30 July 2012

Hey Family,

Thanks for all the pictures and emails. I'm doing great and this has been a good week.  However, I am no longer on Mindoro Island due to a bad choice I made and having to face the consequences of my actions.  I have grown from my my mistake and I'll tell you more about it when I get home at the end of my mission. 

On Friday I flew out from Mindoro and was placed in a new area and my companions were Elder Duenas and Elder Umagap - two awesome Filipino Elders.   I worked with them on Friday,  Saturday, and Sunday and today during District meeting President DeLaMare finalized his decision and  I have been assigned to serve in Tandang Sora Zone and my new companion is from Onehunga, New Zealand and his name is Elder Ofahulu and he is the man.  He is a new missionary so I have the opportunity to train him.  Funny thing is that we are about the same size and I can't wait to see the looks on the faces of the people here when we both walk down the street side by side.  He is fresh out of the MTC and I am really looking forward to helping him learn the language just like Elder Hansen helped me.  Other than that not much else has happened.

I am so excited for Cola (Sister N Chadderton) and I know she is going to  have a great time in the MTC.  It's like being in a spiritual bubble at the MTC and she will love it and I can't wait to hear about her experiences there.  It is such a different mission but I know she will have a great time.

I love you all heaps and I look forward to hearing from you again. 

Paxenxa, I forgot to bring my camera but I will remember to have it next week as I have some good pictures  to send you but with all the moving around this week I forgot to grab it when we came to the computer shop.

Elder Chadderton

23 July 2012

Hi Mum & Whanau,

How is everyone?  I am doing fine and thanks for the emails and pictures that you all sent.  Exciting times for Cola.  She is gonna have a blast and she will love the mission.  We have settled down after our first week into the new transfers and its looking to be a beaut.

Man I cannot believe Jared's birthday is coming up. I got him some gifts but I'll give them to him when I get home.  Hehe, just over 9 months.  The time on the mission flies so fast and I still remember clearly my farewell party at the Reid's house, getting set apart on Saturday and being scared to be around females and then everyone seeing me off at the airport and me heading on my way. I look back over the year that I've faced, the experiences I've gained and the growth I've had and think, "What an amazing year of experiences I've had!"  I look forward to more experiences during the remaining months in the mission field and I feel that I am more ready now to face the rest of my life than I would ever have been had I not served. I am going to miss this place heaps when I leave but I know I will be able to look to the future positively. 

My week has been good and things have finally calmed down from the excitement of transfers and Zone conference.  All the new missionaries arrived on Friday and we took them to their new areas.  Bytheway, it was pouring with rain during this time and after dropping off the newbies we had to be at the chapel for a meeting with all the missionaries in San Jose.  After the meeting we went out and worked and it was awesome.

On Saturday most of our appointments cancelled but we got to teach one lesson and after that lesson we had a meeting with our Branch President to discuss ways that we could help him continue to strengthen the Branch.   Since the District conference the leaders are a lot more enthusiastic in their work and they are doing a great job at helping the district to move forward.  The focus on helping the church move forward here is happening and its great.

On Sunday we had church with no meetings after so we went to the Couple missionaries home for lunch where we had hotdogs with all the trimmings - ketchup, mustard, relish, onions etc. and it was yum azz!   After lunch we went out and worked and we had some Branch missionaries work with us and we were able to teach some amazing lessons. 

Today is just the normal P-Day.  We had District meeting and set some Zone goals.   We also had some other meetings with the District and then I got my hair cut, did some grocery shopping and now I'm emailing. Hehe!

It's been a good week and I'm looking forward to the work this week. We have no interruptions to the work this week so it will be an awesome week.

Thanks for the pics and the update on the family. Give everyone my love, especially Cola.  She is going to have the time of her life in the mission.   I love you all and I'm so grateful for the comfort I get when I read the Book of Mormon. 

Mahal ko kayo at laging ingat.

