24 September 2012

Hey Mum & Whanau,

Thanks for the emails and pictures. It has been a good week and you all sound good.  I love reading all your emails and Nan and Grandad thanks for the email as well. I can't write you directly but just know that I love you and hope you have a great anniversary. 

So, my week, Tuesday we had a service project in the morning where we cemented the floor of one of our less actives homes. It was a cool experience and definitely a first time for me.  Gave me a good work out and the family spoilt us with food and drinks.  Lot's of fun.   Later on we had a good lesson with one of our investigators about Charity and it was awesome but our dinner appointment got cancelled.

On Wednesday we had Zone Conference and the focus was on commitments. We did role plays and practiced effective and efficient ways to give referrals.  It was fun. The Zone leaders took us through the importance and power of our calling and it was a good refresher. We didn't have much time left to go out and work after Zone conference because it finished late but we did go to dinner at the Relief Society President's house. We were all wasted from the Conference because we had to get up at 5:00 a.m. to get to it on time.  After dinner we waddled home. Hehe!

Thursday we went on exchanges with some of our Ward missionaries and it was fun as well as a good experience for them.  We taught some of our less active members and just as we were about to split up and go home they suggested that we go visit this one family that recently had someone pass away. It was a great idea, so we went and visited the family and shared an awesome message about faith and how it helps us through trials. They bought us pizza and again we waddled home. It was mean.

On Friday we had our weekly planning and then we worked in Banlat and Congressional Avenue.   It was a really good day and we were able to get some good lessons taught and towards the end of the day we went to Bishop's house and had a feed. It was a good day.

Okay, so on Saturday I had an interesting experience.   First of all, we had Temple tour and we woke up at 5:00 a.m. got ready and then made our way over to the chapel.  We got to the chapel at about 6.30 a.m. but our jeep hadn't arrived. I texted the jeepney driver and he said he was on his way. So, we were waiting for him and by 7:30 a.m. he arrives only to find out he got a flat tyre on the way... poor dude.  We headed off to do the tour and I got to catch up with some of my friends from my old areas and then as we were about to go home Sister Lorente, one of the sister missionaries came out of the bookstore and was saying goodbye to some of the other missionaries. I said goodbye to her but she didn't seem well because she had her head on her companion's shoulder.  We were about to leave and her companion Sister Joseph's called out.  I turned around and Sister Lorente was about to black out. So, I picked her up and everyone was freaking out and I was instructed by the AP's to take her inside the bookstore and lay her down. I did that and then the doctor came and took care of the rest. I was freaking out because that Sister has epilepsy. It was hot and she just blacked out.  I had to do something, so yeah that's my interesting experience for the week. The latest news is that she is out of hospital and back in her area. 

Oh and mum in answer to your question about listening to the Spirit and following the Lords will, I feel I have found the way that the spirit talks to me. They say that it comes in different ways to everyone and I've identified for myself the way it speaks to me.  

I love you all and I haven't received my package from Distribution yet but thats all goods. I only have a few months left. Take care and keep writing and sending pictures. Say hi to Stefan for me when he gets home. He's the man!

Elder Chadderton

17 September 2012

Hi Mum and Whanau,

Thanks again for the emails and the letters. Sad to hear that you haven't been felling well Mum and that your hotel room in Rotorua was freezing.  After being in this heat for over a year and a half, I can't wait to feel the crisp, cold air when I walk out of the airport.  It's all good. 

This week has been good and I've been working hard to keep on top of all the records and stuff in the area book.  The work has been better and my companion hasn't been sick this week.  He said that you got in contact with his family over Facebook.  Cool as.  Just from hearing what he has shared with me about his mum, you two seem very similar.  We've been fed well this week and I'm ready for the upcoming week.

On Wednesday we had MTC exchanges but the only problem was that our first appointment was a luncheon/birthday/FHE.  So, we went to the chapel to pick up the Elders and we explained that we had set up the lunch appointment earlier on in the week and that they were to share a spiritual thought at the luncheon.   They were fine to do that and they did a great job and after the luncheon we dropped them back at the Chapel where we met up with one of our Ward missionaries and headed out to work again.  We taught this one family about prayer and sacrifice and it was a really good lesson.  Some of our other appointments fell through so we visited other members in and around that area and then went and grabbed some dinner. 

