Hello sa lahat! This week was so good! And I am so happy being a missionary here in Luna!
August 23rd marked 5 months of the mission done! It is going by way too fast, I wish I could slow it down just a little bit! It rained quite a bit this week so we were able to stay cool during the day which felt nice! On Tuesday after our District Meeting we had a boodle fight and probably ate a little to much! Elder Waite and I will need to workout extra hard in the mornings if we want to stay slim here hahah.
On Wednesday Elder Dum had a meeting at the mission office so his treinee, Elder Fisher, came and worked with us for the day in Luna! Elder Waite and Fisher were companions in the MTC so it was cool for them to work with each other in the field! Elder Fisher is AMAZING at the piano as well so at our district meetings we always make him play anything and everything! He has only been called Joe one time on his mission! So I made sure to change our schedule around so that we could go to the areas where everyone always calls us Joe!
His smile on his face after getting called Joe was priceless! And it happened every time! 3 new American missionaries just trying to run the streets all day making it a great day!
On Thursday we met this man from the high lands who speaks little to no Tagalog and loves speaking in English! Elder Waite was so happy to have an investigator that we can teach in English and the man, Benjamin, is so nice and willing to listen and ask questions! It was somewhat hard for me to teach him in English! All of my sentences would come out in Tagalog first! Elder Waite and Benjamin both got a kick out of it though.
We have been able to cook all of the week and not eat out as much! One of my favorite snacks is Turon, a banana with sugar, cinnamon, wrapped in a lumpia wrapper!
Being able to cook is a lot better than eating out every day, thanks Elder Moreland for the cooking lessons!
Missionary work is the best, one of our investigators asked us the other day this question: What is the most important thing someone can do in this life?
Its something that I have though about for the last couple days with the answer and then changing my answer again and again.
For me, I feel that the most important thing we can do in this life, is to strive to be who Christ is and develop his attributes. Once we have started on that trail, we will be able to help our friends and family on the same path, a path that helps us be able to live with our Father in Heaven again.
Being a missionary is such a blessing and i wouldn't change it for the world.
I love you all and hope you all have great weeks!
-No pictures this week, sorry! I will try to take more next week!
Elder Pitt
Monday, August 29, 2016
Monday, August 22, 2016
Hello Everyone
Hello all! This week felt like 20 days instead of 7, but in all good ways! We had heaps of things to do this week, starting on Tuesday when Luna started to flood from all of the rain we have been getting! On Tuesday, we spent the whole day in one of our areas called Rimos. We walked through water the whole time helping people move their things from their flooded house on to dry land. One family, the Hernandez family, had water all the way up to our thighs in their house. Luckily they have a loft up their stairs, so Elder Waite and I helped the father move everything up, as we did so, their some Jr who is about 4 years old, was jumping from the stairs into the water! It was like his own personal waterpark and I was pretty jealous that there was no water park in our house!
It was cool to see all of the children and parents in the flood if i might say. Their house were filled with water mixed with pigs, goats, dogs, (and everything that associates with having animals) and they all had smiles on their faces, this wasnt the first time this has happened to them, but it wouldnt matter how many times it did, they knew that the water would one day start to go away! After we helped them we walked (waded) over to the Casteneda family who were crying after laughter as they "saw two white Mormons walk through a flood in the Philippines!" I cant blame them though it was true!
The thunderstorms at night here are awesome, one second it will be bone dry and the next we are soaking wet eating outside! Seeing how we have no bikes, we have been walking mostly the whole day! I am not sure the exact distance, but you might be able to ask Elder Quinn Moreland who is now home, how far this walk was! Elder Waite and I walked from our house to a barangay called bongro, then from there we went to a place called mamay, and back to our house! It took forever to walk but that wasnt it! After we stopped at a members house by our bahay, we went to another barangay called Cantoria #4! All together I think we were walking longer than we werent walking, and we were so tired! But the exercise is good to keep the fat from building up too much on our bodies!
