Week #19: Bangui Windmills at the beach and other exciting news......Uncle Willy.

Kamustakayo!

So today, we went to the Bangui windmills. Nothing special. But the pictures are very nice. The beach there is nice too.

So this week, we finally got all our furniture in the new apartment! Finally! And before that, we had a surprise visit from president Barrientos. Just checking the new apartment. It's nice that we're closer to Laoag now. We do our withdrawal there now so we're looking forward to that.

Anyways, the work here is so interesting. We have this one old lady fellowshipper, Grandma De Guzman. She keeps taking us to her family members to be taught. Sometimes when we do finding, it ends up being her family member again. Elder Gamboa says she may be the first person in Bangui. She's so awesome! She feeds us all the time. We're even getting several baptismal dates because of her. All the people we teach are old people. We're gonna start looking for youth and YSA. The branch is lacking on that and we feel that some of the people are inactive because they don't have people their age. So we're planning to do a YSA activity or something for the youth or that general age.

Last saturday, we had a branch family home evening. It was actually really nice. The turnout was pretty good and we all had fun and food!

By the way, I got exciting news and I just forgot to tell you last week. As I was in Laoag for picking up new missionaries, I was talking to the sisters in Vigan. They are teaching Uncle Willy and he wants to be baptized. They also showed me a picture of him so that was pretty nice. I told president Barrientos about Uncle wanting to be baptized so he said that when his baptismal date arrives, I can go to Vigan and baptize him myself. I'll probably do it in the dagat(beach) so it would be much nicer experience. So I wrote uncle a letter to encourage him. Hopefully he goes through with it.

Anyways, hopefully you're all doing fine. I'm just trying to survive the rain here. It's nice here though. Lots of trees here. Anyways, love you all!

Elder Morales

Week #18: FINALLY Transferred to a new area. So exciting!

Hello!

So now I'm in Bangui. It's located in the mga bundok. North of Ilocos Norte. It's always raining here. The church membership here is mostly old people. So many old ladies like working with us here and keep on referring us to their family members. So we're probably going to have a lot of baptismal dates for old people by the end of July. It's good for us because we can fill our schedule with old people during the day time and young people during the night. That was the biggest challenge in Santa Ana, filling up the schedule during the day.

Anyways, it's kind of weird training again even though I didn't finish training Elder Bulseco. He's training too! There's a picture we all took at Laoag. It's basically a family photo without Elder Polgo. We call Elder Polgo father Abraham because he trained so late in his mission. And from his son he has more descendants. Very quickly too. Anyways, my new companion is Elder Clark. He's from Davao. But not really. He's from Seattle Washington. It's gonna be an interesting experience for me because I have to teach him Tagalog now. My Tagalog actually improved alot. I can understand and speak almost fluently. It's like my skills improve every transfer.

So in Bangui, we have a brand new apartment and we're 4 elders in the apartment. We're staying with the District Leader Elder Wright and Elder Gamboa. Elder Gamboa is Ilocano from Tarlac. He's fluent so I'm going to learn as much as I can from him. I only know a few things to say like: Ilocanonak ngem ... hindi marunong mag-ilocano ... ngem kayatko nga agisuro ti ilocano. That's about it.

While I was in Laoag, I got to work with the office elders. They didn't do much work. My temporary companion was from Visayas so we spoke Tagalog only so I guess that's how I really improved my speaking skills. We actually spent one whole day finding because the office Elders were too busy taking care of the incoming missionaries. I actually got to play basketball with the new missionaries one day. It's nice being in Bangui too because I get to withdraw in Laoag. The welcoming day for the new missionaries was nice. We had a huge dinner afterwards. The cultural hall was super decorated that it looked kind of like a debut so I told President Barrientos it was his debut. It was actually his birthday too. Well how about that.

Anyways, I hope you are all doing well. Work here is fun. Take care and I love you all!!

Elder Morales   

Week #17: I have BIG NEWS!!!

Hello family!

 

So I have big news to tell you. I'm in Laoag again and I'm training again! That's two trainees for me already. And I've been transferred to Bangui in Ilocos Norte. The past elders there were pulled out so we're starting fresh. That's twice for me. Santa Ana was the same. We had no idea where to go or what to do. Now I gotta do it all over again in Bangui. Apparently it's really nice there. That's where the wind farm is (wind energy farm). We passed by it on the way to Laoag. Apparently it's mayaman but they only have a meeting house there. It's kind of sad leaving Santa Ana. We had 7 baptisms coming up. That's for Elder Bulseco to work out. Oh by the way, he's training too.

 

So this past week, we kept on inviting people to baptism and they just keep accepting. But they're not just any random person we found, they are investigators who are actually interested. Some people just take some work but it moves along at their own pace. Now I get to work in Bangui. Meeting house again. No chapel. More work. Smaller area at least. For now, enjoy my time at Laoag.

