29 October 2012

Hey Mum and Family,

Great news about baby Rawiri. What a handsome little man!… Hehe!   Danii, you are a trooper!  You should have been a rugby player.   Mum, you look beautiful in the picture with the grandkids.  It looks like such a huge load is off your shoulders now that baby has decided to come into the world.   What a great week.  Oh and Danii, thanks for the explanation about the baby things.  Mum, go have a feed on the sandwiches, donuts, lahat... 

Work has been great this week.  We challenged two more of our investigators to be baptized and they accepted.  So cool.  It was the lady that we found who was forgotten, but we found her.  So, her and her daughter's baptismal date is set for November 17, but, they have to come to church four times before they can be baptized.  That's the rule here, so we've got to get them to come next week. 

About brother Noel Ramos and his daughter, they came to church and it was amazing.  My heart did a backward flip when they walked through the chapel doors.  The best thing was after the meeting, where tons of people went over and talked to them.   It was super awesome.    That night we went over and taught them a lesson and his daughter MayMay expressed her feelings about serving a mission.  She's not even a member yet but one of the greatest things about being a missionary is seeing the gospel of Jesus Christ change lives.  It's amazing! 

FYI - Dinners have be awesome this week.   We've had one just about every day with a member family. 

I'm not sure if I told you about a guy by the name of Mark Galindo.   He was given to us as a referral during one of my first weeks here in Tandang Sora but because Elder Ofahulu and I were white washed we were unable to meet with him.  Last month however, I finally got in contact with him, only to find out that he is English speaking.  He's a Filipino that grew up in Cyprus of all places. He doesn't speak Tagalog but is fluent in Greek and English.  Weird!  We have been teaching him and have also given him a baptismal date.  He's awesome and is working hard on getting rid of the bad influences around him.  Funny thing though, we rocked up to his house one day and him and his housemates were singing the song, "Listen" by Beyonce and as we walked up to the door, Mark turned around and being so suprised and caught off guard,  he swore at us.  He said it was just a reaction. Hehe.  So, I'm sure you can guess what our lesson was on that day!  

On Wednesday we had exchanges with some of the Elders in the MTC.  My companion and I were given Elder Guillermo.  He's sweet and he's from Cagayan Valley.  Really nice dude.  I asked him straight up why he came on a mission and he said that he was tired of living off a borrowed testimony and that he wanted to know if the Church is true. Cool. We went to our first appointment and handed the time over to him.  He did such a great job. 

Also, there is a Sister from Tandang Sora Stake that will soon be serving in the same mission as Sister Aleisha McIver.  I told her to give Sister McIver a big hug for me when they see each other.  Oh Mum, do you remember the Tipene boy from Church College?  His name is Beau.  He was mine and Storms friend.   He's in this mission!  His family is from Whangarei and it was cool az to see one of the boys from Church College here in the mission.   There are a ton of Kiwi missionaries now - about 10 or more with a few more arriving in the coming batches. Cool aye.   When I first came out here, there were about 3 of us and that's including me, but now there are a lot more.

Sad buzz, one of the members died last Thursday.  She had been battling with cancer for over a year and just last week she slipped over to the other side.  When I was first put in this area she was recovering from surgery, but last month things got worse, she couldn't lie down because it was too painful and then it got to the point where she had to lie down because of dizziness and when she lay down, she couldn't stand up.   It was so sad, because she couldn't eat and her condition just worsened.   She passed away Thursday. We visited on Friday and they held the service at Church last night.  It is so comforting to have the knowledge of the great Plan of Salvation, but I must admit that I'd probably be a mess if any of you were to pass away.  I know it's not the end, its that simple and there is something more for us to look forward to.  I know that to be true. 

Life is good and I'm having a blast with my new companion and I finally got my garments today.  Thanks po.  I love you all so, so, much.  I hope I can end this transfer off with a blast.  I feel that I will be transferred next transfer as I'm the oldest in the area.  Oh man!  I love na love the Ward here, the members, less actives and investigators.  It's going to be hard to say goodbye, but that's just how the life of a missionary is.

