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

Thirteen Weeks and Counting

Hey Everyone!

Elder Estevez and I were both sick this week.  He is feeling better, but I am still trying to get over it.  I was struggling all week with energy, but we ended up logging the most hours we have yet.  Needless to say, this is a much needed day of rest!

We taught a Jehovah Witness this week.  That was very frustrating.  They use a different bible than us and every time we said something, she had a verse that would disprove it.  She must be taking one of those "how to confound missionary" classes!  I was really frustrated and didn't know what to do, so at the end of the lesson I just said, "I know what we are teaching you is true.  I knew from the moment we walked in that you wouldn't believe a single thing we said, but I promise you, whether in this life or the next, you will know what we said is true.  i hope for your sake you recognize that before it's too late."  She didn't like that, but o-well.  I felt the spirit so strong as I said it, so it's okay!

After that it was a pretty dull week . . . except for the tsunami.  It was up on the main island, but for three straight days it did nothing but rain.  There was another blackout yesterday that lasted for 12 hours.  Gotta love all these trials!  It's okay, because they will only help me grow, right?  The mission is tough, but it is fun.  The days are slowly starting to go by quicker.

I was thinking and praying a lot for you guys this week.  I had a bad feeling that you guys aren't doing good.  Then after one of my prayers I got a feeling that was pretty amazing.  I realized that our Heavenly Father can protect you guys way more than I ever could.  Nothing I can do is better for you all then what I am doing right now.  I don't know if that feeling was wrong or right about you guys not doing good, but please trust the Lord.  He is protecting you guys--He promised me.  That might not make a lot of sense to you, but when I get home I will tell you of one of the greatest experience of my life.  I'm sorry to leave you hanging, but I want to say this face-to-face.

We have four really good progressing investigators right now.  The Lachica family--Sister Nenita and her son, Jordan, are the only non-members.  They are being baptized on October 13.  I love them so much!  I will try sending a photo of me with them.  Anyways, Sister Nenita has had three husbands and they have all died.  She has eight kids and so much faith.  She asked us  how to pay tithing and fast without us even mentioning it.  We are the fifth set of missionaries to teach her.  I truly believe that Elder Esteves and I were foreordained to teach her.  It is so wonderful!  I cannot explain the love I have for the people we are teaching.  it is weird because I don't understand a lot of what is said, but they said they know I care and that I am telling the truth.

Next is Brother Romer.  I love him because he speaks better English than I do.  When I am struggling, he tells me to speak English!  He is a baptist and has tons of questions, but I know he knows it is true.  He is really smart, so he keeps saying he wants to take his time with this--a really smart answer ha ha! I know he will be baptized, but it will be a little bit longer.

Next we have Darlyn Abas.  She is 20 and has a kid.  Her boyfriend and her aren't married.  Try teaching the law of chastity to someone your own age with a kid.  Awkward!  She is struggling to find her birth certificate and can't get baptized until she has that and is married.  She said she will still come to church until she can be baptized.

The people here are awesome.  It is a struggle some days, but it's okay.  It will all be wroth it in the end!  I love you all and pray for you each day.  Be safe, read your scriptures, and pray every day.  The blessings will be more than you can handle, I promise.

Love,

Elder Wilstead

President and Sister Lopez visited Cole's apartment to do an apartment check and personal interviews.  They posted these photos that they took while they were there.

Elder Estevez, Cole, President & Sister Lopez

I'm not sure what to think about this!  Kinda bare, but I guess if 

they keep having the power go out it might be for the best that 

it isn't very full.

First Zone Conference

Well, another week down!  We had some really good days this week where we taught a lot of people and some days that no one was interested in our message.  Those days are so frustrating, but it is okay.  There is always this week.

So, about dearelder.com letters-- I love them!!!  I received one from Mom, Cooper, and Grandma W. this week.  I like them because I can reread them over and over!  So, if people ask, that is the way to go!

Monday was great!  Hearing that you guys and Melissa are doing good makes my whole week go smoother.  I finally got to work out and take a small nap, then we had family home evening with the Goza family.  Fun stuff!