On Thursday we got to teach some good lessons and we met some less active families and were able to get a grasp on how things were going with them.  We shared a lesson with some of them and also invited them to come to church.  Sadly, the baby of one of our less active family members is in hospital until next week.  Kawawa.   After the lessons we went to dinner at Sister Ivy's house and it was amazing.  Again, a nice waddle home.

On Friday we went out and did some finding of less actives.  It was great because we found two families and were able to teach them, but we had several appointments cancel in another part of our area.   We had dinner that night at Bishop's house and it was another mean feed - curried chicken and fish and then mango float for dessert. Sarap! 

On Saturday we had a visit from the Zone leaders and they wanted to do exchanges with us so I went out with Elder Gallagher from Cosherum, Utah.  He is a tall, lanky Elder and he was in batch 1 transfer after me. Good dude.  We went out to find more people to teach and met two new families - Royo and Olivero's family.  Great people.  The Royo family are not all members so we were able to share a lesson as we have two potential investigators now. Cool aye.   They are a part member family.   Later that day we met up with the Zone leaders again and got out our support (pay day....lol) and then went home.  No dinner. 

On Sunday we went to church and had quite a few less actives attend despite the rain.  After church we went straight to work and we were able to have a really good lesson with this one family where we set a goal date with them to enter the Temple. Cool aye!  We shared a lesson with another family and then the inevitable happened, we had someone cancel on us but no worries, we went to another area and visited with this one other family and then headed on over to our dinner appointment where we had curried chicken.  Sarap ulit!  So good. We shared a message with the family before leaving and then went home.  It has been a great week.

Thanks for the PACKAGE!  I got it today - my shoes, lavalava's, chocolates and the ties are sweet.  Thank you so much. 

Cola made me laugh when I read her email.  Funny stories.  Like I said, our missions are all so different.  Thanks for the story you shared with me about faith Mum.  Awesome.  You put the Lord first and He takes care of the rest.  It is so true.  I know I'm in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing.  I love this work and I am so grateful that I've got the best of seven and a half months left to give it my all.  Oh, Mum, I'm going to ask the Filipino missionaries from Cebu in our apartment  if they know Sister Bunting's companion, Sister Chan.  How is her English and when does she finish her mission?

I love you all soooooo much.  Keep writing me and sending pictures.  My next package will probably be Christmas time.  Thats cool and thanks again for everything. I love you all. 

Elder Chadderton

11 September 2012

Mum and Whanau,

Thanks for the emails and pictures. It is so awesome to see all your smiling faces. This week has been good - very busy but awesome.

We've finally settled on how to split our area which also means we had to split the area books and we are left with the goal of finding more people to teach.  Last transfer we mostly worked in the main areas of Tadang Sora and we weren't able to work in those areas further out, but this week we have been focusing on finding more people to teach because our numbers decreased due to the split.   We were introduced to a lot more members in our new area and it really helps with the work. 

So, on Tuesday we wanted to go out to find more people so Elder Ofa and I split so he could help the other Elders in their new area.  We walked everywhere and found 5 new families that we didn't know.  We had some great visits with them and that night we went to a dinner appointment at the Arias family home and they are cool. 

On Wednesday I went to the dentist and he drilled and drilled and drilled into my tooth and finally concluded that the cavity was too big and that I needed an X-ray to show what he could do.  He ended up putting in a temporary filling and then worked on fixing my other tooth and then I was on my way.  We went and visited some of our investigators in NIA village.   We have this one young man, named Kenneth, who is 18 and his aunty and family are all members but he has been investigating the church for about a year now and we are planning to give him a baptismal date next month.  He's the man!  We went and visited some other less active families and they all came to church.  Woohoo.  We had dinner at the Relief Society President's house.  It was a mean feed and after we waddled home with a full tiyan. 

On Thursday we had District leader training meeting where the focus was keeping our area books up to date.  With the amount of people we teach and visit it can sometimes be hard to keep on top of all the records but we manage.  We went back to the zone leaders apartment and my companion was sick as a dog and he had a fever and so did the zone leader's companion.  So, I went out and worked with the Zone leader in his area "Bago Bantay" which meant I got to visit some of the people I used to teach and was able to help the Zone leader as well. It was cool.  After that we went to dinner at one of our Bishopric members home and it was good.  We had pork sinigang.  Sarap. 

