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