Ayos!
So its been a pretty awesome week! So check this out. So this week I started writing in my journal again!! =D And it was tamang tama kasi I forgot my planner at home so I can't really cheat off of that this time, but I brought my journal. So if I hadn't brought that I wouldn't have much to tell you this week.. haha
So everyone on your e-mail list knows you are not writing in your Journal. I hope that is incentive enough to get going and start writing again.
Yeah. So? haha just kidding.. I started nga! It actually says in the white handbook to write in your journal every night so apparently its kinda a rule... oops. haha I actually kinda started a large plates, small plates kinda thing like Nephi.. haha So I have my one journal that I write in every night about the day and what not. Then I started a new one this week that I write in every morning in the last 5-10 minutes of personal study where I recount what I studied, the thoughts I had about it and things to ponder. I'm also using that journal for distinct, unique, personal spiritual experiences. And then I actually have a third, too, that I put quotes and like notes and stuff like that thats not as personal. So I'm doing good now! =D
Are things drying out there yet?
Umm it was actually pretty dry most of the week. Actually no not really.. haha I still got made fun of all the time by the members and what not for having wayyy muddy shoes and pants.. haha
Were you able to have a productive week despite the weather?
Of course! It was another great week! And we had to spend another day in Manila even.
You didn't know Elvis was part of our family did you? (Kirk sent Michael a picture from our family reunion which had a life-sized Elvis cut-out)
hahaha Sister Dietrich mentioned something about the picture of grandma and elvis when we stopped by the office the other day.. haha I guess that means we're related to the Dietrich's cuz I'm pretty sure Sister Dietrich regards Elvis as an older brother of hers.. haha
So what's it like being the DL(district leader)? Do you have to travel extra? So how is your teaching pool going?
Its not too bad yet! I haven't had to teach district meeting yet and thats what I'm really fearing.. haha We have Zone Conference this Tuesday so I thought I wasn't going to have to teach again cuz thats what the ZLs told me but Elder Handy just saw this morning on the calendar that we still have district meeting but its on Wednesday... =( haha I've only had to travel once to Naic to do a baptismal interview and to get one of our investigators a baptism interview. It was a pretty cool experience! He was a cool guy and I felt he was ready to be baptized. So I passed him. Later on in the day I thanked Heavenly Father for the opportunity I had to conduct the baptismal interview and told him that I felt that he was ready and in that moment I felt confirmation from the Spirit that that was the right thing. So that was cool! Our investigator passed too! So he's getting baptized on Saturday and I think he asked me to baptize him! haha Well he told the ZL he wanted Elder Chocolate to baptize him which means Elder Gadberry. Kasi ganito siya... If you don't have a filipino name its kinda hard for them to get your name off the bat so you gotta relate it to something so people started thinking that I say Cadbury so half the time when I introduce myself its I'm Elder Gadberry its kinda like the chocolate, Cadbury.. and then they laugh and remember my name forever. haha The teaching pool is great! We don't have any time to really find people so we're relying on referrals and that kinda stuff to find new investigators.
So now we get questions from Grandma G! Woo!
Are mosquitoes a big problem like they are here?
They kinda are. You've probably heard of Dengue Fever. We've gotta watch out for that. There's been lots of missionaries thats gotten. Both Elder Wong and Elder Partridge did, if you remember them from my MTC emails.. haha
do you miss Krispy Kreme donuts? or McDonalds?
Yes. hahaha Well mostly Krispy Kream..haha I love eating rice and ulam and filipino food but I don't know how to make it so yeah.. problem. So I'm pumped when we get Filipino food. Lets be honest, who woulda bet noong May 2011 that I would LOVE Filipino food? hahaha Yeah...its a blessing.
Are you happy to get out of the office or sad?
Well.. I'll just say I'm content. haha I miss my area from the office. Even if it was the most frustrating area known to man.. hahaha So I miss my area but was pretty okay with handing over the finance secretary responsibilities for a time. haha When Elder Grob was getting trained by Sister Venus she told him that we really needed a separate Finance Secretary and Housing Coordinator. So he was joking that he was going to pull me back in to be one of those.. haha I was like nahhh you can do it! I had to! haha
How about missing driving in Manila traffic? I alsways admired you for doing that.
hahaha I kinda do! Well.. I'm happy to be walking all the time cuz its nice but I definitely didn't mind traffic or driving. Everyone thought it was really weird that I liked driving in Manila, but i don't know.. it wasnt that bad.. I guess Elder Pugmire and Elder Grob aren't doing so well cuz neither of them wants to drive.. haha
That was all her questions. But I would just like to let you know that my Grandma G rocks! And Darshan knows cuz he's friends with her on Facebook! hahaha
So this was already long but I'll hit you with a few highlights from the week!
As I review my journal, I had lots of really comforting and cool experiences with the Spirit. Like one night, we went home and I was kinda frustrated about something or other, but I didn't say anything of course.. haha And like the moment we knelt in prayer to begin our nightly planning, I addressed Heavenly Father and felt the Spirit return and comfort me. And it was just really cool experience that teaches that even when no one else knows, the Lord knows and will comfort us.
In my studies this week, I studied and pondered a lot on the life and teachings of Christ. I read primarily from Mark 7-12 among many other things. So it was cool! I'm trying to identify His attributes and His personality and I can really see His love portrayed in His words and actions. I try to like envision these events but sometimes its kinda hard. I guess its a good thing the church is coming out with those Bible videos.. haha
This week our work was great! It was really enjoyable and successful! It was funny though yesterday.. haha We got to church like 5 minutes before it started and surprise! Elder Gadberry our dude hasn't showed up yet so can you speak? Butt. Okay.. hahaha So I was like super nervous but got up there and it kinda went away and I was able to say what I wanted to say for the most part. Okay done. Next, after Sunday School we had Priesthood and guess what. Elder Gadberry you get to teach this too! Ugh.. Fine. hahaha That actually went surprisingly well and I actually had lots of experiences I could share about our lesson that week. Then, we were finishing our lesson in priesthood and I heard Teach Me How to Dogie blasting in a car as it drove by. I looked outside and saw that it was a hearse that had flown by blasting that song. And then I realized that "Its more fun in the Philippines." hahaha And then later that night we had a missionary fireside. Elder Handy and I were supposed to share just short thoughts and that was fine but then we get started and they're like our concluding speaker isn't here so can we ask Elder Gadberry to give our concluding thoughts. Ito na naman?!? okay. So I did that and it was pretty good too. So yeah.. I think the branch likes me... I hope. hahaha But they're awesome! haha
So there was just a few thoughts from my week. It was awesome! Sorry... I didn't take any pictures.. haha I was too busy writing in my journal.. haha Hope you all have an awesome week!
Love
Elder Michael Gadberry
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Saturday, August 18, 2012
August 11, 2012 E-mail!
Dear friends, family, and esteemed colleagues,
Hey! =D
So how's it goin?? If you for some reason put money on me having another great week this week then congratulations! Glad I could help you get a little richer.. haha This week was different but awesome! We had to go to Manila for a couple days so I kinda expected our week to be not so hot but it ended up being awesome! We worked super hard while we were here and we saw the Lord bless us and those that we're teaching and the branch as a whole. . . . and we had a lot of fun doing it. =)
So was there very much monsoon damage in your area? The newspaper here are reporting that approximately 60 (now 98) people were killed in all of the rain/flooding. I am assuming all of the missionaries are OK. Let us know.
