Hey sorry im writing so late in the week and sorry i didn't tell you. today is our pday dahil we went to the templo this morning. sorry talk to you again Monday.
Hello everyone!!!!
Everything here in Manila is still awesome! I went to the templo today and that was cool. Its just like the Boise templo. We woke up at 430 to get ready and get out the door so we could ride the bus "The bus ride to Heaven" we call it cause its so fast haha. But we rode that for about an hour or so. Last Saturday i went to the templo with our investigators. They are getting married and baptized the same day. I need to explain the letter last week. About the baklas.... The reason we ran was cause im an amerikano and they have more interest in me and others hahaha so I didnt want to be around. Anyways this week the same things are happening. The language is still tough of course but im not worried haha ive been here a sort time. I've got a nice tan now haha but im still really white compared to everyone else haha. Transfers are coming up and im losing my tatay.... and getting my follow up trainer aka uncle. Hes most likely gonna be a amerikano or kiwi....... Kiwi is tongan. Siguro an soman. But im excited for that. I talked to so many people who really think in about a month or so im gonna be able to speak and understand mostly everything in tagalog. This next month we have 6 or so baptisms planned and I really hope they all work out that would be so cool. We have reading assignment from the president and the last little bit has been the new testament and im almost finished. If we dont read than we cant go to the templo. Well this week is a short one but gotta run until next week. Mahal ko kayo!!!!!!:)
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Elder Cobbleys 1st Picture from the Philippines
This is the picture Elliott sent to me when he arrived at the MTC. He didn't give me the name of his companion but
his Mission President is President Howard.
June 21st, 2010
Hello everyone
Well this week has gone by so FAST. It fells like just the other day I was writing home. Its crazy how time flys or atleast I think it flys. Well for all of you the time difference is weird. Here it is 3:45 in the afternoon and that means it is 1:45 in the morning is Idaho or atleast I think haha. Well this week was kinda cool. Some cool things happened and some disappointments. Earlier this week we were at a investigators house and how we get home is walk the train tracks. Well it poured and it poured HARD and when we left lets just say I'm thankful two pairs of shoes and that there both waterproof hahaha. The way home was flooded and it was getting close to being our time were suppose to be home and we didn't want to be late so we went for it. I rolled up my pants and took off walking through the water. The water was up to my knees and it had only rained for like 10 min or so. There was a current to the water if that makes sense. Anyways that was my excitement for the week. My disappointment is that the 2 investigators I was going to baptism aren't ready so we pushed back there dates to July 24 and there are a few dates for July 31. I was pretty torn when they said they weren't ready but its ok. We have an investigator named Joel and he is amazing! He came to church last week when we didn't have church cause of the Cebu Temple dedication. But he came this week and we have only taught him 5 times or so. We are going to give him a baptism date today but he is going to a different part of the Philippines for a month so he wont be baptized till August. Some of the food I have at this past week is rice and fish for breakfast. Its weird but oh well hahaha. McDonald's hamburger hahaha, we bought some ice cream with is amazing hahaha and I bought some peanut butter and jelly for some PB and J's YUM! haha..... The peanut butter is weird cause its so hot here its just liquid so I have to put it in the freezer to harden it up. Anyways the other night I was sleeping and there was a storm and the lightning and thunder is so crazy here. The lightning it huge flashes one after another and it goes on for ever and the thunder it so LOUD!!!!!!!!! It sounded like there were bomb exploding outside. Its hard to explain but there really loud. Someone said its the loudest thunder in the world. Anyways Last night was crazy!!!!! WE were coming home from a dinner appointment and there was this really loud music. Bass and all...... Well there was this stage and it was like a dance party or something but no one was dancing. Just people standing around so we walked through and when we were walking.... If you don't know what a bakla is. Its just a guy dressed but like a women and hes gay. Well anyways we were walking and I saw one so i turned cause I didn't want to stare and there was another one so I turned and than there were like 5 then 10....... Lets just say they were everywhere. So we hurry and got out of there hahaha. Well to answer some questions.........the bishop is Filipino, people sometimes talk English and sometimes Tagalog just depends. My companion and I stand at the doors and greet people. The ward consists of 130 or so active and 500 to 600 total membership. So they could have a bigger meeting house but not everyone comes so my companion and I work on visiting inactive members. My area is Muntinlupa and there is 1 meeting house and another in Las Piñas, about 1 hour away and another in San Pedro 30 min away. Gospel principles is for the new convert and our investigators and they just teach out of the book. Lesson 9 last Sunday. We visit our investigators and tract at the same time and we do get referrals sometimes. I got a nice burn today so i not white anymore just red haha. Well that's all the time I have this week. Talk to you next week. Mahal ko kayo!:)
