Week# 34 Philippines Cadiz 2nd Branch Cadiz Stake

Dear amazing people that I LOVE,

Alrighty then I guess it is time for the big unveiling of where I am located and this specific time! (I did that intro in a western cowboy accent and probably will do the same for the rest of this letter because it is entertaining!) 

I am in Cadiz! I am in the very north area of this island! I think Sagay is the only other one that is more north then us! We are in the middle of the Bukid (mountainous jungle area), well at least our area is our apartment is in Cadiz city and it is awesome here! 

Those pictures I sent before are from the main highway! I haven't really got the chance to go to deep in our area. As you will see on the map I have sent you our area is GINORMOUSLY GIGANTICALLY HUGELY DINOSAUROUSLY HUMONGOUS! Like we will have to visit a different area every day! Every week we will be lucky to cover the whole thing 1 and a half times! I went from Tangub where I could walk it 15 times in one day with teachings, to Cadiz where we tried walking from our church to the farthest area we have and after 2 and halfish hours we almost crossed our area length wise only! We will be having to take those big Ceres buses just to get to most of our area! I will admit it will be rough! We also have to start proselyting in the mornings and study at night do to the fact our area is huge and could be potentially dangerous and an extremely far walk if we don't get to the highway early enough to grab a bus back to the city! I LOVE IT HERE!!  I love the bukid! I am having to get more healthy!

Oh and to let you know we are splitting this area so that means this area has not been touched by anyone else Elder Babida (my companion) and I are starting this area pretty much from scratch! The Sisters were not allowed to go to the very far areas do to it being really dangerous for sisters, but for elders it is perfectly safe! So yeah we are really finding people in the jungle to teach and get to come to church!! WOOHOO!!

I will admit leaving Tangub was unexpected. We transferred to the  Cebuano areas to the Cebu mission. So a lot of people are splitting areas like us now. We were called at 10am Friday morning and was expected to be out of the apartments to the mission home by 2 pm!! We then were put on a Ceres (Bus) with our new companion and luggage to go to our new areas!! I am now in an apartment with Elder Carver! Woohoo! It is nice to see him and talk about home! 

Even cooler then that is my companion, Elder Babida, is one of the most americanized Filipinos I have met. He speaks english perfectly, he likes computers, sports, and music! He just rocks and is just as pumped up as I am to get this area and turn this Branch into a Ward! We are all pumped up and ready to get going! 

So yeah it is really sad I left Sister Hazel and all those families I was teaching by her... I got a really nice text from them when I said I was transferring saying (in illongo) how they are sad I am leaving, but are so grateful for teaching them and that I was always happy! I really love that! That is my goal for this area, is to be the Happy person! Mom, I have been called bubbly because of this HAHA! I thought that was funny! 

Well this one is kind of a long letter. To answer your questions 

Will I have electricity? 

Yes we always will!  

Will we have good running water?  

The water is way cleaner here then in Tangub and powerful!

 Will he have to do his own laundry?  

Sadly yes... I did it this morning! 

Do you have all the amenities you had in Bocolod.

We have a great store grocery wise! We will have to do some searching today to see if there is any of the other nice things around here.  

alright also do to the fact we are starting a new area we have like no food or anything at the house. I withdrew Friday to get us by for the past 3 days but we don't get extra support tell tomorrow and we have like no money! I am sorry to ask but I need to withdraw more money today from my account to get us by! Is that okay? I am sorry I have to ask but this whole situation is kind of sucky... We have no money at all!

I am alive and happy! I am trudging onward! I love you I am keeping my shoes on! Keep yours on as well! Keep smiling and being the amazing people that you are!! 

Love,

Elder Minson

One year ago today he got his call!

One year ago today Brock Received his mission Call.

That was then

This is Now

My how he has grown.

9 Months Down - 15 Months to go. Imagine who he will be when he returns...

Week # 33 Philippines Tangub Ward Bacolod South Zone

Dear amazing Family of Mine,

I have had a pretty good week this week. Not really in teachings. We have been walking in circles with and been punted a ton this week! BUT, there was great training this week! It was great boost for me! I am excited because soon we will get new area books that we are pretty much filling with new teaching records of only those that we are teaching now and throwing out everything else that is use less! I feel like that will give some more motivation to work harder and try finding more investigators! IT gives us a great new feeling of completely being in charge now! 

President gave a great training! I and this week was very rough when it came to teachings. It rained pretty hard yesterday and when it does that, no one comes to church at all! We had a lot less at church. H. didn't come but that is okay she is still scheduled to baptized on the 6th of April. She stopped coffee now so we just have to give her that little bit of extra time, represented process and all! That all being said, I felt bad because there is this goal in this mission and we are just not getting it! I will keep pressing on and hopefully good things happen soon. 

Well we tried getting a hold of Brother E. wife all week and we finally did on Friday and she was very willing for us to come back and teach! We were quiet excited for that. They live in this house that is pretty ... small. You can't stand in it and it is no bigger then the laundry room... I am just so shocked how people can be so poor but they keep going on! I love that about the Filipino people! 

Well we did have a lunch appointment yesterday at the Balintays. It was with the Sano family, Montero Family, Balintay Family, and some friends of Elder D's in his last area! I knew them because it was in La Carlota Zone. It was nice to see them! 

Well I really have nothing much.

Family (and friends), I just want you all to know that I know this church is true. I know as we continue onward and do what is right, always keep Jesus Christ in our minds we will be able to receive those blessings that we need. I know the Book of Mormon is true and I know Joseph Smith was called as a prophet of God! I miss you all and I love you! Please let me know if there is anything I can do!

Love,

Elder Minson

Gotta Love Zone Conferences!

March 2014 - Bacolod South Zone Conference