May 27, 2013

Hello Family & Friends,


We've had an awesome week! It's good to slow down and write about the days. So much going on here I'm wondering where to start.

Had some troubles with one of our investigators. He is a bit depressed that Elder McDonald transferred out of the area. He is sad that we have to move his baptism date back... he was mad that we hadn't texted him back within 35 minutes of his last text (we were at a dinner appointment but I think that he thinks we revolve around him) Anyway, whenever we teach him its a really cool experience, he knows the Bible really well, and he is pretty accepting of our teachings. Its just he always gets mad at us for little things... its a tough life =)

Next I would like to give a shout out to my Koya (older brother, Nick) and wish him a happy birthday, he is 23!!! I can't believe how time works now. Its crazy!

Next- Maddy is going to be 16, driving and dating! THAT sounds like trouble.

So, last week was transfer week, Elder Granger from Montana is my new companion (this is his last transfer until he goes home.) We inherited another area into ours, so its a BIG area. Now I have just become the District Leader. It's pretty crazy, but Elder Granger is pretty experienced in the mission, and being a leader so he has been helping me a bunch.

Elder Kmetzsch my Tatay (dad) in the mission just became the assistant to the mission president. 

We will also be getting a new mission president next transfer! 

I am getting pretty "trunky" this transfer- having a companion that's going home. I haven't felt until now that its going to be a while until the end of my mission:)

I can't believe that I have been here over 3 months now. The language is getting there...now I'm trying to focus more on teaching good lessons.

They just made backpacks against the rules, basically if you have one you can use it, but I think they are trying to start to get rid of them.

We went to the mall earlier and I bought some new sandals.

I am not sure what's up with my camera,. I 'm going to try to send pictures right now.

Anyway the first picture is us on a jeep, the two elders on the right aren't in our area, they were just showing just around the area...

Cool picture of me

 Me and our street kids (they are like a year younger than me)

el chupa cabra

More news next week!!!! 

 -Elder Roy

May 21, 2013

Alright, we have a lot to cover- first I will start with a spiritual story from the week...

We were going to look for a LA the other week and decided to start some tracting. Of course we get the classic lines from people "Next time na lang" or "I'm busy" (busy texting or sitting on the stinkin' couch!:) So, once we get past all those people we see a garage type thing with some real breed dogs in there, which here are really expensive.  Elder McDonald says we should ask about their dogs to get into the house.  It works and they start showing us all these exotic animals that they sell, and we realize they are loaded... with money. The head of the house that was present is actually the brother to a government guy here, and there are about 4 families I think that live there! The crazy thing is that this guy when he was in high school went to church with one of his friends. Then he moved, but he is really interested, and I know this man was totally prepared for us by the Lord. This also helps me to know that the Lord guides us, and will prepare people for us, we just have to seek them out.

Big news for this week, Elder McDonald is transferring and the other two elders in the house next to us are out. So I hardly know this area, and I am a little bit stressed about knowing how to get to houses, but I will be alright.

Last week,  I let one of the Elders borrow my camera to take pictures,and when he brought it back all my pictures were gone! He said he didn't know what happened so I just accepted it. Thankfully halfway through last week all the pictures came back some how! It was a miracle.

I got to hear from Elder Fotheringham and Clement, and it sounds like our missions have a lot in common with a lot of differences.

I am trying to think of more things to write about now...

Oh yeah- and this guy cooked some turtles for us at his house, that was pretty cool.

I got my scriptures back with the new leather on it.

That was so awesome to Skype last week! Sorry if I was too quiet, it just a lot of people around, and some people were yelling really loud.

Well, this computer isn't letting me send any pictures. I am excited and nervous at the same time for tomorrow! I will let you know about it all next week.

I love you all!
-Elder Roy

Turkey Tom comes to Dinner

Hello Everyone! I don't have a lot of time today, we just got back from the temple, super awesome!  I will answer all these questions then try to send some pictures.

Letter from my dad:

The teaching over there.... How is the member activation? Are there several less-active?  How is the ward? How many members in the ward. Do you still get to attend the Temple.  These are question you can help us with each week. How are you holding up to the changes? I hope your well. Hope you handling everything okay. I worry about you and think often of you. How is the companionship going?

1. The teaching is pretty good, it tends to be pretty different some times as well. This one less active we were teaching had some serious memory loss! We would go there and he would forget about us the next day and he did not really remember that he was baptized. He claimed to be Catholic, and that he was 70 years old. We asked him when his birthday was, and he said a year that made him 87. He was really a nice guy. Other than that when we teach new investigators its pretty good, its just hard trying to find a way to apply the teachings to them. 

2. In the Philippines I believe that there are about 600,000 members and about 140,000 active. re-activation is a tough cookie here.

3. The ward is great! There are only fans to cool us, no air conditioner, no microphone for the sacrament...the members are so patient.

4.Attending the temple, yes.

5. Change is really difficult. I got use to one way of doing things, and then I get put into a whole different situation. Companions are still companions, and we have had some fights, but they have all been worked out. 

Tonight's dinner!!! Alive & Kicking'

Cultural crafts taught to me by an elder

Living off the land...a hunters dream

Some closing remarks for you all...

*Skyping on Mother's Day:D :D :D Yeah!!!

I can't believe how FAST the mission is going! It's almost been 5 full months! One thing I can say so far is...that-

Missions don't change a person. A mission gives a million opportunities to change, you just have to be willing to. 

-Elder Roy

"Because love is the great commandment, it ought to be at the center of all and everything we do in our own family, in our Church callings, and in our livelihood. Love is the healing balm that repairs rifts in personal and family relationships. It is the bond that unites families, communities, and nations. Love is the power that initiates friendship, tolerance, civility, and respect. It is the source that overcomes divisiveness and hate. Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope. Love should be our walk and our talk."
--President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Love of God", November 2009 Ensign