Dinner with the Romero's

Dinner with Members

The members in Paglaum take very good care of their missionaries. One member of their ward often sends me pictures on facebook so that I can see things I might now otherwise see. These are pictures of an activity they had and I enjoyed seeing the various reactions that C.J. had to the food placed before him.

Oct/Nov 2010

So, the outcome of the lizard they found. Apparently, one of the Elders suggested "let's do what the Filipino's do, light it on fire!" So....not sure what happened. Grateful to be spared the details.
They had a zone activity at Mambukal resort and saw bats, went throug a butterfly garden, saw some waterfalls and really enjoyed the day. Most of their investigators have been baptized and they're out searching for new ones.
C.J. became a trainer and has started training his first trainee, Elder Groves. He's realizing how exhausting it can be because of all of the work involved. He's teaching him to wash his clothes by hand and just trying to make sure that he develops good habits from the start. Elder Groves is from No. California and I think C.J. is taking this responsibility very seriously so I think he's in good hands.
Right now C.J. is struggling with some perceptions in the area of how the missionaries should teach. The past Elders used a lot of flattery to get people to come to church. They also developed strong relationships with the investigators. The problem was, once those elders left, the investigators lost interest. The instruction the missionaries are given right now is to teach so that the investigators feel the spirit and that will carry them through when the elders are gone. They aren't supposed to focus on building relationships, that's for the members to do. But, he's meeting some resistance in that which is making it very difficult at times.

October/November 2010

Now serving in Paglaum Village, the smallest area in the mission, encompassing about 20 blocks:
The apartment has air conditioning..and there are 4 elders in the apartment, oh, and one additional guest (see pic). He also had his first experience at using a machete. It was a service project cutting down tall grass and he said the experience was "sweet."

Aug-Sept

After the Dengue fever C.J. had to have more blood tests to ensure he was recovering. The AP's carted him around and it appears he was well taken care of. In addition to the fever, aches in the chest and back, he had rashes. He still calls it a mild form, but I think with the symptoms he had and the 104 fever it was ANYTHING BUT mild. But, it's nice he wants to save me from worry :/

They've had a number of baptisms over the last month and the teaching seems to be going really well. They've brought back a family that had refused to go to their ward for some time. They've decided that they want the temple blessings and there are a few preparing to go.

They've been practicing there for a type of mardi gras that they do in Bacolod. It's in October and we know now that he will be transferred before then and will miss it, but he's enjoyed watching the practicing cuz their dances and costumes are pretty cool.

Elder Ko, of the Seventy, came and spoke and then made a visit to C.J.'s apartment. He thought the whole visit was very cool.

So the crazy excitement this last week: A few weeks ago C.J. told us about a crazy man that lives on their street. The ward mission leader told them that he only pretends to be crazy so that he can get away with stealing. He told C.J. (while they were standing outside of a recycling plant) that he couldn't go inside because he wasn't Filipino and if he did they'd kill him. He decided then and there he was a nut case. Well this week the guy pulled a gun on him and pointed it at C.J.'s head and asked him where he was going. C.J. told him he was going home and the guy then took the gun away and said "Well, have a good night General." Apparently the guy used to be in prison and since he got out, he's been pretty crazy. So we are counting our blessings this week.

Time Flies-July

So, C.J. is still in Bata. Two transfers have gone by and he's still there which will make his Illongo pretty firm. He's now with Elder Scott (no pics yet) who was just made District Leader. The district was just divided and there are 6 missionaries in his district presently. It seem the favorite zone activity is bowling (see pic). I haven't been able to get out of C.J. any other favorite sports there. After refusing to take an ipod with church music with him (fear that it wouldn't be okay) he is now asking for CD's. He can't find a player there so now he wants a player. I think an ipod would be much easier. The missionaries listen to a lot of EFY music.

There have been ups and downs with investigators. One investigator said she'd prayed and prayed and didn't know if the Book of Mormon was true or Joseph Smith was true. C.J. encouraged her to pray about the Book of Mormon, and if she felt that was true, then it would follow that so was Joseph Smith. She did that, and had success and now is getting baptized. He also has a 13 year old boy he really likes, but his family has pressured him too much to stop with the discussions. When the boy told him, he was hurt so much he cried all the way home. He prayed, and felt the confirmation that the boy would receive another opportunity in the future.

He recently taught a girl that lives next to a baptist church. During a discussion the baptist minister came in and tried to stump the elders with questions. C.J. says "Elder Scott pretty much destroyed him." He finally gave up and left and the experience left the girl with a very distinct feeling. Unfortunately, her grandma has pressured her to quit the discussions and so she has. He's also been teaching a 19 year old boy that has struggled with Joseph Smith. Once again, he asked the boy to pray about the Book of Mormon and if he felt it was true, then it follows that Joseph Smith is a prophet. It worked and he's being baptized.

A few weeks ago I got C.J.'s e-mail and I was on the computer and messaged him right back and told him how much I loved him. He responded right away with a LOVE YOU TOOOOO!!!LLLLOOOOOVVVVVEEEE YYYYOOOOUUUULLLLOOOOOOTTTTSSSS!!!!. It made my evening, although I got pretty emotional.

Last week, C.J. told us in his e-mail that he'd been sick. It's hard as a mother to know that your child is sick, but you are too far away to do anything. I read his e-mail and cried. I felt pretty helpless. I guess it's times like this that you have to just trust in Heavenly Father. After all, he's there doing His work and it would be impossible that he would forsake him when he needs him, especially to continue to carry out that work. Anyways, he had been running a fever 104. He was throwing up, LBM's, backache, chest pains, etc. He was taken to the AP's apartment and spent three days at the mission home. I suspect he's doing better now. They did take him to the doctor and fortunately it wasn't Dengue. I'm chomping at the bit waiting for Sunday evenings e-mail so that I can be sure he's better. I could call the mission president, but he might send C.J. to Panay :) j/k

PICS: Family that was baptized, bowling with the district, the basement of a museum they were cleaning for their service project.

Week of June 21 and June 28, 2010

C.J.'s companion left and he went to stay with his district leader for a few days until the new companion came. He was able to get some language tips from the district leader and hopes his teaching will improve.

The deaf man: Apparently when he got home (I'm not sure where he was to start with only that where C.J. was teaching him was not where his family lived) he went MUTE. Hmm.

This picture is of the family that was baptized the week of the 21st. They are very strong and will make great members.

C.J.'s new c (and second) companion is American. Elder Scott. He says that they are very opposite, but doesn't elaborate. 31 new missionaries arrived and only 2 were Filipino. He was originally told that the Americans always have a Filipino companion. Apparently that's not the case. He says the mission is getting "pastey" (more whites than Filipino's). I know he really appreciates what he can learn from the Filipino's. The mission is due to be split on July 1st and it looks like he'll be staying on Negros Occidental.