=D
I'm STAYING IN CORON! =D I get to spend my birthday and Christmas here! Boom-shocka-locka! So yeah I'm pretty pumped about that. Elder Robbins and Elder Osumo are leaving....haha Elder Robbins was totally confident that me and Elder Osumo were leaving, and I kept telling him that he was the one leaving. And boom. He's out. I'm the last of the openers of Coron here! Rockin it.
This week I feel like I don't have too much to report, but I do have a ton of pictures so smile, because I love you.
So Tuesday we found out that Janise and Dante Anohan, who have been living together for ever but haven't been married cuz of laws here in the Philippines. Suddenly decided that they wanna get married. Which is awesome! Cuz once they're married Janise can receive a calling (responsibilities in the church), that will greatly help us, and Dante can get baptized! I was pumped to hear that! Also Sister Lagrosa recognized how fast I've learned to Tagalog and said that I know Cuyunen too and next is Visian haha Compliments are nice =). And lastly while we were visiting Sister Sengco. She stopped us and was like "I noticed something with you two." (I'm pretty sure she said all this in English, too haha) We were like "What?" She said, "You too have really good bonding." That like made my day! Cuz like my parents know, when I first started the companionship with Elder Bagahansol, I kinda struggled. I felt like we didn't really get along and we were just too different, and the language barrier was driving me nuts, but over this past transfer we've really worked really well together and I've really enjoyed working with him. So I'm more than happy to spend at least one more transfer with him. So cool.
On Wednesday, we had companionship exchanges and I worked with Elder Osumo. We were teaching about Ammon and sharing his story and Elder Osumo said that Ammon chopped off the hands of all the robbers and I was like wait isn't "arm," "braso?" And he looked at me weird and I was like so when the king so all the hands he asked his servants where are the rest of their arms?? (be tee dubs, it was really all in Tagalog of course) And then Sister Princess and I laughed really hard cuz it was hilarious, but maybe not hilarious to you guys. You had to be there. hahaha That night we taught another family and after the lesson the father was like it's better that you're here cuz I can understand what you're saying a lot better than Elder Robbins. Which was another nice little confidence booster. For the most people say that I'm doing better than him, but the thing is I think I'm just more confident when I speak Tagalog and he kinda freaks himself out a little and is way nervous it seems when he speaks to another Filipinos.
Thursday was Thanksgiving! My lunch was this delicious like soup of spices and vegetables with chicken in it and rice that I really like. I forgot what it's called haha But I always get it at the Carinderias. And dinner was homemade bread that we always buy from Pres Arnold and jam. haha Also, I talked to a couple guys from England! That was fun! So of course I asked them who their team was, and one of them said Arsenal so I can dig. haha
Friday as always we did service! We helped build a house for the seventh day adventist dude! I even have a pic of him for you haha I got to rock the machete again and we got super dirty! haha It was probably the funnest one yet. Also today was the day that I've officially been away from home/on my mission for 6 months! But only out in the field for four. It's been flying! So crazy how fast it goes!
Saturday really wasn't anything too exciting and Sunday was decent. I had to speak in sacrament meeting and it went really well I felt! It was about likening the scriptures to us. I hated talking in front of people in English, but now I have to do it in Tagalog. So when I have to do it again in English it better not freak me out! But I'm sure it still will...haha And that was about it for the week, like always it was a great week. Peace out homies!
Love
Elder Michael Gadberry
Pictures
283/284 -- Me messin with Elder Robbins's planner =)
300 -- Me and the Maanyo family, minus parents and Sara
301-310 -- Rockin the Uke
317 -- Gettin ice cream! That stuff was masarap!
319 -- Me and Bro Orlan candid
320-331 -- Baptism!
333-336 -- Fun after baptism
342 -- Chillin at Angelos house
349-357 -- Fishing adventures
364 -- Tonton rockin the lobster
366 -- I tried that as my ulam...Yeah that was not good at all...haha But cheese nips make a decent ulam.
371 -- The tamaran thingy that I ate and it was suuuuper sour, but kinda good.
372/373 -- Sweet basketball hoop we found!
376 -- Coron sign and view
378/379 -- Seashore pics
383 -- My to do list the Sunday I had to do the Sunday school lesson
385 -- Okay the sugar with the apple makes it freakin good! But is it still healthy?
393/394 -- Elder Robbins really wanted me to make hand turkeys with him, so I did. And he called my turkey an abomination to all hand turkeys and was rather upset...haha It was fun. Elder Robbins -- "I would like to say that Elder Gadberry completely desecrated the whole idea of hand turkeys, and I feel like it would be better to burn his picture than for an entire nation of hand turkeys to dwindle in abominations and whoredoms!! Robbins out!!"
397 -- Our 7th day superventist friend! hahaha
398-400 -- Workin on the house. Note my machete!
402-404 -- We were super dirty, so we took pictures.
410 -- Our turkeys on the fridge! Cuz that's where you put all works of art right?
414 -- Brother Orlan and I
417 -- Elder Bagahansol and Tonton
452-454 -- My ties! I'm goin keep a progression of all my ties as I gain and lose ties. Idea from Robbins, I dig it. Also, all my ties have names, it's cool, I'm cool.
481/482 -- What district meetings in Coron look like
492-509 -- Picture sesh after district meeting and while we were waiting for food! haha
Last one -- Us and Elder Ardern
Sunday, December 4, 2011
11-21-11 E-mail!
