Howdy Team,
I didn't get quite as much journal writing in as hoped for..
so I will try to make up a little with some pictures and a good email. We've
been SO busy this week! This was my last transfer week.. kinda a weird feeling,
really. My good friend and once companion Elder DeYoung went home! Which means
I am next. Interesting how that works. Anyways they came in Sunday evening (all
the outgoing), we had the normal to-do with them. I guess I'll write it out now
so you've got an idea of what will happen. We all eat dinner together Sunday
evening, and then President conducts the final interviews. That is always a
very good experience from what I have heard. We get some rest, play bball in
the morning, and then Monday is a day at the Employment Resource Center. Here
Sisters Montague and Walker (senior sister missionaries--so great) teach about
job interviews, resumes, all that good stuff. We get to send a quick email
home.. very quick, we go home two days later.. and then we have the outgoing
Family Home Evening. I've attended two of these now, they are powerful. Each
missionary gets to bear a final testimony and President and Sister give some
last words of truth. We all wake up for some more bball Tuesday morning, we eat
breakfast, and get shipped off to Manila on a bus (busses and jeepneys are
always passing by the highway we live next to). In Manila they go to the
temple, can visit other sites, sleep at the Airport Hotel, and fly home the
next morning.
This transfer week seemed extra busy. Lots of stuff came
up.. like missionaries forgetting luggage at the mission home.. moving the
Packer's upstairs with us (they used to live in San Pablo.. 30 min away.. now
they live next door!)... oh! and one of the larger holidays in the Philippines
lined up perfectly to hold us up in the world's greatest traffic! ha. sorta.
The day of the dead (nov 1) is pretty big here. Everyone goes to the cemeteries
and hangs out with their loved ones that have gone ahead, they drink and do all
sorts of stuff I really know nothing about. We stay clear of that. Transfers
was just really busy this week.
Then to top it all off, Sister Packer called us Saturday and
said, "I've got a bunch of burger patties [from America], would you like
to buy buns so we can eat them on Sunday?" YES I WOULD SISTER!!! So we
did. Thanks mom and dad for teaching me to be a grill master, I cooked all
those patties for us, the APs, the new Alaminos elders, the Packers, and
President and Sister Peterson. Better than Jollibee, Macdo, and even Burger
King. So tasty! If only we had Jack Daniel's sauce from TGI Fridays.
So that covers the subject line ^^.
We're doing really well. Surprise! Elder Delos Santos and I
will work together until I leave! We have already been companions for the
normal two transfers (three months), and President felt we should stick
together for the last transfer. He'll be my second 4month-companion. Elder
Miranda was the first. That's a long time to be with one person, but we really
do enjoy working together. I'm happy about this. There is still much for us to
learn together, and the experiences we have shared are truly memorable.
I would like to share one that happened last night. We were
walking to teach brother Fernando and sister Sheryl and their family, when we
saw them ride away on a motor[cycle]. They promised they'd be back soon, so we
walked down the street a few houses and knocked on the big pink house. Knocking
on big houses is sometimes frightening, but we do it. And so we did. "TAO
POOOO!" That's how you 'knock' on a door. Yell, "TAO POOOO!" A
young man turned around and asked, "bakit po? (why?)" We explained we
were missionaries and had a message for them, from Jesus Christ. His mother,
Sister Precy, came out and entertained us very well. She seemed somewhat
interested, and the Spirit was there. She invited us to return on Tuesday
around the same time, and promised to bring one of her friends that lives next
door. This friend sounds very promising! The friend has read over half the Book
of Mormon (daw) and was taught by missionaries in the past. We are excited to
return and teach them more about the Gospel. These experiences are blessings.
Our companionship has been filled with them, and we are excited to work
together for another transfer.
Have I told you how much I love the Obrado Family? I wish I
could take them home with me I love them so much! And I am grateful that such a
humble, true family lives here in this ward to bless the people of Alaminos. I
think I'll send their picture again. Anyways, they continue to progress. Sister
is one of the few active visiting teachers, and is blessed with experiences
similar to the one I told of above. Brother has some things to work through,
but he is repentant and now understands that nothing, nothing at all is more
important than securing his family's eternal potential through the ordinances
of the temple.
OK I'm out of time. I love y'alls, and yes I am very excited
for the coming weeks I have as a missionary. Love,
Elder Trevor Todd Brown
PS Pictures!
1. We walked on that little cement wall between the
irrigation and rice field for about a mile to get to an investigator in calauan
that my companion interviewed for baptism. It was hot, hence the bandana. Live
long and prosper!
2. This picture might be best with a made up story. I think
I was trying to call down lightning to strike a rebellious tree in the path.
But really I saw that beautiful area driving to Lucban last week and decided I
had to have a picture, and in the real picture of me just smiling I closed my
eyes. This is the next best one.
3. I think I have a problem with sleeping happily through
pictures, cause this is the best of our district last transfer. Ha.
4. I included the Obrado Family at full image size.
It's worth it. Likely my favorite picture, ever (:
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