On Friday my companion was still dazed so I just let him sleep.  I text Sister DeLaMare and she said he needed to rest so thats what he did.   I studied while he slept, but by about 5:00 p.m. he seemed a little perkier so he got up, got dressed and ready to go out for dinner at Bishop's.  While we were at Bishop's we gave a report on the areas and then had Beef sinigang with calamari rings and for dessert we had crepes with chocolate ice-cream. Mmmm... again we waddled home. Hehe!

On Saturday my companion still wasn't 100% but he wanted to go out and work so we went out.  We did more finding and found another 3 less active families.  Awesome!.  One was this little old lady who has been battling with cancer for about 10 months and she's 73 years of age and she says its her time.  Her illness is the only thing that stops her from coming to church.  She's awesome.  We met this one member family and when we arrived at their house the dad was passed out on the floor.  The family said he has trouble sleeping so he drinks until he drops.  Definitely some work to be done there. Nice family though.  On Saturday we didn't have a dinner appointment set but we texted this one member and she invited us over to eat with her family.  Her husband use to be the Mission President of the Butuan Mission in Mindanao about 2 years ago. Awesome feed.  We had pork sinigang again. Cool aye. 

Sunday came and we went to church and the topic of one of our lessons was on Faith and I was reminded during the lesson that everything we do is centered on our faith.  I remember Elder Bednar saying that, "True faith is centered in and on Jesus Christ and always leads to righteous actions."  Totoo 'yun.   Everything that we do as members of the church is because of our faith in Jesus Christ.  It is one of my favourite topics to teach in lesson 3 and amazes me every time I study it. 

I've been reading the book, "Our Search for Happiness" this week and it clicked why it's and approved missionary book.  It's because it explains all of our lessons simply and with doctrine to support it. I'm almost finished reading it. 

Mate, that's my week. Oh, and we had temple day today so that's why I'm emailing you today and not yesterday.  Sorry! 

Danii,  your kids are so beautiful.  I can't wait to give them big hugs and kisses when I get home. Number 3 on it's way. Rawiri. Can't wait. 

I love reading the sisters emails and learning about the difference between their missions and mine.  They are awesome and I can't believe that Jenna is so close to going home. Its gone so fast and even Elder Stephan Huysmans is coming home.  I remember his farewell.   The time has gone so, so, quick, its crazy.  Man, I love you all so much - mum you're the bomb, dad happy fathers day and Danii I love you and Joe you're the man. 

Take care.  I love you all so much.

Elder Chadderton

P.s.  Thanks for the funds Dad.  I may need  to withdraw some money because I'm a bit broke and I should be getting my package next week. Cool beans.

  

3 September 2012

Hi Mum & Whanau,

Thanks once again for the emails, pictures and the packages you have sent.  So awesome.  This week has been good and this transfer will go well.

On Thursday - as you know - we had transfer day and Elder Heather, Elder Ofahulu and I were assigned to give a musical item at the beginning of the transfer meeting.  It was mean azz.  Good news, we got two new Elders in our apartment - Elder Plenos and Elder Lavandero - both from Cebu.  They are cool and they'll be a huge help to the work this transfer. After transfers were finalized, we went home and helped the two new Elders unpack their bags and then we went out and introduced them to some of the families in their area - keeping in mind that our area has been split and then around 7:30 p.m. we had a mean feed for dinner - adobo, bananaque, barbecued pork chops & chicken, mashed potatoes and rice.  Mean azz.

On Friday we had the Mission Fireside with Elder David A Bednar and that was awesome.  We were told to be there at 12:00 noon for a 1:00 p.m. start.  Elder Bednar had arrived and the first to enter the room was the Callister's and then the Ardern's followed by Elder Bednar and his wife.  Siemprey.  The focus of his talk was, "How 'WE' or in tagalog 'TAYO' as children of God are things to ACT  and not to be acted upon.  This means that we shouldn't have to be told to do things in order to do it.  We shouldn't treat others as objects but help them to use their agency and ACT on things they know they need to do.  He then opened up the floor to a question and answer time.  Lots of things were asked and I even asked a question.  I asked Elder Bednar, "What effect has sacrifice had on your life as a servant of the Lord?  He said for him it was giving of himself and everything to Jesus Christ. Cool! To, "LOSE YOURSELF" in the work.  It was a great time and I learnt heaps and I've been using the skills he taught us to help people act for themselves by using agency. Elder Bednar is awesome!

