2014-11-24 Thanksgiving Week

Hello guys! So I  got three different pictures. One of Natalie and Ryan, One of all of us in the back yard, and the one of Dallin and all the nieces. I would like you to send some more though! I am going to download the rest of them soon! 

So this week I had a good time, I'm not going to send pictures this week, but next week for sure. I don’t have much time. I miss you guys, and I hope you guys are having tones of fun in Texas. I get to watch How to Train Your Dragon 2 today for a district activity, and i am so excited! I also Am loving the work. Brother Twante should get baptized soon. My companion is still here, and we are starting our third transfer together. But its great because i learn so much from him!! Anyways, we have been trying to strengthen members, and fix marriages here. I'm glad that I grew up with two parents solid in the church!!! I love all you guys! I didn’t even realize that i missed thanksgiving until i started emailing. Thanks for reminding me... haha joke lang Haha Miss you guys all i need to be obedient and stop emailing now... love you guys!!!!!

2014-11-17 Zone Conference in Porta Princesa - at the beach

In reply to your questions. I will most likely stay in Taytay for 3 more months, so six months total! But nothing is sure. I hope it is six months! This is the best place in the mission, I'm convinced! So My training finishes on wednesday, which is also transfer day, so I might get a new companion. My companion is going home after the next transfer, so i will guaranteed have a new companion in either six weeks, or two days. Almost everyone here has cell phones, but most of the cell phones here are like the pay as you go. We have a really crappy cell phone, and speaking of that, I already broke one. I think I told you that. But that will cost 1,000 pisos which is sad. And we aren't supposed to drink regular water here, but I mean I have drank it many times at members houses, and I have only been sick once. So the water here is pretty safe. In the city however, i think it is more dangerous. I think everything is just cleaner out here than in the city. And perhaps I will try to buy you some pearls mom. I know a guy who finds these huge pearls, I'll ask him for some small ones, or i'll buy you some in Puerto when I go there!

So This week has been a stressful one, but I don't mind being stressed, It makes me feel like I'm doing something Important haha. Anyways, I was trying try help them organize the Primary program, and I had to teach all the members on saturday, and then again on sunday at church. And there has been lots of problems with gossip in the church. I have gained a sure testimony of how detrimental gossip is to church members. It's hard to not have a fully funtional, or self sustaining group, but it is fun to help them become better disciples of Christ. Like in the gospel principles class, most people don't even know a lot of the basic things about the things we teach, so its cool to really help them learn things they didn't know and teach them super in depth all the principles. It's really cool here! I love it soo much!!!!!

Another food that I really like is Tocino Pork (and rice of course). It's super good, And I think you should cook adobo, its good too! Will you send me the recipe for miss Fields chocolate chip cookies, the one with oatmeal. And sugar cookies. And any other cookies that are easy to make? It would probably be easy If you just took a picture of the recipe.

Here are all of the pictures for this week.

Four Missionaries in TayTay

Families from the Branch in TayTay

Zone Conference at the Beach...

2014-11-09 Good week in TayTay, I can mostly carry on a conversation in Tagalog

So in response to your questions, The families here are all pretty nice and relaxed. For work, some of them fish, (one is a security guard, one is a teacher)-which are very good jobs here, some of them go to the college that is here, Palawan state university. People here are very poor, So many people here own what is called a tindihan. This is just a house that you sell stuff out of. 

Anyways, about souveniers, you can get huge conch shells, like the nice ones for like 200 pesos which is like 5 dollars. I could also get some pearls haha, 

You guys should try to make some of the food we eat here. One popular food that people eat here is Chicken Adobo, Its basically chicken and rice, but it is good, look it up online! Also if you really want to feel like a Filipino, just eat rice for every meal... 

Anyways, Life is good here, can you try to send pictures of me with you guys, like one of us together I could show investigators! And Feel free to ask me questions about anything here! Ask about the culture etc... Cuz it's definitely different than America! 

I also have been teaching gospel principles still, so it looks like I'm the permanent teacher until we call someone new or I leave. I just have to ask someone to translate a word for me every now and then. We don't have any other sunday school classes so I get to teach everyone in the group but the youth altogether. Yesterday I taught Signs of the Second Coming or Ang mga Palatandaan ng ikawalang Pagparito. 

