January 26, 2012

Hey Family!

Haha, Mom it made me laugh when you said you got lots of rain.Last monday we thought it would be sunny so we hung our clothes outside and as soon as we left, it started pooring and all my white shirts got muddy. That made my day. Oh, I forgot to tell you last week but my first baptism was on saturday and it was sweet. The were these two 15 year old friends named Andrew and Jomar. I got to baptize Jomar and that was awesome. To answer some of your questions, my area is Lopez Jaena(Hina), it is a ward with over 600 members because our area is so big. But only about 100 are active. The members are awesome but right now the Philippines area goal is the rescue. So we are trying to reactivate all of the less actives. That takes up most of our time. Also the word of wisdom is a huge problem here because everyone drinks and smokes. Cigarettes only cost a peso. The members also really don't do anything. The bishop and the ward mission leader are really new so they really aren't to up to date on what they should be doing. Next week we are going to start teaching two mutes. Yeah, they are deaf and they cant speak. So we will pretty much play charades for thirty minutes. I really like the area that I am in and once I can speak, I will have so much more fun and our work will be so much more successful. The food is actually pretty good but all this rice pretty much just clogs me up and that really sucks. Last week I just started drinking all the water and I've been OK so oh well. This is my companions last area so he is pretty stoked to leave and loves to tell me how many days he has left. Last week I had one of our less actives make me and espading and it is pretty rad.(thats like a Filipino machete) I think my companion is telling President Lopez that I am doing a lot better than I am because he tells me every week how good I am doing, and every week I keep thinking I got someone else's letter. Tomorrow is my first companion exchange and I have to lead my area so that will be interesting because I don't know what anyone is saying. But it will be all good. Everywhere I go people just stop and stare at me and I am not gonna lie thats gets pretty akward sometime but I usually just walk up to the and start talking to them in english and that's pretty funny.This is definitely a completely different and its hard learning two languages at once but I love it more and more every day. Sometimes I can't even feel the blisters on my feet. I and growing so much stronger in my faith in the Lord and I feel the spirit so much stronger now. We have a lot of really hard lessons and then we have some were it just clicks and you can totally see that the spirit is witnessing to them that is true. That's what makes the days better here.I still can't understand anyone so that is pretty much the update for me. But, what is going on with Amy and Spencer? sounds like they are getting pretty serious. Is Kristi really bringing another kid on board? Sounds like Kelly and Matt are going to be rolling in it soon. Anyways, its back to work for me but I love you all and I cant wait to here from you next week.

Love,

Elder Pulsipher

January 20, 2013

Hey Family,

Well this week was another ruff one, but I can tell that they are slowly starting to get better. People keep telling me that it gets so fun once yo master the language. So I'm thinking in 6 months to a year your gonna see some real improvement in my letters. A couple highlights this week, I spoke in church yesterday, not really sure why that happened... I dont think bishop understood me when I said that I can't speak this language... Its all good though, it was a little nerve racking at first but I got over it quick and stumbled through some really sketchy Illongo. Oh and yesterday the stake relief society president told us that the first Presidency might be coming to sagay stake in march. That is my stake... So that would be pretty rad. The days are starting to go a lot faster, I just kind of got used to not being able to understand anyone and now I am just trying to focus on what people say. The members have been feeding us a lot. Almost every night this week. But, we just eat the same thing every time. Lat week I had uga. That is just a fish that they let sit until it drys out and then you eat all but the bones. Its not that bad. We have tinae(intestines), baticolon(gizards), and liver all the time. Oh and they love chicken feat here. The milk they have here is pretty much just powder. I usually have toast and some kind of fruit for breakfast. They have fruits here that are like insane. To answer marcis question, I dont have indoor plumbing and I get my water out of a well every morning. Our house isn't bad except right next to our house is a cemetary, witch gets kind of creepy sometimes. There are brow outs all the time. Thats when the whole island loses all power and it is just black, like black... There are some freakin huge spiders here and tuko's everywhere. Those are huge lizards that live in the houses. Let's see what else... Oh, to get to the city it only takes us a half an hour to get to sagay(kind of just a town) but it takes us four hours to get to Bacolod city. One of our investigators is making my companion and I espadings. Those are filipino machete's for 150 pesos. Thats like 3 dollars. My companion and I would love a package, good food out here is hard to come by. Lots of protein bars, powder, beef jerky, and my companion said he wants some american candy. So I guess just anything that wouldn't get too ruined. It is really easy to love the people here, because they all are so nice. Even though they just laugh at me whenever I try to speak, or do anything really. I hit my head on everything, because all the doors and roofs here are so low. I'm thinking about investing in a helmet. My companion is still really cool, he is in pretty good shape but I don't know why because he doesn't really do alot. Well, sorry but I am all out of time plus I think this computer is about to explode. I just want you all to know that I miss you and I love you. But, I know that this church is true and I see everyday how much I changes lives. We have been given so much, so we have a responsibility to give so much more. 

