Calauag! Week something...

Hey!

So the first bad news is that I need to start shortening my e-mails home... I know so sad... We as missionaries only have 1hr 15min to be on the computer so the big e-mails I send home take me like 45min to type out so I have to strive to be more obedient to the Lord and seek his blessings because we need it. 

The work has been good here, we are still struggling to get our investigators to become progressing investigators. We are seeing small and large miracles here in the mission field, and it is always a testimony builder. The Gospel is true, and there is no doubt about it.

Hey so I saw a new Mormon message that goes exactly what I was talking about in my last letter, you should all check it out its really good. 

nothing really interesting really happened, we talked to a lot of people this last week, and are really striving to follow up with these people, most of them just want to talk to us because we are white, but at least it gets our foot in the door, haha. We oym'd in a store once and I was asking about shorts while Elder Olsen would Oym and we would switch of with the lady's in the store, and then they just started freaking out haha, and Elder Olsen made us take a picture so I will add that with this e-mail, its pretty funny.

The Philippines is a part of me now, and I am really going to miss everything here beyond measure. I never thought I could get to this point, but all the people I have met and had the pleasure with working with has truly blessed my life. Elder Olsen and I are still going strong, its still a little quite at the house but Elder Olsen has taught me how to shut up and stay focus haha, which was something I needed! 

Well everyone thats about it for today, I hope you all have a good week, and of course Happy ThanksGiving!

--
Elder Kikel

-on the Lord's errand-

San Pablo Philippines Mission

The Refiners Fire

Magandang hapon so inyong lahat! ( Good afternoon to you all!)

Elder Olsen and I had a pretty interesting week, and I will start with a few stories, and then some stuff I have learned this past week that might help future missionaries understand what the mission is like, and what to expect.

First thing is first! Elder Olsen ate Balut! for the first time in his mission! Ha, he didn't like it when he ate a crunchy part. For those who don't know what balut is... look it up on Youtube ha. I think it taste good, maybe its because i am now a Filipino! To top that both Elder Olsen and I ate DOG! yup thats right, dog. One morning I watched a family kill their dog (and for those who are dog lovers I wont describe how they did it, but lets just say it wasn't very nice.) and asked us if we wanted some and I wile, "Heck yeah!" Just one more thing to cross of the Philippines bucket list. Elder Olsen only took a bit, and I ate the whole bag. It was soo Good! I was shocked how good it was! It tasted exactly like roast beef with a beef jerky taste to it. So yea, I am pretty satisfied now with my experiences in the Philippines, I pretty much hit it all. I am now complete...

Another story I want to share happened while Elder Olsen and I were walking a long side of the highway around 7pm. We see this lady at what seems like a restaurant and she said hello to us, so we engage her in a Gospel conversation. as we were talking I noticed a girl inside who was scandalously dressed, and I thought to myself, Thats odd, Filipino Girls don't usually dress like that. We kept talking to the lady. There was another Girl who came out who was also dressed the same way, and I started to think where we were at. I saw a sign on the wall that said "bawal na umutang" which means you can't ask to pay back, or create debt. SO with out putting two and two together I thought it would be funny if I would ask "pewede ba ako umutang?" which means can I pay back later? Because on the wall its says you can't. Sometimes here in the Philippines when your white you can get away with anything like that, or get a pogi discount, pogi means good looking. anyways, I said "Pewede ba ako umutang?" and right when I said that the girls inside started to giggle. I was like, oh o what did I just say. I finally asked the lady if this was a restaurant, and she replies in English, "No! This is a bar!"... Which is the same thing as a strip club here in the Philippines. Then is just came to me that I just asked two strippers if i could pay them back later... smooth move kikel.. haha. I turned to Elder Olsen and I told him we needed to leave right now. and we left. The funniest part was that after I asked that question they said "Pewede!" ha! which means you may! even though there was a sign that says you can't. Pogi Discount... 

