January 16, 2016

well, as zone leaders we have a fairly big responsibility to make sure that the missionaries in our zone receive the help that they need to progress, and become the missionaries that they need in order to fulfill their potentials. on Tuesday we went on exchanges with Camotes again, and i went and worked with Elder Grey, and Elder Crapo. it was super awesome because we had the car, and we had so much success. we taught 6 lessons... we had a couple of bumps in the road. LITERAL BUMPS, ummm. it was super funny, but probably most of you wont find it as we did but it was one of those, "you had to be there" moments" on top of a very nervous and stressed out district leader.

now i don't really know how to tell what happened without actually telling what happened, i guess that i will just have to tell you all next, next week in my homecoming talk/report... if i can stop myself from busting out in laughter.. haha.

Elder Grey had just finished saying that he always gets close to hitting something but never actually hits it. well the same can not be said now. lets just say that Camotes is not safe for animals to be on the side of the road. don't worry no humans were harmed in the process. lets just say that each time we have gone out to Camotes he has amped up his game. he started by hitting frogs, then last time he flattened a chicken, he went bigger than the last time.

this week was one of the most awesome that i have had in a while. we were able to achieve the missions standard of excellence even though we were missing a day of work with us both going out to Camotes for a day. we went on exchanges 2 times this week one on Tuesday where we both worked out of our area and the other time on Saturday where we went with the other set of Elders in the ward (Elder Abuan, and Elder Navarro) i worked in our area and Elder Foote went over to the other area.  nothing crazy happened with us like it did in Camotes.

It has been crazy to see the increase in success and power, and see the miracles occur as we have been exactly obedient, and as we have sought the help of members, and other missionaries we have seen this zone, which used to be the party zone, grow, and thrive, and reach for something more.

i started my 16 days to sexy.... well it has been going pretty well, the only problem its that people keep feeding us... so i workout in the morning and then get fed throughout the day, i know that is how it is supposed to be, but i don't like it cause my stomach isn't going away like i want it to... all in good time i guess.

ummm. well today is my last pday in the mission, which is a very weird feeling, i am not sure what to do with it... i feel like i still have a long time pero dili diay.

...................................................

 

-Elder Larson

PHILIPPINES CEBU EAST MISSION!!!! OCT 2013-JAN 2016 

January 3, 2016

Yello, blue, green, purple, or i guess Hello!

i am doing good, i will be doing a lot better when all this stress and all of these problems go away.... but i am doing pretty good.

last week we were working, and about 5 in the evening my neck started to hurt, i had a way crazy headache, and when i we got home, i took my temperature and it was 102... so that freaked me out a little bit, i was super light headed, and didn't feel very good, so we didn't do planning and i went to bed at around 8:45. well when i woke up the next morning i checked my temp and it was still floating around 100.8, i just got up out of my bed and went and took an ice cold shower.... it felt TERRIBLE, it was so cold... we went through the day like normal, i did studies, and then we went out to work, i was feeling ok, not great... we did great, but around 7 i started to feel the same feelings, no energy, headache, and my body was sore. especially my knee, ankle and wrist... well we were thinking that it was going to end up being Dengue... but so far no rash has appeared, my temperature is back to normal, i still do get frequent headaches which is not common for me, but i feel almost back to normal.

for the last few weeks we have had Choir practice for a fireside called "Do You Have My Name?" and on sunday we finally had the fireside, i can't tell you how excited i am that it is over, there were so many problems that kept coming up because missionaries would just leave their area to go and participate in it, over all we did way good as a zone, but i just think of the extra 12 hours per companionship that they missed out on the proselyting time....

ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. is there anything that i forgot??? HAPPY NEW YEARS, how did your new year go?!? ours was ok, it was super loud! we watched the new movie "Inside out" as a district here in Danao. it was way cute... if i am allowed to say that or not...... but we went to sleep at 10:30, and at 12 i got rudely awaken to what sounded like WORLD WAR III and couldn't get back to sleep until they stopped which was until about 1:30, i have no clue how they had so much fire power...

 

-Elder Larson

PHILIPPINES CEBU EAST MISSION!!!! OCT 2013-JAN 2016 

December 27, 2015

(every week will be christmas until i come home.)

I am doing good, Elder Foote and I are both EXHAUSTED, we woke up at 4:00 this morning to go and help with a CSP, i wish we could have been doing the other kind of CSP (Companion Sleeping Program) but.... maybe next time for that CSP. we got up to an area called Manlayag, it is about 30 minutes away by car, i took my sundang (machete) because the CSP was making "uling" (charcoal) well, when we got there we had a giant mango tree that all the limbs were cut down already we just had to saw them, and make them smaller to transport. well all of this was done on the edge of a cliff, well a very steep slope. i used a sundang and hacked away at some very large branches, i honestly think that machetes are better at that job than axes that we usually would use in America. It was way fun, and helped us continue to build good relationship with the ward. through our service we were able to see the changes in the attitudes of the members about a missionary, or missionaries, when you actually decide to bring Christlike Service into the work.

