyways, I'm good here! they have tons of bakeries here that make the best kind of bread you'll ever eat haha, I go to one at least once a week! So, I don't need you to really send anything, just make sure I have money in my account, and I'll just draw it out when I can. I'll probably draw some out tomorrow for back up money, but I wont spend too much! I love you guys sooo much! I miss you tons!!!

2014-09-08 Serving in TayTay, we are very busy

So now that I'm out of the MTC, I still eat rice hahaha. In the morning I usually just eat cereal. I eat this chocolate cereal with powdered milk. This is my favorite meal, just like at home! I eat oatmeal occasionally too, and Pancit, which is basically Ramen. I also eat a lot of peanut butter and jelly. The peanut butter is different but it tastes fine. We also will cook pork to go with our rice sometimes. Im not too sure how sanitary the meat is, but it tastes fine. And we are allowed to eat with members, although we usually don't. 

We visited this one guy while he was out on the beach looking for crabs. It was while the tide was out so we walked but all the boats were just sitting on the ground. I'll try to send a picture of it after i write you! Were going to the beach again for a family home evening tonight with him again. I also got a pearl that an investigator gave me. Its a large one too. But nothing like the other one he showed me. He had another pearl that was like 15 or 20 lbs. Yes... 15 or 20 Pounds!! He said it's worth like a million pesos here. And in the states after it gets sold its probably worth around a hundred thousand dollars, I'm not sure, maybe more or less. So I'll try to send as many pictures as i can. 

To Brittney: My Name here is still Elder Clark, there is no Tagalog translation of names... haha. I'm picking up the language quick, but its still really difficult, keep the prayers coming! I need them Sooo much! I would also like you to pray for the Mural family. They moved to be closer to the church, and he lost his job because he didn't want to work on sunday. So they're struggling right now, they need your prayers they're recent converts. The Lumanta's are a family that also converted recently. We felt prompted to visit them. He went and hid from us because he didn't want to talk to us then. So we went and got him out of his room and talked to him, He's really nice, were gonna play basketball with him for p-day too. So will you pray for him too? Also pray for the Islanan's, specifically J.R. they are a good family. The Derecho family is all members but the dad, and they are all inactive too, pray for them as well. Also the Andes family. Also the Twante's they're investigators. Also, Rex, and the Julito family. Haha that's only a few, there are so many people here to teach, we never struggle for something to do. 

So the church here isn't very well established. When my trainer was sent here, the president said like, “I'm sending you on a special mission to Taytay" because we used to have like 60 or 70 people at church a week, then due to offense mostly, it has dropped to like 30 or so people a week. So basically we are on a mission to rebuild whats left of the church here. This week we also had a mission conference where a General Authority came, and the Mission president, and their wives. That went really good! We traveled to Puerto Princessa for that. That’s a beautiful drive, but very long, like five hours on the bus. Anyways, I love you guys! Thanks for raising me right! I'll send pictures now!

Nathan and his companion meet a member at the beach while he is searching for Crabs at low tide.

Nathan in a Garden in TayTay

Nathan and his current mode of transportation

At low tide the boats are left to site on the beach

2014-08-29 Nathan at the Mission Home

We received the following email message from Nathan's Mission President and his wife, President and Sister Ostler.  They are from Mesa Arizona!

THE CHURCH OF

JESUS CHRIST

OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

PHILIPPINES MANILA MISSION

P.O. BOX 1997

Makati Central Post Office

0714 Makati, Metro Manila

Philippines

30 August, 2014

Dear Brother and Sister Clark,

We are thrilled to inform you that your son, Elder Nathan Clark, has arrived safely in the Philippines Manila Mission!  He arrived Wednesday, and we enjoyed having him at the mission home and getting to know him. After the new missionary orientation, he was assigned to work with his trainer, Elder Sinco, in the Taytay District of the Puerto Princesa Zone.  We made this assignment prayerfully, with a desire that your son have the best training experience possible.

As you may know, missionary work can be challenging for any missionary, particularly for those learning a new language.  Your continued encouragement through weekly emails or letters will mean so much to him.  Please avoid references to problems at home unless absolutely necessary and always show genuine interest in his daily activities, accomplishments, and successes.

