March 27, 2012

Hey family,
Things are going well here. We are having a lot of success with referrals in my area. That is so nice. We have two more baptismal dates for the end of April. Brother Noel Ricafort is a part member. His family was baptized back when they lived back in Mas Bati, another island here in the Philippines. He was the first one taught and believes the church is true, but was never baptized. On Sunday he came to church and brought his less active family with him. We have also had the bishop come with us to teach them and another member of the Bishopric. That has been great for fellowshipping. They live in a little one room house that was literally built on top of the metal roof of his brother's house. They have no electricity and have to go down their breaking weak ladder to get water. Sister Ricafort has some sort of illness that has caused her to become very skinny, she is practically skin and bones. She is also pregnant with her ninth child. They are such a kind quiet family. We brought different kinds of sweet bread and cookies when we had FHE with them on Monday and even the little kids were shy to eat them. Usually the kids here will do anything they can to get a bite of food. They are very humble.
Another investigator we have is from Mindanao, another island in the Philippines, who has been to church many times but has never been taught by the missionaries. She just moved into our bishop’s house this last week. She is the cousin of the bishop’s wife. We committed her for baptism on the first visit and she came to church on Sunday. I am grateful to be having so much success here.
Now for your weekly questions:
Have the new missionaries in your mission been in the MTC a shorter time?
As far as I know they are still there for 9 weeks.

When and where will you watch conference?
We watch conference the week after you on April 7th and 8th. We will go to our stake center in Labangon.

What kind of transportation do you usually use there in Capitol?
We ride geepnies (the long trucks with a bench going down both sides and no back door) and hubble hubble (motorcycle) here.

 
Have you taken pictures of your apartment?
Yes, just for you Mom.

Do you give the new member discussions or does a member of the ward?
We give them. We are now responsible for teaching our recent converts until they get to the temple for their endowment and family sealing.

How do you like the new shoes we sent awhile back?
They are great! I am down to them and the Rockports you bought me for my 19th birthday. The Rockports are my favorite. They are still comfortable! The Bass ones you bought me for Christmas are holding up great here in the city.

Sure love you guys. Take care. See you in a few months.
Love,
Elder Schenk

March 20, 2012

Good evening Family,
We are doing good here in Capitol. Elder Galdonez and I get along really well. We laugh a lot. He is also a good teacher, so that helps a lot. Our recent converts are doing great! They pay tithing and are receiving callings and the priesthood. It’s great. Delia has almost finished 2 Nephi and Flor is somewhere in the Alma 20's. They love to read. I figure Flor read almost half of the Book of Mormon in just over a month! For all you members out there, are you also hungering and thirsting after righteousness? Let each of us daily drink deeply from the living water found in the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon--which above and beyond any other book will change our lives and bring us to the Savior. "Come unto Christ and be perfected in Him" (Moroni 10:32).

I’ll answer your questions now.
Your shirts look nice and white, so you must be doing a good job on your laundry. Do you go to the laundromat?
I usually take my laundry to the laundryman because there is just no time to wash your clothes by hand. There are much better things you can do with your time. We have about 6 options within walking distance of our apartment for laundrymans. The city is great that way.

Do you cook much in the city or mostly eat out? What do you eat these days?
When I first transferred here we ate out almost every meal. Now with two new Filipinos who know how to cook we rarely eat out. It’s cheaper and tastes better. We eat a lot of pork, usually with a sauce, or in soup. Sometimes there are vegetables too, which I love. It is always over rice. Sometimes at night we get BBQ which just means they shishkabob pork meat and fat and liver and chicken meat and skin and heads and feet and intestines or hot dogs or other byproducts that I’m sure aren't good for you but taste good. Then you put sweet ketchup on it and dip it in a soy sauce, vinegar, lime, and pepper sauce that you make as spicy as you can possibly stand. It’s good. For breakfast we usually have sweet cheesy hot dogs or eggs or ham or corned beef.

What have you been doing for P days lately?
That depends on where you are assigned. For p-day activities in the city we usually go to the Cebu zoo. In the mornings we usually play basketball at the church by the temple. We also go to Carbon which is the biggest market in Cebu where you can get second hand clothes and souvenirs and homemade Filipino stuff.

What day do you plan on arriving home?
I think we fly out on June 7 here. We will probably be getting home June 8 early in the morning in America. We haven't gotten our flight plans yet so I don't know for sure. I’ll let you know as soon as I know.

