Kumusta po kayoooo
How's everyone doing? So unbeknowest to us, last week was our last temple visit for the next two years. We found out yesterday that the Provo Temple is closed until January, so we're pretty bummed- but that means more time for stuff today, I guess. Hahahaha I loved hearing about Elder Christensons mom being on that website, I'll have to tell him about that. That's so funny. He's in my zone, and he's going to ilo ilo. Only 4 of us are going to Bagio from my zone, and 5 others from the other zone. But yeah, he's a really nice guy, haha. He knew collin and tanner, too. And that's awesome that Brandon and Trevor came to The Christmas Program on sunday. Sorry if my grammar and spelling or anything is off, english words really are starting to look strange, sometimes. We spend almost all day now speakign in Tagalog, so it's weird sometimes to switch back. I haven't gotten your second package or Brandon's yet- but they'll probably be here today. Thank you so much in advance for them. Also thank you so much for the last package. SADLY! I had to open all the presents, because I had to know what I could and couldn't bring, and I can't bring most of that stuff! Haha, thank you so much for them but I meant like one toy or something to play with. So I'm sending back some of the stuff, and gave the rubics cube to my companion and I think I'll give the boggle to my teacher. We tried playing Tagalog Boggle, but it was literally impossible, haha. They only have like 20 letters in their alphabet. But thank you so much for it, I loved loved opening them and it felt like Christmas. QUESTION: can I send a package to callie and inform the post office to hold it until she comes back? If not then I'll send the box(es) to aunt debbie, but I'm pretty sure it's free if I get it delivered to Provo. Also is my call letter in the package coming? Answer all these questions in a dearelder tonight if you can, haha thanks. ALSO! I sent Andrea a letter, so she better've gotten it and forgiven me already for not acknowledging her packages. I don't have much time to do anything personal at the MTC so I just ran out of time two weeks ago to write her a letter, so I hope she got that. IF NOT! Then andrea thank you so much for all the packages.
So, onward I suppose. OH! I need Trevor Taylor and Garret Gibson's and Hutch's Emails/Addresses. So if I could get those ASAP so I can write them before I take off, I'd love that. I heard from an Elder in here that Elder Bray got reassigned to California, so I was psyched to hear that- that's awesome. Also I need to write Sis. sturges today, she sent me another holiday card. Oh, and I got one from Taylor- that was awesome to see him again, it feels like it's been years, haha. Oh, and I have to write aunt debbie as well. Yeah I saw her sister in law! It was so funny, because I kept hearing about some woman asking about an Elder White going to the Philippines, so yesterday the Sisters in my district came into the classroom where we were studying and were like we're hear to summon you, Elder White. So we went to watch Music and Spoken Word and I met her, finally. She was so nice and made me laugh really hard when she said she'd met my parents, "Shannon and Donny". I could see aunt Debbie's influence on her. I think that's all my questions for today, but if I think of any others I'll try and hop back on.
Sooo this week has been pretty good, same old stuff. But one of our teachers left this week, and we were really sad to see him go. Such an awesome guy, and an amazing teacher. his name was Brother Perry, so I'll have to write him from the Phillies. We got our Flight Plans on Thursday!! We were so stoked. It's crazy, the entire trip is going to take like 20 - 24 hours, at least. And I'll have time to email next week before I leave - but I think the phone call is going to come around 11 - 3 AM your time... hahaha sorry. I don't leave SLC until 8 something, and then a 3 hour layover in LAX. My plane leaves at midnight'ish from LAX - Hong Kong. Then run to the Manilla plane from Hong Kong, then an hour flight to manilla, and a looong bus ride up to Baguio. It's going to be so sad saying goodbye to all the ilo ilo people, cuz they're on different planes. So it's just me , my companion , Elder Su'A , and Elder Soderquist. Plus other Baguio Elders we've met from the other zone. So at least that'll be really fun. So that's the travel news for now.. I'll give a clearer picture next week... but that'll be roughly when the phone call is, haha.
