80 days left

Hey mums

This week was kinda long. Elder Centeno was sick and we didn't work for a few days.

Aside from that, we had a good week. We had zone interviews. I love them so much. Anything actually that i can interact with President Andaya. He is a very special man. I'm glad i'm close with him. This week i participated in two choirs. It was super fun! The first one for our interviews. We sang Hymn number 129, i don't remember what its called.. but you can look it up. That went OK  Sister Smith was our leader cuz she is real good at singin.. Then for our other choir, we sang number 41. It would have been great but two days before i lost my voice... first time of my mission actually. Its almost back now.

We had a meeting with the Assistants and the STL's(Sister Training Leaders..basically the sister APs.) about my zone and what we can do to improve. The sisters are having a hard time, but its to be expected because they are so new and given responsibility so soon.

Sister Smith is doing great! I get to see her at least once a week. Its always fun talking with her. Reminiscing about old time and what not. I think she is adjusting just fine.

Here is my favorite least favorite moment of the week.- We were finding and we were contacting all the big houses in our area and we stumbled upon a giant castle house. We knew they were rich because they even had a door-bell. The guy came out and we told him who we are and the first thing he said was "Oh, you don't want us in your church, we smoke and drink. And that's not allowed in your church... Right?" i got a laugh out of that.. then we continued to talk to him and after a minute or so, he asked us to wait. Like he was going to get something from inside. We waited patiently for a minute, then two then five. We decided that he wasn't going to come back to we yelled thank you and left.

Well i'm just about to send some pics now so 

Ginhigugmaon ko ikaw

Elder Smith

87 days left

Hey fam!

this week was a long week. As of sunday, i didnt have a companion. its hard being alone, even though i was with two other elders.... it was rough.. But my companion came of friday. It was super nice to have him... His name is Elder Centeno (Cen tay no) He is from Nueva Ecija. Its near Manila. He is the youngest zone leader in the mission. So far to this date that i have ever heard of.. he is about a year out only. But he is great! Im glad i get to train him.

So we should be having a bunch of baptisms this next month. im really excited for that... hopefully they will all stay strong.

Also i got to see Sister Smith! it turns out that she is in my zone!! We went to pick her up from the bus terminal and it was really weird... im sure it was awkward for her cuz it was really awkward for me... I had no idea what to do! I thought, hey, she is family so maybe i can give her a hug... then i thought...well we are both missionaries so maybe not.... i had no idea what to do! So i did what came natural. I shook her hand. Its really nice to have her here. She is going to be a great missionary. She will have a great time here.

Well we have to go to a lesson now.. hopefully we will make it on time..

I love you all very much

Love ELder Smith

94 days left...down to double digits!

Hello family...well to be honest, im a little shocked at your last emails. ha So much is changing and different!! When you sent the photos of Tylers kwan  (no idea?is that a cebuano word?) i saw a pic of the kitchen and did not even recognize it.... let alone the backyard.. And when i saw Tyler holding the hawk, (at his eagle scout court of honor) this is what came to mind: "That looks delicious!!| i want to fry that bad boy up and throw some banana ketsup on it and eat it with some rice!" hahahahahaha it made me chuckle that i wanted to eat it.. Its only really a glorified chicken with razor sharp talons capable of tearing out the jugular of most human beings.

Its nice to have the pictures, thanks.

Well this week was weird... it was so fast and yet seemed kinda slow. I was basically dragging along my companion this week cuz his mind was centered on going home... Its nice to have a change. I dont yet have a comp, but will this coming friday. This week i will be running splitz with the elders in my apartment. this is weird not having my own companion...  

We had prolly the best ward activity of my life to date... We went to one of the beach resorts and played and ate and played some more.... holy cow... i love the beach so much...  next week i will send you the pictures. i got fried like a chicken, but now its a nice golden tan.. im almost as dark as some of the people here... hopefully it stays.

(I sent Christian a small portion of Amanda's letter and this is his response)

So as far as Amanda, the church orders the flight back out of the pines to show the government that she is actually going to leave the country. but in reality, she will get her visa in the allotted time and then become legal to stay here for her mission.

Love you momma

did you find your camera?  last time you mentioned that you were going to send me pictures...how you gonna do that if you lost your camera?

I got a spare camera that will allow me to send pics home

do you think that this will be your last area?

I think that this will be my last area.. and im ok with it.. its great here. i love the members.

i forgot to ask last time...did you do anything to celebrate the 4th of july?

To celebrate, we (me and the other white kid in my house) looked at our calenders and said "happy independence day." thats all.

This is jensen's last week, last pday etc.  can't believe it...can you?

Well its weird thinking that he is gonna be home in a few days. Its also weird and scary to think that i will be home soon as well.

so will you go back to the mission office this transfer? and perhaps will you see amanda?

Oh im sure i will see her... but i dont know under what circumstances..

did you get to see the worldwide broadcast of missionary a couple weeks ago that mentioned that missionaries will be able to use more social media to do missionary work?  will that start in your mission before you leave?

Yeah... we watched that.. i hope its going to shock the Philippines into helping the missionaries. Its had such a positive effect so far. The members and leaders are doing lots better.I dont think that the Media tools will be used here for a while longer.. We're just not ready for it.

101 days left

So, this week has been a quick one. we went on more splitz and i did a LOT of walking.

OK, so story of the week. One day after or during lunch i got a phone call, and not a normal phone call. This call was from a land-line. and there are almost 0 land-line phones here in the pines... so it was unusual. i answered and it took a second for the speakers voice to travel to me. He said "hello, this is Elder Nelson of the Quorum of the Seventy, who is this?" At this point i was absolutely freaking out and i stood up straight and said this is Elder Smith. He then said, "Hahahahahaha got you, This is actually President Cinco". (my stake president) i about dropped the phone.... i then said, wow president, you got me.... he then laughed for the next 8 seconds. then we had our conversation and then i went on to tell that story to the other elders in my house... haha we all had a good laugh.. and man did he sound convincing... 

well i think thats about all i have time for today. i will try to send a pic or two.

Love you all

Elder SMith

how come a couple weeks ago you had a funeral service every day?  how come so many people are dying?

the funeral was for one person. they have the funeral over a whole week. with a new service every day..... dont ask why...

what kind of fish do you catch and eat there? do you know if we have the same the fish?

 Im pretty sure they are just tuna... smaller kind of it anyways..

When is president and sister andaya finished with their mission? have you grown to love your president? especially being in the office?

i thought i already answered that one..... but they go home in july and yes i do love them.. a lot more so cuz i was in the office with them..

what are you going to do for pday?

today we went to the bukid in my area and had a lunch with some missionaries in our zone... twas fun. 

what are some of your responsibilities now that you're zone leader?  do you like it? 

 I love being ZL. i get to go on splitz with the missionaries in my zone and evaluate them on what they need to improve on. this helps me to  see what i need to improve on as well. Then i go to meetings with president and the Aps and discuss the progress, problems and other stuff of the mission(my zone especially) then i get to give trainings once a month..

108 days left

Hey mom. Its nice to know that your vacation was swell.. Maybe we can do that some time too :)

This week was full of exchanges and typhoons. We went with the Carigara Elders and the Jaro elders. Then we werent allowed out cuz of a typhoon that hit. It blew down a few trees in our area and made it flood and stuff but by the next day it was all clear. It feels weird going to church in our area cuz we arent able to be in it for many days of the week.

This week i lost my camera as well.. im so disappointed and have been praying ever day that someone will return it. i think that i left it on a petty-cab. We will see what happens...

We are having MLC tomorrow. (Mission leader council) in tacloban. it will be fun to see everyone again. 

Love you lots

Elder Smith