Well this week has gone by so FAST. It fells like just the other day I was writing home. Its crazy how time flys or atleast I think it flys. Well for all of you the time difference is weird. Here it is 3:45 in the afternoon and that means it is 1:45 in the morning is Idaho or atleast I think haha. Well this week was kinda cool. Some cool things happened and some disappointments. Earlier this week we were at a investigators house and how we get home is walk the train tracks. Well it poured and it poured HARD and when we left lets just say I'm thankful two pairs of shoes and that there both waterproof hahaha. The way home was flooded and it was getting close to being our time were suppose to be home and we didn't want to be late so we went for it. I rolled up my pants and took off walking through the water. The water was up to my knees and it had only rained for like 10 min or so. There was a current to the water if that makes sense. Anyways that was my excitement for the week. My disappointment is that the 2 investigators I was going to baptism aren't ready so we pushed back there dates to July 24 and there are a few dates for July 31. I was pretty torn when they said they weren't ready but its ok. We have an investigator named Joel and he is amazing! He came to church last week when we didn't have church cause of the Cebu Temple dedication. But he came this week and we have only taught him 5 times or so. We are going to give him a baptism date today but he is going to a different part of the Philippines for a month so he wont be baptized till August. Some of the food I have at this past week is rice and fish for breakfast. Its weird but oh well hahaha. McDonald's hamburger hahaha, we bought some ice cream with is amazing hahaha and I bought some peanut butter and jelly for some PB and J's YUM! haha..... The peanut butter is weird cause its so hot here its just liquid so I have to put it in the freezer to harden it up. Anyways the other night I was sleeping and there was a storm and the lightning and thunder is so crazy here. The lightning it huge flashes one after another and it goes on for ever and the thunder it so LOUD!!!!!!!!! It sounded like there were bomb exploding outside. Its hard to explain but there really loud. Someone said its the loudest thunder in the world. Anyways Last night was crazy!!!!! WE were coming home from a dinner appointment and there was this really loud music. Bass and all...... Well there was this stage and it was like a dance party or something but no one was dancing. Just people standing around so we walked through and when we were walking.... If you don't know what a bakla is. Its just a guy dressed but like a women and hes gay. Well anyways we were walking and I saw one so i turned cause I didn't want to stare and there was another one so I turned and than there were like 5 then 10....... Lets just say they were everywhere. So we hurry and got out of there hahaha. Well to answer some questions.........the bishop is Filipino, people sometimes talk English and sometimes Tagalog just depends. My companion and I stand at the doors and greet people. The ward consists of 130 or so active and 500 to 600 total membership. So they could have a bigger meeting house but not everyone comes so my companion and I work on visiting inactive members. My area is Muntinlupa and there is 1 meeting house and another in Las Piñas, about 1 hour away and another in San Pedro 30 min away. Gospel principles is for the new convert and our investigators and they just teach out of the book. Lesson 9 last Sunday. We visit our investigators and tract at the same time and we do get referrals sometimes. I got a nice burn today so i not white anymore just red haha. Well that's all the time I have this week. Talk to you next week. Mahal ko kayo!:)
Monday, June 14, 2010
6/14/2010
Hello everyone! Everything here in Manila is still HOT and sticky! Just imagine sitting in a soma all day, all night. This is not one time in the day when im not hot or sticky or sweaty. But you get use to it. I really enjoy sitting on the Jeepneys with 12+ people all stuffed in there. You get to know the person sitting next to really well. The best part thou is waking up and you are totally soaked taking a shower getting out and your still wet. I rains like everyday thou. And some days when it rains it pours and it floods and all the kids are playing in it and everyone starts taking baths. The other day we were out in what seemed to be the jungle but it wasn't hahaha just palm trees and all the stuff and there was a "RIVER". Well they call it a river but its more like a ditch. Well The members we were with walked across and us missionaries had to JUMP. Luckily I didn't fall it cause the water is brown and gross. Well some stuff I eat is rice, rice, rice, and more rice hahaha ok thats not everything. Ulam is the good stuff! Its just stuff the put over the rice. Meat, Veggies, anything. We eat alot of Bangos. Its the national fish. The fruit is AMAZING! Mangos! Pineapple! Coconuts! Today for pday we went to what is called "Peoples Park in The Sky" its just a 5 min hike but it took 1 hr to get there. We eat at members house like every night and we have rice hahaha. Anyways there are so many creepy crawly things. Cockroaches, ants everywhere, Lizards. There isnt really any spiders which im surprised. They listen to American music its funny! A lot of rap or what it is anything that is on