This weekend was stake conference in San Fernando so on Saturday we went down for the Priesthood session and adult session! Elder Schmutz from the Area Presidency and Seventy spoke to us about the importance of going to church and following the teachings of Christ. It was so good and so strong! It was also in English making it a lot easier to understand! haha
Then on sunday we went again to San Fernando as a Branch! We took a jeepny down and back. It was so fun to ride with the members of the Branch and to be with them!
I love it here and I love being a servant of the Lord.
Tagalog has been so fun to learn and everyday I feel more confident in talking to others. This week I started to read a book to learn how to speak Ilocano as well, a dialect that is very very common in our area and others! Most people here's first language is Ilocano so if I could learn it, I will! Hopefully it wont be too tough, but studying will be the best thing to do just like with Tagalog! I love you all and hope you have a great week!
Elder Waite has finally agreed to eating Balut, on his birthday in September! Its a little ways away but I am so excited to see his reaction, I could "Waite" till his Birthday to tell you!
Have a great week, Mahal ko kayo!
--
Elder Pitt
It was cool to see all of the children and parents in the flood if i might say. Their house were filled with water mixed with pigs, goats, dogs, (and everything that associates with having animals) and they all had smiles on their faces, this wasnt the first time this has happened to them, but it wouldnt matter how many times it did, they knew that the water would one day start to go away! After we helped them we walked (waded) over to the Casteneda family who were crying after laughter as they "saw two white Mormons walk through a flood in the Philippines!" I cant blame them though it was true!
The thunderstorms at night here are awesome, one second it will be bone dry and the next we are soaking wet eating outside! Seeing how we have no bikes, we have been walking mostly the whole day! I am not sure the exact distance, but you might be able to ask Elder Quinn Moreland who is now home, how far this walk was! Elder Waite and I walked from our house to a barangay called bongro, then from there we went to a place called mamay, and back to our house! It took forever to walk but that wasnt it! After we stopped at a members house by our bahay, we went to another barangay called Cantoria #4! All together I think we were walking longer than we werent walking, and we were so tired! But the exercise is good to keep the fat from building up too much on our bodies!
This weekend was stake conference in San Fernando so on Saturday we went down for the Priesthood session and adult session! Elder Schmutz from the Area Presidency and Seventy spoke to us about the importance of going to church and following the teachings of Christ. It was so good and so strong! It was also in English making it a lot easier to understand! haha
Then on sunday we went again to San Fernando as a Branch! We took a jeepny down and back. It was so fun to ride with the members of the Branch and to be with them!
I love it here and I love being a servant of the Lord.
Tagalog has been so fun to learn and everyday I feel more confident in talking to others. This week I started to read a book to learn how to speak Ilocano as well, a dialect that is very very common in our area and others! Most people here's first language is Ilocano so if I could learn it, I will! Hopefully it wont be too tough, but studying will be the best thing to do just like with Tagalog! I love you all and hope you have a great week!
Elder Waite has finally agreed to eating Balut, on his birthday in September! Its a little ways away but I am so excited to see his reaction, I could "Waite" till his Birthday to tell you!
Have a great week, Mahal ko kayo!
--
Elder Pitt
Monday, August 15, 2016
Its More Fun in the Phillipines
Hello everyone! This week was filled with a lot of experiences and space for growing!
We will start off with Tuesday, By the way, Elder Waite is killin' it! I love seeing the side of a new American Missionary from the other companions perspective! Its so cool to see the things he does and think "man I did-or said- that exact same thing my first couple days"! So on Tuesday we were working in a Barangay called Cantoria. We ended up teaching a very very solid lesson with this family and their friend from Manila. During the lesson, the lady cut us off and told us how grateful she was to see young kids with such a desire to serve and help others. It was a very spiritual and uplifting lesson, and at the end we were able to get her number for missionaries in Manila that she wanted to speak with!
