April 1, 2013

Strange week..... ( this was the way he started his string of emails)
well... I dressed a dead man..... I carried a casket..... I talked to a Russian........, I ate a frog.... I helped kill a bunch of chickens.... Lots of stuff :P
I asked him what kind of frog
Oh, no idea about the frog.... And we got the frog at a members birthday party, Apparently he is important... The mayor and a senator showed up... So lots of food and really bad karaoke, It was a great party, they did the roasting a whole pig thing. Also they had a bunch of kids run up and the gangnam style dance, which was interesting. Oh and you can tell exactly which family are rich, their kids are really chubby!! It is pretty great...And a member died, so the had the elders help in the funeral... So we dressed him in temple clothes, helped carry the casket and other odd stuff. They also have rice pudding stuff here, except not... See the picture. Well I am trying to send pictures, but it doesnt work well..
The language is difficult... It is a jello language... since it is rarely written, it shifts from area to area. For example, there is cebuano j and y, I "learned" Cebuano y, but it was a cebu based dialect.. because our teachers learned it in cebu, here, it is different, mostly in the phrasing and shortcuts only thankfully. But still not what I learned :P
I asked how he gets around
And i get around in either the back of a multicab (a truck with a cover) that you shove about 20 people into the back of, or in the side car of a motorcycle
we have family home even with a less active family generally every sunday

This is a result of a game they were playing at FHE

March 25, 2013

And this week I taught the Message of the Restoration, some of the Plan of Salvation, talked to the president of the treasury of the Russian Orthodox Church, Tried to discuss prayer while a lady chased and butchered a chicken behind me, tried a strange drink, found out the word for lizard and for a woman's time of the month are frighteningly close (thankfully not found out in a lesson), began teaching an investigator who has been a Muslim  catholic, budist, Methodist and more (somewhere close to 10 religions  and decided to talk to us because he received a sign when praying about the church. what do you want me to elaborate on?
I sleep on a foam pad, more lizards then bugs, the bathroom in the apartment is a little dirty, but fine, outside the apartment they are a little odd (no seat, squat), for the showers think hose temperature, luba-luba (bucket washing) is fine, it is plenty effective, I think I do it well :P, members feed us sometimes, but generally we cook for ourselves, the language is strange.... I have heard it called a jello language but i was not really sure why. The explanation is that it changes from area to area, so cebu-based which is what i learned, is slightly different from Albuera based. My mission president is a really awesome man. He loves everybody and is really funny. I love my companions attempt at English  He is not very fluent, so regularly, he will say something that makes no sense and is pretty funny. The ward is 90 ish members, with about 19% activity (  active/total registered members). We have a pretty big building, 2 stories with air conditioning (which is a big deal).I have taught a lot of people. I even gave a Book of Mormon away in the airport :P. Motorcab (i think is the real name, Language problems) are small, but fun. I have Ramen with a egg in it for breakfast.
I asked him if he was happy
and of course I am happy, and if you try missionary work, you will find sleep, with an effort back guarantee, the sheets work fine, today we are going to commit two investigators to baptism, and do a checkup with some less active members.
I asked him if he had been sick
Sick? Nope, Just sweaty :P I am not so sure about losing weight though.... I sweat and work a lot of weight off, but... everything is fried..
I asked how the language was coming along
I can speak and be understood, the people speaking to me I understand only sometimes, so depends on your definition :P And my comp. doesn't really like English  so I try to use Cebuano  but sometimes I have to use English words or we can't understand each other at all... and btw there is something here called stake and friends, I thought it was a bbq or dinner group. it occurs at the same time as stake conference . (Hint: stake and friends is stake conference, but because my comps. english has an accent, i thought he kept saying stake and friends :P) 
I asked where he gets his food
Markets during the week, grocery store on p day, street vendors only when check out by my comp. and recommended by a member :P We are very safe about it :P btw I have to go, Much love! Tell Dad i Love HIM!