Elder Chadderton

18 July 2012

Hello Po Family,

Thanks for all the emails and pictures. I'm doing fine and I'm having a great time. NEWS FLASH - I'm not leaving Mindoro yet!  Yay for me!  I survived another transfer. Woohoo!  Thanks for the letters and postcards as I received those this week.  Astig talaga. 

Maganda talaga ung week ko po ngayon.  Napaka busy pero astig. Nagkaroon kami ng District Conference.  Astig yun.  May bisita kami sa Quorum of the Seventy si Elder Perez. Taga Cebu siya.  Ang galing talaga niya.  Marami akong natutunan sa kanya.  Ung binahagi niya ay tungkol sa ating Temple recommend.  Sabi kung ating goal ay para magkaroon ng Temple Recommend susundin natin ang lahat ng mga kautosan ng diyos.  Hinda po tayo magiging less active kung yun ung goal natin.  At siyempre totoo yun.  Tingnin natin. Akg mga qualifications sa Temple Recommend is para maging full tithe payer at aktibo sa Simbahan.  Kung nagbabayad ka ng tithing ibig sabihin na aktibo ka. Diba. Kung aktibo ka, kadalasan, ibig sabihin na nagbabasa ng scriptures at nananalangin ka. So yun talaga ung pokus ng talk ni Elder Perez na kailangan natin maging temple worthy para magkaroon ng Temple Recommend at kung aktibo tayo hinding hindi po tayo mawawala sa Simbahan o hindi tayo magiging less active. Astig!

So, just a bit of tagalog.  Well, this week has been pretty sweet and we worked hard Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and did some great work. The weekend is going to be busy with conferences.

On Friday we had meetings in preparation for District Conference.  We organised things that we needed to do in order to get ready for the visitors as Elder Perez a member of the Quorum of the Seventy was coming with President DeLaMare and at night we went out and worked.

Saturday was the first day of District Conference and me and my companion went to the chapel early to help set up.   We were going to leave the Conference to go out and do some more work but it started raining and we were invited to attend the session.   Salamat!  The talks were about rescuing the lost sheep and even though kahit na, we entered the gate to heaven by baptism that is not enough as it is still a long journey to get back to the kingdom of God.  Our trip or journey is not over yet.   A story was shared of Noah and the ark and how the Lord calls the weak and the unexpected to do the impossible.   For me, I think that was the main thing that I learned over the weekend which is, "The Lord calls the weak and unexpected to do the impossible!"  Its awesome when you think about it.  Yesterday in one of my teaching appointments I shared that story.  If you think of Noah who was 600 years old when he was called upon to build the ark, then Moses one of the greatest prophets that had a hard time teaching because of his speech problems and Joseph Smith... a fourteen year old boy who became the Lord's instrument in restoring the gospel of Jesus Christ, it is amazing for me to think that I was called to this part of the Philippines as one of the weak things of the world to help teach and do the impossible amongst these great people.  It blows my mind.  After  conference we went and taught a family then went to dinner at President's hotel.

On Sunday we went to District Conference where they had two sessions - one for the Youth/ YSA at 8:30 a.m. and another at 10:00 a.m. for everyone else. It was awesome and in the Youth/YSA session they talked about serving missions and putting the Lord first and forgetting about all the hard things that could happen on a mission but doing it because  you love for the Lord. Astig no!  In the main session they reiterated the same things they spoke about on Saturday and focused on helping people to receive their temple recommends as that is the focus of the mission this year - to get more families through the temple. I think its awesome.

On Monday we had Zone Conference for the missionaries and it was awesome and we were taught about the importance of teaching and finding people - not just the poor and needy but also the upper class people.  We were also taught about Sabbath day observance.  It was super awesome and we also practiced our tracting skills and the importance of pausing in your lessons in order to bring in the spirit more when you teach.  Astig talaga, after all that we went out and worked and guess what?  I went on splits with President DeLaMare and it was an amazing experience.  The spirit that he is able to bring to the lessons is incredible and I am learning first hand from our Mission President .  It was a fantastic experience. 