I like the question and answers. It gives me ideas on what to write about. Keep it up.
Take care, Love you all,
Elder Schenk

March 12, 2012

This letter came in the mail along with a cd full of pictures posted on page 4 of this blog.
Family,
I'll write one in English and one in Visaya so you can translate.  Here is the last thing that I will send home from the Philippines before I come home.  I have another 4 gig sd card that should be full by the time I get home.  I am doing great here in the Philippines.  I love serving a mission so much.  No doubt, it is the best thing I have ever done.  Each day I learn something new.  I have learned to love the Book of Mormon so much.  I used to have a favorite person, but now I have a ton!  Captain Moroni is my favorite. But I also love Abinadi, Nephi the son of Helamon, Jacob, Alma the Elder and Younger, there are so many heroes to choose from.  If you ever get bored, just read the Book of Mormon. 
Sure love you all, Take care,
Elder Schenk (I'm going to miss this name in 3 months)

March 13, 2012

March 13, 2012

Thanks for your email Mom, it is always fun for me to hear about the little things that go on in your lives. I don't have any of that here. You mentioned that President Kaopua spoke in your conference, what is his calling now? I seem to forget a lot of the details of home while on the mission. I have almost put away completely thoughts of home while here. It helps you to not get trunky.
Our baptism on Saturday went great! Kristy is the girlfriend of Allen, one of the more active members of the ward. His Father is the first counselor in the temple presidency here. They put on quite a show and a lot of people attended. Our recent converts who were baptized just the week before, Flor and Delia, brought their investigator friend, who we have had a hard time teaching because of schedules and such, and she had a great time at the baptism. They walked there as 3 families with seven kids running around. The investigator felt the spirit tell her to keep investigating, praying and reading, and then to apply what she learned. She is progressing now, we are just working on the husband. Flor has read up to Alma 20 in the Book of Mormon. He just started a month and a half ago. Delia is now in 2 Nephi. They are doing great. Flor will receive the Aaronic priesthood on Sunday.
This Friday is transfer day and we found out today that neither of us will be transferring. We get to focus on Capitol together for at least one more transfer.
I am glad you got my pictures. I’ll have at least another 4 gigs when I return home. I have been taking a lot of pictures lately.
Sure love you all. Take care,
Elder Schenk

March 7, 2012

Family,
We had and exciting weekend with two baptisms, Delia and Flor. They were so prepared. They love the gospel so much. They have both had rough lives with many relationships and have finally found the companion that they want to spend eternity with and, even more, they have found the gospel and dedicated themselves too it. What great examples! I honestly wish I could be more like them. President Schmutz came with his wife and also the APs and the office couple. That was fun. We had a good program. I was able to baptize Flor.
We have another baptism scheduled for this Saturday, Kristy Medellin. She is the girlfriend of a member in the ward. She has graduated from college as a doctor and is now doing her internship at the best hospital in the area, which just happens to be in my area. She is really smart and learns fast. In all of the lessons she may have had two questions. Her boyfriend, Allen, will baptize her.
Let the YW know I got their package. Tell them thank you. It was fun.
Take care. Have fun with Katie while she is visiting.
Love,
Elder Schenk

February 28, 2012

Family,
Things are going well here. It sounds like it has been cold back home, cold and rainy and tons of snow in the mountains. That's great for skiing! Someone turned the heater on really hot here in Cebu. The last week it has been scorching hot! Last night we went into a lesson sweating and about halfway through the lesson we had thunder (dog-dog, the "o" is the same sound as in "do", cool word in visaya) and lightning and pouring down rain. The weather changes fast here. Usually if it is really hot in the morning that means it will rain really hard in the afternoon.
Sounds like you are making some good progress in the North Wing. I am really excited to see it.
And now about Eric. I heard you got accepted to BYU Utah. Nice work. You can still come to BYUI with me if you want. That would be sweet! And you can also transfer back to BYU someday. You just have to be careful when you pick classes, some aren't transferable. Carson wants to come with us, so that would be a lot of fun. Though, I don't think I'll get a jeepney when I get home. The back windows don't close, not good for the cold weather. Great for transporting 20 people though!
The music you sent me, mom, was not mp3, but I had a member convert it for me, so I can listen to it. If you haven't sent me the package yet just don't worry about sending it. I don't need anything and will be home soon anyways. Save some money on postage, put it in savings, and retire a day earlier.
We are so excited because we have 2 baptisms this Saturday and another the next! It has been a long time since my last baptism, I am well overdue! I can't wait! This week is Delia Baylosis and Flor Poso's baptism. Next week is Kristy Medellin.
Take care way back there in America.
Love you all,
Elder Schenk