Sooo right after the lesson, we were riding to our nest appointment talking back and forth to each other about how happy we were and how good the lesson was! As we were riding, My handlebar.. The whole entire left half of my handlebar fell off! It turned my turn to the left and sent me to the ground! As I tumbled I went into Elder Waited bike, and luckily enough he was able to stay up! I really need to get better biking skills hahaha but no harn at all came to me which was good! The bike is currently idle for the next couple days while we figure out where to go and what to do! But till then, I will work on rebuilding my bike riding pride.. (or working to lose all pride!)
After I stood up and we started to walk to the next appointment the song "I get Knocked Down! But I Get Up Again!" came to mind and put me right back into a laughing mood again!
On Wednesday we had a Mission Tour with Elder Haynie from the area presidency! It was really cool to be taught by a Gneral Authority about how important it is to carry the Spirit with us everywhere we go. He explained the story of Jesus Christ inviting Peter, Andrew, James and John and the others to become "fishers of men" and what it means!
I was able to see a lot of missionaries that I came into the mission with and others that I had met at different places or trainings! One thing that I love so much is being around the other missionaries. Theres just a feeling of pure happiness with everyone. No matter who you are, where you're from, or what area you are working in, every one is just so nice and loving! Its so cool to see in others the fact that as missionaries we need to put away things of the world to focus on things that will come after this life and those eternal blessings every one is entitled to. As we do that, we get lost in serving The Lord and things that used to be so upsetting become small background noise! Theres no room for sadness when you are in the work of our Heavenly Father to help others come closer to Christ every day. I truly love this work and the privileged to be a missionary.
I hope all of you have a great week and I thank those for the letters and emails! Have an awesome week!
--
Elder Pitt
We will start off with Tuesday, By the way, Elder Waite is killin' it! I love seeing the side of a new American Missionary from the other companions perspective! Its so cool to see the things he does and think "man I did-or said- that exact same thing my first couple days"! So on Tuesday we were working in a Barangay called Cantoria. We ended up teaching a very very solid lesson with this family and their friend from Manila. During the lesson, the lady cut us off and told us how grateful she was to see young kids with such a desire to serve and help others. It was a very spiritual and uplifting lesson, and at the end we were able to get her number for missionaries in Manila that she wanted to speak with!
Sooo right after the lesson, we were riding to our nest appointment talking back and forth to each other about how happy we were and how good the lesson was! As we were riding, My handlebar.. The whole entire left half of my handlebar fell off! It turned my turn to the left and sent me to the ground! As I tumbled I went into Elder Waited bike, and luckily enough he was able to stay up! I really need to get better biking skills hahaha but no harn at all came to me which was good! The bike is currently idle for the next couple days while we figure out where to go and what to do! But till then, I will work on rebuilding my bike riding pride.. (or working to lose all pride!)
After I stood up and we started to walk to the next appointment the song "I get Knocked Down! But I Get Up Again!" came to mind and put me right back into a laughing mood again!
On Wednesday we had a Mission Tour with Elder Haynie from the area presidency! It was really cool to be taught by a Gneral Authority about how important it is to carry the Spirit with us everywhere we go. He explained the story of Jesus Christ inviting Peter, Andrew, James and John and the others to become "fishers of men" and what it means!
I was able to see a lot of missionaries that I came into the mission with and others that I had met at different places or trainings! One thing that I love so much is being around the other missionaries. Theres just a feeling of pure happiness with everyone. No matter who you are, where you're from, or what area you are working in, every one is just so nice and loving! Its so cool to see in others the fact that as missionaries we need to put away things of the world to focus on things that will come after this life and those eternal blessings every one is entitled to. As we do that, we get lost in serving The Lord and things that used to be so upsetting become small background noise! Theres no room for sadness when you are in the work of our Heavenly Father to help others come closer to Christ every day. I truly love this work and the privileged to be a missionary.
I hope all of you have a great week and I thank those for the letters and emails! Have an awesome week!
--
Elder Pitt
Monday, August 8, 2016
TRANSFERS!!
