Tricycles, Carabaos, Baptisms and....the importance of following promptings.

Hello Family!

I will start out answering your questions, mom, because I don't actually know where to start.

 How long was the drive to Sagay? Did you go by bus?

So the trip to Old Sagay (from Bacolod) was probably about two hours? It was just on a bus and so that was fun I guess. But we were actually only taken to (new) Sagay and then we had to take a tricycle (like a rickshaw) to our apartment. I felt SO stupid with my american white-boy luggage. Especially the bright blue color... That was fun. I will probably find a way to consolidate to two, eventually down to one suitcase if I can manage.

What is your apartment like?

My apartment is actually one of the "nicest" in the mission.  It is quite a step down from anything in America. But we had our toilet fixed last week and now it FLUSHES! I went on exchanges with our District Leader last week, he was amazed that we had a flushing toilet AND a shower head/handle thingy. We are quite spoiled. He compared his bathroom to outer darkness. 

Where is Elder Cruz from?

Elder Cruz was actually born in the Bago Zone of our mission, but he grew up in Manila. So he knew the basics of Hiligaynon before he came, but he didn't know the grammar or anything actually. He was actually assigned to a Cebuano zone for the first nine months of his mission. He got stuck in "Cebuano Mode" when he was transferred to a Hiligaynon area.

Do you make your own meals or buy from vendors?

About our meals, I usually don't eat very well unless we both decide to cook something. We are kind of just too lazy to make good food sometimes because we are so tired. But we have members make stuff for us now and again. One of our investigator families that we are baptizing in a few weeks actually feeds us a little something almost every time we go! They are very nice. Also, there is a cafe down the road that we go to sometimes. It's super cheap and they have great food. Yay!

I actually had an experience with the water the other day though. We aren't supposed to drink unfiltered water here. And there is a reason for that... which I did find out... They often have frozen bags of water at the "chungey's" (not sure how to spell that, that's what it sounds like in English though) which are little convenience store stands that people run. You pass at least thirty of them every day. But at the R family, they gave us some water that I saw was from one of those bags, and I had the impression not to drink it. (but I did). I didn't realize that it was an impression from the Spirit until after the appointment. But later that night, I realized how important it is to follow those promptings, no matter how small or simple they seem. My stomach was destroyed. I will leave it at that.

How much walking do you do, or do you ride on tricycle taxis?

We do a fair amount of walking I guess. We will take a tricycle if we are being lazy, or if it's raining. but we often go to farm areas that are on dirt trails, or to really poor parts. A lot of our investigators live in a close area to each other, and that helps a lot.

What are Sunday meetings like?  Are the hymnbooks in English or Hiligaynon?

Sunday is fun! It's a little less reverent than at home though. They do the schedule reverse too. The church is the same, though, that's one thing that Elder Driggs and I were discussing in email. They do church the same way that we do in America, just in a different language. The church actually encourages the bishops to hold meetings in English. They want members to try and learn English because it can help them out in their life and in the church and its doctrine.

No, the hymn books are in English. In the MTC we had hymn books in Hiligaynon, not all the hymns, maybe like 50. But the translations are ridiculous. Our teacher thought they were weird. I think they might have Tagalog hymn books, but they probably just use English anyway. Most Tagalog speakers either speak English or understand it.

Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you that Elder McCleary and I were companions there  (during brief stay at Manilla MTC)! It was a fun time being with him.

Manila American Cemetery & Memorial

I have been able to start teaching better in the language, it's really exciting to see how it will come out if I just open my mouth. It is still frustrating not being able to communicate things though, but I really understand that it just takes time and patience. I look forward to when I can communicate what I know.

Lot's to talk about, so little time. Here are some pictures that I HOPE can give you a taste of what I am experiencing here. I realize that you will probably never understand what it's like here, no matter how much I tell you. But I will try my best!

Love,

Elder Welton

This is the R family. They are the best! Lorenz, far right, is super quick in learning and he can actually speak English a little bit. I think he's only like 14 or so.

This is a Carabao. I saw it yesterday. It's essentially our version of an Ox. It's a work animal. And it loves the mud.

Here is the baptism from the other week! (first week of mission). I baptized the taller sister.

 

This is the outside of our apartment. Lovely, isn't it?

This is a member, J. He is awesome. He was baptized two months ago and he is preparing for his mission. He is going to turn his papers in in December. He works with us like every day. What a good guy.

This is me eating dried fish at a members house. 

I thought this was very pretty. They laughed at me because it's just a dirt road. Oh well.

Welcome to the Philippines!

Hello Everyone!

Sorry I don't have time to respond to pretty much anyone today... Family takes priority here! So I will include you all in this email for now. I will respond to you all individually with time! I promise.

I don't even know where to start with all of this... So much has happened in the last two or so weeks... I always forget that you guys have no idea what is happening to me here haha.