Hellooooo!
Guess what! I'm in the Philippines! Whoa! Crazy huh?! Guess what! I'm almost six months through my mission! =( =/ CRAZIER! So this week has been another great, we should know transfer announcements this upcoming Saturday! Whoa! No pictures this week cuz we're at a different internet shop and it like disabled my documents or somethin, I don't know. It's weird, so next week na lang!
So to answer a couple questions my mom asked. One: Sister Lagrosa did get baptized this weekend, it was great! =D The cool thing is, we now know the whole story of her disowning. So I guess like two Saturdays ago, her dad warned her that if she continued going to church and listening to the missionaries she would be kicked out. She ignored it and continued doing what was right. As she got ready to go to church Sunday morning her dad followed through on her threat and told her that if she left she couldnt come back. So she comes to church bawling but had already got the okay to live with some relatives. Later that night, she finds out that her parents want her back (kinda mostly cuz she does the washing and cooking..haha) but then she got taken back! So it was all good! So all in all kinda like a severe test of faith, and she rocked it! Two: "Are you still running or did the dogs scare you from exercise?" Well, I would still be running but higher authority, the ZLs I think, told us that we couldn't do splits of me and robbins to do that, so that kinda killed that one. =( And three: "You do realize how sad it is that you just barely cooked your first scrambled eggs right? Do you get to eat eggs often?" Yes, that's bad, BUT I'm not a big egg fan and better late than never right?! ha! And yes, everyone else in the apartment eats eggs for breakfast every day. They're about 6 pesos an egg so really cheap cuz there are chickens EVERYWHERE! They're really annoying. haha Oh and four, "What should we send you for Christmas?" haha well...... just kidding! Lots of letters =D Those are the best if you really wanna send me something. Okay moving onto this past week.
So Tuesday, I've got exciting news! I got to ring a doorbell! haha It was actually fairly exciting so don't laugh. There are no doorbells here! Later on in the day we saw Sister Aurora's husband and stopped to talk to him a little bit. He's pretty cool cuz he wants to join the church with his family but kinda doesnt wanna change but is really busy but knows he'll get baptized eventually haha (He, like half the other fathers here, are fisherman. And they are out fishing 5 of the 7 days of the week so they're often out at sea on Sunday and its really frustrating cuz we need priesthood holders) But Aurora's husband said that his son Renz (The adorable little guy that likes to wear his white school shirt to church to be like a missionary and wants to be a missionary when he grows up) always counsels his father. Everytime he sees him smoking he's like "Dad don't you know that that's bawal? Throw those away" or if he's drinking he tells him pretty much the same thing. Renz rocks! And we tracted (knocking doors) into our "friends" who are 7th Day "Super"-ventists haha It's like going to war talking to them, I'm really not a fan of that. Yet we've went there three times this past week cuz they're super friendly and say that they're receptive to our message but its like hard to get a word in with them haha. I think we're going there like one more time this week and if it goes how its been going this past week, wala na.
Nothing really exciting happened on Wednesday, sorry!
Oh geez....Thursday...haha We ate lunch and then went out and tracted for five hours straight! Oh geez that night, I was exhausted! But it was actually really pretty successful, probably cuz we honestly worked really hard. And it was surprisingly successful because its like hard to have success during the afternoon cuz everyone is either sleeping or working like I've said before haha, but it was a good time. I try to keep track of all the people we give pamphlets and talk to so that we can talk to them another time, there were so many people that I literally wrote "wayyyy too many people" under my "pamphlets" section of my notes in my planner. It was a good day though!
Friday we had Service, we just cleaned up a lot for a family by the church and organized all the junk that they keep so they can sell it haha. But I got to build a fire, being the great eagle scout I am haha so that was fun. And Sister Lagrosa and John Robert passed their interviews that day so they could be baptized on Saturday, woo!
Saturday, was the really the first "war of words" with the 7th day superventists we brought the ammunition of a couple RMs as well as us two haha. But it went pretty good, like I said earlier it just doesnt feel like the other lessons so it's kinda weird/annoying. Of course they made sure that we would return and talk again. But on the way to their house, I broke another tulay...hahaha That makes number two for me and I still get crap for the first one! I dont know why though cuz both Elder Robbins and Osumo had broken two tulays before I had broken my second one! Not fair! Then that night we had baptisms! It was like night baptisms haha cuz it was almost dark when we had them and the font is outside, so it was kinda fun cuz of that.
So Sunday was church! In correlation/PEC meeting that morning I learned that I have a ton more duties that they want me to do on top of what they already have me doing which hasnt been too bad yet. But ugh! But its all good =D I got this don't worry. Then I taught Sunday School! In the to-do list of my planner I wrote "Rock Sunday School Lesson" and then "Sunday School lesson." After the lesson I checked the Sunday School lesson box. I didn't feel like I rocked it but it went pretty well, I was content. And I found that I could say most everything I wanted to, so that was good! We had war number two with the superventists that night. This time we brought President Nepomuceno and he brought his brother hahaha Again they're super nice, but not much for listening. They believe (from what they've read on the internet) that all those who worship on Sunday are under the Pope. And that the Pope and Obama are going to ban all commercial activity all over the world on Sunday to the extent that you cant buy anything, you cant go anywhere and you can't even go to the hospital. So yeah...hahaha But on the bright side we started teaching a sweet family! They're asking super questions and seem to be really interested, I'm pumped!