Elder Moreland is on his way home back to America as we speak! He will probably read this in America so,, welcome back to the US Elder Moreland! On our last P day together Elder Moreland and I went to eat at a nice restaurant called Olive(s)! It was so good we made sure to take a lot of pictures of our last supper together!
Because Elder Moreland is now a return missionary, I needed a new companion! President called me to train, so now my companion is Elder Waite from Arizona! Luna will be his first area and my first area as well. which is so excited and nerve racking all together in one! I just finished my training and now Elder Waite and I will be the ones running the streets of Luna! This week we had a Family Home Evening at the house of one of our members, Zaldy. Zaldy is a super awesome guys and he invited his friends over as well! We played some games that the sister missionaries had some up with and ate some delicious pancit!
On Saturday, members of the Branch and the missionaries got together to half a half day mission! The plan was to go to as many members and investigators and all as we could before the day ended. It was so much fun. Brother Ragaas and Brother Pacleb drove most of the people around on their trikes, it was almost like having a chauffeur! As we were going through Luna we met so many new people. A lot of the people we were with would say "Hey!!!! Come and talk to us and them!" ad point to us. It was really funny really fun and a good time to get to know more people. Elder Waite did an awesome job talking to people. I remember when I was just like him 12 weeks ago but with practice every day he will get it all down for sure!
Not much else has been happening here in Luna! Next week we are going to San Fernando for a Conference and it should be really good!
One thing that I have learned this week is that patience is key. Whether its learning a language, reading the scriptures, or teaching people about Christ, we all need patience to get through the tougher times and to grow. I dont have much to say but I do have a lot of pictures, and i think those are worth around 1000 words or something, so ill let those speak for me!
--
Elder Pitt
Because Elder Moreland is now a return missionary, I needed a new companion! President called me to train, so now my companion is Elder Waite from Arizona! Luna will be his first area and my first area as well. which is so excited and nerve racking all together in one! I just finished my training and now Elder Waite and I will be the ones running the streets of Luna! This week we had a Family Home Evening at the house of one of our members, Zaldy. Zaldy is a super awesome guys and he invited his friends over as well! We played some games that the sister missionaries had some up with and ate some delicious pancit!
On Saturday, members of the Branch and the missionaries got together to half a half day mission! The plan was to go to as many members and investigators and all as we could before the day ended. It was so much fun. Brother Ragaas and Brother Pacleb drove most of the people around on their trikes, it was almost like having a chauffeur! As we were going through Luna we met so many new people. A lot of the people we were with would say "Hey!!!! Come and talk to us and them!" ad point to us. It was really funny really fun and a good time to get to know more people. Elder Waite did an awesome job talking to people. I remember when I was just like him 12 weeks ago but with practice every day he will get it all down for sure!
Not much else has been happening here in Luna! Next week we are going to San Fernando for a Conference and it should be really good!
One thing that I have learned this week is that patience is key. Whether its learning a language, reading the scriptures, or teaching people about Christ, we all need patience to get through the tougher times and to grow. I dont have much to say but I do have a lot of pictures, and i think those are worth around 1000 words or something, so ill let those speak for me!
--
Elder Pitt
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Man oh Man
Man oh man what a week it has been! Elder Moreland will be ending his mission in just about 7 short days. Crazy! It was our last full week working together and we pushed ourselves so that he would go out with a bang! and it was a success!
Throughout the week we were able to meet with so many people that we hadnt been able to find time with before which was so good to see them again! We have had this goal of talking to literally every single person we could and its been so fun! I have learned a bunch from Elder Moreland, including to laugh at myself when I make mistakes. (mostly cause he laughs at my mistakes too hahaha)
In other news, that I know some might laugh at and others might cringe.. I ate a very unique dish the other day, called "dinuguang aso" which is translated somewhat into "Dog cooked in blood!" YES! I am now able to say that I hate eaten dog! "Tastes like chicken!"
So what they do is they cook the meat and then after, they pour the blood into the pan and cook the blood too. I am not the biggest fan of dinuguan in the first place, but i had to try it when i found out the meat was dog! I hope Roxy isnt too upset with me about it! In all honesty it tasted just like cooked dove! definitely something I wont forget!