this week was a very long one, and the Key Indicators didn't show it. it was almost as if there were a couple of days that just got taken off of the week, because they were so low. Elder Foote and i have been rebuilding  or actually establishing a teaching pool. and we both said this week that we want a fun pool, not just some lame kiddie pool that can still be called a "pool" but we are working way hard. we found 13 new investigators this last week, and we have plans to have at least that many if not more this coming week... we have been using referrals for the most part, we received 16 referrals this last week, and contacted 12 of them. we just ran out of time to contact the other 4 of them, but we will contact them this week.

so my studies this week have been quite a bit better than in weeks past. i have been going back to read in PMG. i have also been listening to some General Conference talks from back in the 70's and 80's. trying to get a feel again with how to speak in church, and in English... neither of them being my strong suit. i have been listening to President Monson, President Hinckely, and Elder Holland... also some older ones, Bruce R. McConkey, N. Eldon Tanner. and trying to figure out how they produced such great results with the talks, and speeches  and things they did.

Um! later we are going to be eating more TURKEY! 3 more of them, for our Christmas/New Years dinner... Dont worry ashlee, i wont have pics of them,.... i wish i would though! ;PPP

I love you all, enjoy your NEW YEAR!!!

 

-Elder Larson

PHILIPPINES CEBU EAST MISSION!!!! OCT 2013-JAN 2016 

December 20, 2015

Merry Christmas, well, i think that it is going to be an AMAZING Christmas, being 1 more year in the Lords service, not to mention the 3rd Christmas in the Philippines. it is difficult, but when i really think about the "REASON FOR THE SEASON" it becomes so much easier. it has also gotten so much easier with my new companion, Elder Foote has been a blessing and a half. it is crazy what changes he has already helped me make to be sure that this last part of my mission is as successful as possible. the changes that i have been making have been fun. it has been so much more effective, and we have been working so hard. We have been working on finding, and growing our faith to experience "CHRISTMAS MIRACLES" i have been working the hardest i have and it seems to just be going the slowest.

We have been working super hard this week, and found 5 new investigators. we need a ton more of those, but we have both been praying for Christmas Miracles... and they are starting to come, just anything good, or even bad that happens we say that it is a miracle, or a miracle in disguise....

the members have seen a change in my attitude, and my desire to do this work, and they have jumped along for the ride, on Saturday we had a mini MTC, where the youth were all invited to come and work with the missionaries we also had copies of the Book of Mormon that we took everywhere in Danao City... in total the youth of the stake hand delivered 60 copies of the Book of Mormon. it was fun to go along and help them, because i remember when i was like that as a missionary, super awkward and shy when talking to people. i can't believe that i was that shy... the technology in our day has really hindered our sociability...

On Sunday after church we went and did a caravan, where we went and worked with the members, Elder Foote got assigned to a part of our area called Sandayong, well it is about 2 hours away up hill... it is almost like walking up Big Cottonwood Canyon... they had to walk all the way there because we can't ride on motorcycles. i got assigned to another area that was 2 hours away by car... and even more mountainous, and foresty.... i am not sure what words would, or should be used to describe it... just look for yourself.

Also for the second Christmas in a row, i am moving houses.. we have started moving, mainly because the land lord is ridiculous to deal with, also not to mention the almost 50,000 pesos that were stolen in the last almost 6 months from the apartment... i wonderful right???

ALRIGHT KITA KITS PAHUN!!! amping ug mahal kita!!!

(see ya next time!!! take care, and i love you!!!)

 

-Elder Larson

PHILIPPINES CEBU EAST MISSION!!!! OCT 2013-JAN 2016 

December 15, 2015

hello to all of you! it has been a very long transfer week so far, well a very long week in general. it has been full of ups and downs, and twisting arounds...

well i am going to be in Danao Zone for my last transfer, i am staying as the Zone Leader here, and i will be training a new ZL, Elder Foote, i have known him for his entire mission because he and Elder Head were batch from the MTC. He is about 1 year and 3 months in the mission, and just finished training his 2nd trainee. we have a ton in common already, i am looking forward to these next 6 weeks. it is going to be a big change from how i have been doing missionary work for a while. i know i have not been "in a very good mood" for what seems like a very long time, i haven't been "(MYSELF)." well i am hoping that i get back to my joyful, fun loving self. Honestly, this transfer that is upcoming is looking like a ray of light from the clouds.

this week i have continued to read the D&C, and as of today i am down to D&C 40. even though it is exactly 42 days until i get home, i will be traveling for almost 2 of those days.... technically, but it will only be a few hours. i cant remember if i told you all when i get home, but on January 27 at 5:00 in the evening. i can't remember who i told, but now you all know!

Last week we had our mission Christmas conference, it was way awesome to go to, it is sad to say that this is my last one as a full time missionary... i know i should be thankful that i was able to have 3 of them, and will finish out my last Christmas this next coming week... but i don't want them to end... I love the feeling of being a missionary here in the Philippines Cebu East Mission... my mission has changed me so much, and i know for sure that it is not quite done changing me. I have realized what matters in this life, and what doesn't. believe me i'm not perfect, i still make a ton of mistakes, but i feel like i am doing better than i have in the past.