So the plane flight... WOW. That was the longest thing I have ever experienced in my life! We all thought we would be super productive on the flight there; boy were we wrong. The entire flight consisted of being half asleep and not knowing what day it was. The sun was up the whole way to Japan, which was about 12 hours, which was right after we had flown to Detroit for 4 hours. Then we hung out in the Japan airport for about an hour. When we left, the plane was a little delayed because of a typhoon that was about to pass over Taiwan. We were lucky to get out of there (that explains the diversion of our flight, dearest mother). I slept that ENTIRE flight. So I didn't even know that we took a weird path.

Flight route from Detroit to Japan

When we got to Manila, we took all of our bags down to the front and exchanged our money. Then we took a bus to the Manila MTC. We found out a few days later that we had actually LEFT an Elder that was coming in from New Zealand. So he went and bought a hotel room in Manila and then called the MTC the next day. Poor guy... Luckily he learned the basics of Tagalog in the MTC, so he knew a little bit of what they were saying.

Being in ANOTHER MTC was hard. We all wanted to get out there. The first full day we were there, they sent us out on splits to proselyte with the Manila and Quezon missionaries. The funny part is that NONE OF US SPEAK TAGALOG. It was a really good experience though, none of us had any idea what people were saying though, haha. 

The temple was closed while we were there, so that was kind of lame. We really didn't do much there. Everyone was getting over jet-lag while we were there, we were all falling asleep in class, so we usually got to go to bed early. That was way nice.

I kind of have to skip over a lot of the MTC experience there so I can get to my mission! I guess I will have to tell you bits and pieces over the next few weeks.

Now we get to Bacolod after another flight! We had to say goodbye to the Iloilo missionaries at the airport, I will miss them.

So we get to the airport and right when we get out of the plane, we walk down the hallway and see the missionaries we are replacing sitting behind glass windows. I waved to them. It was probably really sad for them to see us coming in to replace them.

After arrival at Bacolod airport with President and Sister Lopez

 

 Then we met President Lopez and went to the Mission Home. He and his wife are some of THE nicest people I have ever met. I can already tell how much they care for us. We had a little training, ate some food, and we were assigned to our areas.

Training at Mission Home

Sister Schimbeck and I both got sent to the same zone! I can't get rid of here I guess haha. I am in the most northern area in the mission, called Sagay. And I am in the Old Sagay ward area. The area is partly Cebuano-speaking, lucky me haha. We taught a lesson the other day where one sister was Cebuano. Luckily Elder Cruz knew Cebuano from back when our mission had two Cebuano zones. I am probably going to pick up some weird Hiligaynon here because they mix Cebuano concepts here. That's fun!

 Sagay Zone - upper right corner

Anyway, my trainer is AWESOME. He keeps telling me he isn't my trainer because he doesn't like it to seem like I am being trained. He said we are just normal companions and friends. Good outlook. He speaks English very well and we have fun together. Very laid-back.

My companion - Elder Cruz

So I got to baptize someone on Saturday for the Sisters in our area. That was way cool! I have never baptized someone before. Pretty neat. Also, we already have baptisms planned every week for the next month for sure! We have set dates in just the few days I have been here. The people here are so receptive to the gospel. They are so humble and willing to accept our invitation.

The kids here are my FAVORITE thing. They are so funny. All of them. And I can really only sort of talk to them. They are way better at speaking than I am.

Basically I don't understand anything right now... I guess I will figure out eventually!

Everything is going great! I will try and update you on more over the next few weeks! I could honestly go on forever, I just don't have enough time to tell you!

I should be on at around 8-10pm every Sunday night. Utah time, of course. So expect my emails around then!

Halong kamo!

Elder Welton

One of the many great quotes from the training at the mission home.

A few photos from last week.

Elder Graves and I brush our teeth together every night.  It's cute.  He's a cool kid.

Last time at the temple.  I will miss my district. (Don't worry, I am getting a haircut)

The walk to the temple --- very pretty.

Please tell me I am cute for taking this.

Last Post from the USA!

Maayong Hapon! (Good Afternoon)

I got my flight plans last Friday! I need to be in the travel offices at 3:30 in the morning! Oh boy... I'm super excited though! Excited gid ako! I have a flight to Detroit around 7:45 and then I will have a layover in Detroit for a couple of hours. Then we fly to Japan, refuel for two hours, and then to Manila! Sounds like I will be staying in the Manila MTC at least overnight, maybe even a few days!