I love you all and wish you the best for the upcoming week.  Be safe, have fun and please keep me in your prayers.

Elder Chadderton

24 October 2012

Hey Mum and Whanau,

I've tried to attach some pictures, so I hope it works this week.  Thanks again for all the emails and pictures.  Mum, I haven't yet received my G package, but oh well!  A lot of the stuff I ordered a while ago has arrived - rings, bag, Preach My Gospel and Bible in Tagalog and I should be getting my new pants next week.  I still plan to get a scripture case.  With regards to the rings, I thought if you guys wanted, we could get family rings - CHADDERTON - or something like that.  Think about it and let me know because they cost about $NZD12.00 each and are stainless steel and customized.  

Anyway's, this has been a good week.   I did get a bit of a sore throat earlier on in the week but thats all good now.   The main events of this past week would have to be Temple Tour and Temple Day. 

One story:  "We went to visit this one less active family and the dad's name is Noel Ramos.   Sadly, he is seperated from his wife but he has 3 of their 4 children.   He is a member of the Church but hasn't been to church in over seven years,  which means his kids haven't attended either.  So, it is about our fourth visit to his home and this time his kids are there.  His daughter goes to another church and she knows a lot about Jesus Christ and the Bible stories, so as we are teaching, the daughter agrees with what we are saying.  Anyway, we start teaching the first lesson which is about Families and the dad - Noel - starts testifying and saying that everything we are sharing is true and how much he wants his family to be together forever.   Coincidence that we have Temple Tour on the Saturday?  I don't think so!  Of course we invite them to come to the Temple and they accept.   So, on Saturday morning we meet up with them at the Temple along with some of our other investigators.   I must say that that Temple tour was the most spiritual one that I have been to.  The family was asking heaps of questions about the Temple and you could see that this is what the father wants for his family.  Come Sunday, the dad didn't come to Church.  The other kids did but they said the dad got caught up in some other work.  O sa tagalog "may ginagawa siya o may inaasikaso..." Gutted!  We went and visited them after church and the tatay committed to come to church in the upcoming linggo... Sunday. Cool aye!"

Another story, one of our investigators is now hiding from us.  Yep, it's true!  The last time we taught him we talked about baptism and I think he kinda freaked out and he went behind the couch and was sitting on the floor rocking back and forth.   Since then we haven't been able to teach him.  Oh well, and two of our other investigators are in Province, meaning they've gone home and they said that they won't be coming back until January.  I don't think I'll be here in January. 

We met a lady who had been taught by the missionaries and had a baptismal date set and everything but 2 weeks before her baptism date the missionaries were pulled out of that area and the new missionaries didn't find her.  But we did!  She is really cool and her husband is a less active member and she and her daughter want to get baptized so we are going to help organize that so it can happen.  Astig diba!

That's about my week as far as outstanding major events go. Oh, today we went to the Temple.  That was nice too. It's always good to be in the House of the Lord and doing a session and not just touring around the building. 

Mum, as an answer to your question,  I have experienced a huge change which I'm sure you will notice when I get back.  I still do and say things how I did back home.  But when I look at people now I have hope for them that through the gospel teachings they can have hope too.  I have gained a greater love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and it is something that I cannot and never will deny.  Whether that is a mighty change of heart or not, I do know that the changes I have experienced on my mission are far beyond anything I could have gained from a job or college study.   This is the best two years and in a way they are two years that turn a boy to a man.  Two years of CHANGE.  I hope that answers your question Mum. 

I love you all so, so, much and I feel a sense of pride (in a good way) when I can share with people that we have 3 people in our family serving missions at the same time.  It's awesome.  Mum about the letter, I will send you one but want to make sure that the postcode is 0629.  I can't remember... 

