Week 23 - Naga Week

My People!! What is going on? Just first want to say Merry Merry Christmas
to you all! Crazy to think we are already here to another Christmas. Time
truly does fly by. Don't take the little moments for granted! Especially a
time like this. I hope all of you enjoy the time with family, friends, or
wherever you may be! Man it is a great time of year :) Great week my peeps,
I hope I can tell you all! So let's get started...

Well this week was Naga week! On Wednesday we had to hit up the good ole
city for a workshop for my little boy Elder Buenafe. That was a party! It
was more for him because he got to see his batch mates and it was just like
Christmas for the little guy :) Everytime I go to Naga though, which isn't
a lot! I realize how different the city is and I like freak out. haha there
are tons and tons of people! And cars! It is so weird haha living here in
the provence, all I see are rice fields, caribous and the occasional tricy.
The city is a totally different story! Never thought it would be that way
but that is just the way the cookie crumbles. I miss a good ole homemade
choco cookie by the way... but ya! that was Wednesday haha then Thursday we
had our Mission Christmas Party. Cahoooo!!! haha such a blast 198
missionaries in one place to have some fun. Let's just saw we partied it
up. The way missionaries do! haha We even got to watch Johnny Linngo! So
good to finally watch something other than the District.. The struggle of
missionaries! but ya the mission party was a blast! had some talents, got
some gifts, watched some movies and just chilled with other people serving
the lord! now that is a Christmas :)

So since we were in Naga for two days, we did not get that much work in.
But all is well! We also had our Branch Christmas Party on Saturday and
that was great because we had some invs and Less actives show up! hahaha
just a party week for sure :) The branch party was awesome and just a great
way to get closer to the people and help them just relax!

So ya my homies, that was the week! Life is good! It's Christmas! I hope we
all remember the true meaning of Christmas this year. Until now, I don't
think I really did. But this was the start of the greatest gift we could
recieve as people here on Earth. Our father in heaven loved us so much that
he gave us his son so we could all live with him again. So how grateful are
we for this precious gift? I know I don't always show my gratitude to him,
but I hope that this christmas I can do that for him. I hope we all can. So
let us give a little more than we recieve this year. Let us be thankful for
the things we have instead of thinking about what we don't have. I am
grateful for all of you and the support you continually give me. I feel the
love and the care you all have for me and that is something I will never
forget. Enjoy this wonderful time of year my friends. Wherever you may be
celebrating, remember that you are never alone. We have been given the
greatest gift of all and that is a gift that will never go away. He is
there waiting for you to accept it. I love you all and wish you a very
Merry Christmas. I leave you with a scripture Isaiah 41:13. I love you all.
Until next time my friends.

Week 22- Progress Week

Another week is here my friends! Hope all of you are doing great! Life is good here in the good ole motherland. Just taking life a day at a time and just living! What else can ya do? Well try to get you updated on this week, don't have a ton of time but let's do this!

So huge progessing week! The area is doing awesome and I feel so blessed. Not getting punted as much! and we are picking up some sick new investigators so life is just good with work! We picked up a sick family inv and they got huge potenialHopefully we can help these people out and just help them realize the awesomeness the gospel is. Only time will tell! But it has been awesome to see the people progressing and finally wanted to listen to the gospel. Patience is key! Who would have thought haha

Oh ya i just remembered!!!! Probably the best news ever, CAFFIENE IS NO LONGER AGAINST THE RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahaha Cahooo!!! When I found out you know I bought an ice cold coke and just had a hay day. So life is good my friends :) I can finally have a coke and a mountain dew. The problem is there is no Dr. Pepper here and that sucks. But I got coke! Life is a party :)

So ya! that is the week my folks :) just living it a day at a time and just making the most of what we got! that is all we can do right? The pics! so my comp caught this cool lizard hahaha and he named it after me! i felt like such a proud daddy. So there is a pic of him and me! finn jr. then this cat is at one of our investigators house and just always chills with me! he is my homie and we rock this place. Well peeps that is all I got! I hope you are all just loving life! Christmas is coming up!! Remember what it means. enjoy the time with the family, enjoy life and don't worry. it will all work out! I leave you with a scripture. Jacob 4:7. Until next time my friends.

 

 

Week 21 - Patience Week

Well folks, it has been an interesting week! haha the title says it all.
Patience week. I have learned that I have a ton of weaknesses this week, of
course everyone does! I also learned that  But it has been a way humbling
week that is for sure. The lord is in charge people, don't let anyone else
tell you different! And only through him can you get things done. Well,
let's update you on the week!

So first off, we had interviews this week, which meant weigh ins hahaha
which is a big deal for me! found out I lost another 11 pounds...
Cahooo!!!!!!! hahaha I haven't been this skinny since Nam, seriously it is
crazy! I was so pumped when i found out how much I weighed. Hopefully we
can finally say goodbye to chubby me :) we all know that is a joke... But I
am just gonna soak it in while i can! I just had to include that, ok now to
the important things i guess.