Yeah we're all good! Here in Ternate there's some damage but most places aren't crowded enough to be terribly affected by flooding. And the people here are used to it so they know what to do and what not. There were some missionaries though that couldn't get out of their apartment cuz the water on the street was up to their chests.. hahaha
so are you back to writing in your journal? If not, consider yourself reprimanded and get going on that. "You will have experiences you will never forget." "But, write them down anyway..." : )
Yeah. . . you know how its really easy to say yeah..I'll do that tomorrow or later? Yeah. . .good stuff. . . =D
So we got hit by a pretty good storm early this week and got rained on a tonnnn! But recently it hasn't been too bad. But it was the real transfer week this week and transfer day was Thursday but we had to go in to Manila a day early cuz I needed to train/help Elder Grob on some things and Elder Handy had a doctors appointment, so we were going to leave early wednesday morning to get there but because of the storm none of the buses were running Tuesday and they were afraid they wouldn't run Wednesday either. So the Paddocks (senior couple serving in his new area) ended up taking us up to Manila Tuesday afternoon cuz they were going up there anyways. So that stunk cuz instead of getting a full day of work in Tuesday we got like one lesson in.. haha
So we were in Manila for the last half of Tuesday and then all of Wednesday and most of Thursday. Manila was cool. It was a lot of fun to see Elder Pugmire and Elder Grob again, as well as the Dietrichs. It was kinda weird cuz it was like helping out with transfer week all over again.. haha But then transfer day came and it went well too. I was supposed to get new DL (district leader) training but that got cancelled cuz they were just trying to make transfer day really short cuz of the flooding and what not. So now I'm a DL with no training and no idea what I'm doing.. haha =) just kidding I kinda know what I'm doing but whatev! So after transfer day we were finally able to get heading back to Ternate and we got back around 4ish so we only got that evening to work but its all good cuz at least we made it back!
Friday was cool though! We decided to do what we called a "Fast & Find" cuz our teaching pool was kinda small we were just going to the same so many people every 2 or 3 days which is good cuz we got lots to teach and its going good but we wanted some more people and what not. So we picked out a bunch of names on our CMIS (I have no idea what this stands for) that were less-active and had gone to the temple or were Melchizedek priesthood holders. Cuz we knew half these people had family members that weren't yet members that we could hopefully help. So we went out to work not really knowing who these people were or even where they live cuz the addresses here are terrible.. haha So that day was hard but it went pretty well! It was kinda weird cuz we didn't immediately see the blessings from that day. We contacted most of the people and some were receptive and some were definitely not.. haha So we ended the day with just one new investigator but at the same time I felt that it was successful. Elder Handy wasn't as happy with it but we just pressed on!
So then Saturday we went to work and it was awesome! We taught this family that we were able to give 4 baptismal dates to! and three of them were new investigators and it was just a really successful day! So thats where we saw some blessings. We also decided as a companionship to start asking referrals from everyone! Preach My Gospel says to ask referrals from everyone so we were like I'm pretty sure like no one actually does that so lets try it! Let's try to get it to be second nature so we started doing it and we got a lot of referrals this week too!
Then Sunday rolled around and it was AWESOME! Last week we had a good 90some at church and this week we got 132! And Elder Handy and I had a bunchhh of our less-actives show up as well as twelve investigators! It was cool because like some of the less-actives we're visiting, we found out, are actually occasionally visited as well by the relief society and so I'm sure that helped a ton! It was just so amazing to see all these people make to church after working so hard to help them any way we can and just encouraging and coordinating and then they make it to church and its awesome! We didn't fit in the sacrament hall.. haha we had to set up a good 15 or so chairs out in the hallway haha I just stood in the back of everything just beaming.
So our week was way good! Numbers aren't like important but it was really cool that, inspite of us being in Manila for half the week, we were still able to achieve many of the Standards of Excellence set in our mission and a couple other ones we just barely missed. So like seriously, this rocks! I love this work! I love the Lord and I'm incredibly grateful for this opportunity I have to serve. I hope all of you guys take the opportunity if given a chance and you young men better start preparing now so you can rock it even better than me cuz I feel I definitely didn't adequately prepare myself. I'm just lucky I had awesome leaders and teachers that kinda did the preparing of myself for me.. haha
Have a great week!
Love
Elder Michael Gadberry
Pictures include:
Incredibly cute children that love us
Incredibly muddy pants #TheWorkMustGoOn!
One of our favorite caribou, Devil Horns
Update on our garden service project
Beautiful skies in Ternate
And I tried to take a picture of the stars cuz they're AWESOME out here!
Hey! =D
So how's it goin?? If you for some reason put money on me having another great week this week then congratulations! Glad I could help you get a little richer.. haha This week was different but awesome! We had to go to Manila for a couple days so I kinda expected our week to be not so hot but it ended up being awesome! We worked super hard while we were here and we saw the Lord bless us and those that we're teaching and the branch as a whole. . . . and we had a lot of fun doing it. =)
So was there very much monsoon damage in your area? The newspaper here are reporting that approximately 60 (now 98) people were killed in all of the rain/flooding. I am assuming all of the missionaries are OK. Let us know.
Yeah we're all good! Here in Ternate there's some damage but most places aren't crowded enough to be terribly affected by flooding. And the people here are used to it so they know what to do and what not. There were some missionaries though that couldn't get out of their apartment cuz the water on the street was up to their chests.. hahaha
so are you back to writing in your journal? If not, consider yourself reprimanded and get going on that. "You will have experiences you will never forget." "But, write them down anyway..." : )
Yeah. . . you know how its really easy to say yeah..I'll do that tomorrow or later? Yeah. . .good stuff. . . =D
So we got hit by a pretty good storm early this week and got rained on a tonnnn! But recently it hasn't been too bad. But it was the real transfer week this week and transfer day was Thursday but we had to go in to Manila a day early cuz I needed to train/help Elder Grob on some things and Elder Handy had a doctors appointment, so we were going to leave early wednesday morning to get there but because of the storm none of the buses were running Tuesday and they were afraid they wouldn't run Wednesday either. So the Paddocks (senior couple serving in his new area) ended up taking us up to Manila Tuesday afternoon cuz they were going up there anyways. So that stunk cuz instead of getting a full day of work in Tuesday we got like one lesson in.. haha
So we were in Manila for the last half of Tuesday and then all of Wednesday and most of Thursday. Manila was cool. It was a lot of fun to see Elder Pugmire and Elder Grob again, as well as the Dietrichs. It was kinda weird cuz it was like helping out with transfer week all over again.. haha But then transfer day came and it went well too. I was supposed to get new DL (district leader) training but that got cancelled cuz they were just trying to make transfer day really short cuz of the flooding and what not. So now I'm a DL with no training and no idea what I'm doing.. haha =) just kidding I kinda know what I'm doing but whatev! So after transfer day we were finally able to get heading back to Ternate and we got back around 4ish so we only got that evening to work but its all good cuz at least we made it back!