 

So this past week, we actually cooked kare-kare. It took 3 hours to get the meat tender but we managed. It takes up so much peanut butter! But it was sooo good. We brought it to a member's house and their son tried it (first time) and he said "parang walang lasa". Obviously you need bagoong with that. That we made lumpia. They had the lumpia stuff already made at one of the stores.

 

So on thursday, at our district meeting, Elder Cahigao asked us previously to do a puppet show. It was so weird. It's because Elder Cahigao is going home and he wanted to enjoy his last meeting. Then on saturday, as we we're sitting in companionship study, president barrientos called us. We were aware it was transfer day coming up but we thought we were stuck in Santa Ana for another transfer. The training is supposed to be 12 weeks long. It only has been 6 weeks. So I answer, and president asks if I'm doing good and obviously I said yes. So he says, "Since you're doing good, we're going to transfer you to Bangui and you'll be training." Then he said, "How's Elder Bulseco?" He's good I said and then President said, "Since he's good too, he's going to be training too because you trained him so well." Hay naku! At least I'm closer to Laoag now. Santa Ana is so far.

 

Anyways I hope you're all good! Take care and love you all!

 

Elder Morales

Week #16: Was creeped out with this woman who was possessed!

Hello!

Don't worry about the floods here. It's actually really nothing up in Laoag mission. The typhoon starts down south of Philippines and is really strong in the Naga mission. The typhoon dies around Laoag mission. It's just really cloudy. It's actually nice right now. I could sleep easier at night because it's cooler. Walking isn't that bad because its cooler.

Anyways, we had zone conference this past tuesday with Elder Teh of the Seventy. It was really good. He was telling us how sometimes missionaries, after zone conference have that spiritual boost then afterwards it tends to disappear. So he was giving us ideas how to keep ourselves boosted. I've been going crazy in Santa Ana. Stuck here for 6 months. Maybe its cause I haven't had baptisms in awhile. We are aiming for around 5 or 6 in July. It's a lot of hard work. Sometimes we have to travel to a barangay that's slightly far to make sure our investigator comes to church.

So let's see, anything interesting this past week. Not really. We actually had exchanges this past week with the zone leaders. I worked here in Santa Ana and we did finding the whole day. We ran into this blind man and there was this lady there that wasn't the same after she went to some asian country daw. Elder Knowles was so creeped out he thought she was possessed. So we left right away because Elder Knowles kept telling me let's go. As we did finding this week, we ran into some Jehova's witnesses and Iglesia ni Cristo. It can get really interesting sometimes. They keep giving us books to read. I just like looking at the pictures. They gave Elder Bulseco a bible stories book kind of like those ones we have for children.

I've been in Santa Ana so long now it's almost like home for me. If only you could see this place. It's such a tourist spot. Casinos. Beach Resorts. Lots of beaches with white sand. We actually walked on the beach this week looking for our investigator. Found out she was sleeping instead. One of the members told us that sometimes he actually sleeps on the beach because it's so much more nice out there than inside his home. Probably after my mission I'll come back here just to do all those things I can't do now. You all better start saving hehe.

That lesson with the Jehova's Witness, they spoke mostly ilocano. We had no clue what they were saying at times. I had to put 2 and 2 together at times and finally figured out what they were saying. My Ilocano is somewhat nothing. I could make really basic sentences. Ngem mahirap pa. At least when I get back home, I could talk it with my cousins. Hopefully you still remember mom. Anyways, I love you all and agannad!

Elder Morales

Happy to have a new comp who likes to cook :)

Always ready to play with the kids

so glad for homes with fans during lessons

hello Canada!

I'm cool :)

Week #15: Ate big crabs and get eaten alive by mosquitos!

Hello!

So all the pictures this week is to give you an idea of what I've ate this week. Monday, giant crabs.

Someday, fried hot dogs.

Show that to Alex. Yesterday, sinigang sabow kasi walang kanin sa amin (no rice at home). We ran out... Anyways, tell Alex if he wants his hot dogs spicier, he needs to fry the hot peppers first. We actually make our own sili powder here. It's extremely spicy but extremely good! I'm probably going to make a whole bunch of that sili powder before I come home and take it with me. Just fry, dry and blend.

Anyways, this week we got zone conference tomorrow with one of the seventy, Elder Teh. That's going to be interesting. As for the work here in Santa Ana. It's progressing. We found one family and brother Jusay is extremely interested. He accepts that Joseph Smith is a prophet and understands that God directed him to restore His church. Baptism is next step. We finally had two of our investigators come to church (They are from the Castro family). Next step, baptism. We found out that sister Rodalyne Castro wants to serve a mission. For next month, we are supposed to have at least 4 baptisms. So we have to work hard.

