Sounds like your week was really busy. Ours was alright. Saturday was the highlight though. Looks like Shellie's Concert was good as always. Sounds like the music selection was pretty good too. I miss those concerts. It is kind of strange that it was Kat's last one.
So, while you all are getting ready to end the school year, here they are gearing up to start again. Summer is almost over here and the rainy season is fast approaching. I need to get an umbrella... I'm also hoping to get a new bag with the back to school sales going on. The Questar bag just can't quite handle missionary life.
Hmmm, Hot Fuzz. Actually saw some of that here. An investigator was watching it when we went to visit him. Oh, I just thought i would mention this, pirated movies are really big here, AND good quality. Like you can already get Percy Jackson and Iron Man 2 on DVD. And the DVDs come with Six movies on them. It's pretty crazy. And there are security guards where they sell the movies, guarding them.
Right! Natalie turns 16 in just under two weeks! I actually have that written in my planner so I don't forget it. That's pretty crazy to think about. Then she'll be driving, maybe...
Seminary Graduation. I remember that. Fun stuff. The best part though is always the refreshments. We tell our youth age investigators about all the fun activities they do (just last week was the stake youth conference). They usually have an activity once a week, and there are always refreshments, sometimes we stop by, just for the refreshments. "Elders, hampang?" "Nah, kaon lang kami." (Play. Nah, We'll just eat.) Sometimes we join in though.
Lapit na ang pagulan!!! Rainy season is close. So, time for my week. The beginning was very normal, but the end was hectic. Friday Elder Lecheminant had a leadership conference. So Thursday night we had the zone leaders come up here and interview Bro. Romero for baptism. Then we all headed to Bacolod. We stopped in Talisay to meet up with the other district leader and the Talisay elders. I stayed there while Elder LeChem, the other district leader, Elder Tiu, and the zone leaders, Elder Winegar and Elder Hamblin continued to Bacolod so they could go to the meeting in the morning. The four of us in Talisay had a sleepover. In the morning we had a service project where we knocked down part of a house. Then after showering in the afternoon Elder Larsen, Elder Tiu's comp, and I went to Bacolod to get our companions and head home. We caught an Air-con Ceres back to Cadiz. That makes the trip a million times better.
Saturday we had some appointments in the morning, but the big event was Brother Romero's baptism! That went really well. Considering we were worried because our original planned speakers had gone to Cebu to volunteer at the open house. But they were able to get new ones just fine and they did a really good job. The talks were good for Bro. Romero, but also for those who attended. I was just so happy the whole time. Same feelings on Sunday when Brother Romero was being confirmed. He is going to be a good member, eventually the whole family will. That's what this is about. Not just baptizing people, but building strong members and showing them how LIVING the gospel WILL help their lives.
Well, until next week!
Elder Phelps
Monday, May 24, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
Transfers: Still in the Fun Little (sometimes smelly) City of Cadiz!
Greetings from Cadiz! (Still!!)
So, I’ve been waiting for forever it seems to tell you all what happened with transfers. Dad wondered on Friday for nothing, your Friday is our Saturday so transfer meeting was already over, but Elder LeCheminant and I didn’t even go. We are both still here in Cadiz! I am so excited for that. We have so much that will be happening this transfer. Couple of baptiams coming up (Brother Romero’s is this Saturday!) and on June 13 is the Cebu Temple deication. We get to watch the broadcast here in Cadiz. I’m glad I get to do that with the members here, and recent converts like Kristine and her dad. But so yeah. Naturally the biggest news of transfer week is transfers, and technically there were none for us.
There were changes to the district though. So earlier today we had a district activity. We all met at the Ceres terminal then ate at a restaurant next to it. Then we went to Balay Alibangbang (Butterfly house). We went there and played get-to-know-you games and team building games. That was really fun. But hangingout with other missionaries is always fun. Then we had snacks at the Branch President’s house because he lives right next to Balay and works there; he drives for them. That was most of the day, and now I’m here, writing you all.
Last week for the youth was MYC (Multi-Stake Youth Conference). So all the leaders were there too. That made things a little interesting, but everything still went well. When they got back on Friday we stopped by the Church to say “Welcome Back.” Everyone was really tired; laying out on the grass (the church is one of the few places in the country that there is actually grass) waiting for a trike to take them home. Saturday morning was really fun.