Tuesday we went out and worked as a threesome because one of the Elders broke his foot and was sent back to Manila so that meant that one of the Elders in my apartment was emergency transferred and we are now in a threesome.  It was a good day and I was able to apply a lot of the things that I learnt from President.

Well, it is now Wednesday, a good day and even though I'm not being transferred it is still super hot.  I love the mission and thanks for everything. I love you all heaps and heaps. Ingat! 

Elder Chadderton

P.s. Cola, can you please send me two badge clips from the MTC when you get there.  They are in the bookstore at the counter, preferably the one with the black dots.  You'll know what I'm talking about when you see them.  Salamat!  Mahal ko kayo. 

9 July 2012

Hey Mum & Whanau,

This has been a great week and I am doing awesome.  Thanks for the emails and the few pics.  Its so awesome to know that you are all doing well back in the real world. 

Funny thing, I just read Jenna's emails and I cannot believe how different our missions are - the experiences that she shared are similar - but very different to what the focus is here in the Philippines.  However, we are both called as servants of the Lord and have dedicated our lives to serve him.  Its so cool to think that soon there will be three of us out in the mission field by the end of this month. 

Well, an account of my week.  On Tuesday I went on exchanges with the other Elders in my house.   We went to this one area and visited some of the families there but during all of this, it was raining like crazy and we were walking in water up to my shins and just tracting through the muddy streets as if it were normal.  We  did have one day this week where it hadn't rained, but it is raining today.  Hehe!  You do get used to the rain and being wet a lot of the time. 

On Wednesday my companion and I woke up super early and headed off to the airport as we had ZLC (Zone leader council) again in the Mainland.  When we landed in Manila  we didn't have any small money for the taxi so we went and had breakfast at Burger King then headed over to the Mission home.  We got there just as the opening song was being sung.  Lucky!  The meeting was good and because it was Independence Day in America  a special meal had been prepared for us based on American favorites. It was awesome.  After ZLC we went to the mission office to work out some financial stuff for my Zone then the best thing of all, we went to the Temple.  Astig.  We arrived at the Temple at 4:00 p.m. but the next session wasn't until 5:00 p.m. so my companion and I  went to the waiting room and I fell asleep because of our early 3:00 a.m wake up in the morning to catch our flight. I had a really good nap because I was able to stay awake for the entire endowment session.  Amazing!  The way I see having a nap was a blessing and I love the Temple and the closeness you feel when you are in the House of the Lord.   After the Temple we went to Mang Inasal for dinner and had some zagu and then we went back to the AP's house to sleep until early hours of Thursday morning.

Thursday morning came too soon and at 2.30a.m. we went on over to the airport and had a safe trip to Mindoro and then crashed when we got back to the apartment.  So tired!  We went and worked later that morning and got punted like crazy but we were able to teach a part member family about the importance of the Book of Mormon.  The father said that he had read the book before when he was first baptized but that he couldn't remember much about it.  We read the Introduction and explained a little bit about it, then I shared the scripture from 2 Nephi 32:3 which says, "Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ.  Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do."  The spirit was very strong and I promised the family that as they came to know the Book of Mormon is true - especially the dad - he will be able to find the answers to the different problems and trials in his life.  He gave the closing prayer and started crying and I could really feel the spirit.  It was awesome.

Friday was good and we had meetings with the other missionaries and then with the Branch at night.  Busy, busy, then we went and tried to do tracting amongst the middle and upper class people which is hard to do in Mindoro seeing as there isn't really a middle class people here because you are either rich or poor.  We did alright and managed to get a return appointment and then we went and had dinner before going home.

Saturday brought even more meetings and work where we were able to teach a less active family whose dad isn't a member but we learnt that he use to be an investigator.  It was the first time that I was able to meet and talk with him since I've been in this area.  He's retired from the military which means he is quite set in his ways.  We shared a scripture with him and then we each bore our testimonies and closed with a prayer before leaving.   I hope his heart will be softened and that he will be more willing to accept us next time.