Elder Pulsipher

January 13, 2013

Hi Family,

I know that you all want to see pictures, and you should because this is probably one of the most beautiful places on the earth. I really am blessed to be able to serve here. I tried to strat my dropbox today so hopefully you can get on it. I will also email some pics just in case. Most of the people are really nice. Except for the ones that hate americans and mormons. But its all good. This week was another ruff week for me. I can understand a little bit more but I still can't put what they are saying together. It's pretty funny because people will talk to me and ill just act like I know what is going on the whole time. So yeah, I do take showers with a bucket, and no, there is no toilet paper here. Do what you want with that one. This last weekend we helped a lady move in our ward. But probably not the way you think. We just cut the legs of her house out of the ground, picked it up, and took it like a mile and set it on some rocks. The way they live here shows me just how much we take for granted in america. We are so blessed to have the lives that we do. Most people here work in the sugar cane feilds all day, come home and sleep on a bamboo cot and barely eat anything. But they laugh and smile all day laugh. I'm pretty sure they tell jokes too but I wouldn't know. My companion is from Tarlak Philippines. We get along really well, plus he is a hard worker and a great missionary. My area is huge and yesterday we went out to barungay binaguhan where the NPA(rebels) are and they kept yelling at me and then followed us home. It was pretty exciting. My companion does comunicate pretty well in english but he choses to talk in Illongo most of the time so hopefully I figure it out soon. As far as mail goes, I am pretty sure the address is in my mission booklet so you should have it. It just goes to the mission office. The other cano's that were in my district are struggling too. This language just has so many words that mean so many different things. Plus half of my area is cebuano so I get confused on which is which alot. I would love a package of pretty much anything american candy, food, a recording ould be cool of you all. I eat rice for every meal so thats kind of getting old. But ill get usedc to it. Just make sure that whatever you send wont go bad. I love you all so much and I am relying on the Lord more than I ever have at any time in my life. He really does help us, and He knows each of us. I know that he is supporting me in this trial and I will get through it. Hopefully these pictures give you an idea of what it's like here. I love you and miss you all so much. Keep praying for me. I need it.

January 6, 2013

Hey Family,

I'm sorry but I don't have time to write multiple letters here, so I just have to write one big one for you. The best way to contact me is definitely by email because I'm like 4 hours away from Bacolod city. I'm not gonna lie, these past few days have been terrible. My companion is awesome and really cool but he is Filipino and his English isn't the best. But he is a really good teacher and super obedient so we will be fine. I really can't understand anything anyone says because people just talk to me and laugh, witch kind of sucks. My area is pretty awesome. Its called Lopez Jeana(Hina) and most of it is in the middle of the Jungle. I forgot my camera but I'll send you some pictures next week. All of the houses are made out of bamboo and sheet metal. The culture and the people are so different, but most of them are really nice. Yesterday we went to find members in Barangay Binaguhan, its probably an 7-10 mile walk but it was only like 95 degrees so it was all goos. There are rebel there that take Cano's(me) and hold them for ransom so every one starred me down and yelled stuff but we were with some local members so it was all good. I just got done washing my clothes by hand and that probably took two hours. Last night we ate dinner at a members house and I had squid and a good majority of a fish... It was actually really good. Lets see what else, the mission home was awesome and I had a great time there. Don't be fooled that's not what my apartment looks like. I take a shower with a bucket and don't have any toilet paper. Its pretty awesome. The buses are super funny. They put people on the roof, on the hood, over the wheel wells, pretty much where ever they can fit people, its awesome. They put as many people as they can on theremga habal habal(motorcycles) too. I really like it here I just wish I could speak the language. I am jealous of your park city trip, but I am glad that you didn't have to wait for me. I will definitely take you up on that setup when I get back. I have definitely never relied on the Lord like I am right now. I feel completely alone here but when I get down on my knees and pray, I know that my Heavenly Father is there. I know that he knows my challenges and helps me with them. He gives us all the Holy Ghost to be with us and comfort. Even though I don't understand anything or even my companion most of the time. I can still feel the spirit witness the truth of whatever it is that these people are saying. I know that the Lord is with me and that I will be supported through this. I love you all so much and I will send pictures next week.

Miss you,

Elder Pulsipher