Friday was cool though! We decided to do what we called a "Fast & Find" cuz our teaching pool was kinda small we were just going to the same so many people every 2 or 3 days which is good cuz we got lots to teach and its going good but we wanted some more people and what not. So we picked out a bunch of names on our CMIS (I have no idea what this stands for) that were less-active and had gone to the temple or were Melchizedek priesthood holders. Cuz we knew half these people had family members that weren't yet members that we could hopefully help. So we went out to work not really knowing who these people were or even where they live cuz the addresses here are terrible.. haha So that day was hard but it went pretty well! It was kinda weird cuz we didn't immediately see the blessings from that day. We contacted most of the people and some were receptive and some were definitely not.. haha So we ended the day with just one new investigator but at the same time I felt that it was successful. Elder Handy wasn't as happy with it but we just pressed on!
So then Saturday we went to work and it was awesome! We taught this family that we were able to give 4 baptismal dates to! and three of them were new investigators and it was just a really successful day! So thats where we saw some blessings. We also decided as a companionship to start asking referrals from everyone! Preach My Gospel says to ask referrals from everyone so we were like I'm pretty sure like no one actually does that so lets try it! Let's try to get it to be second nature so we started doing it and we got a lot of referrals this week too!
Then Sunday rolled around and it was AWESOME! Last week we had a good 90some at church and this week we got 132! And Elder Handy and I had a bunchhh of our less-actives show up as well as twelve investigators! It was cool because like some of the less-actives we're visiting, we found out, are actually occasionally visited as well by the relief society and so I'm sure that helped a ton! It was just so amazing to see all these people make to church after working so hard to help them any way we can and just encouraging and coordinating and then they make it to church and its awesome! We didn't fit in the sacrament hall.. haha we had to set up a good 15 or so chairs out in the hallway haha I just stood in the back of everything just beaming.
So our week was way good! Numbers aren't like important but it was really cool that, inspite of us being in Manila for half the week, we were still able to achieve many of the Standards of Excellence set in our mission and a couple other ones we just barely missed. So like seriously, this rocks! I love this work! I love the Lord and I'm incredibly grateful for this opportunity I have to serve. I hope all of you guys take the opportunity if given a chance and you young men better start preparing now so you can rock it even better than me cuz I feel I definitely didn't adequately prepare myself. I'm just lucky I had awesome leaders and teachers that kinda did the preparing of myself for me.. haha
Have a great week!
Love
Elder Michael Gadberry
Pictures include:
Incredibly cute children that love us
Incredibly muddy pants #TheWorkMustGoOn!
One of our favorite caribou, Devil Horns
Update on our garden service project
Beautiful skies in Ternate
And I tried to take a picture of the stars cuz they're AWESOME out here!
Saturday, August 11, 2012
August 4, 2012 E-Mail!
Howdy everyone!
This emails coming out from the incredibly rainy Ternate, Cavite! Its raining right now! And it rained yesterday! And the day before! and the day before that and the day before that and the day before that and the day before that and the day before that and the day before that! Okay to be honest I'm not really sure where that puts me in the week but I'm fairly certain its an accurate statement. Whenever its rainy and like stormy (stormy here is different than other places. Here its just like wind and rain and not too much thunder and lightning) but when we have a "bagyo" the kids don't have school sometimes. And this whole week there was no school. You know whats weird? The kids here are sad when they don't have school! #CultureDifferences haha And like the kids we weren't able to do a whole lot of work... Just kidding! We rocked it this week and got soaked doing it! We had a better week this week than last week it was awesome!
Nothing much new to report from this week other than soccer conditioning started. Do you miss that???
Oh yeah! Sobra! I still remember the terrible Michael Gadberry that would get to 6am soccer practice at 5:30 with no problems but at the same time you couldn't pay him to get to seminary on time. . . and that didn't even start till 6:30.. =D How'd that work?? #QuestionsThatTranscendMortality haha Just yesterday I was walking home with soaked shoes and socks and it was kinda annoying but I was like I don't know why I'm complaining cuz with early morning soccer practices my socks were always soaked and it wasn't that bad.. haha Believe it or not my 6'7" companion was a basketball player in high school, so we talk high school sports and what not every once and a while...good times! haha
Remember Casey (second cousin) that we went skiing with? He is working for Goldman Sachs in Chicago now. He said to tell you Hi.
Yup! Sure do! Thats pretty legit! I say kumusta ka na?? Paki-sabi sa mga bosses mo na dapat nila akong upahan pagtapos ko ng college.
Did you know that Grandma Gadberry is turning 70 this year?
70?? Way... I thought she was like 45, tops. haha That's exciting! She should serve a mission cuz the Paddocks are 72! haha =)
So looking at a map, it looks like you are right at the mouth of Manila Bay. It looks like you are about an hour away from Manila depending on traffic. Is that right?
Sounds right to me! Well. . . I think its usually like 2 hrs from Manila on good days even. I think Elder Stirland (finished off his mission in Naic) said sometimes it takes even longer than that if its like ma-traffic, like especially in the afternoons/after work. But yeah I think we're real close to the ocean or the bay cuz there's this bridge we walk over everyday thats this really big river that I think empties into the ocean or whatever and its got smallish island in the middle called Balot Island. I've got pictures of the river that I've probably sent already and I've got some more in this one too.
Sister Dietrich posted a couple of pictures of you and your new comp and new area. Looks nice! Hows the apartment?
Yeah, the Dietrich's came and hooked us up! It was awesome! I heart them. The apartments great! I think I sent some pics of it but I'm not too sure. But its a pretty new apartment and its a good size and still in good shape so thats good. It doesn't have hot water though...haha so that's taken a little big of time to get used to again.. haha
So this week has been awesome! Our work this week lessons wise was about the same but the other stuff went up so it was really cool! We had a ton more people at church this week! I asked one of the members what our attendance was and he said it was 96. So get pumped! Talk about a jump! Part of the reason was cuz it wasn't raining from 8-9:30 so it gave people a chance to get to church...haha But I also give credit to the members! We had a lot more people that we're actually teaching/reactivating come to church. And like last week we worked all week and never really got any members to work with us or help us and then Sunday came and no one came to church! But this week we had a couple days where we had members to help us. One of the evenings, the Relief Society President and one of her kids worked with us and that was after she had just finished doing some visiting teaching, so that was awesome! Especially cuz here (meaning the Philippines as a whole; but overall the church as a whole here is starting to pick it up =) ) NO ONE does home teaching or visiting teaching. #BigProblem Almost everyone that we visited with members, made it to church this week! So yeah. . .members are important! That means you guys in the Effingham Branch! Let's become a ward! =D I read this talk a while back by Elder Perry and I think I probably mentioned it then but it was one of the best talks I've read on my mission and its called Bring Souls Unto Me. Read it! President Monson is quoted in it saying, "There is no substitute for a member-oriented proselyting program. Tracting will not substitute for it. Golden questions will not substitute for it. A member-oriented program is the key to success, and it works wherever we try it. Hear that?? Everywhere! Its goin work here in Ternate! And it can work in Effingham! =D
It was also really cool this week to see the Lord leading us to people that needed to be found! He did it in so many ways it was cool! First, on the last Preparation day we rode a tricycle and found out that the driver was a in-active member! And he served a mission! And was sealed to his wife in the temple! Now thats someone you NEED in a small branch like this. And we were able to agree to meet with him this past week and it went well! Then another time we went out to visit a family that we teach regularly. Well they ended up not being there but because their next door neighbors (mother, and brothers and sisers of the father that we visit) saw us and called us over we found out that that whole family were members and not just the ones we usually visit! They were just shy and weren't too keen on coming back to church but then I guess they had been talking about how they missed the church and then we showed up and didn't have anywhere to go! And because we were able to meet them and share with them the family that we were regularly visiting and much of the ones we just met were all able to go back to church for the fist time this past Sunday! And then the other came in the form of a referral! We had a branch activity Friday night at which I was asked to give a short spiritual thought. So I of course did. And as soon as I went back to my seat, one of the ladies in our branch came over and told me about this less-active family that she wanted us to visit because none of their kids are baptized yet! So we were able to talk to them this week too! And that was an awesome lesson! So yeah. . . the Lord works in so many different ways! It was an awesome week!