So, last Monday was election day, and the church planned a national day of service where we took (ripped) down the canidate posters that had been put up every where. That was fun; felt good to rip those down and let out some frustrations. Bah! Elections. The Philippines is really corrupt when it comes to politics. Like, yeah corrupt dirty politicians. Though Noynoy, the new president is clean and is going to do well. But the guy who won mayor her in Cadiz is totally hiding something. His brother was mayor for the last nine years, now he is. The reason he won is not a good thing either. The fat man has friends in the mountain. All I can say.
Things are going well still. Brother Romero’s baptism this Saturday, and Joseph’s next week. We might have one or two in June also. That’ll be exciting. I know you want more spiritual things in my emails, but it’s exactly like I said last week. It’s the "primary" answers. When pepole do those, great changes happen. We can teach and teach, but if they don’t do those simple things, nothing changes. But when they do do them, what happens is amazing. That is when changes happen. When people drop their addictions and they know why they are doing it. That is what Brother Romero is like. He is a simple guy. Loves his family and wants the best for them. He does the small things and he knows what he is doing is right. He was able to drop coffee because of that.
Oh, quick note. Look up the pictures for the Cebu temple on lds.org.
http://www.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/public-invited-to-tour-cebu-city-philippines-temple
They are awesome! Naturally, it’s a temple, but it really looks good.
Hey, this is mostly for the young men, so make sure you tell them, not that you’ll forget. But this is about baptisms for the dead. So the closest temple until June 13 when Cebu will be dedicated is the Manila Temple. (Fun Fact: The Manila Temple currently has the largest temple district.) The Manila Temple is a days travel away by boat, which is cheapest. So the youth down here only get to go once a year for a week. I don’t remember how much it costs, but they also have to bring food with them. Just something to think about the next time you all go to the temple. When members find out that you are from Utah they always say that you are lucky. They don’t know much about Utah, but they know that we have lots of temples. They ask about travel to the temple. And then I tell them that we can be to six temples in less than an hour. We really are blessed. But then we also tell them that if members here in the Philippines were more faithful in paying tithing they will get more temples too.
Oh! Almost forgot! Tell Andrew Rytting that I was way excited to hear about his mission call. Riverside Cali, Spanish Speaking. That’s awesome, not quite as awesome as the Philippines, so very close though. He’s going to do great!
Well, that’s it for now from the fun little (sometimes smelly) city of Cadiz!
Elder Phelps
So, I’ve been waiting for forever it seems to tell you all what happened with transfers. Dad wondered on Friday for nothing, your Friday is our Saturday so transfer meeting was already over, but Elder LeCheminant and I didn’t even go. We are both still here in Cadiz! I am so excited for that. We have so much that will be happening this transfer. Couple of baptiams coming up (Brother Romero’s is this Saturday!) and on June 13 is the Cebu Temple deication. We get to watch the broadcast here in Cadiz. I’m glad I get to do that with the members here, and recent converts like Kristine and her dad. But so yeah. Naturally the biggest news of transfer week is transfers, and technically there were none for us.
There were changes to the district though. So earlier today we had a district activity. We all met at the Ceres terminal then ate at a restaurant next to it. Then we went to Balay Alibangbang (Butterfly house). We went there and played get-to-know-you games and team building games. That was really fun. But hangingout with other missionaries is always fun. Then we had snacks at the Branch President’s house because he lives right next to Balay and works there; he drives for them. That was most of the day, and now I’m here, writing you all.
Last week for the youth was MYC (Multi-Stake Youth Conference). So all the leaders were there too. That made things a little interesting, but everything still went well. When they got back on Friday we stopped by the Church to say “Welcome Back.” Everyone was really tired; laying out on the grass (the church is one of the few places in the country that there is actually grass) waiting for a trike to take them home. Saturday morning was really fun.