Earlier this morning, we went fishing! =D I woke up at 5:45.. =( But its all good|! I didn't catch anything =( But Bogs caught a cool little fish and Tonton caught a little fish and a couple little crabs. So that was fun! I'll have pictures of it next week I think.
So this weeks been great! Hope I'm not transferred next week! Cya later! Ciao!
Love
Elder Michael Gadberry
Guess what! I'm in the Philippines! Whoa! Crazy huh?! Guess what! I'm almost six months through my mission! =( =/ CRAZIER! So this week has been another great, we should know transfer announcements this upcoming Saturday! Whoa! No pictures this week cuz we're at a different internet shop and it like disabled my documents or somethin, I don't know. It's weird, so next week na lang!
So to answer a couple questions my mom asked. One: Sister Lagrosa did get baptized this weekend, it was great! =D The cool thing is, we now know the whole story of her disowning. So I guess like two Saturdays ago, her dad warned her that if she continued going to church and listening to the missionaries she would be kicked out. She ignored it and continued doing what was right. As she got ready to go to church Sunday morning her dad followed through on her threat and told her that if she left she couldnt come back. So she comes to church bawling but had already got the okay to live with some relatives. Later that night, she finds out that her parents want her back (kinda mostly cuz she does the washing and cooking..haha) but then she got taken back! So it was all good! So all in all kinda like a severe test of faith, and she rocked it! Two: "Are you still running or did the dogs scare you from exercise?" Well, I would still be running but higher authority, the ZLs I think, told us that we couldn't do splits of me and robbins to do that, so that kinda killed that one. =( And three: "You do realize how sad it is that you just barely cooked your first scrambled eggs right? Do you get to eat eggs often?" Yes, that's bad, BUT I'm not a big egg fan and better late than never right?! ha! And yes, everyone else in the apartment eats eggs for breakfast every day. They're about 6 pesos an egg so really cheap cuz there are chickens EVERYWHERE! They're really annoying. haha Oh and four, "What should we send you for Christmas?" haha well...... just kidding! Lots of letters =D Those are the best if you really wanna send me something. Okay moving onto this past week.
So Tuesday, I've got exciting news! I got to ring a doorbell! haha It was actually fairly exciting so don't laugh. There are no doorbells here! Later on in the day we saw Sister Aurora's husband and stopped to talk to him a little bit. He's pretty cool cuz he wants to join the church with his family but kinda doesnt wanna change but is really busy but knows he'll get baptized eventually haha (He, like half the other fathers here, are fisherman. And they are out fishing 5 of the 7 days of the week so they're often out at sea on Sunday and its really frustrating cuz we need priesthood holders) But Aurora's husband said that his son Renz (The adorable little guy that likes to wear his white school shirt to church to be like a missionary and wants to be a missionary when he grows up) always counsels his father. Everytime he sees him smoking he's like "Dad don't you know that that's bawal? Throw those away" or if he's drinking he tells him pretty much the same thing. Renz rocks! And we tracted (knocking doors) into our "friends" who are 7th Day "Super"-ventists haha It's like going to war talking to them, I'm really not a fan of that. Yet we've went there three times this past week cuz they're super friendly and say that they're receptive to our message but its like hard to get a word in with them haha. I think we're going there like one more time this week and if it goes how its been going this past week, wala na.
Nothing really exciting happened on Wednesday, sorry!
Oh geez....Thursday...haha We ate lunch and then went out and tracted for five hours straight! Oh geez that night, I was exhausted! But it was actually really pretty successful, probably cuz we honestly worked really hard. And it was surprisingly successful because its like hard to have success during the afternoon cuz everyone is either sleeping or working like I've said before haha, but it was a good time. I try to keep track of all the people we give pamphlets and talk to so that we can talk to them another time, there were so many people that I literally wrote "wayyyy too many people" under my "pamphlets" section of my notes in my planner. It was a good day though!
Friday we had Service, we just cleaned up a lot for a family by the church and organized all the junk that they keep so they can sell it haha. But I got to build a fire, being the great eagle scout I am haha so that was fun. And Sister Lagrosa and John Robert passed their interviews that day so they could be baptized on Saturday, woo!
Saturday, was the really the first "war of words" with the 7th day superventists we brought the ammunition of a couple RMs as well as us two haha. But it went pretty good, like I said earlier it just doesnt feel like the other lessons so it's kinda weird/annoying. Of course they made sure that we would return and talk again. But on the way to their house, I broke another tulay...hahaha That makes number two for me and I still get crap for the first one! I dont know why though cuz both Elder Robbins and Osumo had broken two tulays before I had broken my second one! Not fair! Then that night we had baptisms! It was like night baptisms haha cuz it was almost dark when we had them and the font is outside, so it was kinda fun cuz of that.
So Sunday was church! In correlation/PEC meeting that morning I learned that I have a ton more duties that they want me to do on top of what they already have me doing which hasnt been too bad yet. But ugh! But its all good =D I got this don't worry. Then I taught Sunday School! In the to-do list of my planner I wrote "Rock Sunday School Lesson" and then "Sunday School lesson." After the lesson I checked the Sunday School lesson box. I didn't feel like I rocked it but it went pretty well, I was content. And I found that I could say most everything I wanted to, so that was good! We had war number two with the superventists that night. This time we brought President Nepomuceno and he brought his brother hahaha Again they're super nice, but not much for listening. They believe (from what they've read on the internet) that all those who worship on Sunday are under the Pope. And that the Pope and Obama are going to ban all commercial activity all over the world on Sunday to the extent that you cant buy anything, you cant go anywhere and you can't even go to the hospital. So yeah...hahaha But on the bright side we started teaching a sweet family! They're asking super questions and seem to be really interested, I'm pumped!