In other news, the Ternate elders found out that when you combine awesome with awesome with some more awesome you get the TerNasty! And its even awesomer yet! We decided we deserved to party upon the arrival of our blender. So we bought some ice cream, cookies and fudgee bars and blended it all together with ice and it was like the greatest thing ever.. haha
In other news thats more related to missionary work, the real transfer day is coming up this Wednesday and I'm pretty sure Elder Handy and I are staying! haha Go figure. . we've been together for two weeks.. haha But President called me last night and said he's, actually he said the Lord is issuing me the assignment to be a district leader this next transfer. Ugh..ish haha Now I'm goin have to teach district meeting and I still hateee teaching/talking in front of groups of people. haha Good luck to me! haha
Well thats about it for the week! Hope you all had a great one as well! I doubt it was as good as mine though... haha =D Keep being awesome!
Love you all!
Elder Michael Gadberry
Pictures!
0374-381 -- our Zone Activity on Monday. We had a Zone FHE it was great! The ones with Elder Handy and Elder McGowen and Elder Griffen are pictures of the greatest debate that ever took place..haha We were all crying cuz we were laughing so hard. The final point was: Elder Handy - "So what you're saying is which ever one of us can make the better Chewbacca sound is the winner?" Elder McGowen - "That's exactly what I'm saying." And then my incredibly talented companion trounced him for the win! haha
0384-0391 -- Pictures around Ternate
0392/0393 -- This is Totoy Dingco! We're teaching him and reactivating his family. He's legit! Always reading his Book of Mormon and is just like legit, period. And that is his bike that is way too small for Elder Handy
402 -- I lost a game that we were playing with a family and I had to sing a favorite hymn while acting like a gorilla... uh yeah..
404/405 -- Our meetinghouse!
406-410 -- One of our service projects is making a garden for the little guy in the red. Good stuff!
411-413 -- The TerNasty!
415-469 -- Pictures around Ternate
This emails coming out from the incredibly rainy Ternate, Cavite! Its raining right now! And it rained yesterday! And the day before! and the day before that and the day before that and the day before that and the day before that and the day before that and the day before that! Okay to be honest I'm not really sure where that puts me in the week but I'm fairly certain its an accurate statement. Whenever its rainy and like stormy (stormy here is different than other places. Here its just like wind and rain and not too much thunder and lightning) but when we have a "bagyo" the kids don't have school sometimes. And this whole week there was no school. You know whats weird? The kids here are sad when they don't have school! #CultureDifferences haha And like the kids we weren't able to do a whole lot of work... Just kidding! We rocked it this week and got soaked doing it! We had a better week this week than last week it was awesome!
Nothing much new to report from this week other than soccer conditioning started. Do you miss that???
Oh yeah! Sobra! I still remember the terrible Michael Gadberry that would get to 6am soccer practice at 5:30 with no problems but at the same time you couldn't pay him to get to seminary on time. . . and that didn't even start till 6:30.. =D How'd that work?? #QuestionsThatTranscendMortality haha Just yesterday I was walking home with soaked shoes and socks and it was kinda annoying but I was like I don't know why I'm complaining cuz with early morning soccer practices my socks were always soaked and it wasn't that bad.. haha Believe it or not my 6'7" companion was a basketball player in high school, so we talk high school sports and what not every once and a while...good times! haha
Remember Casey (second cousin) that we went skiing with? He is working for Goldman Sachs in Chicago now. He said to tell you Hi.
Yup! Sure do! Thats pretty legit! I say kumusta ka na?? Paki-sabi sa mga bosses mo na dapat nila akong upahan pagtapos ko ng college.
Did you know that Grandma Gadberry is turning 70 this year?
70?? Way... I thought she was like 45, tops. haha That's exciting! She should serve a mission cuz the Paddocks are 72! haha =)
So looking at a map, it looks like you are right at the mouth of Manila Bay. It looks like you are about an hour away from Manila depending on traffic. Is that right?
Sounds right to me! Well. . . I think its usually like 2 hrs from Manila on good days even. I think Elder Stirland (finished off his mission in Naic) said sometimes it takes even longer than that if its like ma-traffic, like especially in the afternoons/after work. But yeah I think we're real close to the ocean or the bay cuz there's this bridge we walk over everyday thats this really big river that I think empties into the ocean or whatever and its got smallish island in the middle called Balot Island. I've got pictures of the river that I've probably sent already and I've got some more in this one too.
Sister Dietrich posted a couple of pictures of you and your new comp and new area. Looks nice! Hows the apartment?
Yeah, the Dietrich's came and hooked us up! It was awesome! I heart them. The apartments great! I think I sent some pics of it but I'm not too sure. But its a pretty new apartment and its a good size and still in good shape so thats good. It doesn't have hot water though...haha so that's taken a little big of time to get used to again.. haha
So this week has been awesome! Our work this week lessons wise was about the same but the other stuff went up so it was really cool! We had a ton more people at church this week! I asked one of the members what our attendance was and he said it was 96. So get pumped! Talk about a jump! Part of the reason was cuz it wasn't raining from 8-9:30 so it gave people a chance to get to church...haha But I also give credit to the members! We had a lot more people that we're actually teaching/reactivating come to church. And like last week we worked all week and never really got any members to work with us or help us and then Sunday came and no one came to church! But this week we had a couple days where we had members to help us. One of the evenings, the Relief Society President and one of her kids worked with us and that was after she had just finished doing some visiting teaching, so that was awesome! Especially cuz here (meaning the Philippines as a whole; but overall the church as a whole here is starting to pick it up =) ) NO ONE does home teaching or visiting teaching. #BigProblem Almost everyone that we visited with members, made it to church this week! So yeah. . .members are important! That means you guys in the Effingham Branch! Let's become a ward! =D I read this talk a while back by Elder Perry and I think I probably mentioned it then but it was one of the best talks I've read on my mission and its called Bring Souls Unto Me. Read it! President Monson is quoted in it saying, "There is no substitute for a member-oriented proselyting program. Tracting will not substitute for it. Golden questions will not substitute for it. A member-oriented program is the key to success, and it works wherever we try it. Hear that?? Everywhere! Its goin work here in Ternate! And it can work in Effingham! =D
It was also really cool this week to see the Lord leading us to people that needed to be found! He did it in so many ways it was cool! First, on the last Preparation day we rode a tricycle and found out that the driver was a in-active member! And he served a mission! And was sealed to his wife in the temple! Now thats someone you NEED in a small branch like this. And we were able to agree to meet with him this past week and it went well! Then another time we went out to visit a family that we teach regularly. Well they ended up not being there but because their next door neighbors (mother, and brothers and sisers of the father that we visit) saw us and called us over we found out that that whole family were members and not just the ones we usually visit! They were just shy and weren't too keen on coming back to church but then I guess they had been talking about how they missed the church and then we showed up and didn't have anywhere to go! And because we were able to meet them and share with them the family that we were regularly visiting and much of the ones we just met were all able to go back to church for the fist time this past Sunday! And then the other came in the form of a referral! We had a branch activity Friday night at which I was asked to give a short spiritual thought. So I of course did. And as soon as I went back to my seat, one of the ladies in our branch came over and told me about this less-active family that she wanted us to visit because none of their kids are baptized yet! So we were able to talk to them this week too! And that was an awesome lesson! So yeah. . . the Lord works in so many different ways! It was an awesome week!