March 18,2013

sigi...  well I don't really need anything. I am doing fine. The total
trip was about 15 ish hours. When we arrived in Manila, we were met
with some missionaries who had been serving in Tacloban and were on
their way out. They said they had a great time. That was at about 11
o'clock at night and they said we wouldn't fly anymore. so we stayed
overnight in a hotel. It was a resort. With a monkey, pool and birds.
So that was pretty cool. We went to get KFC and first off, the chicken wasn't
right , second off, the biscuits were individually wrapped in
paper. Or so i thought. To my dismay, no biscuits, only rice balls
shaped like biscuits.
 When we arrived in Tacloban, President Andaya
met us there with some assistant and shipped us to the mission home
for food and the like. We ate and talked and there was much rejoicing.
We went through some orientations, Friday I got my trainer. Elder
A (lots of A names for me). He is a Filipino and he has been
in the area for a while. I saw Elder Kingsbury and Elder Wood (Elder
Wood is my zl, imagine that!!!) 
For breakfast I had Halo-Halo. Halo-halo is odd. look up star fruit, i had that, and it was a little
funky, but not bad. Oh, and a member family made pizza in my honor I haven't had
anything bad yet. 
 I was assigned to one of the three Cebuano zones. so yeah. They speak super
fast, but when i speak i am understood. The weather is odd.... Imagine
standing in the shower with it on full heat, the water not hitting you
but the humidity is almost the same. I got super lucky with the
apartment. I have one of the "best" in Tacloban. Solid walls, 2nd
story, kitchen area and more (i will send pics later). When I walk out
my door, turn left walk ~200 meters and then ocean, so yep, i can see
it ;)
This week I am grateful for two things, One my comp. he is patient
with me and is trying to help me adapt and get ready. He is also
training me to the best of his ability (English isn't easy for him) and
we are progressing quickly. second, I am grateful for this place. The
first night (outside of the mission home, look up Albuera if you want
to see where i am), I felt so lost, confused and boggled. I had no
idea at ALL (add underline, cant find that function) what was going
on. But I don't think I have ever smiled as much either.
 Today i am shopping and emailing :P We travel to Ormoc to shop, Albuera is small and
lacking in variety. And I travel in the back of a bus/truck/thing that is small :P look up
multicab i think. I get to learn how to hand wash today! :P after that, I am going to an FHE with a lessactive family then doing a check up with another family i believe.

basta.... ayo-ayo suerte! Maayong semana ug kita
kits! 

March 4, 2013

This is such a typical Kyle pose!

Yeah I got the pictures :) they work just fine :) Everything this week is going well as a whole. Had a strange run in with some of the chicken, you don't want details. The major sad thing is our Branch pres. got swapped out, which is never fun. I don't know the new one at all, so it is good that we will be getting out of here so soon. We lost a few elders at 3 am. Elders Pincock and Brown, I got a pic with them, They are in our building, and were our zone leaders. It was sad because we loved them, but they had been here for twelve weeks (Hong Kong, Cantonese)  so they were super excited, and we were excited for them. As far as needs go, I am unsure to be honest. I feel like I have most everything I need. My bags weighed in really light, which is nice. Also, I got flight plans!  I leave for the airport at 8 in the morning, travel to the airport and fly at 11. head over to Seattle, then to Japan, then to Manila, then off we go to Tacloban :D I am a little scared to go, but sooo incredibly excited as well.  So what is new at home? I have had no news of Lincoln? Derek's Baby? and thanks :) I can get a phone card, for cheap. So best not to send one honestly. I got an Easter package haha. With a chicken and a bug-catcher :P did you know that the roaches in Tacloban fly? also, did you send those pictures that i sent you?

And i have been emailing Chris he seems okay. Btw make sure dad knows I was plenty prepared in the ways of surviving. You should see some of the other elders.... "Elder Marlin, How do you iron a shirt?" and the like. It also amazes me the spread of missionaries that we see here. well. 

I am super excited for the Nanay's though :) old ladies there are a bit different then here. And  the old ladies cut grass by hand with a sundang (a scimitar-esk machete). As do all of the natives, but the nanays do it in such a way that it is a blade at a time, so they literally with do it for 4-5 hours a day hahaha. And they walk up to the elders saying elder elder elder then they hold their hand out to you and you press your forehead to their hand :P also I have been informed the langauge in Tacloban isn't cebuano, Cebuano has the closest grammar, I am learning Warry-Warry and Possibly hiligynon, so yeah...And I have no doubts that I can do the language, but Mom, its weird for sure. 