So! Last night was so good. For our Fireside we had some guy named Ben Gibbons come and give a performance / monologue thing acting as Willard Richards. It was amazing, mom. Church History is incredible, and he is just a brilliant actor or whatever you want to call him. But after the performance everyone was just awe struck, honestly. So we sang We thank thee oh God, for a prophet to close the fireside. And one by one most of us started to stand up. SOOO POWERFUL. hahah It was so awesome. Then watched the Joseph Smith movie afterwards and it was just like woooow so much better. Last night was just so good, and if you ever have a change look up Ben Gibbons and watch this performance, or get tickets to something- i dont know, just check it out.
Okay that's about everything, so here are the quotes or whatever from the week I've liked.
1. The MTC - college + church + prison
2. Oh, I took out 80$ for a Hep A shot this week that I needed. The second shot in the series, I think.
3. Alma is the most amazing book in the entire book. Especially chapters 32 - 36.
4. 3 Nephi 18:32? Gah, I think that's it. Go read it, please. Haha it's good.
5. I think that's it for this week. I just need those addresses of those people ASAP. THanks so much
Love you all, and I'll talk to you next week!!
OH! Almost forgot. On the third floor bedroom, brandons, mine, courtneys old bedroom, in the closet on the top of it in the back. I left some christmas presents in a small ziplock bag for everyone. I think they're in a bag, or a clip. Anyways- GO GET EM!
MAHAL KITA!!
-Elder White
Monday, December 20, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
week 7
I'm not even sure of the weeks anymore. I think it's seven because we have two weeks left. We got a new district in on Wednesday, after the old one left on Monday. There is 14 of them in one district, which means one classroom. That really really sucks for them, haha. We had 10 in ours (9 now) but even that is bad, the rooms aren't very big. So with 14 kids they have to have two rows of 7 and that definitely cuts down on the effect of the learning. There are some serious weirdos in that batch, but I think they're all pretty nice. It's a really weird feeling having them here because they're us when we first came in, and we're the district of Elder Green and them. It feels like they were here just yesterday, but it's been like 5 or 6 weeks since we saw them. maybe 4 or 5. Anyways- Tagalog is continually picking up. I have been harping on vocab so hard this past week. Friday and Saturday I just sat down and forced myself to memorize about 100 new adjectives because I was sick of not being able to describe things or understand descriptions. At this point we know most common verb conjugations and sentence structures and what not, so all that is reaaallllyyy left is vocab and a few more rules. But all that our teachers can teach us about Tagalog has pretty much been taught. The rest will be picked up in the field. It's so funny though, because no matter how confident we feel here, no matter how much better we feel than others or worse than others, we're all going to get our butts kicked for that first month, at least. Like evveerryone has said you have noo idea what they're saying for at least a week.. so that's going to be really funny. I keep asking my teachers about their first week because I'm so curious what they're impressions were. They both just said though first impressions were it's hot and it's dirty, haha. I can't wait to get over there though, I'm getting antsy. Only two more weeks. But in those two weeks I know I'm going to learn so much. Two weeks ago I didn't feel half as confident as I do now. So that's the Tagalog update.
Packages and Letters- Just need to say again. If you are sending a package MAKE SURE that it's here before the 20th , because they are not accepting packages after the 22nd and I need time to send things home if I think I can't bring them or what not. I don't want to just throw them out. I'm leaving at a hard time, so please please do not send me anything that I don't think I can bring. Whether that's too heavy or just not allowed. Also I need an ipod charger, as soon as you can send onee. But thank you for all the packages and everything, they've been awesome. I think I'm going to get a big box and send all the stuff I can to Callie, because I think Provo packages are free from the MTC... not sure though.
Oh ALSO! I need my call letter ASAP. I just reread that letter from President Jensen and it said to bring a copy of your call letter. So, if you can send me a copy of that (preferably a good copy or the original) I would love it. I just need to get it copied and laminated in the copy center here and then I can send it right back. And where's mah christmas ties!! Kind of just kidding, but they would've been coolio.