In other news, the Ternate elders found out that when you combine awesome with awesome with some more awesome you get the TerNasty! And its even awesomer yet! We decided we deserved to party upon the arrival of our blender. So we bought some ice cream, cookies and fudgee bars and blended it all together with ice and it was like the greatest thing ever.. haha
In other news thats more related to missionary work, the real transfer day is coming up this Wednesday and I'm pretty sure Elder Handy and I are staying! haha Go figure. . we've been together for two weeks.. haha But President called me last night and said he's, actually he said the Lord is issuing me the assignment to be a district leader this next transfer. Ugh..ish haha Now I'm goin have to teach district meeting and I still hateee teaching/talking in front of groups of people. haha Good luck to me! haha
Well thats about it for the week! Hope you all had a great one as well! I doubt it was as good as mine though... haha =D Keep being awesome!
Love you all!
Elder Michael Gadberry
Pictures!
0374-381 -- our Zone Activity on Monday. We had a Zone FHE it was great! The ones with Elder Handy and Elder McGowen and Elder Griffen are pictures of the greatest debate that ever took place..haha We were all crying cuz we were laughing so hard. The final point was: Elder Handy - "So what you're saying is which ever one of us can make the better Chewbacca sound is the winner?" Elder McGowen - "That's exactly what I'm saying." And then my incredibly talented companion trounced him for the win! haha
0384-0391 -- Pictures around Ternate
0392/0393 -- This is Totoy Dingco! We're teaching him and reactivating his family. He's legit! Always reading his Book of Mormon and is just like legit, period. And that is his bike that is way too small for Elder Handy
402 -- I lost a game that we were playing with a family and I had to sing a favorite hymn while acting like a gorilla... uh yeah..
404/405 -- Our meetinghouse!
406-410 -- One of our service projects is making a garden for the little guy in the red. Good stuff!
411-413 -- The TerNasty!
415-469 -- Pictures around Ternate
July 29, 2012 E-mail
Alriiiight! =D
What's up ya'll I'm just kickin it in the most province area of the mission that isn't in Narra or Coron. . .Ternate, Cavite! It's cool! I'm lovin it like hard core! It's been a crazy awesome week! So my parents finallyyy have some questions for me.. haha
So what's the new area like?
So the new area is Ternate, Cavite! It's pretty legit! It's kinda like Effingham . . . except its in the Philippines, it has palm trees instead of regular trees, rice fields instead of corn fields, doesn't have McDonalds, or Wendys, or Arbys, or Steak and Shake, or B-Dubs or . . . okay maybe its kinda a stretch to compare it to Effingham but yeah. . . hahaha
Size?
Huge! It's awesome! Cuz my last area was tiny..haha Yeah..its pretty big. I don't know how big cuz idk the literal size of it or anything but its pretty huge.
Location?
It's the very end of our mission kinda close to the San Pablo mission I'm pretty sure. We're right there on the coast too next to the ocean I think... Basta there's a huge body of water right next to us so I'm thinkin thats the ocean..haha
Members at church?
Yeah. . . about that.. It was kinda like Coron! haha It was pouringgg on Sunday, and its like pulling teeth to try and get people to go to church in the rain.. So yeah my first Sunday here we didn't have very many people there. They said usually in that weather its like 40 people at church but we didn't even have that I dont think. But the Branch seems cool. Its kinda like a bigger Coron cuz its still pretty small and really lacking in priesthood but full of children...haha Well I can't really judge yet but thats what I've been told.
Scenery?
It's super maganda! It's been raining allllllll week but its soooo green and theres lots of mountains around and rice fields and the ocean is pretty close. Check the pics!
New companion?
The new comp is Elder Handy! He's pretty legit. He's 6'7" so yeah. . . he gets a lot of attention in a country where even I'm considered tall...haha He's from SLC, so tell Jackson, oops..Elder Alvey! to hit up his family.. So yeah.. we're rockin it here in Ternate. It's fun!
Investigators?
Investigators are good! Here in Ternate we found out yesterday that we have 440 members on our CMIS.. and um like 40 came to church.. #Problem. So we actually got to sit down with the Branch President and him and one of his counselors went through our entire CMIS and marked those that were Less-Active and those that had moved away. So we found out that theres a bunch that had moved away on the roles and also a fair amount that had died already that were on the roles..haha So this whole week we focused mostly on LAs and managed to teach a ton of Less-Active lessons.
Back to getting stuff late? Did you ever get the envelope with the Conference Ensign?
Yep. =( haha But the Dietrich's went and visited the Paddocks (the Paddocks are the Senior Couple over my zone the Naic Zone) on Saturday and they brought me that package you sent. THANKS! And they also brought us a ton of goodies like DiGorneo Pizzas, Oreas, Chips, soda, candy....yeah. . .they heart me! hahaha oh and yeah I did get that! Thanks for that too!
Dad said Darsh, Dusty, and Nicole are planning on coming by Thurs evening to visit, any messages for them?
Nice! Umm.. I've heard from Dusty every now and then. Darsh I haven't heard from for forever and its been a while too that I've heard from Nicole.. but that could be because I haven't written her back maybe since her last letter..and probably the same thing for Darsh.. #Oops.
How much longer is the rainy season?
Umm...I'm not sure it ever ends.. haha We're in Typhoon Gener now. The storm last night was crazy! Super high winds, lots and lots of rain, no electricity, and it was just a par-tay let me tell you! haha Did you know that in the Philippines, when they name their storms they start with A and then go B, C, D, etc. #FunFact Is that what they do in the states? Last weeks storm (while I was still in Mandaluyong was Fergie...haha)
So yeah... this week was awesome! I got a call from President Stucki last Saturday afternoon and he was like I know its early but do you think that Elder Grob could handle fully taking over the finances even though it was a couple weeks early. Of course, I assured him of the proficiency of my more than capable prodigy known as Elder Grob..haha He thanked me for the info and said he'd call me again later that day. So later, he called and said that he had been praying and pondering and going up and down the mission roster and he feels that I am the one needed to go to Ternate and become companions with Elder Handy. It was a really great conversation, and I was definitely more than a little surprised because I would be leaving on Monday, two days later.. haha So I was pretty pumped but like determined to rock, what seemed to me to be a special assignment coming from the Lord. Elder Grob on the other hand was more than a little stressed... haha
So Monday we got to Ternate and finished up the preparation day and got immediately to work! It's been such an awesome week of work. I've just barely met all these people but I already love them. I'm so pumped to be working here. I've actually heard kinda a lot about the area because Elder Pugmire, Elder Spencer, and Elder Wong were all assigned here and a few other missionaries that I know but haven't mentioned before in my emails.