z103. Thats all they play in the grocery stores haha and they're are actually playing it right not here it the internet cafe. Anyways the 27th of this month my companion and I have 2 baptisms and They will be my first ones. anyways my day consists of waking but getting ready, eating rice, Personal study, Companion study, Language study for me and than eat again rice of course, Leaving the apartment to meet with our investigators which there are marami. Finding or tracts, eating rice again, than hurrying home to get to bed. Well the language hmmmm..... how do I describe that haha. I try to teach them in Tagalog but it doesn't make sense so they say use English. Last Sunday the 13th I went to the Cebu temple dedication in Las Piñas. Its about 2 hrs away from Muntinlupa my area. WE just watched it live on a big screen and it AMAZING!!!!!!! But Sundays consist of visiting our investigators in the morning trying to get them to church than church at 1 and in between that we eat. Than finding and visiting people till its time to go home. Well thats all for today. Until next week. Mahal ko kayo!!!!:)
Also tell everyone that I cant email back directly. Only direct family. Mission rules...........Thanks ma and pa hahaha Love you guys
Also tell everyone that I cant email back directly. Only direct family. Mission rules...........Thanks ma and pa hahaha Love you guys
Monday, June 7, 2010
First letter from the Field!!!!!!!
Kumusta po?
Well the picture we saw is like the best part of Manila. There are parts here were people live in shacks with no light and tarp for rooms. There are so many people here. My first day I went out I went to a sisters house and her husband had died and we weren't allowed to go in so we taught on the street curb. Another this brother lived in an ally way and we went in to his house and it was as big as dads shop in the garage and there were no lights and he cooked over a fire outside. I felt so bad at first and I still do feel bad but they are so much closer to there families than anyone one in America could be. The Smell? Exhaust, smoke, BO, anything you can think of. Today was my first time doing laundry hahaha! No washer, no one to do it but ME hahaha! Soap and bucket and hang. But surprisingly everything comes out clean. Transportation. Jeepneys, Tricycles, Taxis, Maraming Motorcycles. They have little scooters that sound like 250 4 stroke motorcycles. My companion is Native Filipino. But he knows English. He is my Tatay haha! Mission President? Just like the picture. President Howard. Great guy!! I ate a halo-halo my first day. Look at it on the internet but its dessert. The Weather HOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!!!!!!!!! I dont think there is a minute that I’m not sweating. Even when I’m sleeping. Showers are showers but we use a bucket and just dump water on. There is a toilet but the Elders in my apartment don’t buy paper hahaha! I wan't sure what to do hahahahha!! They’re all Filipino. Just gotta learn to scrub with water haha! The other Elders in my apartment eat nothing but RICE and HOTDOGS. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner unless the members feed them. I was getting a drink last night and a cockroach or whatever came out of a crack in the wall and it scared me hahaha! The food is ayos. As long as I don’t have to cook it. The members fed us a lot! Which I LOVE!!!!! Oh one more thing. All the Filipino kids see me and say “Amerikano. Whats up dude? Man? Bro?” Well that’s all for today. Mahal ko kayo!
Elder Cobbley
Well the picture we saw is like the best part of Manila. There are parts here were people live in shacks with no light and tarp for rooms. There are so many people here. My first day I went out I went to a sisters house and her husband had died and we weren't allowed to go in so we taught on the street curb. Another this brother lived in an ally way and we went in to his house and it was as big as dads shop in the garage and there were no lights and he cooked over a fire outside. I felt so bad at first and I still do feel bad but they are so much closer to there families than anyone one in America could be. The Smell? Exhaust, smoke, BO, anything you can think of. Today was my first time doing laundry hahaha! No washer, no one to do it but ME hahaha! Soap and bucket and hang. But surprisingly everything comes out clean. Transportation. Jeepneys, Tricycles, Taxis, Maraming Motorcycles. They have little scooters that sound like 250 4 stroke motorcycles. My companion is Native Filipino. But he knows English. He is my Tatay haha! Mission President? Just like the picture. President Howard. Great guy!! I ate a halo-halo my first day. Look at it on the internet but its dessert. The Weather HOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!!!!!!!!! I dont think there is a minute that I’m not sweating. Even when I’m sleeping. Showers are showers but we use a bucket and just dump water on. There is a toilet but the Elders in my apartment don’t buy paper hahaha! I wan't sure what to do hahahahha!! They’re all Filipino. Just gotta learn to scrub with water haha! The other Elders in my apartment eat nothing but RICE and HOTDOGS. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner unless the members feed them. I was getting a drink last night and a cockroach or whatever came out of a crack in the wall and it scared me hahaha! The food is ayos. As long as I don’t have to cook it. The members fed us a lot! Which I LOVE!!!!! Oh one more thing. All the Filipino kids see me and say “Amerikano. Whats up dude? Man? Bro?” Well that’s all for today. Mahal ko kayo!