Earlier this morning, we went fishing! =D I woke up at 5:45.. =( But its all good|! I didn't catch anything =( But Bogs caught a cool little fish and Tonton caught a little fish and a couple little crabs. So that was fun! I'll have pictures of it next week I think.
So this weeks been great! Hope I'm not transferred next week! Cya later! Ciao!
Love
Elder Michael Gadberry
Sunday, November 20, 2011
11-14-11 E-mail!
What's up everyone, but my parents! (My parents didn't even send me an email this week so you guys should yell at them for being lame parents) =D
So this week has been pretty awesome! and I have a fair amount of pictures so you guys better be happy!
So I'll start with Monday, preparation day (laundry/letter writing/sightseeing day). That evening we decided to go "fishing." To go fishing we needed two things, hooks and line. Well we set off and got the hooks pretty easily. But then it was impossible to find any fishing line! We walked around for like at least 20 minutes asking every tindahan, random houses, and the occasional passerby if they had any fishing line we could buy, but no one had any! Until we found some at this obscure little tindahan. We were so pumped when we found the fishing line that we took a picture at the store where we found it, haha. So off we go to the baywalk to go fishing, but first we stopped at the palengke and a nice lady gave us some of her extra pig fat for bait. And now we're off! We get out there and prepare our lines. Our lines consisted of fishing line, hooks, a piece of wood torn off a nearby palm tree to hold the extra line, and a rock to make the bait sink. We were sure it'd be a great success! We threw our lines in and pulled it in again and again and again, and caught nothing! Only one person caught anything, and it was this really ugly looking fish, but it was hilarious. Good times for sure, we'll be more successful next time.
Tuesday was pretty exciting, too. We had an appointment with Sister Lagrosa, and she has pretty much memorized everything we've taught her, she's awesome! And she's going to be baptized this Saturday! And Dante, the husband of a member, and dean at the Palawan State University here in Coron, knows that it's true but is like super busy with school so we're trying to help him work through all that, but it's still exciting! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAKEY!
Wednesday, like every other day was great. Robbins and I have developed quite the American-Tagalog, and we regularly practice it during language study its probably too fun for language study. We just try to apply American slang to Tagalog and it doesn't work at all but we think it's hilarious. But don't worry we always start language study effectively! It just seems to always end in screwing around like that, but hey you gotta have some fun. While we were out and about we found that they were having cockfights out by an area we usually visit. One of the chickens got beat up but didn't die so we watched a guy do "first aid" on it for a little while, that was pretty gross but slightly entertaining haha. And we taught Angelo Cuizon again and he rocks! He's still an investigator but he's like sharing the gospel with his friends and what not, what a stud.
Thursday wasn't too exciting. We had an angry monkey jump at us three times. He was tied to the tree and when we stopped to look at him. He jumped at us. His "leash" stopped him like a foot in front of our faces and then he would climb up his chain and attack again. We stayed and entertained him for like three jumps, it was fun-ish!
Now this is the day you've all been waiting for. This is the question. What were you doing one 11/11/11 at 11:11. Woooow! I, was in the bathroom after service taking a freezing cold shower via bucket. Wow! Exciting! How many of you can say you were doing that, that's right none of you! haha For service I learned how to tie fishing nets! The people here thought it was funny seeing an American do it, and they were impressed that I learned fairly quickly, it was fun! Also, after showering, we were without electricity and I was like ugh! I need electricity so I can cook! And right when I said that, the electricity came back on! It was legit! Later, kumain ako ng pubo! Which directly translated means, "I ate straight up sugar cane, yo!" I was def hesitant at first but then Bogs told me it was sugar cane and I was like I gotta try this! And it was pretty good, decent. And it was my mom's birthday! I would tell you all to wish her a happy birthday but she didn't email me this week... =)
Saturday was astig. For the second day in a row we taught John Robert outside just chillin on the tulay, it was fun. He's way cool. Coron B had baptisms and I had to conduct them, ugh! I really hate speaking Tagalog in front of people... That night we taught a family with 9 kids! And then like 8 of their cousins were there too! It was ridiculous but fun! And they all came to church on Sunday! And I made my first scrambled eggs that night cuz I was just feeling it. Be proud! hahaha\
Sunday was where it was at kinda. Well first of all there was almost zero men there cuz they were all watching the Pacquio fight...hahaha Which I've heard is to be expected, and I also heard he won but I'm not too sure. But the whole 9 child family made it to church! Sister Lagrosa made it to church too, bawling. I guess earlier that morning she had been disowned by her family.... But she still made it to church! She's so ridiculously awesome! Sister Lagrosa is like 27 and still lived at home cuz she's not yet married and she does all the cooking and laundry for her family, but now she's living with relatives for now. Also, we met a chick from Utah! haha The Filipinos here treated her as if she was like famous or somethin it was pretty hilarious, but it was exciting as well. AND I can play Once There was a Snowman on the Ukelele! Sweet stuff!
That's about the week, I gotta get rollin! Peace out homeboys and girls!
Love
Elder Michael Gadberry
Pictures
0079 -- We have fishing line!
