Garrett's Mission Iloilo Philippines: Week 4 :)

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Week 4 :)

Hey Family!

I can't believe it’s almost been a month in the Philippines. Time flies so fast. It is weird to think I was in the MTC last month. Things are sure different than the MTC. There definitely isn't the bounteous selection of food here. Well I actually I take that back. There is lots of food here it is just weird parts of an animal. This week I ate more chicken intestines, skin, and feet. I also have been getting good at eating a whole fish. I took a grody bite of a fish mouth the other day.

Alright so the Philippines is the most beautiful place ever. If you can get past all of the garbage in the streets and the sewer running everywhere. We have investigators that live way far away from our area right next to the ocean. It is so unreal. I will try sending you pictures soon.

Things have been going alright. I am trying to learn the basics of waking up and working out, eating a good breakfast, drinking lots of water, washing my clothes, remembering who my investigators are, and communicating with anyone.

I had a journal entry that described what the Philippines is like and I was going to type it up but I forgot it. Maybe next week I will give you an idea of what it is like here.

So I committed my first person to get baptised. I was really excited and kind of nervous cause I didn't know how she would react. Her name is Sister Sesbrano. She is a 19 year old girl with a family. She says she is really really happy and feels that the Book of Mormon is true. At least that is what my companion said. Because I can't understand anything anyone says yet. Well anyway I committed her to baptism. Himoon mo bala magpreperar para sa pagbunyag. Will you prepare your self for baptism? And her head went down, and she started saying all of this stuff I didn't understand. I just turn to my companion Elder Torio. I guess she was already baptized into a Catholic church and went inactive, she didn't want to do that again. She also said her family was Catholic and she just wasn't sure. Well that was that. She said no. We are now working on resolving her family concerns. We have been teaching more of her family which is nice.

Still lost in the language but I am sure it will come soon enough. I can buy things from the store and commit people to baptism. What else do I need to know?

Well I love you all so much.

Gotta go preach the Gospel. Halong.

-Elder Kirschbaum

About Me

Garrett is called to serve in the Iloilo Philippine Mission, the newest and 16th mission as of July 1, 2010 in the Philippines.

He is learning Tagolog and Ilanggo.

The easiest way to write Garrett, is through dearelder.com. On the left side of the page, there is an option for Pouch (free). Select his mission Philippines Iloilo, and then you can write your letter. It will be included in the pouch that is sent from Salt Lake City to his mission once a week.

http://www.dearelder.com/

If you want to mail anything other than a letter, you will need to send them to the Mission Home address:

Elder Garrett Kirschbaum

Philippines Iloilo Mission Osmena Street, Arevalo 5000 Iloilo City Philippines

Pouch Address:

Elder Garrett Kirschbaum

Philippines

Iloilo Mission

P.O. Box 30150

Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0150

Instructions for Pouch:

You canNOT use an envelope only as follows:

Instructions for making a three-fold letter:• Lay the blank side of the single-sheet letter facing down with the writing facing you.• Fold the top of the letter about one-third of the way down, and crease.• Fold the bottom of the letter to the top of the first fold, and crease.• Use two pieces of tape or two sticker tabs on the top to secure it, not more than one inch from each side, but do not seal the ends.• Do not include any other item in the letter such as currency or medication, printed pictures, etc.• In the top left corner, write the return address.