So, last Monday was election day, and the church planned a national day of service where we took (ripped) down the canidate posters that had been put up every where. That was fun; felt good to rip those down and let out some frustrations. Bah! Elections. The Philippines is really corrupt when it comes to politics. Like, yeah corrupt dirty politicians. Though Noynoy, the new president is clean and is going to do well. But the guy who won mayor her in Cadiz is totally hiding something. His brother was mayor for the last nine years, now he is. The reason he won is not a good thing either. The fat man has friends in the mountain. All I can say.
Things are going well still. Brother Romero’s baptism this Saturday, and Joseph’s next week. We might have one or two in June also. That’ll be exciting. I know you want more spiritual things in my emails, but it’s exactly like I said last week. It’s the "primary" answers. When pepole do those, great changes happen. We can teach and teach, but if they don’t do those simple things, nothing changes. But when they do do them, what happens is amazing. That is when changes happen. When people drop their addictions and they know why they are doing it. That is what Brother Romero is like. He is a simple guy. Loves his family and wants the best for them. He does the small things and he knows what he is doing is right. He was able to drop coffee because of that.
Oh, quick note. Look up the pictures for the Cebu temple on lds.org.
http://www.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/public-invited-to-tour-cebu-city-philippines-temple
They are awesome! Naturally, it’s a temple, but it really looks good.
Hey, this is mostly for the young men, so make sure you tell them, not that you’ll forget. But this is about baptisms for the dead. So the closest temple until June 13 when Cebu will be dedicated is the Manila Temple. (Fun Fact: The Manila Temple currently has the largest temple district.) The Manila Temple is a days travel away by boat, which is cheapest. So the youth down here only get to go once a year for a week. I don’t remember how much it costs, but they also have to bring food with them. Just something to think about the next time you all go to the temple. When members find out that you are from Utah they always say that you are lucky. They don’t know much about Utah, but they know that we have lots of temples. They ask about travel to the temple. And then I tell them that we can be to six temples in less than an hour. We really are blessed. But then we also tell them that if members here in the Philippines were more faithful in paying tithing they will get more temples too.
Oh! Almost forgot! Tell Andrew Rytting that I was way excited to hear about his mission call. Riverside Cali, Spanish Speaking. That’s awesome, not quite as awesome as the Philippines, so very close though. He’s going to do great!
Well, that’s it for now from the fun little (sometimes smelly) city of Cadiz!
Elder Phelps
Monday, May 3, 2010
Happy Birthday Elder LeCheminant
Hello from the Philippines!
This last week was really good. Same problems with investigators. Sila tanan nagacampaign! We have many investigators that are campaigning for the upcoming election on May 10. So that takes a lot of their time. Work will be much easier when that is over. But we do have three investigators with a baptismal date. Unfortunately it is for next transfer and I might not still be here in Cadiz. L But there is a chance I’ll still be here, and I’m still happy and proud of them.
We celebrated Elder LeCheminat’s birthday twice. Saturday we went to the Barilea family. We gave them money for the food and Sister Barilea cooked. She made spaghetti, shanghai rolls, wontons (called soimai here), and for desert… mango float! It was so good. It was a lot of fun. We also celebrated earlier today by eating at “21,” a really fancy, good restaurant in Bacolod. And we picked it because Elder LeChem turned 21.
Mother’s Day. We are planning to do it Monday morning here, so Sunday night there. It is also Election Day here, so that will be interesting. Election Day will be a normal P-day, but we won’t go out and work in the evening, medyo delecado kami. We are supposed to avoid political things, so that is why. We can’t get involved or even appear so.
New couch? Wow, it’s about time. We have had that old thing for forever! I remember when the 15th passed, I was thinking about when VITA ended last year. Good times, and some hard times. Best part was getting to spend time with Dad. That’s awesome that Natalie made Dance Co. Of course Mom would give in and tell her, you’ve got to be stronger! That is so strange that Questar is splitting! I don’t know what to think about it. You’ll have to keep me updated on that. That nice to know about camp stuff too. I’m excited for the opening of Evergreen. Loren Smith is the Camp Director. He is awesome! BLAB is always good too.
So, now about my week. It was a pretty good week, very interesting too. So, Elder LeCheminant as District Leader has to go on exchanges with the relatively new missionaries, then I get their companions. This last week I got Elder Firth who goes home at the end of this transfer. He is Elder Hinckley’s follow-up trainer. Elder Hinckley is batch with me. Elder Firth is a very interesting person. For going home he isn’t that good at the language and some investigators had trouble understanding him. It helped me a lot though. He’s still a good missionary though. This coming week I’ll be with Elder Bennion for a day because of exchanges. We’ve done things together before. He’s really good and fun.