0080 -- Preparing the lines
1635 -- Fishing
1636 -- Us and our catch!
0118 -- Satan hot sauce!
0120/0121 -- Sketchy, sketchy tulay we walked to tie nets
0123 -- View from the little boat house thing we tied nets at
0124/0125 -- Us tying the nets with Brother Panserga (the guy with 9 kids)
0131 -- 11/11/11 at 11:11; Robbins took the pic, cuz like I said was rockin the shower!
0136/0138 -- The sugar cane!
0140-0147 -- I thought the sky looked cool but the pictures are just okay
0157-0165 -- Teachin John Robert out on the tulay
0181 -- Me and Marvin Duran!
0183/0185 -- The Duran Family
0186/0187 -- The Duran Family and us!
0212 -- My companion and everyone else here have found the fish eye effect on my camera and think its absolutely hilarious, it's pretty great
0219 -- Us and the Mormon chick! haha
1633/1634 -- More blurry fishing pics! haha
So this week has been pretty awesome! and I have a fair amount of pictures so you guys better be happy!
So I'll start with Monday, preparation day (laundry/letter writing/sightseeing day). That evening we decided to go "fishing." To go fishing we needed two things, hooks and line. Well we set off and got the hooks pretty easily. But then it was impossible to find any fishing line! We walked around for like at least 20 minutes asking every tindahan, random houses, and the occasional passerby if they had any fishing line we could buy, but no one had any! Until we found some at this obscure little tindahan. We were so pumped when we found the fishing line that we took a picture at the store where we found it, haha. So off we go to the baywalk to go fishing, but first we stopped at the palengke and a nice lady gave us some of her extra pig fat for bait. And now we're off! We get out there and prepare our lines. Our lines consisted of fishing line, hooks, a piece of wood torn off a nearby palm tree to hold the extra line, and a rock to make the bait sink. We were sure it'd be a great success! We threw our lines in and pulled it in again and again and again, and caught nothing! Only one person caught anything, and it was this really ugly looking fish, but it was hilarious. Good times for sure, we'll be more successful next time.
Tuesday was pretty exciting, too. We had an appointment with Sister Lagrosa, and she has pretty much memorized everything we've taught her, she's awesome! And she's going to be baptized this Saturday! And Dante, the husband of a member, and dean at the Palawan State University here in Coron, knows that it's true but is like super busy with school so we're trying to help him work through all that, but it's still exciting! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAKEY!
Wednesday, like every other day was great. Robbins and I have developed quite the American-Tagalog, and we regularly practice it during language study its probably too fun for language study. We just try to apply American slang to Tagalog and it doesn't work at all but we think it's hilarious. But don't worry we always start language study effectively! It just seems to always end in screwing around like that, but hey you gotta have some fun. While we were out and about we found that they were having cockfights out by an area we usually visit. One of the chickens got beat up but didn't die so we watched a guy do "first aid" on it for a little while, that was pretty gross but slightly entertaining haha. And we taught Angelo Cuizon again and he rocks! He's still an investigator but he's like sharing the gospel with his friends and what not, what a stud.
Thursday wasn't too exciting. We had an angry monkey jump at us three times. He was tied to the tree and when we stopped to look at him. He jumped at us. His "leash" stopped him like a foot in front of our faces and then he would climb up his chain and attack again. We stayed and entertained him for like three jumps, it was fun-ish!
Now this is the day you've all been waiting for. This is the question. What were you doing one 11/11/11 at 11:11. Woooow! I, was in the bathroom after service taking a freezing cold shower via bucket. Wow! Exciting! How many of you can say you were doing that, that's right none of you! haha For service I learned how to tie fishing nets! The people here thought it was funny seeing an American do it, and they were impressed that I learned fairly quickly, it was fun! Also, after showering, we were without electricity and I was like ugh! I need electricity so I can cook! And right when I said that, the electricity came back on! It was legit! Later, kumain ako ng pubo! Which directly translated means, "I ate straight up sugar cane, yo!" I was def hesitant at first but then Bogs told me it was sugar cane and I was like I gotta try this! And it was pretty good, decent. And it was my mom's birthday! I would tell you all to wish her a happy birthday but she didn't email me this week... =)
Saturday was astig. For the second day in a row we taught John Robert outside just chillin on the tulay, it was fun. He's way cool. Coron B had baptisms and I had to conduct them, ugh! I really hate speaking Tagalog in front of people... That night we taught a family with 9 kids! And then like 8 of their cousins were there too! It was ridiculous but fun! And they all came to church on Sunday! And I made my first scrambled eggs that night cuz I was just feeling it. Be proud! hahaha\
Sunday was where it was at kinda. Well first of all there was almost zero men there cuz they were all watching the Pacquio fight...hahaha Which I've heard is to be expected, and I also heard he won but I'm not too sure. But the whole 9 child family made it to church! Sister Lagrosa made it to church too, bawling. I guess earlier that morning she had been disowned by her family.... But she still made it to church! She's so ridiculously awesome! Sister Lagrosa is like 27 and still lived at home cuz she's not yet married and she does all the cooking and laundry for her family, but now she's living with relatives for now. Also, we met a chick from Utah! haha The Filipinos here treated her as if she was like famous or somethin it was pretty hilarious, but it was exciting as well. AND I can play Once There was a Snowman on the Ukelele! Sweet stuff!
That's about the week, I gotta get rollin! Peace out homeboys and girls!