BTW most grateful this week for friends, who listen when you need to talk. Tell you what you need to hear when you are making a mistake. And send me letters :) When your family isnt with you, you need some good friends and I have definitely been blessed with that. I got  a letter from Jennie :P I have also gotten mail from Kylie :) I have heard I have a blog? how is that progressing? Do I have a Cult-esk following yet? just kidding :)

Did I tell you Elder Ballard came? Haha, It was pretty awesome :) He talked a lot about why were here and what we were doing. But honestly it wasn't his words that really stuck with me. It was an impression that I had during it. I heard the words "do not shrink for one minute". I am not sure if he said them or if it was something else, but they were there. As I heard those words, I saw in my head Dad hugging me tight, I felt his arms around me, and I heard the words in his voice. Then I saw in my head the smiling face of Paul and felt his warmth and approval. I can honestly tell you that I cried.

Anyways, I have to go soon, if i think of anything I need, I will email you later today! I love you so much! Tell the girls I love them. And Dad. Tell him to Send me some jokes. Seriously. Please send me a joke.... Tell all the kids I love them and miss them. Also tell me how the store in doing in your next dear elder. I will be calling you on the 12th/13th :) 

Much love

Elder Marlin

He sounds like he is doing great.  Thanks to everyone who has sent him dearelders and letters.  I know he really appreciates them.  And since this is the last week to send him a dearelder, I know he would love to have everyone send him a joke. 
Paul is our dear friend who passed away last Monday, he was very close to my boys and had a great influence on them.

February 25, 2013

  

Good morning, I didn't plan on being up this early today, but here I am... The other companionship woke up again this early and woke me up with them. My comp is to happy being up this early I think, but that's the way it is sometimes when you are outvoted 3 to 1. Anyway, I love my district, they all love me and we get along as a group super well. And I still haven't received your valentines package :( anyways, I have most of the stuff I need i think. Sad side note, i let one of the other missionaries borrow my Gerber  Turns out he doesn't actually know what one of them is used for..... He broke a part of it, so I am sending it home for warranty or replacement. He came out and said that if we cant get a new one, he would pay for it because he broke it. anyways, I would love it if you can procure some pictures of Tacloban from Sister Wood and send them. I would also love it if you could print these pictures that I am sending, and send them back, I have no idea where to get a printer... they are of the companionships in my district and I want to get them into my book before I forget everyone's name. :)

I love you guys a lot. I miss you. I hope all is well at the home front, as all is well here. besides the hazardous food and the massive body of missionaries that gets riled up on occasion. I got Shelby's dear elder, and Emily's and Emily's letter. I also got a ninjago from Sean  which was awesome. My needs are few for this week to be honest. I would like to say that the language is going well still, getting to more complex bits though. I can pray, bear testimony, and carry on a conversation, broken, but still consistent. I have gotten notes back from Gma and Gpa, and I want to say thanks for sending them. Though I don't hear from Dad much, so whack him around a bit :) 

I am most grateful this week for people who listen. They help even when they don't know what they are doing.

Love Elder Marlin The 3rd 

PS I Forgot to say, tell Dad I love him! and my wonderful sisters, and I forgot to tell you how much I love you. I am here, trying to make you all proud, and I miss you every day. Tell dad that he is an ogre and I miss our debating and jokes. email and dear elder me some! and tell Bino that she will be just fine with chemistry, even though I am not there to make wonderful analogies. Tell bug that the aquarium had better refund her money, cuz that is not cool! And I want to tell you that I will be back in two years with a smile on my face and I am going to say that I love you.