I'm definitely lovin my district too! haha Elder Osumo is my DL again so I'm more than pumped to get to be with him again. And Sister Afu from the MTC is in my district too!!! Get pumped!
We had one pretty cool experience this week in our companionship. It was like a huge miracle but it was a small miracle nonetheless. We were planning in our companionship for the lessons we were going to teach that day and we couldn't figure out what to teach the Enriquez family. So we stopped and said a prayer. Then Elder Handy suggested a scripture that we could share and finally we had a scripture that just felt right with the lesson we were preparing. So later that evening we arrived at their house. We shared our lesson that we had prepared and when we shared that scripture it really touched their hearts and they really opened up to us and we were able to discuss some things that were really concerned them. And even since then, they've been more open with us and it's all because the Lord blessed us to know what it was that we needed to share at that time to that family. =D
So yeah. I guess thats enough for this week. A lot of info and at least one pretty cool experience! Hope all is still well with you all! Oh yeah! I got a letter too from the YW in our branch! THANKS! I appreciate it! #MailRocks haha Ingat po kayo!
Love
Elder Michael Gadberry
Pictures
My Exodus of the Office
Ternate!
My Super-Tall Weirdy of a Companion..haha jk he's awesome
What's up ya'll I'm just kickin it in the most province area of the mission that isn't in Narra or Coron. . .Ternate, Cavite! It's cool! I'm lovin it like hard core! It's been a crazy awesome week! So my parents finallyyy have some questions for me.. haha
So what's the new area like?
So the new area is Ternate, Cavite! It's pretty legit! It's kinda like Effingham . . . except its in the Philippines, it has palm trees instead of regular trees, rice fields instead of corn fields, doesn't have McDonalds, or Wendys, or Arbys, or Steak and Shake, or B-Dubs or . . . okay maybe its kinda a stretch to compare it to Effingham but yeah. . . hahaha
Size?
Huge! It's awesome! Cuz my last area was tiny..haha Yeah..its pretty big. I don't know how big cuz idk the literal size of it or anything but its pretty huge.
Location?
It's the very end of our mission kinda close to the San Pablo mission I'm pretty sure. We're right there on the coast too next to the ocean I think... Basta there's a huge body of water right next to us so I'm thinkin thats the ocean..haha
Members at church?
Yeah. . . about that.. It was kinda like Coron! haha It was pouringgg on Sunday, and its like pulling teeth to try and get people to go to church in the rain.. So yeah my first Sunday here we didn't have very many people there. They said usually in that weather its like 40 people at church but we didn't even have that I dont think. But the Branch seems cool. Its kinda like a bigger Coron cuz its still pretty small and really lacking in priesthood but full of children...haha Well I can't really judge yet but thats what I've been told.
Scenery?
It's super maganda! It's been raining allllllll week but its soooo green and theres lots of mountains around and rice fields and the ocean is pretty close. Check the pics!
New companion?
The new comp is Elder Handy! He's pretty legit. He's 6'7" so yeah. . . he gets a lot of attention in a country where even I'm considered tall...haha He's from SLC, so tell Jackson, oops..Elder Alvey! to hit up his family.. So yeah.. we're rockin it here in Ternate. It's fun!
Investigators?
Investigators are good! Here in Ternate we found out yesterday that we have 440 members on our CMIS.. and um like 40 came to church.. #Problem. So we actually got to sit down with the Branch President and him and one of his counselors went through our entire CMIS and marked those that were Less-Active and those that had moved away. So we found out that theres a bunch that had moved away on the roles and also a fair amount that had died already that were on the roles..haha So this whole week we focused mostly on LAs and managed to teach a ton of Less-Active lessons.
Back to getting stuff late? Did you ever get the envelope with the Conference Ensign?
Yep. =( haha But the Dietrich's went and visited the Paddocks (the Paddocks are the Senior Couple over my zone the Naic Zone) on Saturday and they brought me that package you sent. THANKS! And they also brought us a ton of goodies like DiGorneo Pizzas, Oreas, Chips, soda, candy....yeah. . .they heart me! hahaha oh and yeah I did get that! Thanks for that too!
Dad said Darsh, Dusty, and Nicole are planning on coming by Thurs evening to visit, any messages for them?
Nice! Umm.. I've heard from Dusty every now and then. Darsh I haven't heard from for forever and its been a while too that I've heard from Nicole.. but that could be because I haven't written her back maybe since her last letter..and probably the same thing for Darsh.. #Oops.
How much longer is the rainy season?
Umm...I'm not sure it ever ends.. haha We're in Typhoon Gener now. The storm last night was crazy! Super high winds, lots and lots of rain, no electricity, and it was just a par-tay let me tell you! haha Did you know that in the Philippines, when they name their storms they start with A and then go B, C, D, etc. #FunFact Is that what they do in the states? Last weeks storm (while I was still in Mandaluyong was Fergie...haha)
So yeah... this week was awesome! I got a call from President Stucki last Saturday afternoon and he was like I know its early but do you think that Elder Grob could handle fully taking over the finances even though it was a couple weeks early. Of course, I assured him of the proficiency of my more than capable prodigy known as Elder Grob..haha He thanked me for the info and said he'd call me again later that day. So later, he called and said that he had been praying and pondering and going up and down the mission roster and he feels that I am the one needed to go to Ternate and become companions with Elder Handy. It was a really great conversation, and I was definitely more than a little surprised because I would be leaving on Monday, two days later.. haha So I was pretty pumped but like determined to rock, what seemed to me to be a special assignment coming from the Lord. Elder Grob on the other hand was more than a little stressed... haha
So Monday we got to Ternate and finished up the preparation day and got immediately to work! It's been such an awesome week of work. I've just barely met all these people but I already love them. I'm so pumped to be working here. I've actually heard kinda a lot about the area because Elder Pugmire, Elder Spencer, and Elder Wong were all assigned here and a few other missionaries that I know but haven't mentioned before in my emails.
I'm definitely lovin my district too! haha Elder Osumo is my DL again so I'm more than pumped to get to be with him again. And Sister Afu from the MTC is in my district too!!! Get pumped!