Wala akong masasabi sa inyo na perfect ako. Syempre impossible 'yun pero, ang aking mga natutunan ko sa mission ay hindi kayang maisalarawan.  Ito lang talaga ung best two years. D&C 6:36 Isa alang alang ako sa bawat pagiisip, hwag magalinlangan, hwag matakot. Doubt not, Fear not. Hindi po ito ung pinakatotoong simbahan kundi ito land ung totoong Simbahan sa buong sanlibutan. Mahal tayo ng diyos, totoo 'yun. Mahal ko kayo lahat. Salamat sa lahat po. Un po ung aking patotoo sa pangalan ni Jesu Cristo. Siya nawa.

Elder Chadderton

15 October, 2012

Hey Mum and Whanau,

Another good week has past and I have a new companion - said goodbye to Elder Ofahulu and had an awesome weekend watching General Conference. Thanks once again for all the emails and pictures. Last weeks email was a bit rushed due to our busy schedule, but this week I've got some time. How's everything going? How's little Rawiri? How's your health? How are you doing in applying what you learnt from Conference? How's all the Uncle's? 

So, this week I want to try something a bit different because Elder Ofahulu said that when we write our emails home we should write about our feelings and events that have happened and not just about what we had at our dinner appointments.  Cool aye.  Mum, were you able to contact his family? So, I'm going to listen to him and try his suggestion. 

On Thursday as you know, Elder Ofahulu was transferred to the Quezon City South Zone and he has a companion from the States.  My new companion is from the Marshall Islands and his name is Elder Braind.  He is two transfers ahead of me which is nice because we can share the teaching load.  I have been learning a lot from him and he's awesome at speaking Tagalog.  Most people think that hes a Filipino because of how well he speaks.  After transfer meeting we went back home and Elder Braind unpacked and then I took him and introduced him to some of the families in our area. He is awesome! 

Friday we went out and worked and found out that two of our investigators are going home for a holiday, so it's a bit hard to help them if you can't visit and teach them. They said that they will be back sometime next week so we will visit them next week.

On Saturday and Sunday we attended General Conference. It was mean az and I learnt heaps. But the thing that stood out to me the most was the inspiration I had about raising my own family and what kind of example I would set for them and what kind of rules and traditions I will have in my family.  It is a lot to think about. But, I've got to finish my mission first.  The talks by Elder Bednar and Elder Holland were awesome.  The part where Elder Holland says, "Do you love me... over and over again!"  I could just feel the spirit asking me if I was doing everything I could to show that I love Jesus Christ. Elder Bednar's talk about your testimony was mean. He said that a testimony is pure knowledge of spiritual truth obtained by revelation through the Holy Ghost and he compared it to the story of the Ten Virgins and how you have the lamp of testimony and the oil of conversion. Mean aye!  Then Elder Marvin B Nash shared his thoughts about Faith and Reason and that you can't have one without the other.  It was astig!

Well family, I've had an awesome week and I look forward to applying what I've learnt to myself and also to my District. It's awesome and my companion is good, I'm doing good and the area is good. I hope these pictures send this time.  Hey mum thanks for the letters and please thank Uncle Dan and Aunty Dale too. 

Take care and keep being awesome and know that I love you all.

Elder Chadderton

P.s Pictures still aren't working. I don't know what happened… Sorry!

11 October 2012

Hey Mum & Whanau,

Another sweet week this past week with transfers bukas and a soon to be new companion.  Yes it's true, we found out last night that Elder Ofahulu is definitely leaving and my mate wasn't too excited.  Thanks for the emails and pictures.  I am sorry but you will have to wait another week for some pictures.  The place where we do our emails does not have the proper facilities to upload and send pictures.  Sorry diba...

Well, my week has been good.  Tuesday we worked so hard and we had no dinner.  Wednesday was the same!