So yesterday morning i went and printed off the transfer sheet, i can't explain how nerve racking it is to tell everyone where people are transferring, and who is going to be coming in to the zone. what made matters a little bit more interesting was that sister tanner showed up randomly with her kids, and grand-kids... i was not expecting them in the least bit, and then they sat through our transfer calls, then afterword they wanted to ride in the Pedicabs (we call them Sikad). so i paired them up with some missionaries and sent them on their way, well because they drove the car up to Danao. so sister tanner gave me the keys, and said, "Take good care of it, also no joy rides." well needless to say, i followed what she said, and took the car over to a place where she could get it after we finished our lunches.

this last weekend i was chosen to do 3 baptisms, one of the reasons is because i am an american, another is probably because i am their English teacher. but they all chose me to baptize them. it is on Sunday morning at 6:30 before church, because on Saturday all the people were busy fulfilling their callings. Margie, Varnie, and April.

Oh yeah, MAKE SURE THAT YOU SAVE SOME SNOW FOR ME!!! don't melt it all before i get home!

 

-Elder Larson

PHILIPPINES CEBU EAST MISSION!!!! OCT 2013-JAN 2016 

December 6, 2015

another week is over, which means another week closer to coming home. honestly i have had some of the most difficult challenges in this last week. Every first week of a new month we have a meeting called an MLC (mission leadership council) where all of the Zone Leaders, and all of the Sister Training Leaders meet together, in the Mission President's house. In this meeting we discuss as leaders what needs to be done so our mission can run smoother, and be more effective in bringing people/souls unto Christ. Well in this meeting and pretty much anywhere now, i don't feel like i really have a place in the mission still. One reason that my companion pointed out to me is, "you don't act like any other American." well, if i look at that, i guess i can say yeah, you are right. i don't, on Tuesday we had the MLC, and then on Wednesday we were supposed to have a companion study to prepare for the ZTM... (Zone Training Meeting). we didn't have that, because we didn't have studies, we just had an hour long conversation where a lot of things got brought up, about being a "LEADER"... we both agreed that we need to do more, and that we are not setting a good example. well i don't know how long it lasts, usually 2 or 3 days, and then it is back to the 'same ole, same ole.' i still expect so much from everyone in the mission, and nothing ever happens... i guess this is President Tanner's same feelings...

My English class has been doing ok... we have slowly dropped in numbers, we started it with 35 people, this last week we only had 20. i think that they just forget that they can come still, or that we have a schedule... but i think i figured out how to do it. i just taught a little about pronounciation, and then i had them all talk to one another (filipino to filipino) and then the americans/english speakers went around and helped and talked as well, i feel like it added and helped them a lot. at least they said that it was better. the big problem is that they are shy to speak english to an american (ME)....

On Thursday we had our ZTM, and it was way good, some people said that it was the best ZTM they have had in their mission. i agree it was a very good one, it was full of the spirit, and some strong emotions, and the spirit. Ummmm.

i am not sure what else to say...

when you have time i would like to invite you to watch the churches christmas video. christmas.mormon.org it is an awesome video, and if you dare, watch it in Cebuano. i love it!

 

-Elder Larson

PHILIPPINES CEBU EAST MISSION!!!! OCT 2013-JAN 2016 

November 22, 2015

well, my thanksgiving was a lot different than you would believe. i got to experience all the joys, and stress of a father, and mainly a zone leader. i made a deal with the missionaries, well not really a deal, i just told them that we would have TURKEY, and potatoes, i also told them ABSOLUTELY NO RICE, well, the last part was changed, we ended up with rice. but we had 2 turkeys for thanksgiving and 14 missionaries. the thing that was different is that we went and we butchered the turkeys. all together it was 10 kilos of turkey (while alive). well, i am not sure how i should tell you but they are no longer living, but they were delicious, we had them roasted style. it was so good. look at the pictures if you dare... cautionary DON'T LOOK AT THEM IF YOUR NAME IS ASHLEE, OR YOU WILL BE MAD AT ME...

so this week we had another slow work week........ 6 lessons.. it wouldn't have been so bad but it was a lot of improperly used time. we went to Camotes again to do a baptismal interview for the District Leader. so we missed 2 days, and then i also went back to the doctor on Tuesday to have a follow up appointment on my ankle. the doctor looked at my x ray, looked at me and said "you have a sprained ankle" BIGGEST WASTE OF TIME! i could have told him that... i was pretty irritated with him after that analysis of my ankle. but what could i have done differently.

Camotes is so amazing!!! i have been there 2 times now, and we go back again tomorrow to attend their District Meeting, and go on exchanges.

TAKE SOME TIME AND LOOK AT THIS VIDEO, https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-11-73-elder-hales-talks-about-gratitude?lang=eng, and remember to always be thankful for whatever comes into your path.

 

-Elder Larson the ONLY KAY NA ULI NA ANG AKONG KUJA!!!

PHILIPPINES CEBU EAST MISSION!!!! OCT 2013-JAN 2016