We had one pretty cool experience this week in our companionship. It was like a huge miracle but it was a small miracle nonetheless. We were planning in our companionship for the lessons we were going to teach that day and we couldn't figure out what to teach the Enriquez family. So we stopped and said a prayer. Then Elder Handy suggested a scripture that we could share and finally we had a scripture that just felt right with the lesson we were preparing. So later that evening we arrived at their house. We shared our lesson that we had prepared and when we shared that scripture it really touched their hearts and they really opened up to us and we were able to discuss some things that were really concerned them. And even since then, they've been more open with us and it's all because the Lord blessed us to know what it was that we needed to share at that time to that family. =D
So yeah. I guess thats enough for this week. A lot of info and at least one pretty cool experience! Hope all is still well with you all! Oh yeah! I got a letter too from the YW in our branch! THANKS! I appreciate it! #MailRocks haha Ingat po kayo!
Love
Elder Michael Gadberry
Pictures
My Exodus of the Office
Ternate!
My Super-Tall Weirdy of a Companion..haha jk he's awesome
July 22, 2012 E-mail!
Michael's latest complete with a line or two from us and a few lines from Darshan and Tyler. Enjoy...
Hey ya'll!
Hey ya'll!
It's been a wonderful week here! I've loved it! I don't think I have too much time so I'll get right to the deets.
It's Friday night and Tyler Semple and Darsh are here meeting your brother and you aren't.
Aw sad... I miss them! Tell them hi for me! That's legit that Darsh brought you clothes for Bunso! #Darsh4President
Are you going to be in for a shock when you get back out into full time missionary work again?
Of course not! It's not terribly hot here right now it just rains and rains and rains and rains and rains and rains and rains! It's so fun! We got like soaked and a half so much this week. It was great!
P.S. Your mother and father were gracious enough to let me (Tyler (S)) and D-Wizziique (Darshan (S)) take over the key board for a few closing notes. We just destroyed your dad and brothers in ping pong, held Sam (D-Wizz got to feed him), and we are now putting him and your parents to bed. So.... we hope things continue to go well over yonder and we anticipate your return! Have fun and get it!!!
Aww thanks guys! hahaha Heart you too! I didn't know Darsh was such a talented guy when it comes to babies... Hear that ladies?? Such a kind, caring, strong, manly man... And he's single! Well I think so.. I'm not too sure..
So this week was pretty awesome! One of the things that I started doing this week thats been really really cool is every evening after we get home and plan and all that jazz, I kinda ponder my day. I review the goods and the bads and the shouldas and the couldas and all that, and then I pick out three events during the day in which I saw the hand of the Lord working in my life. It's really cool! It's really helped me better realize how intertwined the Lord actually is in our lives, not just as missionaries but I would encourage all people to try doing something like this. It's helped me more grateful, more full of faith, and better able to recognize the Lord's hand in my life. Sometimes its real easy and other times its hard, but its a cool thing to try! Give it a shot!
So Monday was pretty awesome! I hearted it! That guy that came into the office last week that couldnt talk or hear, he came back on Monday and Elder Baltazar and I got to help him out! It was awesome! That guy's way good and super nice. I hope he's able to continue gettin along. Monday night's work in the area really strengthened my testimony of planning and goal setting. Last week, we set the goal to find at least one new investigator every day. To be a new investigator it has to be someone that we taught a lesson and they have agreed to a return appointment. And we wanted like legit new investigators not just whoever. So we hit the area that night with a couple appointments and that in mind. We didn't really know where to start looking or talking to people so we went down this little road and just stopped cuz they were shooting a TV Show called "Batang Ama" at the end of the street. Some people there just started talking to us like saying hey they're shooting down there you can't go through. So we just stopped and started talking to them. And from that we found two new investigators! And the star of the show, JM DeGuzman , even walked by and shook my hand..hahaha So we were more than pumped after that, so we continued. And we had planned to just stop by Mark, one of our LAs. And it was perfect! It was the one day of the week where his wife was there so we got to teach those two together and we got another new investigator! Mark was more than pumped that we were able to share with his wife. He said if his wife got baptized that would be like the greatest thing for him. And then we went home and partied. haha just kidding but it was an incredible night!
Tuesday we had a pretty awesome experience too! We got to teach one of our investigators, Jaycee! We taught him about the priesthood, and the restoration. Then we gave him a baptismal date! He asked us great questions I remember, like how do you know if someone actually has the priesthood? And why's important to have it? So we're pumped for him. He accepted the invitation on the grounds that when he prays he feels that what we're teaching him is true.
Wednesday was pretty interesting and legit too! In our area that night we only had a couple of appointments. The first one was at the Gozon's and we were able to share a good message with them. We were hoping to get to visit with Brother Gozon, too, but he was busy and not in a very good mood..haha But it was okay cuz we were able to do what we needed to do. Cuz at the end of the lesson we asked Sister if there was anything that we could do to help her and she asked if we could give her a blessing and we of course obliged. It was a cool lesson cuz it was one of those lessons that when we first got there she was kinda quiet and visibly weighed down, but by the time we left she was happy and joking and her mood completely changed. I love those lessons! Isn't the gospel and the Spirit great?? Later that evening we visited our old ladies and it was great! Except the one we were hoping to be there wasn't there! She had gone to bed already.. =( But the cool thing was, when we were kinda getting ready to wrap up. She came down the stairs! She was like, "Alam nyo? Bumaba lang ako kasi gusto ko ng blessing." or in english...She came down cuz she heard us and wanted a blessing. So blessing round two! Pretty cool! And then we headed home!
Thursday was rain day round one! We didn't have any umbrellas. So what did I do? I found the biggest leaf I could and covered my head with it! THE WORK MUST GO ON! hahaha We were getting soakeddd. One time Elder Pugmire was like, watch this. Then he went and called this little kid over and shared his umbrella with him. It was pretty hilarious.. haha But that doesn't even compare to Friday
Friday, was interesting at first cuz we were going to wake up early but I didn't hear my alarm go off. But luckily my phone rang right at 6:31am so that acted as the alarm..haha The Lord's helpin me out! I woke up and woke up the other two and gave the phone to Elder Grob cuz I didn't wanna deal with problems at 6:30 in the morning..haha The day went pretty good and the night in the area was FUN! We were working and happened to stop by Burger Machine to talk to Ronald. And then it started POURRRRRRRINGGGGGGGGGGG like seriously, pouring talaga. We took cover there and watched the roads turn into rivers, like seriously, a river. hahaha Like seriously. Eventually we were like welp..we gotta go I guess.. So our buddy Ronald offered us trash bags! Cuz again....we didn't have umbrellas..haha So we got prepped. Took off our socks, rolled up our pants, cut head holes in our trash bags and went trompin down the knee high, super nasty water, in the streets of Mandaluyong.. It was probably one of the funnest things ever! People always looked at us and I was givin out shouts of joy and just lovin it!
Then today..we were asked to go give the sisters in our district a blessing cuz she was pretty sick. And guess what! All their roads were flooded too! Gotta love floods! I think the water is like super nasty but its fun.. =D
Well I'mma get rollin! I'll talk to you all later! Have an awesome week!
Love
Elder Michael Gadberry
July 15, 2012 E-mail
Family, Friends, and esteemed guests of honor,
How goes it? Good! =D
So, what's the deal with your new companion/replacement? How's it going?
