5 Areas, 5 Companions...Guess what happened?

Hello Archuleta Family!

So I will start off this week with apologies. Last week I [slightly] chastised mom about transfers... And guess what happened? Yep. Transferred. I'm not even halfway done and I've had 5 areas and 5 companions. Woo! Currently I am in Hinigaran, Binabagan zone. My companion is Elder Agbuya, and he (yet again) is the District leader. I finally learned that for your first year you stay as a junior, but once you hit your year mark, thats when you start becoming DL, or ZL, or (my dream) AP. 

So we did have a baptism on Saturday, which was good. I will get the picture from Elder Agbuya in a little bit. 

Answers to questions:

No I haven't gotten it yet.  (His Birthday package.)

I sent my camera home. I found out it was actually cheaper to send it home instead of getting it fixed. 

Sending the camera home and transfers. Woo. Missionary life.  (What did you take out all that money for?)

Things I want.. Laffy taffy. especially the yellow, green, blue, and pink. The purple one is okay, but I won't eat it (my companion will!) Other candy is accepted as well. And snacks. :D. (Christmas package ideas since President Lopez has strict rules regarding Christmas packages.  Please note his letter below.)

We watch it like a week later. The church records it and distributes videos. Yay conference!

That's about all I got for now. A new area and all makes things boring. not much has happened. 

Elder Archuleta

President Lopez' Christmas Package Guidelines:

SENDING PACKAGE FOR CHRISTMAS?

Include items that are only appropriate for missionaries.  Do not send any kind of toys (including stuffed toys and board games), CD's, MP3's, books (they only read Preach My Gospel and scriptures), Christmas decorations, party supplies, banners, posters, electronic gadgets (players or speakers), or anything that will not help them accomplish their missionary purpose.  Please do not send gifts for members-we do not want our missionaries to play Santa Claus.  Snacks and treats are always a good idea.  We desire to keep our missionaries fully consecrated to The Lord.  Christmas season is the most difficult time for our missionaries.  Consider these guiding questions:  Will this package make my missionaryremember too much about home and get very homesick?  Will this keep my missionary out of focus of what he/she was called to do?  Will this cause my missionary to want to return home early?  We will not be able to keep track of your package.  Your missionary will be responsible to inform you.  For FEDEX, LBC, DHL, etc.-please use this address:  Philippines Bacolod Mission, Lacson and Galo Streets, Bacolod City, Philippines 6100.  If you use USPO or Philippine Postal Office-Write P.O.Box 660 in the beginning of address.

Good news, and even more good news!!

Maayong aga sa inyo tanan! :D hulat lang... MAAYONG GABI! :D Nalipat ko nga gabi na didto. 

Oh wait, I should probably speak English. Or Tagalog. But you only understand English...

So the good news:

I found a place here that can fix my camera! I'm not sure how much it is, a member is taking it to Bacolod for me (cuz that's where the place is) so I will find out how much it is tomorrow. But the best part is that I can have my camera back by like thursday/friday! :D Hopefully you didn't send the other camera.. If so, I HAVE A BACKUP! :D 

More good news:

WE are finally having baptisms!! This weekend we only have 1, next week isa pa (another), and the week after that IS THE WEDDING AND BAPTISM!! :D Super exciting. 

Even more good news:

I have problems speaking English!! :D The other day one of our investigators asked me to pray in English (because she is learning it) so it took me like almost 5 minutes to pray. It wasn't even complicated, just a simple prayer. It's AWESOME! :D Also, I've really been working on Tagalog. The kids here like to pull pranks on the American missionaries. They'll speak to you in Ilonggo first, then since we can speak it back to them, they speak Tagalog! But now I can speak back to them in Tagalog, and then continue to talk to them in Cebuano! :D It's pretty cool. 

Normal news! Just kidding! Even more good news:

I FINALLY GOT SOME OF MY CLOTHES FITTED!! I only took in 2 shirts, but man I AM SUPER GWAPO! :D Later this week (probably tomorrow) I'll take in a pair of pants and some more shirts. Yay! :D

So I do has something I wants to share sa inyo (to y'alls):

So come Sunday, we were waiting for Brother outside the chapel. we waited, we waited, and guess what? We waited. Until finally Elder Suarez says that it's time to start. I was like (I'll translate so it's easier) "No! Not yet! I know he's coming!"

So we head inside anyways, and 20 minutes later, HE WALKS THROUGH THE DOOR. Right before sacrament started. We were singing probably the BEST hymn at that time. Hymn #193. Boom. I literally started to almost cry. It was awesome. 

So now I absolutely cannot give up on brother. We're going to keep helping him so he can baptize his daughter. It will be AWESOME! :D

Well, That's about it. I think Elder Suarez has some pictures I can snag. In the mean time, Missionary stuffs! :D

Love,

Elder Archuleta

So anyways, California is on fire again? You can borrow our rain, I'm officially sick of rain for now. It makes people (especially investigators) disappear. 

Birthday package?! I almost want to know what is inside.. But I feel that would ruin the surprise. So what's inside? :D

Picture: compliments of Elder Suarez!

