10/7/10

Hello Friends and Family

This week was a new experience haha..... I was transferred to a new area and I have a new companion Elder Kaka from New Zealand. My first foreign companion in except my companion in the MTC which was from New Zealand. He has a accent but he knows English and he's way cool! My new area is in Bicutan Parañque.....Not sure how to spell it. Its the city again haha I asked for Province but its ok where ever im needed. The apartment is pretty nice. We live on the top floor of a 2 story building. Plus we have the very top "The Roof" Its really cool up there. We can see out over all of Bicutan and to the ocean. Its pretty close to my last area in Muntinlupa, Las Piñas... Transfers are rough I dont really like them for 2 reasons. 1st Its hard to pack everything up especially all the stuff I accumulated in Muntinlupa haha. 2nd I didn't like saying Paalam to all my Investigators, Members, and Recent Converts. Its was pretty rough to say bye. It was like I was leaving my home again. We went to the Bishops house Tuesday night to say bye and say thanks for the friendship of the ward. There little daughter is about 4 or 5 years old and I said bye to her and she said ayow ko.... Which means no or I dont want something like that im not sure the direct trans for it. The Bishop asked her if she wanted me to be transferred or maglipat. She said ayow ko ulit and she started to cry. Which made it even worse. I didnt know what to do. I was speechless. I moved from America (my home) to a new place and I felt at home again there in Muntinlupa. But dont get me wrong I was way excited to go to my new area and meet the people, the investigators, the members. It was a good experience. Im excited to be in my new area with my new companion. He's been out about 10 months. My first Senior, my third companion. The language it coming along good. I can understand alot but not everything of course haha. I can speak but not everything of course. My goal is to be somewhat fluent by the end of November or around my birthday. What a great birthday present right?? haha.....In my last area the Sia Family came to church to be confirmed and they are now members. Not all of them. There are 2 of them that will be baptized of Oct 23. So of course I will return for that. In my new area we also have a baptism on Oct 23. The last area Muntinlupa was amazing real fruitful. This new area needs some help so im ready to kick in high gear and tear it up in Bicutan. Yesterday there were 19 missionaries going home and it was sad when they showed the slide show of the last transfer. I worked with a Teaching Elder. These Elders are really good so they dont have areas they just travel the mission and work with missionaries. I worked with Elder Cowan from Utah. He was real nice and we did work in the area. We went home well not yet haha his parents are here and they are traveling the mission to his old areas and visiting Recent converts. He is like Elder Graham from Utah I talked about a few weeks ago. He also went home. :( What a great batch of missionaries!!!!!!!! We have a couple new Elders coming from Provo...3 or 4..... One will be in the apartment with me. Im excited to met him and see what he thinks of the Philip's. We had 200 baptism and 196 confirmed this last month of Sept. Which is awesome. The missing 4 is the Sia family haha ooops... An Elder told me that the Philippines Manila Mission is the highest baptizing mission in the world. I don't know if thats true so maybe someone could research and tell me haha:) This last month my companion and I were able to help 8 people enter the waters of baptism and 2 child of record. Well until next week. Im sure ill have something great to tell you..........its the best mission in the world:) Mahal ko kayo! Ingat kayo din.
Elder Cobbley