Four Months Down

We had another good week here in Handumanan.  I went on two companionship exchanges this week.  First, I went to Paglaum to work with Elder Daplin.  For the second one, I went to Aligis to work with Elder Javvillo.  It was a great experience.  I truly look up to Elder Javillo and we had really good chemistry while we were teaching.

A less than awesome part of our week was when we were told one investigator didn't want to continue the lessons.  I took it pretty hard, as I really felt close to this man, and I thought one day he would be a great leader in our church.  That happened on Saturday and it kind of killed the weekend for me.  However, I guess I just need to keep on going.  These times will happen.  It is so funny how fast things change in the mission field--especially with the language.  I am not amazing by any means, but the improvement this week was remarkable.  I made progress in my understanding, for what felt like the first time my whole mission.  Hopefully I will continue to make progress!  I know I have a lot of room to grow as a missionary, but I am gaining confidence every day.

We will be moving into our new apartment this Saturday.  We are very excited and the apartment is amazing with the renovations!

There were a bunch of kids playing soccer at our zone activity.  I started playing with them and afterwards I called them all in and we took a picture.  I just happened to have a bunch of "Plan of Salvation" pamphlets (a spiritual prompting before we left the apartment) and I gave each of them one.  I taught a quick lesson about it, right there in the middle of the soccer field.  It was fun!  We had a prayer and all.  The best part was that I did it all by myself.

Please continue to read your scriptures and pray hard.  That stuff really is important!  I promise you blessings will come if you do this.

Just got finished playing some "basket" on our P-day.
I love it because I can dunk with ease here!

The life of a missionary!  This was after daily planning.
Elder Esteves saw me and got a picture of it.

The Demon Monkey
It didn't like me taking it's picture and tried attacking me!

My first taste of fresh coconut milk--right off the tree!

The Lachica Family
They will go down as one of my favorites!

An Update from Handumanan

This week was another great week for Elder Estevez and me.  It was also fun to work with Elder Felix one day.  I learned a lot from him and I continue to learn a lot from Elder Estevez.  We had another baptism this week.  We were a little worried because we have two progressing investigators and they both need to be married before anything can happen with them.  We were praying for a miracle and one happened--actually 11 of them!  We have 11 new investigators!  It was amazing.  It seemed like we always happened to be at the right place at the right time.

There was a point this week during our companionship study that I was very frustrated with my inability to speak the language well.  Elder Estevez did a good job of comforting me and telling me to just keep trusting in the Lord.  I really felt my faith in the gift of tongues wavering, but after some very earnest prayer I think I have it figured out.  I am not a patient person, and the Lord is always trying to teach me patience,  One day I will learn it, and I am sure everything will go a lot smoother!

Elder Estevez and I will be together for sure until November 20th.  That is when my training will be over and then I don't know what will happen.  Transfers happen every six weeks, so we will just have to wait and see.

I got my first haircut a couple of weeks ago.  The dude was definitely gay, but he made it well known to me that he doesn't like Americans--only black people, so I didn't have anything to worry about.  A 10-minute massage comes with all haircuts in the Philippines, which was really awkward, but I had to keep reminding myself that he doesn't like Americans!  It was a great haircut, and even with the awkwardness, Gems (yes, that is his name) is my new go to hairstylist!!!!

We found a new house for Elder Estevez and I.  President Lopez told us he wanted us to find a new house so it would only be the the two of us.  Our new one is way better than the one now and the owner is even making some renovations.  We should be able to move in at the beginning of November.

The Philippines is a lot like America as far as grocery stores and malls.  I can get everything I need, so all the shopping Melissa and I did was kinda wasted!  I am sure I will use the things we bought though.

Brownouts happen all the time here.  They usually only last an hour or two, but sometimes for the whole day.  The worst part is that when they do happen, we don't have any water.  The typhoons don't affect us here, mainly just in Manilla.  All we get is rain for about three straight days.  Other than that, nothing too serious happens here.

Right now we are in "winter".   This is the coolest time of the year, but it is still really hot.  I am not excited to see what summer is like!  Summer is January through April.  The rainy season is May through August.  Winter is all the months that end in "ber".  They start their Christmas season Septem"ber" 1.  It is a long season--with Christmas music, lights, and everything up during this time.

You might want to be sitting down when you read this . . . . I am 199 lbs. and am the proud new owner of a six-pack!  What's up stud!!!!  Tell Kody to watch out!

I love you guys so much and hope you are all doing well!

Love,

Elder Wilstead