This week, we had to search for an apartment to fit 2 or 4 missionaries. We found out that the next door apartment from ours is being rented out for storage. If we can't find an apartment, we're going to remain as 2 missionaries here in Santa Ana. It's so big! Sometimes we have to go from end to end on saturdays because almost everyone is available that day. We're probably going to go apartment hunting again today. Some apartments are creepy looking or too small.

Anyways, Santa Ana is good. The rainy season hasn't started yet so it's still hot here! Especially at night. I have to spray bug spray on my legs every night cause I wake up eaten alive by mosquitoes. It's better than Elder Castillo though who got kissed by a cockroach on the lips and on the eye. He showed me pictures and his lip and eye were huge! Sometimes I can't wait to be transferred from Santa Ana because I'll probably be here for 1/4 of my mission! But I love it here because the members are so nice. I've heard some areas are tougher. Hopefully one day I get to go work in Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. Cagayan is all bukid.

Anyways, I hope to hear from you all soon. Email me saturday or sunday morning because I'm always emailing here at 10 am monday, so thats 10 pm sunday. Anyways, love you all and take care

Elder Morales

Week #14: It is extremely HOT!

Hello!!

Mom you forgot to send me the recipe for kare kare. Anyways, yesterday we had district conference (small stake conference). So friday night I received a text from a member saying: Kayo ang pianist daw. So someone volunteered me to play piano for district conference. We had the new area seventy speak to us there. Elder Tobias. He just spoke english the whole time practically.

We also had President Barrientos there too. He said to the congregation that Sta Ana will have 4 missionaries soon! And we might also get bikes! It's so exciting to have news like that.

we walk everywhere so we're excited to get bikes if ever

Last week, we also got to work with the APs. It's nice to have visitors in Santa Ana. We split up to cover more lessons in one day. We were able to contact this one family and brother Josay is very interested. We plan to get him baptized with his family. We also received news last night from one of our investigators sister that sister Rodalyne wants to be baptized. We also invited many others to be baptized. Big work coming ahead in the next few months.

Anyways, the weather here is extremely hot! It hasn't rained in forever. Apparently the rainy season is supposed to start this month but I wonder when. We're supposed to go back to Aparri next week. We have zone conference with Elder Teh from the seventy. That's going to be exciting. I'm still waiting for my tailored pants from there. I ordered 4. They're really nice. Hopefully I don't get transferred before they're ready. That would totally be unfortunate. I'll probably just make someone pick it up for me.

So I sent all the photos. I found a way to compress the file size on the computer here. Hopefully it still looks good. There's a lot of random pictures. That's what happens when I give my camera to youth. At least I'm getting some pictures.

So Elder Bulseco is from Bicol. He's nice. He's actually older than me. Elder Polgo got transferred to Abulug. I'll see him again at Zone Conference. And yes I got his contact information. He says if I ever need a haircut, go to his place.

So yeah, when I get back, it would be nice to tour Boston, especially where MIT is. But it would also be nice to come back to Philippines and tour my mission. Anyways, mahal ko kayo!!! Ingat kayo rin!

Elder Morales

give me back my camera!

Week #13: STILL Pretty sick... and I ate snail straight from the shell.

Hello family,

So I'm feeling better this week. I just have one really annoying cough that won't  go away. It keeps me awake at night. It sucks. At least the fever is gone. We basically stayed in all day monday and tuesday. Wednesday I worked all day then I was really going to pass out by the end of the day. Thursday was okay. Friday too. We're usually in the apartment most of the day. Friday was pretty fun though. I ate snail straight from the shell. Pretty tasty. I also walked out of the apartment without my tag because I was still pretty sick and couldn't think properly. A member realized I didn't have it on so I returned to the apartment to get it. So that's what's up.

Anyways, the work here is picking up again. We are getting more investigators through the members. They refer to us more and more people. The work is going to be slowing down to because school is starting this week. So no one will really be home. We changed up our schedule and we have a lot of finding to do. Almost every day we have finding to do. It's really hard at times especially that everyone is in the bukid.

Last sunday, one of the less active members brought her brother to church so we started teaching him after church services. We extended him a baptismal date but it's on a sunday because that's his only availability.

Oh by the way, I finally received all the packages. And yes, the money arrived safely too. The dictionary is really good too, it has grammar stuff for Ilocano as well.

Mom, can you please send me a recipe for kare-kare? We're actually going to try to make that. We made pinapaitan in our apartment but with pork. We used the mama sita package so it's like cheating. We had real pinapaitan with liver, trype, intestine and apdo at the Ruaburo house. That was... interesting for the intestine but still tasted good.

Anyways, apparently we're suppose to become 4 missionaries here in Sta Ana because our area is super big. So we we're checking out this house for rent and it literally is a house! Bigger than ours back home! It could fit around 6-8 missionaries so it's probably way too big and way too expensive. I also don't feel like cleaning up such a big place too. It was pretty dusty when we checked it out.

Anyways, please tell me some good news from back home! Take care everyone and mahal ko kayo!

Elder Morales