Saturday was our, "Temple tour" day where  we took some of our recent converts and less actives to the temple so that they could feel the spirit of the temple.  It was good and gave us a chance to meet up with some of the other missionaries.  Our Bishop's son went into the MTC this week and he has been called to serve in the Naga Mission - that is Elder Ben Fuimaono's mission.   Bishop's wife was crying, as you would expect, but the dad was happy to see him off.  After that we went out and worked and we went to an area I hadn't been to before called, "Congressional Ave Extention."  It was a good area and we got to meet some really nice families. We visited to this one home and the family cooked us a huge feed. That was awesome, especially since it would be Fast Sunday tomorrow.  After our awesome feed, we then went back to our apartment, opened our fast and went to sleep.

Sunday we went and picked up some members to attend church. It was sweet and we had a good fast and testimony meeting .  After church we went home and our kabahay, Elder Lavandero cooked us a mean feed - adobo and sinigang.  It was good.  We went out and worked and visited some great families then home for the night.

Today for P-Day we played basketball and had district meeting then went out and ate lunch.  We are going to shop after as I've got to get me some stuff.

Um, I've been having some teeth problems so I've got to go and get my teeth checked out.  I was told that I will have to pay for it. I am going to go and see if I can get them checked today but I just wanted to tell you because I will need a bit of pera so I can pay for it.  Thanks heaps.

Hey Danii, the scripture you shared is one of my favourites here, especially amongst the people here. It is so helpful and the blessings are incredible.  We trust in him and he does the rest.  Keep on being good. Your kids look amazing and I can't wait until I can give them each a big hug at the airport. (Ohh… ahh…  trunky… hehe).  I am grateful for you for sharing that scripture with me. 

Mum and Dad, our family is blessed because of the examples you set for us.  You should be proud in the way you taught us and raised us up.  I hear stories of things some Elders did before their missions and I'm proud to say that I did none of that stuff. THANK YOU. 

I love you all heaps.  Keep me in your prayers. Mahal ko kayo. 

Elder Chadderton  

29 August 2012

Hey Mum & Whanau,

Another good week in the Philippines.  Thanks for the emails and pictures. They are cool and yes mum, it is true, I only have 8 months left. Oh how time flies... 

This week has been a bit of a beauty.  We had a good week of work and Elder Ofahulu and I worked hard.  Oh, side note if you want to know where Elder Ofahulu's family lives ask Tim and Rochelle Maifaleni because they are in the same Ward.   Ask for Sydney Ofahulu or the Lavelua family.   Elder Ofahulu said you might not be able to catch them because their son, his brother, just got married last Saturday in Salt Lake.   Anyways...

On Wednesday we went out to work in this one area called NIA village and sadly, we got punted during our first hour and after that we started meeting our appointments.  We were blessed to teach two less actives and one of the families we taught we had a member present.  That night we went over to Sister Ivy Maroket's home for dinner (she's the Relief Society president) and we had ... wait for it STEAK... my first time since I've been here.   We also had kebabs with barbecue sauce, mashed potatoes and root beer.  I ate heaps and it was so good.

On Thursday we were called in to do service again to help load all the bags of flood relief goods into the trucks so they could be delivered to the rest of the country.  That night we went and visited two less active families, the Ampil and Garan family and then we went over to Bishop's house for dinner.  It was Bishop's wifes birthday and so they took us out to an all you can eat Japanese Restaurant. Amazing.  After dinner they dropped us home.

On Friday we worked hard and in this one area called Banlat we were able to teach eight lessons - two with a member present and the others to some of our returning less actives.  It was a busy day but amazing.   We didn't have any dinner appointments set up for tonight but we had a good feed at a little shop close by our house. 

On Saturday we had an Elder's Quorum activity where they started with a workshop and after that we did splits with some of the members of the Elder's Quorum.  At 4:00 p.m. we returned to the chapel to attend a baptism (another District's baptism held at our chapel).  Elder's Heather, Ofahulu and I sang at the baptism and it was mean azz.  After the baptism we had our Tandang Sora Ward activity where we had a lesson, followed by games and then performances from each auxiliary.   We performed a musical number again and that was cool too.

