The Best Missionary!

Monday, September 16, 2013

September 8, 2013

Magandang Hapon!

I decided that my emails are kind of sounding like journal entries or something, so I'll try to only update the highlights. I'll try to keep my emails shorter. Haha, sorry!

Anyway, the first thing that happened was on Wednesday. We were teaching an investigator about the Law of Chastity, and I accidentally messed up in Tagalog. We were talking about our thoughts and "malinis na mga isip" is clean thoughts, but I said "malinis na mga ipis" which means clean cockroaches... But he understand what I meant and after we made fun of me, everything else went well. Haha.

Thursday was my first Zone Training which was good and our Zone leaders are awesome. They really stressed 3 Ne 18:21 and Alma 18 which are awesome, and I highly encourage you to read them.

On Saturday our District Leader interviewed our baptismal candidate. Unfortunately he couldn't pass him, but after Stake Conference on Sunday the mission president interviewed with him and he's clear to be baptized on Saturday! I'm pretty stoked for that and he is an awesome guy. Also, we went to Marcos and I've never sweat so much in my life. It's flipping hot here and the humidity is crazy, but it's good.

Oh yeah, another thing: Stake Conference was really inspiring to me because the stake center is really far away, but the members are excited and willing to go anyway. The entire jeepny on the way was full of members of our ward, our investigators and us. It was so cool, and they're faithfulness was a huge example.

So basically, that's it, other than the kids yelling "up here!" and chasing us down the street. Haha, they're pretty fun. But yeah, keep me updated! Mahal ko kayo!

-Elder Oberg

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

September 1, 2013

Kumusta!

Another crazy week! Haha, so here goes.

Monday: After I emailed we went and got haircuts at the shop, but it was kinda awkward because they were men cutting our hair, but I thought they were women... Anyway, luckily my companion is Philippino and helped me out. Then on Monday night I had my first Balut! Haha, it didn't taste too bad, but it looked nasty and it was difficult to eat because I could feel the feet, beak, and eye in my mouth.. Elder Ruga took a video so I'll try to get that to you.

Tuesday: We went to Marcos! That place is awesome and I felt like I was in Kakariko village or something (Zelda.. I'm a nerd!) There were houses made of mud and flipping chickens everywhere. It was pretty cool, but unfortunately the people we tried to teach weren't home so we did some finding and visiting.

Wednesday: I woke up feeling pretty sick, and it ended up getting so bad that my companion made me text Sister Barrientos (Mission president's wife). I ended up going to the hospital to get tested and to get rehydrated. I was in the hospital until Friday morning, but no worries. It was just a minor bacterial parasite. I go back on Friday to get it checked up. The hospital was really nice too, when I left I got to take a shower and it had a shower head! Not only that, but the toilet flushed. That was a nice bonus.

Friday: After checking up with Sister Barrientos and getting a prescription we did weekly planning which took up the rest of the night. But it was pretty effective, so that's good.

Saturday: In the morning we had a ward fireside on unity. It was pretty cool, it's different here. We played games at the beginning and the adults play as much as the kids/youth. It's actually really awesome. At lunch there weren't plates or anything so everyone gathered around the food (which was on banana leaves) and we all ate with our hands. Apparently in the Philippines they do that a lot! I was grossed out at first, but whatever, it's the Philippines! Then we taught our investigator who is planning on getting baptized soon. It was an awesome lesson and he's really doing well. After him we taught the security guard and that lesson was so powerful! It was only the second time we taught him and he wants to get baptized and he's already trying to prepare! I'm super stoked for him.

Sunday: Fast sundays are long here, holy crud! We don't eat dinner until usually 8 or 9, so it's a little tough for me because I love food. But it was good. We walked a couple miles to go teach some families and none of them were home! Haha, it's all good though, I made chicken adobo when we got back.

Anyway, that was my week. It's crazy, it's hard sometimes, but it's awesome! Keep me updated, I love hearing what's going on with everyone. Have an awesome week and thank you all for everything!

Mahal ko kayo!

-Elder Oberg

August 26, 2013

Magandang Hapon!

Wow, I don't even know what's new anymore everything as I know it is different!

So on Tuesday, it was flooding and apparently two missionaries in the Mania mission or somewhere close to there got electrocuted. They should be ok, they're recovering, but we had to stay inside all day so we couldn't work. That was a bummer, but oh well, it is what it is.

Wednesday was pretty fun. Brother Alvin is a member and actually served his mission in Manila. He was able to fellowship with us so we went and taught a few lessons. Our investigator we wanted to visit wasn't available because she was sick, so instead we went finding. We found a guy named Rex, who was really cool, but we can't tell how interested he is yet. We'll visit him again and find out soon! And if he isn't now, he will be! Haha, then we visited some less-actives and found two new investigators. Brother Alvin is awesome and he's really good at English and Ilokano even though his native language is Tagalog.

Thursday: We had a district meeting and interviews with the President. That was pretty cool. We only worked a half-day because of the storm. Apparently typhoons come close to here. Haha! But we were able to teach a less-active family and it was really awesome. The daughter who usually doesn't join us came. And they explained how they want their mom to be baptized so we talked about how it's important for them to set the example by coming to church and such.

Friday: We got to teach a recent convert, Nanay Pillos who is pretty quiet, but awesome. Her husband likes to talk a lot, but it's all good!

Saturday: We attended a funeral for a nanay who passed away. Funerals are really different hee because they mourn for days before it and then celebrate on the day of the funeral. They had a marching band and stuff. During the service though, because nobody else knew how, I had to play the piano.. That was a fun experience because I'm not very good. But oh well. If you haven't yet, learn piano! You never know when you'll need it!

We got to teach Tatay Imperial! He is so awesome! He is planning on getting baptized on September 14th. He's struggling with coffee, but his family (even though they are strong Baptist) are going to help him with it! It was awesome and they are super cool! Tatay gave us a referral who is a really nice guy too.

Sunday: Tatay Imperial and his referral, Jerry came to church! And we found out that it's going to change from a branch to a ward! That was awesome. We're really trying to promote the missionary effort here. We had dinner at Brother Alvin's house and part of it was fish, but it was strange to me because it was all together. The head, the fins, everything was there. So you just pull the meat from the bones. It was weird, but didn't taste bad! Then we taught another investigator family about the atonement. They're awesome, but we need to help them understand the difference between Christian churches and such. Anyway, then we taught the security guard outside our apartment! He told us he was curious about what our purpose was, so we taught him the Restoration. It was awesome and the Spirit was so strong! We're going to teach him again on Saturday. Elder Ruga is awesome, he's such a good teacher/trainer/companion, to me and all the people.

Anyway, as far as Tagalog goes.. It's hard, and I have a hard time understanding the people because of their accent. But I know the concepts and I'm learning. I'm not too good at it now, but I know that with God's help, I can learn it to accomplish righteous purposes!

Oh yeah, and Elder Ramsey is back from the hospital. He had Denggai (no idea how to spell it) as well as some other things. But he's ok now, he's pretty fun.

Anyway, that was long. Sorry. One more thing:

My current mailing address is this:

Elder Christopher Ryan Oberg

Philippines Laoag Mission Office

Brgy. 50 Buttong, Airport Avenue,

Junction Tangid Road, Laoag City

2900, Ilocos Norte, Philippines

The rumor is that it takes 6 weeks or so to deliver, and if you don't put pictures of Jesus on packages, they'll get robbed. Haha, we'll see!

Anyway, Mahal ko kayo!

-Elder Oberg