I have been picking up the language ever so gradually, and I guess I can hold actual conversations now, I mean I still have to ask them to repeat and clarify words, but its still a conversation! My second transfer is almost over too! Almost done with being a trainee! Love you guys so much! Ask me lots of questions about everything! Love you guys so much!!!!!

2014-11-02 Zone Conference in Beautiful Puerto Princessa

So you are going to teach on the 2nd Nephi Chapters Mom? I have been studying those a lot lately, they're very hard to understand sometimes, but you just need to pray for guidance to understand them, and do lots of cross referencing, and even then, sometimes I don't understand them completely. But it is amazing how my knowledge of the Scriptures is increasing. I also have been reading the bible a little, but I am trying to finish the Book of Mormon first, but I have realized with a surety of the importance of the Book of Mormon and continuing revelation in our time. Without the Book of Mormon and Modern day revelation, there is no way you can surely interpret the bible. I don't think before my mission I have utilized the scriptures together as much as I should. I didn't realize how important all of the words of Christ are, all 4 standard works, and words of the prophets.

     Anyways, for the more fun part of my letter. As soon as I finish writing my emails, I am headed straight for the beach. We are in Puerto Princessa today, and we are having a Zone activity on the white sanded beaches of what has been recently voted as the most beautiful island in the world. Remember, though shalt not covet. It's so amazing here! The mountains ore covered in green lush forests and the beaches are filled with clear blue water haha, how many other missionaries get to have this experience? I will try to continue to send pictures! Will you you guys send me some pictures of you guys at the temple? I want to see the landscape and everything! It sounds like that event has been amazing! It's also excited that you guys got to hear from President Ucthdorf. And Thats awesome that Grandma and Grandpa Clark came down! Those are three of the greatest people you could ever learn from! So yesterday we got to hear from Elder Dallin H. Oaks, and Elder Ardern of the First Quorom of the Seventy. It was a re-broadcast of the talks they gave in Manila. But it was cool from them. You probably haven't heard of President Ardern, but he is in the area presidency here! He taught us at the MTC and at a mission conference! During the mission conference he called on people quite a bit to talk or something, and like 30% of the time he called on me, haha he is really cool! And we also had our interviews with President Ostler recently. He has got to be one of the most amazing men i have ever met! Also since we are on an island seperated from the rest of the mission, we have a councellor in the mission presidency named President Hiatt, they are from Idaho. Anyways, its basically like we have two mission presidents, and they both are amazing. We get to see President Hiatt a lot more though, because he visited us in the little land of Taytay way up here on the tip of the island, and sometimes he will drive us back to Puerto so we don't have to pay for a bus, so we have lots of good conversations! Anyways, I am so happy here! I love you guys and I pray for all you everyday! Love you so much!

Also The work here is going good, the last two weeks we have had 40 and 46 at church! and I taught sunday school about the gathering of Isreal! The Language is coming along better, and our small group in Taytay is growing sooo much! Its a huge improvement from 17 people at church not that long ago! We are focusing a lot on reactivating right now, and the Lord has been helping us a lot! I love the gospel I love the Philippines and i love being a missionary!

2014-10-28 Been a bit sick but doing better

Hey!!! So this week was good! Sorry i'm emailing a day late! Our P-day got switched due to traveling to the city! So this week has been good! I still love it here and I am having a great time!! That's cool that dad went to grandpa's birthday in Idaho, and mom got to spend time with grandpa Ard! haha so I have been kind of sick, nothing to worry about. The Diarrhea and throw up is gone now though, and i'm doing great haha. 

So I have a very serious business matter to talk about to you guys. So land here is on sale right now, and I Have inquired with a member and there is 7 hectors, or 700 by 700 meters of prime white beach land being sold here on the island. It cost 2.5 million pesos which is only 56,000 dollars. And the taxes are extremely cheap. I am totally serious about this. Would you guys want to sell our land in flagstaff and buy prime beach land? Its an investment, and cheaper than our small land in flagstaff. I think its definitely something to consider. And mom, don't be scared, sometimes we need to do something crazy. You can also get a house built here for insanely cheap. Love you guys!

Anyways the work here is great! We increased the church attendance even more this week, 46!! That is a huge improvement from 17 (including 4 missionaries) right? 

Love you guys so much!!!!! I have lots of pictures to send this week!

 Branch get together at the Beach

 Home Sweet Home