Sunday was church then we had a Family Home Evening at one of our less active families homes which was fun.  The food was great too and then we went home. 

On Monday we worked, Tuesday we worked and now we have P-Day/ transfer day.  I'm not getting transferred and neither is my companion.  Woohoo!  But we are splitting the area and  getting two more Elders in our house.  Cool aye.  This transfer will be Elder Heather's last and final transfer because after this transfer he's going home.  Boohoo!  I'm gonna miss him.

Thats my week!  Tomorrow is transfer day and on Friday we have our Fireside with Elder Bednar and that will be cool azz.  Then I will email again on Monday.

I love you all and thanx for the coming package.  I'm excited that Cola is going out into the field soon.  Jenna's almost done and I've got 8 months left.   I know that the Lord is watching over you family and blessing you.  Give my love to Joe, he's the man.  Thanks heaps for all your support and I will email again on Monday.

Love you, 

Elder Chadderton

21 August 2012

Hey Mum & Whanau,

Thanks for the emails and the pics that you sent to me.  It was awesome.  I am writing today - Tuesday - because it's our Temple day and I forgot to tell you that last week. Sooo… I'm sorry if you were disappointed that no emails came through last night but just remember I haven't forgotten.

This week has been good and busy.  On Tuesday we went and worked with some Ward missionaries and they showed us around their area and we were able to meet heaps of new families that live close to them.  We had dinner with this awesome family - the Rumbaoa family.  I took a picture of a missionary that brother Rumbaoa knew and had hanging in his house.  I'm sure you'll be able to pick out the person's face as soon as you see the picture.  Small world.  We sang some songs with them, had dinner and then they dropped us off at our apartment.  Nice family. FYI. their father -Brother Rumbaoa - is the person who designed the peso (pinoy money).  He works at the mint and was the one who engraved the designs for the coins here.  Cool aye.

On Wednesday we got punted a lot but the work was good.  We were teaching this one family about prayer and their kids started mucking around and it was loud and noisy and I couldn't feel the spirit so I said to my companion that we needed to finish up and go.  We closed and left.  When we went back on Sunday we had an awesome lesson.   Dinner that night was at the Relief Society president's house and we had paksiw na bangus, turon, mechado and a dish called beef steak.  It was yum and then for dessert we had fruit salad - Filipino style.  It was really good too.

Thursday, we went and worked in one of the squatters areas that is in our area and visited a lot of less actives.  We visited a nanay that was just recently been baptized but is suffering with bad arthritis.  She's not in the best of health and she's still young.  She can't come to church because it is too painful for her to walk. Not good.  We gave her a blessing and she has been to the doctor and so we are hoping and praying that she will get better. 

On Friday we went out and worked in this area called, "Upper Banlat." There are heaps of members in this area and it was cool because we got to work with one of the members and he was showing us all the shortcuts around that area.  Awesome!  We met a lot of new members and were able to have some great lessons.  We taught this one lady who is less active and I shared with her the story of the lost sheep.  I told her that that was our purpose in being there at her house, to try and bring her back to the fold then I shared a scripture found in Mosiah 3:17 about Jesus Christ and said to her, "Kung gaano po siya nagpapasalamat kay Jesu Cristo at sa mga ginawa ni Jesu Cristo para sa kanya."  She cried and then she bore her testimony that she too knows the church is true.   She has started reading the Book of Mormon.  Awesome aye!  That night we went to Bishop's house for dinner and they had KFC.  It was so good then we had ice-cream for dessert.  Too much food, but I love the members here.

On Saturday we got called in to do Helping Hands again, only this time it was just us missionaries.  There was 6 of us unloading a tonne of canned sardines, corned beef, noodles, toothpaste, toilet paper, hand sanitizer - everything and anything.  It was a good work out and we got alot of work done.

Sunday was church then out to work then dinner at another members house.

Monday work, work, work and it was a good day.

Then today we headed up to the Temple.   It was packed because it is a public holiday today and everyone was at the temple.  We had a feed after and went bowling again at the Filipino bowling place.  Sweet day but I'm wasted.

I love you heaps and hope you are all doing well.