The rest of the week was pretty normal. Celebrated on Saturday, then Sunday had Family Home Evening with the Cenzia family as always. It’s always fun. We play fun games then we get to eat! This week was breakfast for dinner, Filipino style. There was, of course, rice, noodles, and this omelet kind of thing. It was all really good Roxanne is a great cook.
Earlier today we went to Bacolod because we had a Zone activity at the park across the street from the mission home. It’s not normally allowed to go there, so it was interesting. The activity was fun. Hanging out with the zone and playing volleyball. I really like our zone right now. Everyone is fun.
The package will probably get to the country relatively fast, but it will sit in customs for a bit and then the mission office will have to remember to tell me that it is here, that could be a bit sometimes. But I’m excited for it and will keep my eyes out for it.
Well, looking forward to the coming week, we’ll see what it brings!
Love from the Philippines,
Elder Phelps
This last week was really good. Same problems with investigators. Sila tanan nagacampaign! We have many investigators that are campaigning for the upcoming election on May 10. So that takes a lot of their time. Work will be much easier when that is over. But we do have three investigators with a baptismal date. Unfortunately it is for next transfer and I might not still be here in Cadiz. L But there is a chance I’ll still be here, and I’m still happy and proud of them.
We celebrated Elder LeCheminat’s birthday twice. Saturday we went to the Barilea family. We gave them money for the food and Sister Barilea cooked. She made spaghetti, shanghai rolls, wontons (called soimai here), and for desert… mango float! It was so good. It was a lot of fun. We also celebrated earlier today by eating at “21,” a really fancy, good restaurant in Bacolod. And we picked it because Elder LeChem turned 21.
Mother’s Day. We are planning to do it Monday morning here, so Sunday night there. It is also Election Day here, so that will be interesting. Election Day will be a normal P-day, but we won’t go out and work in the evening, medyo delecado kami. We are supposed to avoid political things, so that is why. We can’t get involved or even appear so.
New couch? Wow, it’s about time. We have had that old thing for forever! I remember when the 15th passed, I was thinking about when VITA ended last year. Good times, and some hard times. Best part was getting to spend time with Dad. That’s awesome that Natalie made Dance Co. Of course Mom would give in and tell her, you’ve got to be stronger! That is so strange that Questar is splitting! I don’t know what to think about it. You’ll have to keep me updated on that. That nice to know about camp stuff too. I’m excited for the opening of Evergreen. Loren Smith is the Camp Director. He is awesome! BLAB is always good too.
So, now about my week. It was a pretty good week, very interesting too. So, Elder LeCheminant as District Leader has to go on exchanges with the relatively new missionaries, then I get their companions. This last week I got Elder Firth who goes home at the end of this transfer. He is Elder Hinckley’s follow-up trainer. Elder Hinckley is batch with me. Elder Firth is a very interesting person. For going home he isn’t that good at the language and some investigators had trouble understanding him. It helped me a lot though. He’s still a good missionary though. This coming week I’ll be with Elder Bennion for a day because of exchanges. We’ve done things together before. He’s really good and fun.
The rest of the week was pretty normal. Celebrated on Saturday, then Sunday had Family Home Evening with the Cenzia family as always. It’s always fun. We play fun games then we get to eat! This week was breakfast for dinner, Filipino style. There was, of course, rice, noodles, and this omelet kind of thing. It was all really good Roxanne is a great cook.
Earlier today we went to Bacolod because we had a Zone activity at the park across the street from the mission home. It’s not normally allowed to go there, so it was interesting. The activity was fun. Hanging out with the zone and playing volleyball. I really like our zone right now. Everyone is fun.
The package will probably get to the country relatively fast, but it will sit in customs for a bit and then the mission office will have to remember to tell me that it is here, that could be a bit sometimes. But I’m excited for it and will keep my eyes out for it.
Well, looking forward to the coming week, we’ll see what it brings!
Love from the Philippines,
Elder Phelps
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