If any question should arise about the health or welfare of your missionary, please do not hesitate to email the mission office.  We would be glad to help you.  As a word of caution, do not send money to anyone who might request funds in behalf of your missionary without talking to the Mission President directly.

The Philippines Manila Mission is a wonderful place to serve.  We try to help parents and families to be aware of the “happenings” in the mission by posting regularly on our mission blog.  It contains pictures of recent events, the president’s weekly message to the missionaries, as well as information about missions, the Manila mission, and the Philippines.  It even has a page where our 14 year old son, Caleb, shares what is interesting to him, in case your missionary has siblings who might feel more connected with their brother by learning more through Caleb’s eyes.  You can access the blog at:  thephilippinesmanilamission.blogspot.com.  If you type your email address in the box at the bottom of the blog, it will automatically email you each time we post something so you don’t have to keep checking.

Please know that Sister Ostler and I love him already.  We are humbled to serve with such wonderful missionaries. We will do everything possible to help your son achieve his full potential as one of the Lord’s servants.  Thank you for sharing your precious son with us.  May you and your family be blessed for your sacrifice. 

 Sincerely,

President and Sister Creg D. Ostler

Nathan wrote this letter and President and Sister Ostler sent it to us as well.

Nathan arriving at the Mission Home in Manila

Elder Nathan Clark and President and Sister Ostler

Nathan trying to figure out what to take to Palawan because he can only take one suit case and he will leave the rest at the Mission Home.

2014-08-31 My First Area

So yes, I'm on Palawan! We are the northern most area here! We are about a 5 hour bus ride from the city Puerto Princessa, You should google earth search Taytay, Palawan, Philippines. Be careful though, I think there is a Taytay on the mainland too! So will you guys send the BYU Provo application to me when it comes out? I want to apply! Hailie, don’t complain about potty training, try doing it with no Diapers, or even underwear. And no toilet paper hahaha. 

So about the Area, it is very very unique. There isn't a ward or branch, it is only a group. About 32 people attended this week, including all the little kids, but not counting us missionaries. The missionaries basically run the ward here because it has had problems in the past. I got called as the second counselor in the branch presidency yesterday. The showers are really cold, haha, we just get a bucket full of water and pour it on ourselves. We are one of three companionships that ride bikes in the whole mission. But its hard to ride a bike especially when its pouring. It rains a lot. We are right on the cost though!! I see the ocean a lot, in order to get to one place, we have to either walk through some shallow ocean water or walk on rocks right by the ocean, but its completely safe though! We also baptize in the ocean, so I'm determined to get a baptism!!!! Haha i know that shouldn’t be my motivation, but it helps hahaha. 

One of the hardest things about this area is that we only have electricity from 5:30pm to 5:30am. It Is Soooo, humid and hot here, its so hard to do early morning studies for 4 hours when you are sweating out of your mind! You have to be in full proselyting attire during those studies too. You have no idea how much just a fan helps, so it stinks we don’t have it during the whole day. There is also black-outs, there called brown-outs here, but one happened in our lesson last week! 

So not like the mainland, not many people here speak english. I haven’t met anyone that can actually. A Lot of people can make simple sentences, but thats all. Its supposed to be a lot better to learn the language here because you are immersed. My mission president and his wife are the bomb! I love them so much already! They are so nice! My companion is Filipino, but he speaks perfect english. Something i didn’t know is that every missionary is required to learn english if they don’t know it already. My companion is good though! I'll try to send pictures next week! Love all you guys! So Im sure you got the email about the mission blog from the mission presidents wife! I didn’t know about it! thats pretty cool! 

So Thanks for the pictures, But send more, get one with our whole family + Ryan. So the ones from the wedding. I can print them out here i think. i will try next week!

Comment from Mike Clark:
Nathan's Mission President sent a link to the mission blog, here are a couple of pictures of the Palawan Island and TayTay area.

 Map of Palawan Island 400 miles Southwest of Manila.  Nathan is assigned to work in TayTay (pronounced TieTie).

This is the church building in TayTay where the small group meet.

Baptisms are performed in the Ocean in TayTay, what a beautiful location for a Baptism.

 The sign for TayTay, beautiful island paradise.

Vegetation on the Island