MTC news.. not much. Last night for the fireside the BYU Men's Chorus came and performed. They were real good, and have some amazing voices. Also the entire theme was just Christmas and Christ, so it was a really good performance. Other than that this week has been real boring. Everything is the same as usual... bad food, good language, great study, and so on. I'll try and write a letter today.. I say that every Monday- but I have a bit more time today. Christmas is pretty soon, and the MTC usually gets an apostle or two to come speak, so everyone is crazy excited for that. Also, I'm only going to have like 30 minutes to talk at the airport :\ , kind of sucks. Maybe that'll become an hour, but I'm pretty sure it's just 30 minutes. So that's when the phone call will come, I'll let you know next Monday exactly around what time that'll be.. it'll be during the layover that we'll almost definitely have at LAX. But we get our flight plans on Friday, so I'll inform you next Monday. That's all I can really think of right now.. I'll give you a couple quotes I loved this week.
the first is by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin from a talk he gave a few years ago about Adversity. Such a funny quote, especially when he says it. We get to watch the Mormon Messages and stuff on LDS.org and Mormon.org whenever we want, and when we watched this we were laughing so hard. He says to learn to laugh, and "Have you ever seen an angry driver, that when someone else makes a mistake, he reacts as though that person has insulted his honor, his family, his dog, and his ancestors... all the way back to Adam?" ...go watch it. It's called Come What May and Love It. So funny.
the second is by C.S Lewis, I think- and it's such a good point.
It's something like If Jesus isn't our savior, then he is nothing. Because that would make him a liar. He taught that he was our savior, he proclaimed he was our savior. So you cannot think Jesus was just a good mad, or a teacher, or even just a prophet- because he said he was our savior. And if that's not the case then that makes him a liar and directly contradicts those thoughts.
I just thought that was an awesome point I'd never thought of before. Also the Book of Mormon is sweeeet, been reading like a crazyyy. K gotta go. Times up. Much Love, talk to you next week. Probably a letetr who knows!! GTG BYE!
Packages and Letters- Just need to say again. If you are sending a package MAKE SURE that it's here before the 20th , because they are not accepting packages after the 22nd and I need time to send things home if I think I can't bring them or what not. I don't want to just throw them out. I'm leaving at a hard time, so please please do not send me anything that I don't think I can bring. Whether that's too heavy or just not allowed. Also I need an ipod charger, as soon as you can send onee. But thank you for all the packages and everything, they've been awesome. I think I'm going to get a big box and send all the stuff I can to Callie, because I think Provo packages are free from the MTC... not sure though.
Oh ALSO! I need my call letter ASAP. I just reread that letter from President Jensen and it said to bring a copy of your call letter. So, if you can send me a copy of that (preferably a good copy or the original) I would love it. I just need to get it copied and laminated in the copy center here and then I can send it right back. And where's mah christmas ties!! Kind of just kidding, but they would've been coolio.
MTC news.. not much. Last night for the fireside the BYU Men's Chorus came and performed. They were real good, and have some amazing voices. Also the entire theme was just Christmas and Christ, so it was a really good performance. Other than that this week has been real boring. Everything is the same as usual... bad food, good language, great study, and so on. I'll try and write a letter today.. I say that every Monday- but I have a bit more time today. Christmas is pretty soon, and the MTC usually gets an apostle or two to come speak, so everyone is crazy excited for that. Also, I'm only going to have like 30 minutes to talk at the airport :\ , kind of sucks. Maybe that'll become an hour, but I'm pretty sure it's just 30 minutes. So that's when the phone call will come, I'll let you know next Monday exactly around what time that'll be.. it'll be during the layover that we'll almost definitely have at LAX. But we get our flight plans on Friday, so I'll inform you next Monday. That's all I can really think of right now.. I'll give you a couple quotes I loved this week.
the first is by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin from a talk he gave a few years ago about Adversity. Such a funny quote, especially when he says it. We get to watch the Mormon Messages and stuff on LDS.org and Mormon.org whenever we want, and when we watched this we were laughing so hard. He says to learn to laugh, and "Have you ever seen an angry driver, that when someone else makes a mistake, he reacts as though that person has insulted his honor, his family, his dog, and his ancestors... all the way back to Adam?" ...go watch it. It's called Come What May and Love It. So funny.
the second is by C.S Lewis, I think- and it's such a good point.
