February 2, 2014

Hey gang,

I am just chillin in Bacolod right now in a GIANT computer shop listening to them play Avril Lavine on their huge speakers. But hey I am not complaining... haha I get to have P-day in Bacolod today because we have another MLC tomorrow at the mission home. I am super excited. Not for the MLC but just because I get to have p-day in Bacolod. They have SO much stuff here. In other news, this last week was work was really awesome. The week went by so fast because we were so busy. Itr was hard because a lot of our investigators were busy with "Biles De Luces". That is a huge festival here that only happens in La Castellana. It's just a huge dance where people put lights all over their bodies. I saw videos and it is pretty awesome. WE also had exchanges last week with the AP's and I exchaged with Elder Wilstead who is one of my best friends here in the mission so it was awesome. The persecution was also unreal too because he is also 6'4 and 200+ haha We walked by a lot of people with jaws dropped just not knowing what to think. ha But we killed as far as missionary work goes. We also had our first branch council with our branch on Saturday and we were able to help them make a branch mission plan and pump them up for the work so we are really excited for the upcoming weeks here. We are also excited that we had 130 people attend church yesterday when the average attendance here is 50-60. So I am way happy in La Castellana right now and am just trying to focus on the work and getting our investigators converted. And our church is officially under construction so from now on, all baptisms will be in the river... But I cant upload any pictures this week because of this computer shop. USB's are not allowed.. I hope that you saw the ones from last week though. I also cant believe that it's the super bowl again. The Bronco's and the Seahawks both suck so its all good that I missed it. Did everyone get together to watch it as usual or are you all just to spread out now? Anyways, I would love to get a little more updated on how things are going and whats going on at home. I love you guys so much and Ihope that you all have a great week. I pray for you all every day and I know that the Lord is watching over you. 

LOve, Elder Pulsipher

January 26, 2014

Hey Family,

I guess I am a little early today because I missed your other letter but don't worry because I know you love me mom :) This week was super busy and went by so fast. Uhh! Does it ever annoy you guys when filipino kids stand behind you and watch you email?... Because it ticks me off. Anyways, Elder Tallano and I had a great week even though we weren't able to teach quite as many people as we wanted too. We are also struggling with our zone a little bit because we are the only ones with baptism and their numbers don't come anywhere close to ours. The problem is that they are all former leaders so I feel like an idiot trying to council them. Any Suggestions? On saturday we had the baptism of Sister Jonah mae Sumugat and sister Gloria Esmedia and it was awesome. Sorry I cant put the pictures on dropbox today because the computers here aren't compatible with usbs. I don't know why.. But hopefully next week I can update some pics of my appartment, the baptisms and the other stuff. Word on the street is that our next baptism here while have to be in the river because they just closed the church for renovation. Sweet! Yesterday after church we had to go to La Carlota to meet with the stake and mission presidency to talk about how the missionaries in our zone can help La Carlota district become a stake. My companion decided to leave everything to me even though I still suck at this language. Oh well it went good and they understood what I was getting at. But the hard part about Filipinos is getting them to act. Other than that, I have been sick for the last couple days and it has not been making working in the rain any better. But it will pass soon, I'm sure. I love you all so much and I miss you like crazy. Can't wait o talk to you next week. Peace out!

Elder Pulsipher

January 19, 2014

Hello,

First off, I am super jealous that Kelly ran a marathon. But now i'm over it. This week was super awesome but it also kicked the crap out of me. I have been so tired and the other day I had a girl in my branch take my blood pressure and she said I was gonna die if I didn't start getting more sleep. Or at least thats what I think she said. Who knows, I am still learning this language. I really wanted to watch those two videos you sent but I couldn't open them up and play them for some reason. Elder Tallano work super hard this week but on Wednesday we ate lunch at this place that apparently didn't cook their chicken and we both got sick from it. We worked anyways just because we are B-A like that but we always tried to stay close to the house or a bathroom if you know what I mean. haha I finally got to put some pictures on drop box. I just hope they stayed on because the computer shut down as they were downloading. Life in the Philippines... So on Saturday, we had the Baptism of sister Jessica Colache which went great. I have started to kind of earn the love of the members here and I have a long way to go but I know Ill get to them... haha We also moved from our church to a small meeting house which is really just a tent because they are gonna build a real chapel in La Castellana. We are super stoked but this is the Philippines so it will take more than a year to be finished. Other than that good news, the work is going well. We had eight investigators come to church yesterday and they all have baptismal dates. I suspect that about 3 of the will actually be baptized but I still pray for all of them. ha The Lord really is behind this work. It's interesting that the more I am humbled in the mission, the more susceptible I am to the promptings of the spirit. I love this work, and even though its hard, it is all worth it. I hope that you can feel some of the blessings of my service but I also pray that you will have some of the same experiences and feelings. Always be looking for those that the Lord is preparing you for. There is always someone who needs help. I love you guys and miss you like crap. DUECES