Thursday we worked and then had lunch with the Stake President where he took us to an all you can eat place which was really nice.  I have pictures of us at lunch but you'll have to wait until I can send them - maybe next week.  We worked again and that night we went to Sister Ivy's house for dinner. 

On Friday we went on splits with the Ward missionaries as we have about 6 in our Ward that are preparing for their missions so we had some of them come and work with us.  It was a great day and we did a lot of good then we had dinner at Bishop's house.  It was awesome.

Saturday we had a good day of work then we went to a baptism and Elder Ofahulu and I were asked to sing.  It was awesome and after the baptism we had dinner and then opened our fast. 

Sunday was amazing.  As missionaries, we set a new record for the number of members attending church.   Just to give you a little update, when I first came to the Ward there were about 170 members attending which was really good.  Our Bishop met with us and told us that the highest attendance in their Ward was 229.   Again, great numbers.  Last week we had 245 people attend church - a new record and that was so awesome.  Our investigator class was full and we had a ton of less actives attend too.  Astig talaga un.

Monday wasn't our normal P-Day because of transfers, so we worked our butts off.   We taught 5 lessons to some of our less actives and 2 lessons to investigators and we had a member present in our discussions.   It was awesome and that night we had dinner at one of our investigators homes and we shared a good message with him about Faith before we left. 

On Tuesday Elder Ofahulu and I went on splits with the Ward missionaries.  I went and worked with them in some of our areas and we got some good numbers to add to our weekly totals.  After that we went to Bishop's house and had BBQ and it tasted just like home.  Hehe!  Oi, some interesting news, Mum, if you or Uncle Rick know or remember a missionary from your mission days by the name of Elder Maroket from the Philippines Davao Mission, he is my Bishop here in Tandang Sora.  He swears that he knows you Mum.   So, can you and Uncle Rick please email me and let me know the names of those areas you served in during your missions in Davao.  That would be awesome.

Today is our P-Day and we played a bit of basketball before attending District meeting.    After the meeting we received our transfer announcements and then we went and did some bowling at the mall as a kind of farewell activity for Elder Ofahulu.  It was fun. 

Well, family, that's a break down of my week.  Tomorrow, it will be fun to find out who my new companion is.  I will also receive a few items I ordered as well.  Oh,  I  had to order a new pair of pants today because one of mine ripped the other day when I was getting in the trike... hehe. 

Before I forget can I please request some items for my small Christmas package: 

- Chocolates

- Naturals

- Cookies

- L&P and whatever else Mum feels so inspired to send me

Thank you family.  I love you all so much and I'll write you with more information about my new companion next week, and hopefully with some pictures too.   Cola, please tell your Filipino friends, "Sa mission mo na magsulat sa akin sa tagalog para mag practice ako.   At sabihin mo din sa kanila na hwag maging trunky." Translated, it means, "I'm on a mission and to write me in Tagalog for me to practice.  And also tell them to stop being trunky."

Elder Chadderton

Philippines Quezon City Mission

Aurora Blvd., Cnr. J P Rizal Street

Project 4, Cubao 1109

Quezon City, MM, PHILIPPINES

Thank you all so much again.  Have a great week.  Oh and mum 7 and a half months left… hehe!

Elder Chadderton 

2 October 2012

Hi Mum and Whanau,

Thanks once again for the emails and the pictures. It's awesome to be kept updated on everything back home.  You know, there are some missionaries out here on their missions that don't receive emails from their family at all.  Mahirap 'yun.  Mum, next time you visit the  Filipino sister missionaries at the Visitor's Centre in Temple View be sure to say, "Maayong buntag, maayong hapon, or maayong gabii."  Translated that means, "Good morning, good afternoon and good night." 

This week has been good.  We had exchanges with one of the other Elders in my District.  It was cool to work in another area. 