It's something like If Jesus isn't our savior, then he is nothing. Because that would make him a liar. He taught that he was our savior, he proclaimed he was our savior. So you cannot think Jesus was just a good mad, or a teacher, or even just a prophet- because he said he was our savior. And if that's not the case then that makes him a liar and directly contradicts those thoughts.
I just thought that was an awesome point I'd never thought of before. Also the Book of Mormon is sweeeet, been reading like a crazyyy. K gotta go. Times up. Much Love, talk to you next week. Probably a letetr who knows!! GTG BYE!
still week 6
Oh- Any games you can think of for like a 24 hour plane ride adventure to the phillies that would be allowed by mission standards- please do. Also also pleeassee send me a monday NYT crossword!!!!
okay- news update time, I guess.
This week has been kind've average. A lot more learning, tons more practicing, and a lot of contacting and giving lessons sa Tagalog. Things with my companion go up and down every day. Some moments are good, others are horrendous. For instance, yesterday me and my friend, Elder Faran, were playing and singing hymns on a piano in a building. And my companion comes in after a meeting (he was made zone leader.. ha) and is like alright, let's go study. So I tell him, hey dude it's Sunday- they say it's fine if we just do spirit building things like playing hymns. And he's like no, DUDE, we should study, now. So we just look at him, like what?, and get up and go back to the classroom. He then proceeds to wheel around the hall in a chair and draw Ford trucks on the whiteboard. There are 12 year olds in the MTC, mom. I learn to deal with it though, and just have faith that things will get better. As I study more and try and be as obedient as possible, things always seem to look up in one way or another. We had Sister (can't remember) come and speak to us on Tuesday, which was nice. And we watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional last night for Fireside, which was just really fun to hear them talk. I can't wait to see what speakers we get for Christmas here, though. The zone ahead of us is leaving today for the Philippines, so we're on deck. 3 more weeks and I'm ouuuttttttttttt. I cannot wait. I probe my teachers a lot now for stories and information and stuff and it just sounds like heaven compared to here, ha. Also they pick up their speed of speech every day to get us used to it, so it's literally insane but as they speek at about 90 - 100% speed we can understand pretty much everything they're saying. My brain just lags a bit behind in the translation to english. But it's funny, because I know what they say in Tagalog, but my brain forces itself to translate. So, it's like if I can figure out a way to not make myself translate it to english, I will still know what they're saying because those words in Tagalog have built their own meaning.. ya know? Like I haven't thought about what oo, and hindi, and siyempre, and wala, and kumusta, and mahal, and ingat, and mabuti, or so many other words mean in english for a long long time. I also feel like I came into the MTC years ago and I was a little kid, haha. You look back at your past notes and feel like it was another life time ago. You grow by leaps and bounds here every day. I sometimes hate feeling mature, ahaha, I'm not. I'm 19!
Anyways that's pretty much all that's happened this week, it was pretty uneventful. I'll write home a letter today, haven't done that in a while. Good luck with christmas decorations- I miss that a lot. I though about how we cut down a tree last year, today, and it made me miss CT, ha. OKay, I'll write some Tagalog sentences for you. Ah, that's another thing. I haven't even gotten to the Philippines yet, but I can't wait to go back- hopefully as a family. Not only to show you guys around but to speak in Tagalog with the people there. Pinoys are so funny. Tell Brandon that's his Christmas present to the family in two years. Flying us all over to the Philippines! thank in advance, Brandon.
Ako po si Elder White, at gusto po akong magbahagi ng mensahe sa inyo. Alam ko po na totoo ang ebanghelyo ni Jesu Crist, at alam ko po na tunay na propeta ng Diyos si Joseph Smith at Thomas s. Monson. Alam ko po na mahal tayo ng Diyos, at napatay si JesuCristo para ng kasalanan natin. Alam ko po na magpakita Ang Diyos at JesuCristo kay Joseph Smith sa 1820, at sa pamamagitan ng Pagbabayad-Sala ni Jesucristo makakabalik tayo sa Ama sa Langit natin. Sinasabi mga baby ako sa pangalan ni JesuCristo, Amen.