I again would like to say how happy i am to be able and read the scriptures and study every morning. I have been able to understand more fully the importance of reading the scriptures daily. Also, I have been reading a book about how to gain a stronger Faith and Hope in the Lord. In the book it talks about how reading the scriptures daily is difficult! Sometimes we have things come up that stop us from reading at the time we had planned, but there is always time during the day to learn and grow!
One quote I really loved was "If you want to speak to the Lord, get on your knees. If you want the Lord to speak to you, open your scriptures."
The joy I have felt when reading and pondering the words of Christ in the New Testament this last week have helped me push through the tougher days! This weekend has been tough because of a typhoon that has kept people inside more than usual. But when the storm passes we will be able to talk to those we haven't met yet!
The rain here makes everyone happy because it waters the rice fields, but I mean, I could use a little sun once and a while!
On Thursday I will be getting my new companion. A new missionary! Being trained by Elder Golle and Moreland was really good for me and now I have been asked to be a trainer. I am super excited to train! I know it will push me and my new companion and our Father in Heaven is looking over us making sure we are doing everything we can do to become better missionaries and more importantly help the people of the Philippines.
PICS
-Elder Moreland pouring drinks for everyone trying to cool off from the sun right before the typhoon came. Everyone was loving the service he was offering!
-These little kids follow us everywhere we go and are never.. ever.. ever.. out of energy!! Makes our energy drain pretty fast though haha
-Because I love him ill add a pic of him too, I call it "The face of a missionary when they realize they go home next week!
Gotta love the great state of Washington!
Throughout the week we were able to meet with so many people that we hadnt been able to find time with before which was so good to see them again! We have had this goal of talking to literally every single person we could and its been so fun! I have learned a bunch from Elder Moreland, including to laugh at myself when I make mistakes. (mostly cause he laughs at my mistakes too hahaha)
In other news, that I know some might laugh at and others might cringe.. I ate a very unique dish the other day, called "dinuguang aso" which is translated somewhat into "Dog cooked in blood!" YES! I am now able to say that I hate eaten dog! "Tastes like chicken!"
So what they do is they cook the meat and then after, they pour the blood into the pan and cook the blood too. I am not the biggest fan of dinuguan in the first place, but i had to try it when i found out the meat was dog! I hope Roxy isnt too upset with me about it! In all honesty it tasted just like cooked dove! definitely something I wont forget!
I again would like to say how happy i am to be able and read the scriptures and study every morning. I have been able to understand more fully the importance of reading the scriptures daily. Also, I have been reading a book about how to gain a stronger Faith and Hope in the Lord. In the book it talks about how reading the scriptures daily is difficult! Sometimes we have things come up that stop us from reading at the time we had planned, but there is always time during the day to learn and grow!
One quote I really loved was "If you want to speak to the Lord, get on your knees. If you want the Lord to speak to you, open your scriptures."
The joy I have felt when reading and pondering the words of Christ in the New Testament this last week have helped me push through the tougher days! This weekend has been tough because of a typhoon that has kept people inside more than usual. But when the storm passes we will be able to talk to those we haven't met yet!
The rain here makes everyone happy because it waters the rice fields, but I mean, I could use a little sun once and a while!
On Thursday I will be getting my new companion. A new missionary! Being trained by Elder Golle and Moreland was really good for me and now I have been asked to be a trainer. I am super excited to train! I know it will push me and my new companion and our Father in Heaven is looking over us making sure we are doing everything we can do to become better missionaries and more importantly help the people of the Philippines.
PICS
-Elder Moreland pouring drinks for everyone trying to cool off from the sun right before the typhoon came. Everyone was loving the service he was offering!
-These little kids follow us everywhere we go and are never.. ever.. ever.. out of energy!! Makes our energy drain pretty fast though haha
-Because I love him ill add a pic of him too, I call it "The face of a missionary when they realize they go home next week!
Gotta love the great state of Washington!
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