Love
Elder Michael Gadberry
Pictures
0079 -- We have fishing line!
0080 -- Preparing the lines
1635 -- Fishing
1636 -- Us and our catch!
0118 -- Satan hot sauce!
0120/0121 -- Sketchy, sketchy tulay we walked to tie nets
0123 -- View from the little boat house thing we tied nets at
0124/0125 -- Us tying the nets with Brother Panserga (the guy with 9 kids)
0131 -- 11/11/11 at 11:11; Robbins took the pic, cuz like I said was rockin the shower!
0136/0138 -- The sugar cane!
0140-0147 -- I thought the sky looked cool but the pictures are just okay
0157-0165 -- Teachin John Robert out on the tulay
0181 -- Me and Marvin Duran!
0183/0185 -- The Duran Family
0186/0187 -- The Duran Family and us!
0212 -- My companion and everyone else here have found the fish eye effect on my camera and think its absolutely hilarious, it's pretty great
0219 -- Us and the Mormon chick! haha
1633/1634 -- More blurry fishing pics! haha
Monday, November 14, 2011
11-7-11 E-mail!
How's it goin everyone??
I've got a ton of pics for you! Be happy!
So speaking for a little bit in front of a ton of people and Elder Ardern on Wednesday went pretty well. Oh geez I was sooo nervous before I got up there. But I got up there and I feel like it went pretty well and I didn't feel terribly nervous. Hopefully that means the Spirit was helping me out and I said something half way important to someone out there..haha Overall, the Mission Tour Conference was beast! It was held at Buendia Chapel in Manila which is the first church building built in the Philippines and it's like this decently sized church building surrounded by sky scrapers and really tall buildings haha. I got to see a fair amount of people that I know too! That was exciting and awesome to talk to and see everyone for a little while! But everyone from my district in the MTC was not there so that stunk! But it's all good of course.
After conference, cuz we were the last ones to leave, we even got a pic with Elder Ardern and the Coron Elders! It's not in this email cuz it's on Elder Osumo's camera but I'll have it next time. Then that night after the Conference we went out and worked with some of the missionaries in Makati. I was the second selection in the draft and was chosen by Elder Belarmino, one of the APs. It was sweet to work with him and to learn from him. And way different to work in the city but sweet nonetheless. One of the families we visited was way impressed with my Tagalog and I don't know why. And I finally experienced my first Jeepney and had Jollibee for the first time, it was just an all around great day.
The next morning we had to get up at 5! To get to the airport, ughhhhh! By the way I still despise mornings or Hindi mahilig ako talaga sa umaga. So Thursday we made it back to Coron and at this point flying is pretty boring so being the good elder I am, I read from the Book of Mormon the entire time. Did you know? By my count, there are 25 references to Christ before the book even officially starts in Nephi. Fun fact of the day. By the way that was my 10th flight on my mission, its pretty legit. I heart flying. But I miss driving.
Friday for our "community service." We just helped them paint the fence around our houses. The house is blue, and now the fence is white. Sooo....we have a BYU Cougar House! Boom! Rockin it. Not a whole lot of new and exciting things happened since I last emailed. Our mission has a goal to have 300 people baptized in the month of December, and we're working really hard and things are startin to look good for us! We have 9 people scheduled for December right now and we're still working really hard to continue to find those families that the Lord has prepared for us, I'm excited about our work here its awesome! But I'm sad cuz someone's leaving Nov 30th and I'm afraid its me, ughhhh! But we'll see.
So yeah, sorry that's kinda it for this past few days, but there's lots of pictures! =D haha
Love ya'll (I'm hick)
Elder Michael Gadberry
Pictures:
1110/1112 -- Me and my machete
1115-PA211402 -- Try to find that lizard in pictures 1115
DSCN1503/1504 -- Havin fun with brother Tonton; I don't know why he looks so small/weird cuz he's just a little bit shorter than me...
1122/1123 -- The huge crabs of one of our investigators
1127-1148 -- Coron sunset. Be jealous. (I rock at pictures!)
1153-1155 -- Umm yeah, I ate that. Be proud. It tasted decent...weird texture fa sho
1157 -- Yep, that tasted much better.
PA281513-PA281520 -- Our terrifying spider
DSCN1542 -- Coulda been a really cool pic if I had a better camera but decent nonetheless. Taken from our back balcony porch thingy
PA301512 -- The newly formed branch! Not everyone made it that Sunday but an awesome turn out still
1104-PA301521 -- Havin fun after becoming a branch
0006-0035 -- Manila Temple pics! I think my favorite may be 0013
0039-0043 -- Enjoying the mainland! McDonalds delivers! And so does everywhere else
0049-0071 -- WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS! Who can deny the Cardinals and this adorable puppy! haha
I've got a ton of pics for you! Be happy!
So speaking for a little bit in front of a ton of people and Elder Ardern on Wednesday went pretty well. Oh geez I was sooo nervous before I got up there. But I got up there and I feel like it went pretty well and I didn't feel terribly nervous. Hopefully that means the Spirit was helping me out and I said something half way important to someone out there..haha Overall, the Mission Tour Conference was beast! It was held at Buendia Chapel in Manila which is the first church building built in the Philippines and it's like this decently sized church building surrounded by sky scrapers and really tall buildings haha. I got to see a fair amount of people that I know too! That was exciting and awesome to talk to and see everyone for a little while! But everyone from my district in the MTC was not there so that stunk! But it's all good of course.