again.....Elder Marlin 

February 18, 2013

I have forwarded you old emails and I am starting to wonder if you got them. I am getting mildly frustrated with the lack of communication with the email here... Any way, all goes well. No major general authorities have spoken to us. Although one of the people who help decide where you go on a mission did. My favorite food so far has been the ice cream, which is from byu creamery and not inside these doors, so I can be assured its safe... I am really enjoying some aspects of the MTC, although to me, this feels like a prison.... absolutely no control and no choices. Which I guess is where I am getting frustrated. I have been getting a lot of dear elders as of late, which has been pretty nice, but I believe that I had an initial issue with my address resulting in a backup of mail for the first little bit. You can stop writing "sorry you aren't getting out letters" in every letter mom :) I am getting them to be sure. I am down at the laundry room at ~4:15 cuz that way I can be sure I wont have to fight for a washer or a computer. I have a pretty awesome district to be sure. I get along with everyone pretty well, a couple have pretty strong personalities. Ummm, tell dad that he prepared me for this just fine. Half of the people can't iron their shirt, the other half don't have needles. No one brought any type of tools, I have run into a couple odd behaviors in my time here, one of the strangest involving the communal showers. It is perfectly acceptable to discuss life with you neighbor while you are both taking a shower. It was a little weird at first but i got used to it.

Another strange thing has been "progressing investigators". It began on our 3 day i believe, and we were asked to teach one of our future teachers, whom we had not as of yet met, in cebuano. This was rather difficult, seeing as I didn't know cebuano and he keeps asking who Joseph Smith is... It has gotten a lot better though. I can teach without notes now, but I  have no idea what to say half the time, the point is I can force my points across eventually. Probably the funniest thing I have done in progressing investigator was to ask my investigator to read a passage from a book I got with pictures and stories in Cebuano, the idea was good, but I made on small mistake, I mixed up the word Satan and Saint, so I had him read the passage and said "Joseph Smith was a Satan".

I haven't gotten in any real trouble as of yet. I got chased by a security guard and got yelled at. It may have been warranted by the sling shot they made with elastic bands, I was just there to film the shot, but a guard was hiding and came running at us at full speed. And if someone runs at you at full speed, you have the instinct to run. That is even more so when the others start running in your direction and then proceed to hand you the slingshot.... In other fun news, you get quite a bit of free time on P-day, so I bent some wire around and made a catapult using duct tape, wire and some spring loaded lanyards. It was launching from the back of our room out the door and pretty well down the hall, but I promised the Branch President we wouldn't be involved with any more dangerous toys, so I took that apart at the same time that we took the sling apart.

Anyway much love. I have no real needs. I am pretty happy, but I will be sooooo much more so when I leave the MTC and get in the real world. I now have an idea of what prison is and I really dont want to be there hahahaa

 I have taken a number of pictures, and I recieved your converter and its pretty cool. Problem is I am forgetful in the morning, so i forgot it, so I may be unable to send pictures today.

Love you all so much. If you want to reply, dear elder me today :)

Kyle

P.S. Shelby, if you could do one of the candy making days with the family and then sent me the candy, I would flip out with joy. My whole district (14 people) want to try the sweets (caramels, almond roca, mint bar thingy ect) you make, since I have bragged about them :P So if you could hook a brotha up ;)

February 11, 2013

Yup, had the wrong one the first time.  Love ya.  Cebuano goes well, and I got a hold of Chris! I sent an email his way, so we have started emailing back and forth. Anyway, I am doing well, I have sent two letters to you, but I havent had a response from dear elder, so I am getting concerned... I need a blanket, maybe some more white socks? and please send more dear elders! Post my address on facebook! and yell at raechal! she lied! she said she would right alot, i made her promise, cuz i was betting she would forget haha. Tell me how the shop is and how dad is. I would like an update on Paul, Gma P and M if you would. Also say hi to the workers for me! I still cant figure out how to upload pics, i dont have a converter and the comps dont have an sd port. you are probably thinking i can directly import with a cord, which is false, cuz of the firewall type that is in this spirit prison...

Skip this if you are not Dad

They put something in the food here.... I have never seen such a pestilence as 3800 missionaries with aggressive gas....

Love you guys so much, I miss you! I would really love some more dear elders (not having one at mail time makes me pretty sad) as would one of my nice blankets. I am most grateful for prayer this week. It has helped me get through a lot of stress and difficulties with other missionaries. I have only been able to pray like I do here a few times earlier in my life and I can really feel the difference
Love you :) 
Kyle


He wrote a letter to Michael and said that the language was coming along great.  He said, "it is like I am remembering it from a time when I already knew it"