Okay, on a more spiritual note I want to share some personal feelings about the title of this entry. "The Refiners Fire" I read this in D&C 128:24 how the Lord refines us like Gold or Silver and shapes us into who he would like us to be. When I read this I thought about the Samurai! I love that whole time period and them its awesome! I remember watching a documentary about how real samurai swords in modern times are still made by ancient tradition. It was about an old guy who makes samurai swords for a living. Its a big long, exhausting process that takes up to 6 months i believe. In the actual creation of the swords they pound, beat, smelt, and fold the metal of the sword over and over again until its as strong as they want it to be. I feel that is what the Lord does to me personally in my mission and probably to all his missionaries. This has been the hardest and most demanding work I have ever done. I thought I was a hard worker back at home working two jobs and even cleaning windows on the side of that sometimes, but this, this is 24/7 for two years and it truly beats, pounds, and shapes yo in who the Lords wants you to be. I have faced the biggest challenges in my life on my mission, and has really helped me to be who the Lord wants me to be. I feel like I am 10 years a head of my life before my mission, and never would I have gained a testimony that I have now with out serving a mission. I now know whats important in life, and how important the gospel is, and that we follow it exactly! I am not saying this to scare those who are preparing for a mission, but to help you get excited because it will be the best experience in your life that I cannot explain to you or could you understand until you experience it yourself. As the saying goes 'Hard work ALWAYS pays off" so too in the mission, because its the hardest work its also the most rewarding thing in your life in so many ways. So prepare now, and get ready to work hard because if you don't your wasting your time, resources, and sacrifices, and most importantly the Lord's time. He doesn't expect you to be perfect but he sure expects you to do your best and to always be humble and seek improvement. I am so grateful for my mission, and how its has completely pounded, beaten, and shaped me into who I am today, in way I couldn't even imagine. I left as a boy and I am coming back as a man ( 1 Cor. 13:11) Thanks to the Refiner's Fire!

I hope what I have said helps Young Men and Young Women to be more diligent in preparing for their missions so it doesn't have to be as hard as it was for me, and also for everyone else to strive to keep the commandments more closely, because the Lord is refining us through out our lives. I love you all, and I thank you for all your prayers and support!

Yup Elder Mack is now gone, but this is a picture of our "Family"  

Yeah.. thats me eating DOG!

Elder Olsen and I under the Rainbow!

A sweet Rainbow in the Philippines!

The Philippines!

--
Elder Kikel

-on the Lord's errand-

San Pablo Philippines Mission

Hard Work, Brings Blessings

Oh how sweet the blessings come  as you are obedient!!

There is not much to report this week we were just so busy!

We did go to another meeting in San Pablo for the 4 week training check up where President follows up with how are training is going, and if the trainers, and trainee's are being obedient, and oh how we are doing so!

Its always fun seeing other missionaries from different places, and different countries, and its really fun seeing new missionaries because it just reminds you of when you were new! Now its just gone by like the snap of my fingers! 

but yeah, after the meeting Elder Olsen and i just hit the pavement! We have just been working so hard lately, its awesome! I love it! I feels so good, and you sleep so much easier hahaha, I am exhausted. I thought I worked hard before but Elder Olsen is really pushing it, and that is exactly what I need especially right now when I am getting closer to coming home where I need to stay focused. 

We got a ton of referrals today that can turn into potential super progressing investigators, so we are pretty excited for those, and I will report if we have anything super interesting going on. Thats pretty much it this week folks, but I will make sure to send a bunch of pictures! 

I love you all and always remember who you owe your life too!  

our Zone in the Van to that big meeting we had a couple weeks ago!

Elder Olsen's mom sent him cookie mix, and this is how we cooked it, and it was the most delicious thing I have ever eaten in my mission...

Me and Elder Hapi

rice field selfie.

The picture in my main e-mail was a picture of a few guys we met on the street, his idol is 2pac haha

Elder Olsen during companionship study haha

 me and my trainer Elder Mack he goes home in a couple of days

 

--
Elder Kikel

-on the Lord's errand-

San Pablo Philippines Mission

100% Agency 100% Responsibility

Hello Everyone! I think this is about my 67th e-mail I have sent home since I have been in the mission? I am not sure I am not really counting. Its hard not to count when the clock is ticking closer and closer, and all of a sudden you got to start planning and preparing, but I still got some good time left so its all good.