After conference, cuz we were the last ones to leave, we even got a pic with Elder Ardern and the Coron Elders! It's not in this email cuz it's on Elder Osumo's camera but I'll have it next time. Then that night after the Conference we went out and worked with some of the missionaries in Makati. I was the second selection in the draft and was chosen by Elder Belarmino, one of the APs. It was sweet to work with him and to learn from him. And way different to work in the city but sweet nonetheless. One of the families we visited was way impressed with my Tagalog and I don't know why. And I finally experienced my first Jeepney and had Jollibee for the first time, it was just an all around great day.
The next morning we had to get up at 5! To get to the airport, ughhhhh! By the way I still despise mornings or Hindi mahilig ako talaga sa umaga. So Thursday we made it back to Coron and at this point flying is pretty boring so being the good elder I am, I read from the Book of Mormon the entire time. Did you know? By my count, there are 25 references to Christ before the book even officially starts in Nephi. Fun fact of the day. By the way that was my 10th flight on my mission, its pretty legit. I heart flying. But I miss driving.
Friday for our "community service." We just helped them paint the fence around our houses. The house is blue, and now the fence is white. Sooo....we have a BYU Cougar House! Boom! Rockin it. Not a whole lot of new and exciting things happened since I last emailed. Our mission has a goal to have 300 people baptized in the month of December, and we're working really hard and things are startin to look good for us! We have 9 people scheduled for December right now and we're still working really hard to continue to find those families that the Lord has prepared for us, I'm excited about our work here its awesome! But I'm sad cuz someone's leaving Nov 30th and I'm afraid its me, ughhhh! But we'll see.
So yeah, sorry that's kinda it for this past few days, but there's lots of pictures! =D haha
Love ya'll (I'm hick)
Elder Michael Gadberry
Pictures:
1110/1112 -- Me and my machete
1115-PA211402 -- Try to find that lizard in pictures 1115
DSCN1503/1504 -- Havin fun with brother Tonton; I don't know why he looks so small/weird cuz he's just a little bit shorter than me...
1122/1123 -- The huge crabs of one of our investigators
1127-1148 -- Coron sunset. Be jealous. (I rock at pictures!)
1153-1155 -- Umm yeah, I ate that. Be proud. It tasted decent...weird texture fa sho
1157 -- Yep, that tasted much better.
PA281513-PA281520 -- Our terrifying spider
DSCN1542 -- Coulda been a really cool pic if I had a better camera but decent nonetheless. Taken from our back balcony porch thingy
PA301512 -- The newly formed branch! Not everyone made it that Sunday but an awesome turn out still
1104-PA301521 -- Havin fun after becoming a branch
0006-0035 -- Manila Temple pics! I think my favorite may be 0013
0039-0043 -- Enjoying the mainland! McDonalds delivers! And so does everywhere else
0049-0071 -- WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS! Who can deny the Cardinals and this adorable puppy! haha
Sunday, November 6, 2011
11-1-11 E-Mail!
I'm just about caught up...
Alright! What's up people!
It's been an exciting week! So I'm in Manila (9th plane flight of the mission, ha!) and I have no access to stuff to review what happened this past week so this will probably be a fairly short email telling you the exciting news of the week!
This week started off dumb though, I was stuck inside the apartment all day Tuesday cuz I was sick, it was annoyinggg! But then I pretty much got better and was able to work the rest of the week, so yay!
So this week we had two investigators (people interested in learning about the gospel) pray, and receive answers to their prayers regarding the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. They were Angelo Cuizon and Florenze Lagrosa. We are pumped for them, its really exciting. But it was slightly overshadowed by the events later in the week.
So President and Sister Stucki (president over the entire mission of Manila) as well as one of his counselors, President Peterson and his wife, came to Coron on Saturday and Sunday. So we had to get the apartment all cleaned up for them of course, and that's when the excitement started. Robbins was cleaning the kitchen area and found a pretty huge spider just chillin right by his hand. Elder Osumo and I were hanging out, toying with his ukulele, when Elder Robbins let out quite the scream, it was hilarious and chaos ensued. Elder Bagahansol, being a man, picked up the blender it was on and took it outside and set it down. Shortly after he set it down, it came running back inside towards me, Robbins, and Osumo, so of course, we took off the other direction and ran out the front door. Bogs came to the rescue and swept him back outside, of course towards us for his entertainment. Eventually we got him on the broom and threw him into the woods and all was safe. But that was almost a crisis. The spider was nearly the size of Osumo's hand! I'll have pictures next week, I have a ton I need to send in general.
Saturday they got here, it was a great day! We received a little instruction from President and each of us had interviews with him. He's awesome! I love him. And his wife brought us stuff to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch! It's been a longgg time! And she brought oreos and doritos and just the good stuff, it rocked. They also brought me two packages from you guys! And mail! It was a great day! Then President Stucki, went out and worked with us that night for a few appointments it was sweet working with him. Even though he knows absolutely no Tagalog, the lessons were still awesome.
