Kumusta Family!
Sorry that I'm sending this so late.
I'm actually in Balibago right now in Angeles. We went to the mission home in Angeles City
so that Elder Batingal could take the CLS English Test to become a certified
English speaker. He said it was really
hard, but I think he'll get a good score on it.
It took us awhile to get there, but it was nice to spend some time in
the air-conditioned mission office for a bit.
We went to lunch at SM Clark, the mall, and I've never seen so many Joes
here in the Philippines that weren't missionaries. (A “Joe” is what they call an American
male here, like: G.I. Joe. So, as
I walk along down a street, it is not uncommon to hear: “Hey, Joe! What you know?”) I suppose that it has
something to do with being so close to what was once Clark Air Force Base. Anyway, it was kind of surprising to
see. We didn't really stop and talk to them,
but it was really strange to hear an American accent again from a guy ordering
in front of me. It's also very hot
here. What else is new, right?
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| Jordan here with Sister Sharp and Elder Palmer from his MTC district - in Angeles City for a leadership conference |
Well, just like last week, we taught a lot of lessons,
but when it came to Sunday....nothing.
The attendance was only 97 this week, when it was over 200 just last
month. I really don't know what's
happening here. We're doing everything
we can right now to get the work progressing, but the members seem to be
struggling to work along side us. A big
part of that problem is the failure of so many to come to church. Mahirap.
Grrr. The bishopric told us that
everything related to gospel teaching (investigators, recent converts, and less
actives) is our sole responsibility, which is frustrating because we are here
to teach with them, not for them. It
seems that too many members are waiting for the chapel renovation to be
completed before returning to church. We
are told that the construction work may be done by the end of this month, but
it will more likely be mid to late November.
At least we have one really cool investigator, Mak-Mak, who will have
his baptismal interview this week (knock on wood).
We did not get to see General Conference yet. That does not happen for us until this coming
weekend. So, President Monson announced
that the missionary ages have changed to 18 for young men and 19 young
women? I totally thought that was some
baseless rumor until this morning, when a sister returned missionary bore her
testimony saying that her former mission president sent out an announcement
about that. We were really shocked by
it, because that was the first we had heard of it. Then, a bunch of future sister missionaries
got up and expressed gratitude and joy for this latest revelation, something
that we didn't even know was true at the time.
Man. We were thinking, "What
if it's just a rumor? What will they
do?" But, thanks to all the
spoilers of Conference (including your letters today), Sister Martino confirmed
it this morning. I guess that's cool,
but I would think 18 year old Elders would have to be really mature to serve a
mission, because I do not think I would have been as ready at 18. (Of course, had I known I could go at 18, I
may have focused more on mission preparation at an earlier point, so it may not
have been a big deal.) I am interested
to see what kind of a difference this makes in the number of missionaries in
the field.
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| Jordan with Elder Batingal at the mission office in Angeles |
I attended my first ZL/DLC (Zone Leader's/District
Leader's Conference) on Wednesday, and it was great! It's pretty much just like zone conference,
except the zone leaders talk about the previous month's goals and the goals for
the coming month, and the rest of the mission isn't invited. Our main focus for this month is teaching the
Book of Mormon. Sister Martino gave
brand new copies to all the missionaries in the mission and invited us to read
it from cover to cover by Christmas Conference in December. At first, I really didn't want to do it,
because I was almost done reading through it again and did not want to start
over. But, but after thinking about it
and watching Elder Holland's awesome talk back in '09 at conference about the
Book of Mormon, I decided to start over.
Sister Martino wants us to focus on getting closer to the Savior by
reading the Book of Mormon. She gave all
the missionaries two colored pens, red and blue. We are to use the red marker to highlight
every reference to Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. With the blue marker, we are to make specific
note of the Savior's words. It reminded
me of when we did this as a family back in the day. I've already circled all of that in my
scriptures, too. I started over on
Thursday (with the Introduction and Testimonies) and now I'm in 2 Nephi! :)
Once I started, I didn't want to stop.
I just love reading the Book of Mormon, and even learned a few more
things in 1st Nephi that I hadn't noticed before (and I thought I
knew everything about 1st Nephi after reading it so many
times).
 |
| Jordan outside the mission office in Angeles City |
Elder Batingal and I are still doing good and having
fun. I'm learning a lot from him
everyday. I'm also glad to be getting my
friend's mission emails and stuff.
(Thanks for forwarding all of that, Dad.) It sounds like they're loving it. It figures that Dallin would be driving a car
in his fist area and eating steak. Man,
American missionaries are so spoiled (haha), but I guess we are spoiled a bit
here, too - especially in Victoria. Just
like Kalikid, we have dinner appointments almost every night, so I hope to gain
some weight back. Both of the Steven's
(Elder Olson and Elder Jex) sound like they are doing well, and Steven Olson
sounds like he's been making a lot of improvement in the Sao Paulo MTC (or
whatever that's called there) since the first time he wrote. Seth and I are serving directly below each
other in the Philippines. I can confirm
that yes, the bread is reaaaallllly masarap here. I laugh every time I read Brennen Marshal's
letters (haha). He really knows how to
write interesting emails home. I am
excited to hear about Chelsea’s mission call.
My guess is that she will come to the Philippines Angeles Mission, of
course (the best). Or, my second guess
would be a historical sites mission in New York (which she would be great
at). I forgot to tell you guys that I
met Sister Tesch (Garth Tesch’s daughter) on Wednesday and we talked a bit
about the Church History trip and stuff.
Pretty cool. (If you can let Bro.
Tesch know his daughter is doing well, that would be great. I’m sure he would love to know that through
another source.) Oh, and thanks, Mom,
for getting me new shoes at the Missionary Mall. (Thank goodness for that free replacement
guarantee if you buy shoes there. Hint,
hint to future missionaries looking to purchase shoes.)
I think I'm going to end here. I hope that you had a great week and that
this week will be even better! Mom, I
don't know what packages I was carrying in those pictures Sister Martino sent
you, but it is very cool that she sent them.
The Martinos are wonderful people.
Ight. Mahal ko kayo. Ingat!
Elder Jordan "Psyched to Watch General
Conference" Royal
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