Elder Pulsipher

January 12, 2014

Hey everyone,

Just so you know, I am super frustrated right now because I have a bunch of pictures to upload right now of the new area but I can't get this computer to read my usb so bummer for you guys but maybe next week.So my new area is La Castellana and my new companion is Elder Tallano. We get along really well and we work super hard. We pulled some pretty huge numbers this week even though we were in Bacolod for two days. My zone has 20 missionaries and only two americans... But transfer day is tomorrow so maybe we will get some new ones here soon. My area is still in the middle of no where, but its more just a bunch of sugar cane than it is jungle which is kind of boring. But it is right at the bottom of mount canlaon. A huge volcano... Its pretty sweet to look at every day. As for the members here, the branch I am in is super small still. 50 people came to church yesterday but they are a lot stronger members than in Vallehermoso. We have a couple returned missionaries here that will work with us which is nice and there is a lot of sa. It makes the branch so much better if there is sa... We had a baptism on saturday which went great. It just started about an hour late because it was raining super hard and she didn't show up until 4. Our meeting in bacolod last week was the reason that we had an emergency transfer.. I had to get stepped up before MLC. It was a really good day, I got to see a lot of my friends that I have really missed. I took a bunch of pictures but I can't upload them.. sorry. We also finally got to eat some good food for the first time. President takes care of the mission leaders which is sweet! Then on Wednesday we had to give a 3 hour training to our zone which was okay I guess. I hate giving training's, especially to other missionaries and especially when the assistants to the President decided to come to La Carlota. I feel so unqualified and insufficient when I train but it's a skill that I need to learn so I hope that I can get better at it. Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I do have one thing to ask you guys for. Can you send me like a push up bar or some of those little perfect push up things that you get at wal mart? I want to be able to work out so bad and it's killing me how fat I am getting.. That's the only thing I want... haha Anyways, I miss you guys like crazy and love you all so much. You are all in my prayers and I hate it that no body will tell me the stuff that's going on at home, Kelly... But, the church is still true and I have a feeling that this is gonna be one of my favorite area's. I have such a strong testimony of the power of the atonement. Not only in the ability that it gives us to be forgiven of our sins but in the enabling power that it gives us to do things that we just cant do on our own. We all need that power, some of us more than others... I love you guys so much I can't wait to here from you guys next week. Please keep me in your prayers!

Love,

Elder Pulsipher

December 22, 2013

Hello everyone,

I hope you all had a great week because mine was super hard... just kidding, but seriously I am super tired. But thats okay because I get to call you tomorrow! I can tell you how excited I am for skype, not that we just tested it out or anything... This week was rad because we had the baptism of Elmer Ewayan but it was a bummer too because our christmas baptism fell through. We caught him smoking so we have to postpone his baptism. But, my companion is doing great, he is getting a lot better at teaching and we get along well. Other than that life is good. We had a zone conference and my mission president gave me a snickers that was straight from america so I was pretty ecstatic about that. The zone conference was really good but super fast, the basically just told us not to stay inside so we don't get all depressed and then we watched the christmas devotional, which was good. We also had exchanges this week and Elder Moody and I went up into the jungle to teach some of my investigators and take some cool pictures for you guys. Hope you enjoy them. This week I have learned a lot. About myself and about the Lord. I am just starting to realize how the Lords ways are not our ways, He knows whats best and we need to align our will with His, not the other way around. Especially when we think we know whats best. We have such a limited understanding and he really is omnipotent and understands all things. We will have a little Christmas eve dinner tomorrow night at one of our recent converts so that should be fun. I am gonna try to get them to go caroling too, Filipinos have a tradition that every christmas they walk around and ask for money. I know... So I have been asked for money more times in the last 2 weeks than I have my whole mission. Christmas morning probably wont be much here because none of those packages have gotten here so we might be a little short but we will just celebrate late. haha I am gonna try and surprise my companion with some pancakes for breakfast and I bought him a few little gifts and wrapped them when he wasn't looking. Tis' the season! But, I am just feeling a little trunky right now and really want to skype so I am gonna have to go work hard tonight. I will call you on Christmas eve at 5 o'clock. This is California time.. I love you all so much and can't wait to see and talk to you.  Lets all try to think about others this season and do something good for someone else. Oh yeah, Mom and Dad I need to ask you about an experience that you had early in your marriage that strengthened your testimony of tithing. Can you help me out? Love you

Elder Pulsipher

December 1, 2013

Hey everyone,

 Well words can't describe how PO'ed I am right now because I just wrote you a super long letter and then the computer shop crashed... The Philippines strikes again. I love you guys and Molly looks like the best looking kid in the family. I would write my entire email again but I don't have time sorry. I am ok this week was good and I love and miss you. To answer you questions mom, I can buy garments, pants, and shirts here for super cheap or just have them made. So its all good as long as I have money. Which I think I am ok on right now. Well, I cant wait to see your video that you made for me and I love and miss you so much. You are always in my prayers. Keep it real. Till next week

Elder Pulsipher