I've been going to choir every week to sing in the choir and I love it! I recommend it to everyone coming to the MTC! The choir director always has THE best stories and it is super, super cool. This week, he was talking about how much of an opportunity it is to be a missionary. He gave some statistics. He said that, "the odds of being a Latter-Day missionary are about 1 in 100,000. That's like filling up BYU stadium twice, and then filling up every classroom at BYU. Then an angel would come down and pick you out of everyone there." I thought that was a really cool thing to think about. He continued to say, "But, the odds of being a Latter-Day Saint missionary...AND a 'Hastening the Work' missionary are about 1 in 1,000,000 chances." It was really good to hear that. It really helped me realize how much of an opportunity this is. We sang the song "Hurrah for Israel" because the speaker that night requested it. We had the guy from "The Other Side of Heaven" come speak to us. He gave a really good talk!

I had the opportunity to be on host duty this week! It was way fun being the host missionary and acting like I knew what I was doing. I really kind of didn't. But to see the missionaries coming in and taking them around to their rooms and classrooms was a great experience! I was able to escort Elder Jeff Newman to his room and stuff. I was SO excited about that. Elder McCleary and I both escorted him, actually. He seemed a little shell-shocked. He said he had a million questions but didn't know where to start so he's just going to go with the flow haha! It was great to see him!

Last Thursday, I can't remember if we told you, but we Skyped people from the Philippines and taught them! We did the same thing yesterday, except it was a missionary who lived in Draper, so I guess that's kind of cool. But after the Skype session yesterday, he texted our teacher, Sis. Wignall, and said "Dang, I wish I was that good at Ilonggo when I left the MTC." Our teacher pulled us aside after class to tell us and that she was proud of us. Happy day!

We went to the temple for the last time today, possibly for two years. I'm really going to miss it! There is so much peace and I feel like nothing matters while I'm there. Something Elder McWhorter and I were talking about is why we don't take our watches in to the temple. We talked about how there is no use in measuring eternal things with time. Just a cool thought. Really helps me focus on being there.

I know this letter isn't very long, running out of time though! I imagine the next time you will hear from me, I will be in the Philippines! Hope everything goes well for everyone!

Halong Kamo Na! (Ya'll take care now!)

Elder Welton

Have I learned all that I need to?

Maayong Hapon Pamilya! (Good afternoon family)

Good week! Fast week, really. It's weird how quick time goes now, even though it seems long in the moment.

So you asked how I was feeling and how things are here, so I will my best to answer! I'm way tired all of the time, that's just how it works though! I haven't really been able to sleep without waking up at night, that's the reason why. I'm nervous a little bit about going to the Philippines, but I am way more excited than nervous. I am basically planning on being totally lost when I get there, but I have a good understanding of the structure of the language, and my teach tells me that everything will start to click once I'm immersed in the language. He says Elder McWhorter and I are the best in our district at the language, so that's pretty cool! Also, I feel pretty fat. So it will be nice to get out of the MTC probably for that reason alone. The food is really good for buffet food, but it gets old. We are pretty sure it is all the same thing just shaped differently. "Oh look, it's shaped like mashed potatoes today!"

 

I definitely am ready to go, but at the same time, I worry that I haven't learned all that I need to before I go... I could definitely get better at the language, but I know it will probably be better to just get there and learn. But I hope I have learned the doctrine well enough to be a good teacher and everything. And just to make sure I have prepared myself spiritually. I guess I will find out! I feel like I have done a good job here!

Here is my schedule, just so you can have a rough idea what I'm doing.

 

Shaving Elder Mackintosh's neck 

Our branch president was released on Sunday. I imagine it was probably hard for him after 4 years serving as the president. I liked President Capik. I learned a lot from him. Brother Pearce was the first councilor and is now President. He's a really nice guy. He always comes to give us hugs in our residence when we are here. That's kind of weird. But also it's nice of him haha.

Elder Michael Bluth, Elder Trevor Miles, Elder Jayden White, and Elder Spencer Bauman showed up recently! I was so excited to see Elder White the first time. Same with Elder Bauman, just the other day. I jumped way high in the air and gave both of them a big hug.

Elder Miles

Elder Driggs

I dropped my tray during breakfast the other day. Pretty much like 10 seconds after I got it. I got ketchup on my pants, that was THE worst because I didn't realize it until I was in class and I saw it dried on my pants. It was a pleasure to clean it off at the residence.

I absolutely DIED when Dad sent me that Missionary bank full of jelly beans. I got the package and thought, "...Legos?" I opened it, set it on my desk in front of my companion and I, and we just stared at it for probably 15 seconds. Silence. We had no idea what to think. Dumbfounded. Then I just busted up. I thought it was the funniest thing. I could picture Dad at the junk store, "That would be so funny!" and then taking it home and drilling a hole in the back of the head. We ended up using the jelly beans to teach tithing. It was hilarious. Everyone loves me because I give them jelly beans.

Missionary bank full of jelly beans -  from my (crazy) dad

My teacher used the jelly beans to teach tithing

A spoon that Elder Kim made into a fork with scissors.  We are desperate here.