Tuesday there was a brown out all morning--no electricity or water.  It was rough.  I didn't shower and had to dry shave.  The power came back on right after we left to make contacts.  The work was okay that day.

Wednesday was the hottest day ever.  I was melting, no joke!  We taught nine lessons and that was a ton!  We received three new contacts so that was good.  It was the busiest day ever and I was so tired.

Thursday we had a Zone Conference.  I got to see Elder Doane and that was way nice.  Also, when I am around President and Sister Lopez it feels like a home away from home, so that is good.  I saw my first Americans since I got here too!  That was refreshing.  It lasted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and then we taught a few lessons and made a lot of street contracts with return appointments for Friday and Saturday.

Friday was a busy one.  We taught a lot of lessons and got some new investigators, except a lot of the people we had made return appointments with weren't interested.  That was frustrating.

Saturday is the worst day of the week.  I hate Saturday mornings because I know Kody is playing and I want to watch him so bad!  Then all of the people we contacted the first two days were uninterested . . . all 12 of them.  I was discouraged and the language was really bad that day.  Just not a good day. Satan is relentless!!!

Sunday I watched a dog get ran over by a car on my way to church.  Then he got up and kept going like a champ!  It was a proud moment for me.  I also almost got attacked by a monkey in a tree . . .yes, a real monkey.  I will try to send a picture next week.  The monkey didn't like the flash too much!   I am also going to try sending a picture that looks like a random street.  I took it from some dude's motorcycle.  That is how we get around here.  It is a trip!

Well, that was my week.  I will tell you about great lessons or spiritual experiences when they come.  I recommend you guys read, "Our Search for Happiness."  It is a great book and a short one.  I loved it.  Love you all tons!

Photos from the Zone Conference--Cole's mission president posted these on his facebook page.

Cole & Elder Estevez

Chop Suey

Malungay Soup

Bacalod Zone

Afritada

Rambutan and fresh bananas

Photos From the Philippines

                This week was a good week!  I am starting to get better at combating the culture and all that comes with it!  So, I will answer your questions from last week and then tell a little about my week.

                A typical day consists of waking up at 6:30 a.m. to do laundry--by hand!  Be thankful for washing machines!  Then personal study from 8 to 9 and companion study from 9 to 11.  Then we prepare things for the day, buy our sudan (what we are eating with rice), and eat lunch.  At about 1, we visit some homes, teach some lessons, and give a lot of blessings to sick people.  That is my favorite part.  I promise some pretty big things, but I am a representative of Jesus Christ and I know they will come to pass based on their faith.  Anyways, we do that until about 8 and then I have language study.  At 9 we have daily planning and then we eat dinner and go to bed around 10:30.  Then we do it all again the next day!

                As for the humidity--ridiculous!  I sweat all day, every day (even at night).  We have fans in the apartment that make it better, but still!  The rain is not a good thing either.  It rains every day and absolutely pours.  It would be awesome except it gets even hotter after the rain.  But I still love the rain, and usually we are soaked when we return to the house.

                The food is still growing on me.  They all eat fish, and it is disgusting so I don't eat that.  I eat a lot of chicken, pork, chorizo and rice. 

                Elder Esteves is a champ!  He is so excited about the work and has 8 months left, but wants to extend longer.  He is very obedient and a great example to me.  He is good at English too, so that is a plus.  He was a convert when he was 14 and was the only member in his family, but since being on his mission, his mom was baptized.  I love him.  It is fun with him!

                The people are the nicest, most humble people ever!  The women work hard and pretty much support their families.  The men in the church work very hard, but the other men here just sit around and do nothing.  It makes me so mad!  I just want to tell them to go to work and support their 8 kids!  Families are really large here!

                I email from a computer cafe and get an hour.  It is a very stressful time and I am trying to work on the most efficient way to get everything done.  I am running out of time, so I can't tell you about some funny experiences now. 

                My week was good.  We got five new investigators.  I also had my first baptism!  It was a great experience.  Other than that, it was a regular week.  I love you and I am doing great!