On Tuesday Elder Ofahulu and I went out to work in NIA village and Roque One compound.   We had a good day and visited some of our investigators and less actives.   Rubina is one of our investigators and our plan was to teach her about baptism and set a baptism date.   We started our lesson by sharing a scripture found in Doctrine and Covenants section 42 where it says something along the lines of, "If thou lovest me ye will serve me and keep all my commandments."  I asked Rubina, "What are some of the ways that we are able to follow Jesus Christ?  She gave answers like reading the scriptures, going to church and praying.   We then shared another scripture found in 2 Nephi 31 where it talks about how we need to be baptized and explained that even Jesus Christ as PERFECT a being as he was had to be baptized.  At this point we invited Rubina to be baptized.... awkward silence filled the room and it seemed as if time it self stood still or had ceased to be… dom, dom, dom... Then she said, "Yes!"  I remember at that point my heart felt like it was beating faster and I was so excited that I almost wanted to hug everyone there. Hehe. It was awesome and to finish off the lesson we shared our testimonies  and then handed the time over to one of her friends that were there with us to share her testimony too.  It was amazing to sit and listen to the testimony of this once less active friend now testify of the truthfulness of the Church.  It was great.  Well, that was our day.

On Wednesday we visited some awesome families and met a recent convert that had been taught by an Elder MacDonald from New Zealand and he had been given a Maori Book of Mormon with the NZ National Anthem in it and the Haka.  Cool aye.  We visited this one house where they were mixing up cement so that they could make stairs in front of their house.  I got in there and helped them out and it was awesome to be able to give that spontaneous act of service.  After that we went to Sister Ivy's house for dinner.  Super sarap. We had chicken afritada and banana-que with fruit shakes as our beverage.  Awesome dinner.

On Thursday we had exchanges and I went with the other Elders to their area and met their investigators and members which was awesome. We visited a few people and later went to one of the houses and had dinner. Sarap. Adobong manok and we had magnums to end the night and then sleep.

On Friday we swapped back and then had to do our weekly planning.  Once that was finished we went out and worked and had a few challenges but we were able to teach two great lessons to Ruby about the Law of Chastity and the Word of Wisdom.  It was good. We also found the referral that was given to us by the Office.  We texted him found where he lived and then went over and talked with him.  We call it BRT (building relationships of trust). He is an amazing guy - golden as they would say in the mission.  We didn't teach him a lesson but I told him that I felt inspired to give him a baptism date.  So I did and he accepted and we all agreed that we needed to review and reteach all the lessons to get him ready for baptism.  Awesome!  Dinner that night was at Bishop's home and we had beef sinigang with bangus and ice-cream for dessert. Mmmm... so good.

Saturday we were booked out with a Stake activity followed by a baptism which we were invited to sing at.  It was a good day and because we had eaten at the activity we didn't need dinner. 

Sunday came around and we were meant to pick up one of our investigators but he had a fever and texted to say he couldn't make it.  Sayang.  Church was good and it was packed, which makes us and Bishop happy because they can see that our work is paying off.  I had to interview one of the other Elders investigators for baptism and that was awesome.  She will be getting baptized on Saturday and we have been invited to sing there too.  Cool.  We were invited to a dinner at the Arucan family home.  They know Tito Mike Ramirez.  Sister Arucan had a picture of the family.  Dinner was amazing - BBQ ribs, kebabs, chicken, pancit and ice-cream.  So, so good.  The members dropped us off at home after dinner and it was a good night.

Today is our P-Day and we splurged a bit because we are sure that Elder Ofahulu will be transferred next week.  Boohoo!!! But such is life.  We went and had pizza at Shakeys. 

Thanks for everything Whanau.  I know you are always there for me. I am trying my best and I realize that the time is going by quickly and I only have like 7 months left until I walk through those airport doors like Elder Stefan Huysmans did last week.  Hehe. Trunky... lol

I love you all.  Take care. 

Elder Chadderton

P.s.  Tell Cola I got her package and I got your letters too. Thanks.

P.p.s.  Photo's still aren't working but next week I promise.