Dad's Email:

This week has been a wonderful week. I shared in my email to mom what happened this week. That was a HUGE testimony builder. I absolutely love this work. I get to be in the place of the Savior. When I saw brother walkinto the chapel, I saw him as the Savior does. It was just.. I can't find words to explain it. It was just amazing. 

What are Jake and Jack's totals so far? How many wins/losses? What is Austin up to? How is Sam? I miss my puppy...

So like I said to mom, later this week I'll get my camera fixed. I will find out tomorrow how much it will be, So I'll probably withdraw from my card. I withdrew last week because support was late and I paid the member who fitted my shirts. I have like 1000 pesos left from what I withdrew, So it depends on how much it will cost. 

How is the PMG studying going? Last time I emailed about it, I suggested a few chapters. After thinking about it, the whole thing should be studied. It will better help the YM. And the YW too, I'm not sure about them though. 

Other than that, I'm doing good. I'm fluent in the language, So I can focus on learning Tagalog and Cebuano, mostly Tagalog. I'm getting pretty tan, I don't think I have any more weight to lose. It's just all becoming muscle now, especially the calves. I'll probably have calves like Grandpa Archuleta when I get home. 

Other than that (again), I think that's all I have for the week. 

Elder Archuleta

 

Good news and bad news...

Dearest Family Peeps,

Woo! I am so grateful for umbrellas! :D It has been raining like crazy the past couple of weeks, which is a bitter-sweet thing. The rain keeps it cool, but the lack of sun is making me white again... D: As of right now it's cloudy. Hopefully it won't rain. 

SO THE GOOD NEWS!

We've got baptisms coming up AND A WEDDING!!! :D Some of our investigators are getting married! Then they're getting baptized right after!! :D Super super exciting! Also I finally found a member who can re-size all of my clothes for me! Woo! I can finally stop looking like a "deflated balloon" :D 

But now the bad news..

So somehow in the grand scheme off all things, a rather misfortunate event has occurred to me in this past week. (Why does that seem familiar...)

So after we had come home from a hard day of work, Elder Suarez and I were going to close the day out and plan for tomorrow (because that's what you do at night when you go home) and I was taking things out of my bag (it was a little wet so I was going to let it dry out) my camera got knocked off my desk. I wasn't too worried, since it was drop proof. But when it fell it made a popping sound, so I picked it up and looked at it. THERE WAS A SCRATCH! D: But nothing was broken, so I moved on. Later that night I was like "Oh, I needs to take a picture of this (To be honest I forget what it was)!" So boom, I go to use the camera, and I get this: 

I literally started to scream at it (I'll use the exact wording so it's more fun)

"Aye! Ano Ginahimo mo?!? Ginhambal ta ka nga pwede ka maguba?! Indi! So Ngaa naguba ka haw? Palagpat gid ka! Abi ko drop proof ka! Butigon god ka..."

Translation:

"Hey! What did you do?!? Did I say you could break?! No! So why did you break? You are ridiculous! I thought you were drop proof! You're a liar..."

I'm still mad at it. And sad. After I was done screaming at an inanimate object it was like "Your camera is broken." I almost started to cry. I love this little camera... So I turned it off and put it in its case and put it in a safe spot so it won't break more. :( I don't know what to do. I think I'll send it home to get it fixed or replaced. Until then I will also try to find a cheap replacement until then. :(

But there is more good news, I was able to take some pictures before that happened, so I will get those to you all.

I loves you all

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! :D

That's it for now

Elder Archuleta

Dear dad,

I'm sure you've heard the news from mom by now. If not, the screen on my camera broke. I will be looking for a replacement and sending my other one home in the meantime. 

17 deacons? In my ward there are 2. One is technically a teacher, he just hasn't been ordained to teacher yet. 

Last sunday we had 59 people in attendance.

They don't have it here. They talk about having stuff like that, but they never do it. (Mutual and/or Scouts)

Work is work. It's to the point where it's all I know right now.

I have people telling me I am, but I still make mistakes. (Feeling confident with the language)

I will do that while I am looking for a camera.  (Mom wants him to buy her a Nativity)

I've got a lot to do this week.. So I will get to it. Sorry my email is short this week. Next week will be much longer.

I love you

Elder Archuleta

Onward, ever onward...

So this week has been pretty lame to be honest. It has been raining a lot lately (I thought rainy season was earlier in the year...) so all of the people, like literally EVERYONE has been hiding from the rain. So we weren't able to teach that many lessons. Or even see people. I always came home tired and wet (from the puddles), I probably would've given up. But I knew that I couldn't because there are people out there that need my help. So "♪Onward, Ever onward...♫"

So I has good news. THE GLUE WORKED! :D But I still keep that set of scriptures at home. I might bring them to church on Sundays, we will see how that goes.

So last... *counts in head* THURSDAY (I think) Elder Suarez and I woke up early-ish because of the rain. So I was already dead tired as I was getting ready. I grabbed one of my shirts off a hanger to go iron it, but somehow when I got to the iron I was holding the hanger and had left my shirt allllll the way on the other side of the house. Elder Suarez is STILL laughing at me. I am too. :D 

So I worked on taking pictures this week, so I will get those rolling shortly.

Mahal ko kayo! (Tagalog!) 

Elder Archuleta

Unfortunately, the computer he was on kept crashing and we didn't get any pictures. Sad face.