People who came to support Regine at her baptism

Elder Esteves, Regine Mae Mani & Cole
Cole's First Baptism

I have no idea the story behind this photo.
Hopefully we will hear about it next week!

I will have to find out what this is a photo of.
It might be his apartment, because he said
they had one of the nicer ones in the mission.

Typical home in the Philippines

Cole &  Nolito Jean

Investigator who reminds Cole of Logan

A Week in the Philippines

Monday:  We had FHE with the Resuma family.  It was pretty fun.  The food was gross, but oh well!  I'm learning to just deal with rice and whatever we are eating with it that day!  It got me really excited for doing family home evenings with my family when I have one!

Tuesday:  We had our first district meeting.  Our entire district lives in our apartment--a whopping four people!  Elder Lozada is the district leader.  His companion is Elder Sobrevega and then Elder Esteves and me.

Wednesday:  We didn't get a lot of work in today.  We left the umbrellas at the apartment because it was sunny, then out of nowhere the biggest rainstorm ever came.  The raindrops were the size of ping pong balls.  That continued the entire day.  We were at a member's hut for about two hours. We are teaching a boy named Nolito Jean right now.  He is so awesome.  He is 11 and reminds me so much of Logan--same smile, same personality, same laugh.  He looks like a Filipino version of Logan! Anyways, I get a little homesick when we visit him, but it's alright.  His baptism is next Saturday.

Thursday:  Today was hotter than Hell!  (Not a swear word--I'm referring to the place!) We taught a lot of less active members.  That seems to be all we do, but it's okay.  We need to bring people back to the gospel as much as we need new members.  I also had coconut milk fresh off the tree!

Friday:  This day was pretty much of the same--visiting less active members and such.

Saturday:  More lessons with less active members.  We only have three investigators right now, so not too many actual lessons.  I thought I was going to come on my mission and baptize tons of people, but I feel like it's going to be a lot more bringing people back to the gospel.  Which is just as good I guess.  Most of the time people don't come to church because they need to work so their families can eat. . . it is so hard to watch!

Sunday:  Filipinos aren't very reverent in church!  I don't understand anything that is said, but I am trying so hopefully soon I will start to get something out of the meetings.  Later, I had an interesting experience.  We visited a family who had been inactive for 10 years.  I got the feeling they were waiting for us. I felt that I needed to tell the God loved them, so I did and they were very happy to hear it!!!!

First Email From the Philippines

We received our first email from the Philippines (not counting the one that told us he arrived safely).  Here is a copy of it:

Oh my goodness. This is pretty crazy. It is like nothing I have ever experienced nor will ever experience again in my life. If you guys could see this place you wouldn't believe it. I have yet to be in a house that is bigger than the piano room.  No joke. Most of them don't even have a floor, just dirt. Some of them are literally made out of bamboo. I will never take things for granted when I get back, that is for sure. Our apartment shocked me when I first got here, and it is one of the nicest ones in the whole mission. I have a shower, but it cuts in and out every couple of minutes and the water is cold. Oh well!! It feels good because it's so hot here!

I have already lost a lot of weight. I can see my abs! I am not eating a ton, because I don't really like rice but I am learning. It is tough to speak the language.  I don't understand anyone! It's okay, I will learn. We are so busy all the time and I am tired all the time. It's hard to wake up in the mornings, but I have to do work if I want to help people and that is the goal.

Everywhere I go I hear, hey joe, or CANO (short for americano) but it is fun. Little kids will always run up to me and compare their skin to mine. It is hard for me because I feel so prideful and selfish all the time. These people are so happy with their lives and everything they have and I complain about the stupidest things. I need to be more grateful and forget about myself.

My companion is awesome. He is very helpful and good at English, so he helps me a lot. He is so humble and loves missionary work, so that is good. I lean on him a lot so I am glad that he is so comfortable with everything!

Now for the best part! I have a baptism on Saturday.  A 14 year old girl named Regine Mae Mani!  I'm new, but she said she "has a good feeling about me" and wants me to do it! It is probably because I'm an American, but oh well!!!!