Mahal ko kayo!
-Elder Puti ( White )
okay- news update time, I guess.
This week has been kind've average. A lot more learning, tons more practicing, and a lot of contacting and giving lessons sa Tagalog. Things with my companion go up and down every day. Some moments are good, others are horrendous. For instance, yesterday me and my friend, Elder Faran, were playing and singing hymns on a piano in a building. And my companion comes in after a meeting (he was made zone leader.. ha) and is like alright, let's go study. So I tell him, hey dude it's Sunday- they say it's fine if we just do spirit building things like playing hymns. And he's like no, DUDE, we should study, now. So we just look at him, like what?, and get up and go back to the classroom. He then proceeds to wheel around the hall in a chair and draw Ford trucks on the whiteboard. There are 12 year olds in the MTC, mom. I learn to deal with it though, and just have faith that things will get better. As I study more and try and be as obedient as possible, things always seem to look up in one way or another. We had Sister (can't remember) come and speak to us on Tuesday, which was nice. And we watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional last night for Fireside, which was just really fun to hear them talk. I can't wait to see what speakers we get for Christmas here, though. The zone ahead of us is leaving today for the Philippines, so we're on deck. 3 more weeks and I'm ouuuttttttttttt. I cannot wait. I probe my teachers a lot now for stories and information and stuff and it just sounds like heaven compared to here, ha. Also they pick up their speed of speech every day to get us used to it, so it's literally insane but as they speek at about 90 - 100% speed we can understand pretty much everything they're saying. My brain just lags a bit behind in the translation to english. But it's funny, because I know what they say in Tagalog, but my brain forces itself to translate. So, it's like if I can figure out a way to not make myself translate it to english, I will still know what they're saying because those words in Tagalog have built their own meaning.. ya know? Like I haven't thought about what oo, and hindi, and siyempre, and wala, and kumusta, and mahal, and ingat, and mabuti, or so many other words mean in english for a long long time. I also feel like I came into the MTC years ago and I was a little kid, haha. You look back at your past notes and feel like it was another life time ago. You grow by leaps and bounds here every day. I sometimes hate feeling mature, ahaha, I'm not. I'm 19!
Anyways that's pretty much all that's happened this week, it was pretty uneventful. I'll write home a letter today, haven't done that in a while. Good luck with christmas decorations- I miss that a lot. I though about how we cut down a tree last year, today, and it made me miss CT, ha. OKay, I'll write some Tagalog sentences for you. Ah, that's another thing. I haven't even gotten to the Philippines yet, but I can't wait to go back- hopefully as a family. Not only to show you guys around but to speak in Tagalog with the people there. Pinoys are so funny. Tell Brandon that's his Christmas present to the family in two years. Flying us all over to the Philippines! thank in advance, Brandon.
Ako po si Elder White, at gusto po akong magbahagi ng mensahe sa inyo. Alam ko po na totoo ang ebanghelyo ni Jesu Crist, at alam ko po na tunay na propeta ng Diyos si Joseph Smith at Thomas s. Monson. Alam ko po na mahal tayo ng Diyos, at napatay si JesuCristo para ng kasalanan natin. Alam ko po na magpakita Ang Diyos at JesuCristo kay Joseph Smith sa 1820, at sa pamamagitan ng Pagbabayad-Sala ni Jesucristo makakabalik tayo sa Ama sa Langit natin. Sinasabi mga baby ako sa pangalan ni JesuCristo, Amen.
Mahal ko kayo!
-Elder Puti ( White )
week 6
Kumusta po kayo pamilya ko!
So! I'll start off by answering questions first that I've been meaning to.
1. I don't think Brandon could send a book, because there's only a very limited amount of stuff we're allowed to be reading- and even besides that I would have absolutely no time to read.. ha. My study time is literally packed as it is, and with only 3 weeks left I'm pushing as much Tagalog as I can. I use all my personal study every day (only an hour) to study the Book of Mormon, and then the rest of the day is for vocab and other Tagalog stuff. I'm only in Alma 12, too, so it takes me forever to get a chapter now.. ha. due to hi-lighting, rereading, and recording a study journal. So thank you, Brandon, for the thought but like I said before- just kindly put a stack of my presents in a corner of my room and I'll delightfully sort through them in about 23 months.
