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!

25 June 2012

Hey Mum and Whanau,

Thanks for the emails mum and the pics. Astig talaga!  Mum, don't worry, I'm fine and I'm not sick and the rain eased off this week so we've had some really hot, sunny days.  But right now it's raining.  I got my package with the shirts, shoes and chocolate.  Salamat na marami!  I've eaten all the chocolate and the shoes fit perfectly and the shirts are cool.  Thank you.

This week has been good, the work is progressing and we've been doing a lot more finding of investigators and less actives.   We have asked our current investigators and less actives for referrals and have received a lot of help.  It was awesome to be able to work through the members in pushing the work forward.  We have met up with heaps of less actives just by talking to people on the streets and by asking active members if they know of any people that live close by that used to be active but are no longer attending church.   When we contact the new less actives that have been referred to us, we teach and visit  them and during our visits we learn that many or some of them aren't even members and then we are able to add them to our list as new investigators.  It really is awesome.

My companion, Elder Herr and I are doing awesome.  We have some great goals and we're doing good at fulfilling them.  My tagalog is improving more and more and I am able to focus on my methods of teaching instead of worrying about the vocabulary or structure.   The Lord really does help those that serve him. 

Thanks for all the work you are all doing in helping the Lord.  Can I ask that you take care of Uncle Dave.  I have been thinking about Uncle a lot this week and I feel that he needs our help and support.  I love him heaps and I love each of you and I was so happy to see the pictures of Eph, Jay (Elder Akroyd) and Zeek.  It makes me so happy to see Elder Akroyd in the right place.  I can imagine that in just over a year we will all get back together after our missions and share missionary experiences.   The mission changes people and I am different to what I was before my mission and I know I will change more before I get home.  The mission is irreplaceable and I love it.  Thanks again for everything.

I didn't get to take many pics this week so I will take some this week and send more next week.  Sorry!

Mahal ko po kayo.

Elder Chadderton 

18 June 2012

Hey Mum & Whanau,

Thanks heaps for the emails and the pictures.   I haven't received your package as yet but fortunately, I get to fly back to the Mainland for Zone Leader council on July 4th, so, hopefully I'll be able to pick it up then.  Astig!

I'm doing well and this week I bought an umbrella and some boots because we've been out tracting and due to the heavy rain there is a lot of flooding. There was a baguio warning which is essentially a hurricane or storm warning and we've had some intense rain for a couple of days.  But, it doesn't stop the work from moving forward.   The rain has eased up a little and we are hoping to play basketball later on today.

The week has been busy but good.   On Tuesday we woke up early and headed over to the airport to catch our flight to the Mainland.  While we were at the airport  we met a less active member from Australia.  He has come to the Philippines for a holiday.  He is a really nice guy and my companion and I were just sitting at the airport waiting for the plane to come in, then he came straight up to us and said, "Hey are you guys Mormons?"  We repied yes and we got to talking and learnt that his family are all members.   I can't remember his name but he said that he lived in Logan Stake.  I told him that we have family there and that he should come back to church.  Funny how the Lord puts people in your path so that you can help them.  Anyway's,  we got to Manila, caught a taxi from the airport to the mission home where we had a really good meeting.  After the meeting my companion and I had the opportunity to do a session at the temple.  So lucky!  After our session we went to the mission office and met up with Elder hansen (tatay ko) then we went with him and others to a Ward activity where they were celebrating Philippines independence Day.  It was a lot of fun and after that we went to Maccaz and had a feed.   It was sweet and I munched back a Big Mac and a chocolate sundae. SARAP ka'ayo!   We got picked up after our munch by the AP's and slept at their place until 2:00 a.m. and then we were dropped off with our stuff to the airport and flew back to Mindoro.  Good times!

Work has been good this week despite the rain and we have been able to teach and help build trust with the less actives here.  Because the church is so young here the less actives don't have a very close relationship with the missionaries, so, our main focus this past week was to try and build their trust.   It's working and they are starting to soften their hearts. The Lord has helped us so, so, much this week and we've met some new less actives and have been given a lot of referrals which helps with our investigator pool.  We are still helping the Branch to progress and we are planning on doing a workshop this transfer about HOPE.  It's the anchor of our faith and because of past failures and the amount of less actives it seems like some of our leaders have lost hope.  So we are going to try and focus on helping them to get back that hope.

I am doing good and having a blast with Elder Herr.  Mum, if i can ask, can you please send me some lava lava's for some of the Elders - maybe about five or so.  I love my zone and I want to give them a rememberance for whenever I get transferred.  They don't have any lava lava's here so if you could do that for me that would be sweet.

I love you all so much and I'm so grateful for the help that the Lord is giving me.  Thanks for all you do for me too.  Give my love to Cola and tell Aleisha to have fun on her mission.  She is awesome and so many people will draw close to her if shes not shy.  The mission is a different life but it changes a person for the better.  I love my mission and will miss it so much.  I'm at a point right now where I can honestly say that I am focusing so much more on how I teach rather than worrying about how I say things.  The language has become so fluent and so effective.  I love the Lord and he is my strength and without him I am nothing.

Thanks for everything.  Love you.

Elder Chadderton

P.s.  Sorry about the pictures as I didn't take many, but we had fun.

11 June 2012

Mum & Whanau, 

How are you?  I'm doing fine. We finally got some sunny weather and it hasn't rained for 3 days.  Woohoo!  I got my new companion and there are a lot of new faces in the Zone and gives a fresh start to the area.

My companions name is Elder Herr and he is a new Zone Leader and I will be training him.  Astig.   He is 19 and his birthday is coming up this week.  He is from Hawaii but was born in California and has lived in Hawaii for the last few years.  He from one of the other smaller islands in Hawaii called Kauai and he is awesome and we are having an awesome time. I am two transfers ahead of him and I'm having to take the lead on a lot of things but its awesome and Elder Herr helps me heaps.