Sunday was church along with more meetings and that night we got to teach a couple of great lessons.  One of our lessons was with a less active guy whose wife is Catholic and he has been less active for over 5 years.  We committed him to read the Book of Mormon and he accepted. It was awesome.  We shared the story of the Tree of Life or the punung-kahoy ng buhay.  We shared how the iron rod lead the people to the tree of life and compared it with how important the scriptures are in our lives and how the Book of Mormon will lead us to the tree of life.  He committed to keep on reading and will try to come back to church next Sunday.  The amazing thing is that we were able to talk to his wife for the first time.  She's a very staunch Catholic and has never wanted anything to do with us before, but this last visit we were able to introduce ourselves to her so hopefully next time we go back we will be able to start sharing the lessons with her as well. 

This is the Lord's work and I see his hand in all that we do. I am so grateful  for his love and support for those who continue to serve him.  One of my favorite scriptures in the Book of Mormon is 2 Nephi 4:27-28 where Nephi says, "Awake, my soul!  No longer droop in sin... Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul."  It is so cool.

Thanks for all the emails and constant encouragement.  I love you all and cannot believe I have less than 10 months before I come home.

Mahal ko kayo

Elder Chadderton

 P.s. This week is district conference for the Mindoro district, then our zone conference. I will be emailing you on Wednesday next week because its transfer day so don't freak out when you don't get your emails on Monday.  Love you!! 

2 July 2012

Hey Mum and Whanau,

It' has been a pretty good week,  super busy,  but at the same time super fun. I'm doing fine and no sickness but I just need to try and catch up on some lost sleep.  Thanks for the very lengthy email and pictures.  Its great to hear that everything's going well back home.

One of our main purposes here in Mindoro is to help grow the Church.  President DeLaMare understands the state that the church is in and he has put so much trust in us to be able to set up and strengthen the church while we are here.   It has been such a great learning experience for me to know how a Ward/Branch is supposed to function and the different problems  that arise on a Ward/Branch level. 

We have been able to participate in regular meetings with the Branch Presidency and have established a great trust with them through talking, having family home evening at the Branch President's house, giving service and working super hard to  build that trust between us and the Branch Presidency members.  In our weekly meeting we help in training the Branch President with the different responsibilities that he has to fulfill.  He is doing well but a lot of time is taken up in the training and meetings that we haven't done a lot of proselyting work as missionaries. 

We keep moving forward because we have to strengthen the leaders so that they in turn can strengthen the rest of the Branch.  It is truly a privilege to help in this great work and I am learning so much.

Anyway's, we had our zone activity today and that was sweet!  We had district meeting in the morning and then we went out to eat as a zone.  Later we went to the beach and played volleyball then we started with the program we had planned for everyone.  The plan for the activity was for everyone to get to know the different cultures within the zone.  For example, we have missionaries from many different places in the Philippines and then all the foreigners - some from Canada, Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand, Hawaii and a lot of American's from different States.  The Samoan's sung a song, some of the Filipino's danced, the Canadian's explained the differences between American's and Canadian's and then for New Zealand, I sang a song and then I did the haka.  I used the t/shirts you sent me with the map of NZ on to give an overview of what's in New Zealand and talked a little bit about the culture.  It was so funny because after I did the haka everyone was silent.  I think they were scared!  Haha!  But it was sweet and it really reminded me of home and Church College. 

It's so good to hear that the family are all doing ok and that Josh (Elder Solomon) is doing well on his mission.  How's Jordan?  Teaching the gospel, especially the plan of salvation, you learn about how important families really are to God's plan and how hard Satan tries to pull families apart. 

I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve and for everything I am learning.  It truly is awesome.

I love you all, I love this work and I look forward to the 10 months I have left.

Elder Chadderton

P.s. Jiamer as a boys name for Danii's baby!