Elder Chadderton

P.s. Thanks for getting the package ready for me. I appreciate it.  I just got some letters/postcards from you the other day.  Love it.  Can you include some chocolate in the next package because me and my companion have been craving some good NZ chocolate.

LOVE NA LOVE ko kayo. Salamat ulit. 

13 August 2012

Hey Mum & Whanau,

Yep, just as the subject title says, "FLOODS!" 

Thanks for your emails and pictures.  I love seeing your beautiful faces.  Wow, the Olympics are now over for another four years hey and New Zealand's the B.O.M.B!

Okay, so for an account of my week, we started with floods and last Monday night when I emailed you it was pouring with rain and the streets had turned to flooding and just before we left to go home the weather had calmed down so that was good.  We got home and it just started to pour down again and it poured all night and we had thunder and lightning too and it was not good. Not much sleep that night!

On Tuesday we woke up, did our studies, ate lunch, got changed and then went out side to go out and work and it was about 1:00 p.m.   We walked down this one street and the kids were playing in the floods because school was out and the rain just wasn't easing up at all.   Hilarious!  We turned around to  try another path to get through the floods but we couldn't make it soooo,  because of the rain and floods we weren't able to go out.   We decided to just go home and due to not sleeping well the night before, we were able to catch up on some sleep from about 2:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.  When we woke up we braved the floods as we had a dinner appointment at 6:00 p.m. and the family had prepared a feast - spare ribs, my favorite.  They dropped us home in their car after so that we didn't have to go out in the rain and floods.  That was nice.

Wednesday it was still raining but the majority of the flooding around our area had disappeared and we went out to work and had a great day. We got to teach a few lessons and met some new investigators and we found some less actives.  It was a good day despite the fact that we almost got flooded out but we just soldiered through it all.   It was an awesome day talaga.

Thursday was a great day as well.  The rain stopped and the sun finally came out.  We went to this one area, a palengke, and were able to visit and teach several families.   When we arrived at this one house the family said to us, "Elder's what do you see that is different about our house?"  Not being rude but we said, "It's clean!"  They were like, "Yeah, we had floods up to the second floor yesterday and we were just able to finish cleaning the house and taking out all the water!"  I was shocked.   We shared a lesson with them and then we invited them to come to Church.   These are good times as a missionary.   We had a dinner appointment at the second councillors home where we ate chicken fettucini, chicken nibbles, and lumpia (spring rolls).  It was sooo good and for dessert we had Mango floats.   Family, you should really ask Sister Ramirez to make you some.  They are amazing!

On Friday we got called in to do service as the Helping Hands crew was back in effect to help the flood victims.  A huge group of people turned up to help put together relief packages for the many flood victims.  We were asked to come along because they told us they needed some, "muscle power" because they had over 150 - 50 kilo bags of rice that needed to be unloaded from a truck so my companion Elder Ofahula, Elder Heather and his companion and I went along and took care of the unloading of the rice bags and while we were resting we were told that another truck was soon arriving with another 150 bags.   We had a mean workout aye and we got free food and free rice and a lots of other blessings.   We also got to meet this famous guy and his name is Eric Ty.   Eric served his mission here and now he owns a game show here in the Philippines called, "Showtime."  That was cool.

On Saturday we went back to help out with loading the flood relief packages onto the trucks in preparation to have them shipped out to the rest of the country.  It was an awesome experience and that night we had dinner with the Relief Society president and her family. So grateful.

Sunday we went to church and we had over 12 less actives attend.  We had a great day and after church we went out and worked and met a family who are all members except for the eldest sister.   We shared a lesson with the family and told the sister that we were going to baptize her. She will be ready soon. 

Today for P-Day we played basketball had District meeting and now we're here doing our emails. 

I haven't had any magnums this week because I ran out of money... Hehe.  But, with the blessings from the members and the Helping Hands ku-an we have been fine.  I withdrew some money the other day just for safety reasons, but I haven't had to use it yet. Cool aye.

I love you all heaps.  Take care and know that I love you and that I'm having fun.  I hope you like the pictures. :)

Elder Chadderton

 P.s. The picture of me and the Filipino guy in the Helping Hand's vest is a guy that said he was one of Jenna's class mates at BYU Hawaii.  Small world!