2. That's good news on the Rexburg package, even if it did take so long. I just checked the mail again for a package slip, because I didn't want to write home today saying that I didn't have it if it was just waiting in the mail room over the weekend. So I'm glad to hear that, and I have 5 short sleeve shirts- which is all I wear- so that has been enough. Honestly though, I hate wearing long sleeve shirts now.. short sleeve feels so much more natural. Also a suit feels like normal clothes now, and wearing regular pants is strange.. hahaha.
3. Thank you so much for all the packages.. everything is awesome. I'll send home some pictures of our Christmas Room sometime soon, I've been stoked about at least feeling like it's christmas. Also all the clothes have kept me very warm, but it's been like warmish over the past few days so all the snow has melted.. aha. Utah weather is silly.
4. Contacts- yes you can order some more. I just put it in the other day, and it works fine so thank you! But I'd try and get em here before I leave...
5. Speaking of that- presents. I really don't want anything.. I can't think of anything I need/want/could use.. haha. Another pair of glasses? That'd be really cool if you could, but again they'd probably have to get here before I leave. And anything you guys send to me, please get it in before like the 20th. Because the mail room is going to be under fire those last few days I'm here, and I won't have the ability to send anything back before I leave. So please, please, please get any packages or letters from anyone here before the 20th. I don't want mail arriving here after I leave, ha.
6. Tell Brandon- if he doesn't read this- to make a list of movies for me to watch over the next 2 years. Also tell him to send me any Apple news he gets. Whenever. Just because I'm disconnected doesn't mean I'm not still interested.
7. I think that was all you questions? One second, I'll chec
So! I'll start off by answering questions first that I've been meaning to.
1. I don't think Brandon could send a book, because there's only a very limited amount of stuff we're allowed to be reading- and even besides that I would have absolutely no time to read.. ha. My study time is literally packed as it is, and with only 3 weeks left I'm pushing as much Tagalog as I can. I use all my personal study every day (only an hour) to study the Book of Mormon, and then the rest of the day is for vocab and other Tagalog stuff. I'm only in Alma 12, too, so it takes me forever to get a chapter now.. ha. due to hi-lighting, rereading, and recording a study journal. So thank you, Brandon, for the thought but like I said before- just kindly put a stack of my presents in a corner of my room and I'll delightfully sort through them in about 23 months.
2. That's good news on the Rexburg package, even if it did take so long. I just checked the mail again for a package slip, because I didn't want to write home today saying that I didn't have it if it was just waiting in the mail room over the weekend. So I'm glad to hear that, and I have 5 short sleeve shirts- which is all I wear- so that has been enough. Honestly though, I hate wearing long sleeve shirts now.. short sleeve feels so much more natural. Also a suit feels like normal clothes now, and wearing regular pants is strange.. hahaha.
3. Thank you so much for all the packages.. everything is awesome. I'll send home some pictures of our Christmas Room sometime soon, I've been stoked about at least feeling like it's christmas. Also all the clothes have kept me very warm, but it's been like warmish over the past few days so all the snow has melted.. aha. Utah weather is silly.
4. Contacts- yes you can order some more. I just put it in the other day, and it works fine so thank you! But I'd try and get em here before I leave...
5. Speaking of that- presents. I really don't want anything.. I can't think of anything I need/want/could use.. haha. Another pair of glasses? That'd be really cool if you could, but again they'd probably have to get here before I leave. And anything you guys send to me, please get it in before like the 20th. Because the mail room is going to be under fire those last few days I'm here, and I won't have the ability to send anything back before I leave. So please, please, please get any packages or letters from anyone here before the 20th. I don't want mail arriving here after I leave, ha.
6. Tell Brandon- if he doesn't read this- to make a list of movies for me to watch over the next 2 years. Also tell him to send me any Apple news he gets. Whenever. Just because I'm disconnected doesn't mean I'm not still interested.
7. I think that was all you questions? One second, I'll chec
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