Sunday morning, before church I got "the news." President Stucki asked to have an interview with me before church. In that interview he extended to me the calling of Branch Executive Secretary. In sacrament meeting, CORON BECAME A BRANCH! Just three months and a day since we/the missionaries arrived in Coron, we received clearance to go ahead and form a branch! Brother Arnold, the group leader was called to be the Branch President with Elder Bagahansol as first counselor and Orlan Arbado as second, and me as Executive Secretary. It's crazy! Michael Arbado was called to be Elder's quorum president and Michael Jubilado as branch clerk. Crazy stuff! And that's all we have for now but I think we'll be extending more callings within a week. But the important thing is... CORON'S A BRANCH! We celebrated. Hopefully this is somewhat exciting to you guys reading this too, cuz I'm still pumped! (This means that there are enough members to formally organize their congregation )
Monday was Halloween and they don't celebrate it here. They do more of a Dia de los Muertos kinda thing on Nov 1st I think.. And it was Tyler Semples birthday! Happy birthday!
We flew to Manila this morning (Tuesday). And were able to eat fast food! and go to a mall! and see people! and go to the temple! It was a sweet day too! But tomorrow we get to meet Elder Ian S Ardern of the Seventy (he bashed Angry Birds in General Conference, haha). He's doing a mission tour of our mission and that's why we're in Manila, for a special mission conference. President asked me if I'd share my testimony in that meeting tomorrow, ugh! I gotta get up in front of like, at least half the mission (cuz they're having a couple difference meetings for different areas) and a General Authority and speak! Ugh! So hopefully that goes well, I guess you'll know next week.
So that's what's been up this week, it's been excitinggg! I have a ton of pics, but I couldn't send them, sorry! Next week you'll get a bunch though!
The End. WE'RE A BRANCH!
Love
Elder Michael Gadberry
PS -- The Cardinals won the World Series!!! =D WOOOOO!
Alright! What's up people!
It's been an exciting week! So I'm in Manila (9th plane flight of the mission, ha!) and I have no access to stuff to review what happened this past week so this will probably be a fairly short email telling you the exciting news of the week!
This week started off dumb though, I was stuck inside the apartment all day Tuesday cuz I was sick, it was annoyinggg! But then I pretty much got better and was able to work the rest of the week, so yay!
So this week we had two investigators (people interested in learning about the gospel) pray, and receive answers to their prayers regarding the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. They were Angelo Cuizon and Florenze Lagrosa. We are pumped for them, its really exciting. But it was slightly overshadowed by the events later in the week.
So President and Sister Stucki (president over the entire mission of Manila) as well as one of his counselors, President Peterson and his wife, came to Coron on Saturday and Sunday. So we had to get the apartment all cleaned up for them of course, and that's when the excitement started. Robbins was cleaning the kitchen area and found a pretty huge spider just chillin right by his hand. Elder Osumo and I were hanging out, toying with his ukulele, when Elder Robbins let out quite the scream, it was hilarious and chaos ensued. Elder Bagahansol, being a man, picked up the blender it was on and took it outside and set it down. Shortly after he set it down, it came running back inside towards me, Robbins, and Osumo, so of course, we took off the other direction and ran out the front door. Bogs came to the rescue and swept him back outside, of course towards us for his entertainment. Eventually we got him on the broom and threw him into the woods and all was safe. But that was almost a crisis. The spider was nearly the size of Osumo's hand! I'll have pictures next week, I have a ton I need to send in general.
Saturday they got here, it was a great day! We received a little instruction from President and each of us had interviews with him. He's awesome! I love him. And his wife brought us stuff to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch! It's been a longgg time! And she brought oreos and doritos and just the good stuff, it rocked. They also brought me two packages from you guys! And mail! It was a great day! Then President Stucki, went out and worked with us that night for a few appointments it was sweet working with him. Even though he knows absolutely no Tagalog, the lessons were still awesome.
Sunday morning, before church I got "the news." President Stucki asked to have an interview with me before church. In that interview he extended to me the calling of Branch Executive Secretary. In sacrament meeting, CORON BECAME A BRANCH! Just three months and a day since we/the missionaries arrived in Coron, we received clearance to go ahead and form a branch! Brother Arnold, the group leader was called to be the Branch President with Elder Bagahansol as first counselor and Orlan Arbado as second, and me as Executive Secretary. It's crazy! Michael Arbado was called to be Elder's quorum president and Michael Jubilado as branch clerk. Crazy stuff! And that's all we have for now but I think we'll be extending more callings within a week. But the important thing is... CORON'S A BRANCH! We celebrated. Hopefully this is somewhat exciting to you guys reading this too, cuz I'm still pumped! (This means that there are enough members to formally organize their congregation )
Monday was Halloween and they don't celebrate it here. They do more of a Dia de los Muertos kinda thing on Nov 1st I think.. And it was Tyler Semples birthday! Happy birthday!
We flew to Manila this morning (Tuesday). And were able to eat fast food! and go to a mall! and see people! and go to the temple! It was a sweet day too! But tomorrow we get to meet Elder Ian S Ardern of the Seventy (he bashed Angry Birds in General Conference, haha). He's doing a mission tour of our mission and that's why we're in Manila, for a special mission conference. President asked me if I'd share my testimony in that meeting tomorrow, ugh! I gotta get up in front of like, at least half the mission (cuz they're having a couple difference meetings for different areas) and a General Authority and speak! Ugh! So hopefully that goes well, I guess you'll know next week.
So that's what's been up this week, it's been excitinggg! I have a ton of pics, but I couldn't send them, sorry! Next week you'll get a bunch though!
The End. WE'RE A BRANCH!
Love
Elder Michael Gadberry
PS -- The Cardinals won the World Series!!! =D WOOOOO!
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