Mahupay Na Kulop!
This week has once again been full of many fun experiences. Calbayog is, in my opinion, a very beautiful city and I have been super blessed to have come here. Our new apartment is super nice, even though the water only turns on every few days, and my new trainer is probably one of the funniest people I have ever met. Even though we are opening a new area, we have been getting a ton of work done. Hopefully, some of the new investigators will stick with us in the coming weeks.
I would like to take a moment to talk about the word ba and its various uses. There is Baba, which directly translates to Chin and baba which most closely translates to going downstairs. Then there is baba which is a pretty direct translation for a Piggy Back Ride. Finally there is ba. Inserted correcrly it makes any sentence a question. While they are all pronounced slightly differently, they mostly sound the same. This gives rise to sentences such as Bababa ba? (Ba is repeated at the beginning of the verb because repeating the first syllable of a verb makes it present tense.) This sentence is most commonly used as "Is it going downstairs" but could also be used as "A chin?" or " A piggybackride?". The appropriate way to respond would be, of course, bababa. Do not fret if this is at all confusing because you are in good company. Waray Waray doesn't make a lot of sense at times but it sure is fun once you get the hang of it.
In other news I accidentally transported a frog 8 hours from its original home. In my previous area, a frog would often lodge itself inside of my shoe. Why? Probably because they are very comfy. Anyways, when I moved to my current area I unpacked my shoes and attempted to put them on when, to my surprise, there was something squishy inside. After taking them off and shaking it a bit, a frog jumped out of my shoe and onto the pavement. While I don't have exact evidence, I am most suspect that it is indeed the same frog.
While unfortunate, I believe that this frog learned a very important principle. That is, seeking comfort is not always the best option. Since coming to the Phillipines, I have had a lot of opportunities to be uncomfortable, and through those, I have had the fastest moments of growth in my life. I have really grown to love the verse, "all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good." (D&C 122:7) I have grown to love it because it shows us that our trials are not made to hurt us, but to help us grow. I am so grateful that the Lord loves me enough to give me the trials he has because it shows that he cares more about who I can be rather than who I am or where I have been. I know that as we face our trials with gratitude to the Lord he will help strengthen us through them.
Thank you for all of your wonderful emails, I'll see you guys next week! Hinai Kamo!
Elder Wilhelm
This week has once again been full of many fun experiences. Calbayog is, in my opinion, a very beautiful city and I have been super blessed to have come here. Our new apartment is super nice, even though the water only turns on every few days, and my new trainer is probably one of the funniest people I have ever met. Even though we are opening a new area, we have been getting a ton of work done. Hopefully, some of the new investigators will stick with us in the coming weeks.
I would like to take a moment to talk about the word ba and its various uses. There is Baba, which directly translates to Chin and baba which most closely translates to going downstairs. Then there is baba which is a pretty direct translation for a Piggy Back Ride. Finally there is ba. Inserted correcrly it makes any sentence a question. While they are all pronounced slightly differently, they mostly sound the same. This gives rise to sentences such as Bababa ba? (Ba is repeated at the beginning of the verb because repeating the first syllable of a verb makes it present tense.) This sentence is most commonly used as "Is it going downstairs" but could also be used as "A chin?" or " A piggybackride?". The appropriate way to respond would be, of course, bababa. Do not fret if this is at all confusing because you are in good company. Waray Waray doesn't make a lot of sense at times but it sure is fun once you get the hang of it.
In other news I accidentally transported a frog 8 hours from its original home. In my previous area, a frog would often lodge itself inside of my shoe. Why? Probably because they are very comfy. Anyways, when I moved to my current area I unpacked my shoes and attempted to put them on when, to my surprise, there was something squishy inside. After taking them off and shaking it a bit, a frog jumped out of my shoe and onto the pavement. While I don't have exact evidence, I am most suspect that it is indeed the same frog.
While unfortunate, I believe that this frog learned a very important principle. That is, seeking comfort is not always the best option. Since coming to the Phillipines, I have had a lot of opportunities to be uncomfortable, and through those, I have had the fastest moments of growth in my life. I have really grown to love the verse, "all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good." (D&C 122:7) I have grown to love it because it shows us that our trials are not made to hurt us, but to help us grow. I am so grateful that the Lord loves me enough to give me the trials he has because it shows that he cares more about who I can be rather than who I am or where I have been. I know that as we face our trials with gratitude to the Lord he will help strengthen us through them.
Thank you for all of your wonderful emails, I'll see you guys next week! Hinai Kamo!
Elder Wilhelm
Peter loves his new companion, Elder Aguilar
There is a waterfall in the middle of the city
Elder Aguilar, Elder Wilhelm, Elder Bosley and Elder Andaya
(apartment mates)
(apartment mates)
More and more cleaning
Navigating through the rice fields
City life in Calbayog
McDonalds on P-day never tasted so good!