So teaching wise was tough but fun as well! With this open area we are left
with finding in-actives and just tracting, trying to talk to as much people
as possible. The hard part is when it rains everyone is inside and when we
go to there house all we hear is that no one is there haha even if they are
the ones saying it! So that is always fun :) So our action plan was when
you can't teach the adults, teach the kids! So we did just that. haha I got
some pics of them. It was crazy! The best part is they love it haha
everytime we pass by they always ask when we will teach again to them and
they always have there pamphlets in their hands! Hopefully we can just
start teaching their parents too. A little hard without them. But all is
well! Just gotta plants those little seeds in those little ones!

So that has basically been this week! I have never seen so much rain, I
have never been this drenched because of the rain, I have never walked so
much in my entire life, I have never been so tired from walking, I have
never been rejected by so many people, not even by girls! which I thought
was impossible haha but there have been a lot of I have nevers. The biggest
one though is I don't think I have ever been this happy. I have never felt
so sure that this is where I am supposed to be. And I have never felt so
sure about things until now. I know for a fact Heavenly Father loves us. He
is our dad, he wants only the best for us. That is the reason we have the
hard times. To learn and to grow closer to him. Don't forget that my
friends. Always remember you are never alone and you don't have to do
anything by yourself. He is on your side waiting for you to return to him.
I love you guys and seriously am so thankful for all that you do for me.
Keep it up my home skillets! I leave you with a scripture. Mosiah 2:22.
Until next time my friends.

Week 20 - Walking Week

Well folks! Another week down. Time just seems to be flying by! It's mindblowing haha I feel like I just started my mission and now I am 6 months in. Even though this may be one of the hardest things ever, it may also be the biggest blessing in my life too. I couldn't imagine being anywhere else than on the mission. So there is the little motivation side of me! K, let's get you updated on the week!

So this week I think we set a record for miles walked. Seriously, I thought we walked a lot in my first area, I was so wrong. Being in a new area and not knowing where anything is means you tend to get lost and just walk and hope for the best! So that is what we did! We have just been trying to find all the less actives here and that can be a challenge! but Luckily we just have some fun and talk to everyone as much as we possible can.

So ya with all the walking we did this week, rain was added! and just my luck my umbrella broke haha so I rocked that no umbrella life for two days in the rain. I was drenched! but it was a party! The second night E. Buenafe decided to join the crew and we both just worked with no umbrellas. haha it was bad! we both just looked like we just had a hay day at sea world with Shamu. But we had a blast. Whenever we found a puddle we just acted like 3 year olds and just had some fun! seriously I got blessed with the most legit son! The life of a dad :)

So that has been the week! it has been a tough one lesson wise. The reason we have walked so much is because we have been punted so much! LIke its unbelievable how many times we have been. But the lord has a reason! I know something has to be learned here so we are just trying to stay postive and make the most of the situation we have in front of us. that is all we can do :) Just make the struggle a party! 

So that is the week folks! Just enjoying the time and making the most of it. Heck you are only serving in the Philippines once so make the most of it right? I love it here. it is crazy to think that 6 months have already passed by but I am glad that I have been here for those 6 months. I miss you all and I hope life is still life for you. Just know there is a reason the things are happening. Keep pushing forward and make the most of everything you got. One day it will all be well. Until then, I leave you with a scripture. 2 Nephi 33:6. Until next time my friends. 

 

 

 

 

Week 19 - Daddy Week

Well folks, I have a kid!! haha that is what they call it when you train a
newbie on the mission. So ya I am a daddy now. My kid's name is E.
Buenafe!! he is 24 and I am 19. Doesn't make any sense so just go with it.
But he is from Ililo- Ililo! He is a stud and a master chef so I may pack
on the weight I just lost in my first area. The struggle!! But ya that is
my kid! Such a proud daddy :)

So I am now in San Roque! Which is in Laganony, which is in Camarines Sur
and all they speak here in bicol. So that is fun! No more tagalog haha so
it is just a party for both of us. But the area is awesome! We got here
Wednesday night and spent the rest of the week trying to get to know the
members in the area and see what really is our area. So it has been kind of
adventure time searching for people but it leads to great opportunities and
I am pumped to see how it all goes! Since I am training we will both be
companions for 3 months which will be a blast. He truly is a stud.

My kid is growing up too! Yesterday we were teaching and my little boy
invited the investigator to be baptized and they said yes!! hahaha what a
stud my kid is. what happened to me?! But I was so happy for my little guy.
They grow up so fast. So i am really a proud dad right now :)

That is all I can think about! Leaving the first area was one of the
hardest things ever but I know the lord has a plan for me here. The lord
has a plan for everyone. Just trust in it and do you part. If you do your
part, the lord will take care of the rest. I love you all and thank you for
the support, the emails, everything you all do for me. Can't wait to see
you all again. Until then I leave you with a scripture. 3rd Nephi 9:22.
Until next time my friends.