A Missionary's Work: Loving the Culture

Cavs represented in the Philippines

9/26/2017

So this week was cool. I finally understand the majority of what is said, though I can't really speak. The people (mga tao) are amazing and I absolutely love them. We have a brother who is a trike driver, who is always there if we need him, for rides, for advice, for everything. Today he told us that if he makes enough money today, he wants to treat us to dinner, then after we got home and I was talking with kasama ko, he told me how his electircity was turned off. Dahil, he is the lone provider for the three households as a trike driver. He is an amazing person, he was willing to give to us though his family needs, now this is a truly selfless person that we could all learn from. We had another binyag (baptism). Brother Hubert and his brother will be binyag this Saturday. They are amazing too.

Baptism - Binyag

 
So for culture time. Always shake the right hand because they don't use toilet paper here... and carry hand sanitizer. The food is a variety from bulot (mostly developed chick), to chocolate, to chicken, to chicken blood. Also rice is part of every meal. I haven't had a meal without rice yet. Though on the subject of food, I had the best hamburger that I've ever had, surprisingly. Today I found out that you need to look at the trike a little before you take one. We were on our way to email and I saw a little (big) friend in the corner with us. Also, spiders are used as gambling here, they put them on a stick and have them fight.

Trikes

The spiritual thought today is about family. The family is so important to society and God. A family should be united and loving. God gave us families. A home should be a place of love, peace and beauty. It's a place to take cover from the world and refill spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally. I love my family and know that they will support me in all things.

See ya next week, stay Ayos!

p.s. Families are important to missionary work (service too)

It's the wet season in the Philippines

Trike Spider

Fighting Spiders

A Missionary's Work: Week 1 in the Philippines

9/19/2016

We should now get regular Monday emails.

My first week has been pretty tough. The Philippines is awesome, the hard part is not knowing Tagalog so understanding everyone is hard. The culture I'll just have to get used to. Some fun things from this week: we had a baptism, I confirmed, we gave many blessings, the first person I talked to we set up a lesson with, I ate chicken blood, and I was really sick from dehydration then over hydration. Overall I know that God has a plan for us and that he doesn't give us trials that we can't handle. Something that I have started to learn is that sometimes when we are feeling bad for ourselves, like "I can't do this" or "this is so hard", think of others. If we love others and serve others, our problems pretty much vanish and we find joy in doing so. So when I feel bad, I think of the people I am here to help and how I can help them and I find peace, joy and love.

I will see ya next week!

A Missionary's Work: Travel

9/8/16-9/9/16

Mom Note: We were able to talk to him for a good long time while he was at the airport before he flew to Los Angeles. He traveled to LA, then Hong Kong, then Manila. He was in great spirits and so excited to finally serve in the Philippines. He left 1 week earlier from Utah than we thought because he had 1 week in the training center in the Philippines. 

Email 1:
Hey, I just got in about a half-hour ago. I can't call home, it's $8 a minute. The flight was long. I made friends with a taiwanese lady and we talked aobut everything, including God; she was a Jehovas witness, so she didn't want a card or number. She was really nice though. I wish we were in the city-city, the airport is a little bit aways. I'll probably email/call when I get to Manila. It's 7am here. Love you guys!

Mom p.s. No call from Manila but the Utah call was so good... I was okay. :)

 Elder Ibarra: My cousin's son who is also in the MTC.

Email 2:

I got to the MTC safely, though traffic is rough (not quite DR traffic but really close, especially the bikers weaving in traffic). The area is beautiful. So much greenery and everyone smiles when you wave. It's so weird that people will wave and be happy from your own waving, you almost think that they are making fun of you but generally not. I already love the area. The people are really cool!

A Missionaries Work: Leaving for the Philippines

9/6/2016

Kamusta! This is the week I am shipping out to the Philippines! Just 15 hours of flying and a few hours of layover and the time zone change being a whole day ahead of the USA. Pretty much leaving the 7th and getting there the 9th. I can't wait though! This past week was awesome, I saw a friend I haven't seen in 8 years, when we lived in UT. He's an awesome guy and going to serve in Pittsburgh! It was a tender mercy to see my long lost friend that I truly thought I would never see again.

Anyway, Yesterday was our last day teaching Francisco and Thelma (our teacher's bro. Spencer and his sis. Aitkan). Great teachers and I am very happy (masaya) about having them teach us. Funny part about our trip is that when we get to the Philippines, one elder has his b-day so we celebrated it early.

So here's something I heard and liked from a talk this week. We practice/do what we know, how do we know? We know from experience, how do we have experience? It starts with a thought and a feeling in your heart. When we put something in our mind then put our heart into it, then practice it, it becomes part of us and who we are. Like with the attribute of service. We have to continually think about it and truly want to do it, put your heart into it then go and do. You will gain so much more from it then others will and you will learn so much more. That's my thought for the week. See ya next week... in the Philippines!

Elder Peterson

P.S. Think this week on some kind of attribute you want to make a part of you , then apply the following
1-Think
2- feel/use your heart
3-Do!

A Missionaries Work: Getting ready for the Philippines!

This week we got a new teacher, Sister Atkine, she's from the Philippines so we get to learn a lot better. Like with the language speed, accent, and little helpers like instead of pronouncing "T"ta, they pronounce it as a da. She's pretty cool and direct which helps us out. I have also been learning to handstand and we have competitions with it all the time. Funny thing is I can do a handstand on a chair but not a regular one, ha! Also, we are all pumped to finally go to the Philippines next Wednesday. We leave the 7th and get there the 9th. They are a day ahead of us plus we have about 20-ish hours of flying/layovers. So we get there on my friend's birthday. 

 

I have been learning and getting better at forgiving and not judging others. For example if you get in a heated argument, learn to put pride away and apologize even if you know you're right. Isn't peace more important? For me, it hurts relationshiops with people and I can't learn and grow if there has been a bad argument. So I usually start pondering a few questions. Do either of us feel happy? What would it be like in their shoes? and Would I want my family (siblings or children or parents depending on you) to hold that anger in? I end up humbling myself and apologizing or finding an understanding that puts the fire away. 

 

Anyway, spiritual thought this week about the plan of salvation. A lot of things happen in our life, some crappy, some are worse, and some are above joyful. My biggest testimony on the plano ng kaligtasan is that families can be together forever. I have seen a lot of people who lose loved ones and are very sorrowful because they don't know that they will be with them again. I have had some personal experience (karanasan) with this as mos of you know I lost my dad when I was younger and as I grew up in this gospel I learned more and more. Now I know I will see him again. Through Jesucristo and his atonement (Pagbabayad-sala) we can be forgiven (nagtatawad) of our sins and live with Diyos again (ulit). Sa pangalan si Jesucristo amen.

P.S. - Remember you're a child of God and he loves you and helps you to grow. 

--

Elder Peterson