It would be way awesome if you could find some cool cheap toy that I can hand out to the kids there. Bouncy balls would be good, or like those flying shooty things we gave out for Halloween. I just want to be able to give them something because our teacher has told us stories and he talked about how he loved giving things to the kids. If you find anything cool, send them!

I get my travel plans in like an hour, I will send you the schedule sometime this week. But I get to call you from the airport! I'm way excited for that, so be prepared with questions! I would love to answer anything I can!

I've been learning a lot about exact obedience and the blessings that come with that. Our teacher, Brother Waggoner, taught us about how important it is not to waste time on your mission. He was really passionate about not having regrets and I really loved what he said. That's always been something that is really important to me, not having regrets. My focus is to be as obedient as I can so that I will be able to feel the spirit stronger and to do the Lord's work on his time.

Hope everything is going well, I love hearing from you! Hope you are having fun in McCall, I sure wish I could be there. I was actually just talking about it the other day. Tell everyone hi for me!

Palangga ta kamo! (I love you guys)

Elder Welton

The MTC - "longest days of your life - shortest weeks of your life"

Time is a WEIRD thing here. That three weeks has seemed like I got here FOREVER ago, but it feels like the time has flown by at the same time. The saying, "Longest days of your life - Shortest weeks of your life," is definitely true. We were just saying the other day (could have been this morning for all I know) that we've slept in the same bed 20 times, but it has only felt like 7 at the most... Don't know how to explain it. It sounds like we will be leaving either somewhere from August 4th to the 7th. Not quite sure yet, but I think August 4th would make the most sense seeing as we have about 24 hours travel time plus a 14 hour difference. That would put us there on a Wednesday which seems pretty standard. We should get our travel itinerary hopefully next week, if not the week after for sure. Getting pretty weird to think about being in the Philippines so soon.

So to answer your questions, mom; First, my district is composed of people entirely from Utah and Idaho. All of the Polynesians, Australians, and Samoans are in the districts ahead of us. One sister is from Kiribati(?), so that's pretty cool I guess! Next question - things are pretty good for the most part! I can't really think of things that are like "Oh, this is so hard," but maybe other people have those things here. I'm just happy to be here! And it's hard to complain about things because I know who I'm doing all of this for. I guess the hardest thing is staying awake and waking up in the morning. I actually haven't slept through the night here yet, so I guess that's kind of hard. If you could send me some sleeping meds like melatonin (it's all sold out at the bookstore, I guess I'm not the only one with the problem haha) or something better. It would be nice to sleep on the plane. And about classes, we only have class with our district. Everything we do is in our classroom, we are probably in there for about 10 hours every day. The other districts are in the classrooms on the same hallway. The entire floor is entirely Filipino language classes. The districts ahead of use are learning Cebuano and Tagalog and it's interesting to hear the similarities in the languages. They are very different, but similar in structure to a point. We did initiatories at the temple today. That was pretty cool since I haven't done that other than for myself. We get to see the movie next week, I've heard it's pretty good.

Tell Dad sorry about the phone thing. I told him in the car that he would need to restore it when he got home. I guess he missed that part haha. It was on the iOS 8 beta and it expires if you don't update to the newer betas. Glad you got it all figured out!

The other day I started missing Jaz. Like, a lot. Which is weird. It's weird to think that she might not be alive when I come back. Tell her I say hi, even though she's just a dog. I think it will mean a lot to her.

I would like to formalyl apologize to anyone who I've written and ended it wih "Palanga ako mo"... I was completely incorrect. It is "Palanga ta ka." You can send any negative responses to my email address. The church is still true, even despite my mistake. Thank you for you understanding.

I can't even get close to finishing these letters every week. There is so much I want to tell you about that I can't get all written down. I wish you could be here to experience it with me! I should get to call you from the airport when I leave, hopefully I can answer your questions then!

Palanga ta ka!

Elder Welton

600 New Missionaries Arrived This Week!

(part of yesterday's letter)

We got a bunch of new missionaries on Wednseday, 600 more in addition to the 2500 that were already here. All the lines at meals are getting long. It's kind of depressing to walk in and see the lines after not having them before. But I have started seeing people from Riverton!! I saw Elder Brandon Walker, Elder Brady Earley, Elder Tanner Driggs, and Elder Chandler Crockett. Seeing Elder Driggs was actually WAY funny haha. We were walking out to the field for gym time and as Elder McCleary and I were waiting at the crosswalk, we said "Hey, wouldn't it be hilarious if we saw Driggs being dropped off right now?? His time should be about right now." Not even TWO seconds later, as we were walking across the street we see him waving out the window from his car, "Hey Elder Welton. Hey Elder McCleary!!" We were dying. It was funny.