Elder Cobbley
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Heading to the Field
Cobbley Family—
Hello. How is everything going back home? Everything here is great and just about over. I leave Monday the 31st at 6:30 pm from the MTC to the airport. I received my flight plans last Thursday. I fly from Salt Lake Airport to Los Angeles and from there to Taipei, Taiwan from there to Manila, Philippines. I’m way excited but a little nervous too. The MTC talked to us about leaving and it’s so weird to think about. I know I’m a missionary but I haven’t felt like one fully I guess. Anyways they were saying once you leave this MTC you are a missionary and your first investigator could be someone in the airport or the person sitting next to you on the plane. They gave all of us some pass along cards so that we can give people stuff and not have to carry BOM’s with us. It’s so crazy to think about that I have been here for 2 months. It definitely doesn’t feel like it at all.
My MTC experience has flown by and now I’m about to head to the field for battle with my testimony and knowledge of this Church and The Book of Mormon as my weapons. This truly is a battle and we can not let our guard down for even a second. This battle is going to continue till that wonderful day when the Lord comes. He is counting on us to stay strong and stand true to what is right. We maybe wounded sometimes but the Lord is there to help us back up. When we pray and ask for forgiveness we are being healed. It is most important that we take those necessary steps toward repentance so that we can get back on to that battle field and be able to perform our best. I know this is His work and His glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (Moses 1:39). I love you all and hope you can arm yourselves with the necessary tools and weapons. I humbly pray that you will all feel the spirit in your life as it directs you to do what’s right. Amen.
Mom will you be sure to thank Hammonds for the package. I won’t be able to send another letter till Monday or so. Thanks for everything you guys have done to get me here. I gotta run so take care everyone. I love you all and you guys will be legends to all those Filipinos. Mahal ko kayo!
Elder Cobbley
Hello. How is everything going back home? Everything here is great and just about over. I leave Monday the 31st at 6:30 pm from the MTC to the airport. I received my flight plans last Thursday. I fly from Salt Lake Airport to Los Angeles and from there to Taipei, Taiwan from there to Manila, Philippines. I’m way excited but a little nervous too. The MTC talked to us about leaving and it’s so weird to think about. I know I’m a missionary but I haven’t felt like one fully I guess. Anyways they were saying once you leave this MTC you are a missionary and your first investigator could be someone in the airport or the person sitting next to you on the plane. They gave all of us some pass along cards so that we can give people stuff and not have to carry BOM’s with us. It’s so crazy to think about that I have been here for 2 months. It definitely doesn’t feel like it at all.
My MTC experience has flown by and now I’m about to head to the field for battle with my testimony and knowledge of this Church and The Book of Mormon as my weapons. This truly is a battle and we can not let our guard down for even a second. This battle is going to continue till that wonderful day when the Lord comes. He is counting on us to stay strong and stand true to what is right. We maybe wounded sometimes but the Lord is there to help us back up. When we pray and ask for forgiveness we are being healed. It is most important that we take those necessary steps toward repentance so that we can get back on to that battle field and be able to perform our best. I know this is His work and His glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (Moses 1:39). I love you all and hope you can arm yourselves with the necessary tools and weapons. I humbly pray that you will all feel the spirit in your life as it directs you to do what’s right. Amen.
Mom will you be sure to thank Hammonds for the package. I won’t be able to send another letter till Monday or so. Thanks for everything you guys have done to get me here. I gotta run so take care everyone. I love you all and you guys will be legends to all those Filipinos. Mahal ko kayo!
Elder Cobbley
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