We had District Meeting today and met the Zone.   It was fun meeting everyone and we set some Zone goals and made sure that everyone was all right and had no problems in their companionships.  Everything is fine and we have a sweet Zone.

Tomorrow we get to go up to the Mainland for Zone Leader council.  Astig.  I am going to have me some Maccaz. Hehe!  On Wednesday morning we will fly back to Mindoro and get to normal life and back to work. 

Elder Herr and I have set some new goals for the area and we have a lot of work to do. It is going to be awesome and our main focus will be on less actives and we are going to work hard to try and find some new investigators and get back to the normal way of teaching and tracting.  I am looking forward to it.   We have a lot of great members in our area and they will be a huge asset to the work.  Exciting stuff!

Good to hear that Dad's trip to Fiji went well dispite the dizziness from the turbulence and the rain.  The temple there looks sweet.  I hope he's home safe with a nice cup of milo in his hand. Hehe. 

Thanks for the news about the Stebbings.  The longer you are away from people the more you miss them.  You of all people know that mum, but I am truly grateful for all that you do for me and the support that you give me on my mission.   I know this email seems kinda short but not much else has happened this week. 

I just want to share my gratitude and appreciation for our Savior Jesus Christ and everything that he has done for me.  One of the elders was teaching and sharing about the atonement and one of the things he said was that Christ suffered for us so that we don't have to.  He told us to imagine Christ hanging on the cross and saying, "I'm here so that Elder Chadderton doesn't have to suffer for the sins that he will commit" I did not realise or put it into that perspective.   I know that he suffered for us all but to think that he knows me personally and suffered for the sins that he knew that I would commit.  It's intense.  I love him so much and I am grateful for him and I know that he will always be there for me. 

Missionary work is hard but I love it.  As members of this church we are required to stretch ourselves even if it is hard.   I am grateful for all that I have learnt on my mission and I am looking forward to the time that I have left to learn more. 

I love you all and wish you the best.  Take care.

Elder Chadderton

6 June 2012

MUM!!!!

So, so, so, sorry that I forgot to make mention of your birthday.   I finished my email to you last week and one of the Sister missionaries asked me how my family was and I told her that you were great and that your birthday.... and then wooopss, then I felt terrible that I didn't mention anything in my email about your birthday. Paxenxa.... patawarin nyo ako!  But, I didn't forget about you Mum, I prayed that you would feel my love and presence a your birthday celebration and that you would have a great day.  I love you mum.

Well,  I'm doing fine and the rainy season has started again and it has practically rained every day this week.  Aarrghhhhh!  The only good thing about the rainy season is that it makes things a little cooler.   My shoes are holding up, but they've seen better days.  I think I might be on Mindoro Island for a while and so I am hoping these shoes will last me for that time.

From all the pictures you've sent, it looks like you've had an awesome week.  The birthday party looked fun and you all looked great.  Please send my love to the Stebbings Family and let them know that I love them heaps and miss them as well.

My week has been very eventful and fun.  Yes, you guessed right!  Transfer day is today and I will be getting my new companion on Friday.   My current companion leaves here tomorrow morning and the newbies come in on Friday morning.  It is cool and exciting but sad to see Elder Bienvinuto leave.  He has been the longest serving missionary on Mindoro Island in the history of the mission.  His first area was in Magsaysay and he was there for 6 months and he has been in San Jose for 6 months as well.  A whole year on Mindoro and he has 3 months left in the mission.  Astig!

Well, to start off, Tuesday I remembered your birthday Mum, and on Wednesday the missionaries conducted a devotional for the youth.  We had to explain and go through the new Strength of Youth booklet with them.  It was an awesome opportunity and we made a game where we printed off the different topics on separate papers with a short explanation of the topic on other papers.  We blue tacked them onto the white boards at church and then covered them and numbered the different papers.   We then played the memory game where they each had a turn at guessing the topic and the short explanation.  If they chose two papers we flipped them and if the guess was right we explained the topic to them and under some of the topics we had videos or guest speakers.  It was super fun and they all had a great time.

On Thursday it rained and we got soaked, but it was fun and then on Friday we worked hard and at night time we had a celebration for one of the Sister missionaries in our Branch. It was cool and we ate food, played games and had a great time.  On Saturday we worked again in the rain, and I took my companion out for dinner because his birthday was on Sunday/ Fast Sunday. ( Sister Motuliki said to say, "Hi!") and then on Sunday guess what?  Yep! It rained again.  It was okay, so we had church  then went to our Branch council meeting and then after that we had District meeting that we attended as translators for one of the Senior couple missionaries.  By this time it was dark and we were waiting for one of the Elders to come down from Sablayan as he has finished his mission and is getting ready to go home.   He finally arrived and we broke our fast and then went over to the Senior couples house for dinner.  It was awesome.

Monday it rained again and we woke up early and dropped off the missionaries that were going home at the airport then we came back and then went out and worked.   Later, we had a farewell dinner for my companion at one of the recently  sealed families in our area. It was so awesome and we shared a lesson and the dad shared his testimony.  Super awesome!  I love that family.   Tuesday we went out and worked and then met up with the rest of the Sablayan Elders as they stayed at our house so they could come to transfer announcements today.   And now I'm ready to sleep.... hehe!

Missionary work is great and I love it here, but I just wish that it didn't rain as much.  The heat is fine but the rain... not good!

Danii congrats on the new baby boy. Astig.  Here comes the start of your basketball team. (jks)

I was going to send some pictures but the computers being a slazz... ahh nakaka-inis.

I love you all and pray for you always. Take care.

Elder Chaddderton