It's goin good! His name's Elder Grob from Winona, Kansas. Ever heard of it? Yeah me neither..haha It's a town even smaller than Effingham! Or like even Stew-Stras for that matter! They've got a population "daw" of 250. Pretty crazy. But he's great! We get along way well. Reppin the Em-Dub! Points to those who can decipher Em-Dub. We spent like our entire first couple weeks talkin baseball and basketball. Just to let you know Huey, you're not the only Royals fan on the face of the earth...haha But yeah he had to get surgery done on his knee cuz it was causing him a bunch of problems (hence the pics last week). But now he's doin good. He's pickin up finances way fast and our area's pickin up too! Just doin our thang out here in the Philippines.
Has the other member family that you found come to church?
I'm not too sure which one you're referencing, but I think you might be talking about the Domingo family that we just recently found out that they are in our area. But yeah, they go to church I'm pretty sure every week cuz I remember seeing them there we just didn't know that they were in our area. That family is way cool! I can't remember if I told you about them the other time or not, but they're so strong and have awesome testimonies. The mother of the family has parents that are super against her being a member of the church, so they are like telling all her kids this anti-mormon garbage and it's really hurting her and working in one case that has her heart broken.. But at one point her father "daw" held up a knife to her and was like you're quitting that church now or else. She said that she had her mind made up, she could die right then but at least she's dying for what's right. #PrettyCrazy
How are things going with Ditz? The experiences with the first lesson and with praying sounded super cool! You never told us what he told you about praying when you went on Thurs. (a couple of weeks ago). urgh! #lefthangingsucks (look I'm #hashtag cool like you!)
Yes, mom. You're way cool. #MyMomIsCool. haha I know I never told! There hasn't been a second visit yet! UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Like seriously. ugh. He still has been in contact with us fairly frequently but that's usually to say "Elders! Can you come over tomorrow around six?? I'm excited to learn more!" and then tomorrow comes and he texts again, "I'm super sorry elders! This and this came up and we're going to have to reset our appointment." UGHHHHHH! So yeah... #Frustration. But he's still awesome! And I'm pumped to go back . . . sometime. haha =D
Any guesses as to where you will be going when you transfer out of the office???
Coron. =D hahaha Nah, I haven't heard anything. I don't really care. If I could pick I'd def pick Coron, but I'll go where ever. I'm kinda nervous about going back to the field cuz it's like I'm a regular missionary again and I don't know how well I'll do.. Cuz our area in the office has struggled.. It's super tough. So I'm like uhh..what happens with this happens again in my next area? But I've definitely learned to appreciate success more cuz some of the frustrating days here. And frustrating days still aren't even that bad...just not that great. =)
Remember when you were brand new in the position and had no idea how you were going to get all of this stuff figured out?
Oh yeah I do! That seems super not long ago.. But at the same time I've been here for over 7 months now! Crazy! In some ways I'm ready to turn the reigns over to someone else...haha Elder Grob is like yeah...I'm going to be calling you everyday once you leave to figure out how I'm But all the people in our area...I'm def goin miss them! But I've still got like 3 weeks left! So I'm pumped for those three weeks. #FinishStrong.
Well I'm sorry....I don't have too much time this week! Hope you guys have a great week! I'll put some pics on here though for you.
Love you!
Elder Michael Gadberry
Pictures
Pugmire rockin the seat from the van..haha
Pretty legit jeepney in our area
Cool Mango jam jar!
Long story - We have companionship socks...haha And we like green jello in green shirts. That's how we roll.
Grob chillin
Elder Pugmire takin notes from somethin or other.
The temple!
That's probably the shortest I've ever had my hair... I don't know how I feel about it yet but I wanted to give it a shot.. We'll see!
How goes it? Good! =D
So, what's the deal with your new companion/replacement? How's it going?
It's goin good! His name's Elder Grob from Winona, Kansas. Ever heard of it? Yeah me neither..haha It's a town even smaller than Effingham! Or like even Stew-Stras for that matter! They've got a population "daw" of 250. Pretty crazy. But he's great! We get along way well. Reppin the Em-Dub! Points to those who can decipher Em-Dub. We spent like our entire first couple weeks talkin baseball and basketball. Just to let you know Huey, you're not the only Royals fan on the face of the earth...haha But yeah he had to get surgery done on his knee cuz it was causing him a bunch of problems (hence the pics last week). But now he's doin good. He's pickin up finances way fast and our area's pickin up too! Just doin our thang out here in the Philippines.
Has the other member family that you found come to church?
I'm not too sure which one you're referencing, but I think you might be talking about the Domingo family that we just recently found out that they are in our area. But yeah, they go to church I'm pretty sure every week cuz I remember seeing them there we just didn't know that they were in our area. That family is way cool! I can't remember if I told you about them the other time or not, but they're so strong and have awesome testimonies. The mother of the family has parents that are super against her being a member of the church, so they are like telling all her kids this anti-mormon garbage and it's really hurting her and working in one case that has her heart broken.. But at one point her father "daw" held up a knife to her and was like you're quitting that church now or else. She said that she had her mind made up, she could die right then but at least she's dying for what's right. #PrettyCrazy
How are things going with Ditz? The experiences with the first lesson and with praying sounded super cool! You never told us what he told you about praying when you went on Thurs. (a couple of weeks ago). urgh! #lefthangingsucks (look I'm #hashtag cool like you!)
Yes, mom. You're way cool. #MyMomIsCool. haha I know I never told! There hasn't been a second visit yet! UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Like seriously. ugh. He still has been in contact with us fairly frequently but that's usually to say "Elders! Can you come over tomorrow around six?? I'm excited to learn more!" and then tomorrow comes and he texts again, "I'm super sorry elders! This and this came up and we're going to have to reset our appointment." UGHHHHHH! So yeah... #Frustration. But he's still awesome! And I'm pumped to go back . . . sometime. haha =D
Any guesses as to where you will be going when you transfer out of the office???
Coron. =D hahaha Nah, I haven't heard anything. I don't really care. If I could pick I'd def pick Coron, but I'll go where ever. I'm kinda nervous about going back to the field cuz it's like I'm a regular missionary again and I don't know how well I'll do.. Cuz our area in the office has struggled.. It's super tough. So I'm like uhh..what happens with this happens again in my next area? But I've definitely learned to appreciate success more cuz some of the frustrating days here. And frustrating days still aren't even that bad...just not that great. =)
Remember when you were brand new in the position and had no idea how you were going to get all of this stuff figured out?
Oh yeah I do! That seems super not long ago.. But at the same time I've been here for over 7 months now! Crazy! In some ways I'm ready to turn the reigns over to someone else...haha Elder Grob is like yeah...I'm going to be calling you everyday once you leave to figure out how I'm But all the people in our area...I'm def goin miss them! But I've still got like 3 weeks left! So I'm pumped for those three weeks. #FinishStrong.
Well I'm sorry....I don't have too much time this week! Hope you guys have a great week! I'll put some pics on here though for you.
Love you!
Elder Michael Gadberry
Pictures
Pugmire rockin the seat from the van..haha
Pretty legit jeepney in our area
Cool Mango jam jar!
Long story - We have companionship socks...haha And we like green jello in green shirts. That's how we roll.
Grob chillin
Elder Pugmire takin notes from somethin or other.
The temple!
That's probably the shortest I've ever had my hair... I don't know how I feel about it yet but I wanted to give it a shot.. We'll see!
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