All right I don't have much time so I will dive right into the good stuff, the missionary training meeting that we went to! 

We were taught from on high by Elder Ribbons who spoke in the most recent General Conference. Even though we were dead tired, that meeting was incredible! 

Okay I will give a little background first, cmon Its me I got to tell the stories first! So after our work last Monday we traveled over the Zone Leaders area, and also the District Leaders area, they live in the same apartment, and also some other missionaries from a farther area were sleeping over at that apartment, so there was 8 of us in that apartment! Yeah... we didn't sleep... MONOPOLY! We did our planning, and got everything ready to go. Then we just played monopoly until 2 in the morning... haha oops... it was probably best that we got as much sleep as possible but it was to tempting! I havnt played monopoly in so long! They didn't know what hit  em' when you got a Kikel in a monopoly game things get real, and I took it all the way for the win! hah good ol' days...

So after we left, and picked everyone up with the van that we rented, we arrived in San Pablo at 5 in the morning, which was 5 hours early! haha, so we had some McDonalds breakfast, and we all slept at McDonalds! After a little while we went to the chapel, and saw pretty much everyone! Almost the entire mission was there 200+ missionaries! it was so cool! 

Elder Robbins talked about Agency and Responsibility, and it was awesome how he described it. Because we have agency we also have Responsibility, and we can't have any excuses for our responsibilities, and he continued to give a list of excuses and examples of how people use their agency to get out of things, and a big topic he talk about was blaming others, even when they are to blame.  It really put it into perspective how when we exercise Responsibility your are also exercising self control, and humility. You are acting in a more Christ like manner, and more outwards, then inwards. When we start to list the excuses thats when Satan takes control of us. We should always take responsibility for everything that we do, good or bad. Every choice has a consequence, and it all starts with the choice, so lets choose to be more responsible in our lives. 

Thats about it for this week, we had a good week and we talked to a lot of people! More then I have in my entire mission. Elder Oslen is doing great! The stories have kind of stopped but thats okay I am working more, and I am more focused! What a blessing! There is a purpose to all things! 

I love you everyone and I can't wait to see you all, Stay fresh, clean, and just stay there so I can see ya when I arrive home in some what months... 

Ingat kayong Palagi at huwag na malimuton mo ako! 

take care always and don't forget me! 

--
Elder Kikel

-on the Lord's errand-

San Pablo Philippines Mission

Spiritually Fed

I don't know how to start these e-mails anymore I feel like I say the same thing over and over, what would be a good introduction to my e-mails?

This week was all right, I wasn't able to work for 2 days because I got sick! I hate those times that prevent you from doing the Lord's will, so stay clean, eat healthy, and exercise! I don't know how or where it came from but I just had like the worst LBM (lose bowel movements) is what they call it here in the Philippines or back in a America diarrhea! haha, I won't go into too much detail to spare you all the hard ache but man oh man was it a sight for sore eyes ;) Lets just say I went to the bathroom 22 times in 2 days! not a fun experience, and I don't even know how much weight I lost, I was losing water faster then I could drink it! hahaha yeah wasn't fun, and I am still recovering but I am doing a lot better, I thought I had the iron stomach after being here so long! I was proven wrong...

Other then that the couple of days we had to work were good, and we found some new investigators to teach, we are currently trying to follow up with them, and help them come closer to Christ. I wish I could tell you all about the things that we talk about with people and the topics of conversation because its just so inspiring! Everyone here is not afraid to talk about Jesus Christ, in fact its a common topic of conversation, Unlike back at home where it couple be a little bit awkward if in the wrong setting. Here you can literally walk up to a random person with introducing who you are and ask them what their relationship with Jesus Christ is and they will tell you with out hesitation! isn't that awesome! Only if the entire world was like that. 

We had a stake conference this last Sunday which was fun, its all ways fun to see the entire stake get together and hear from the leaders of the stake, there was some good talks given, my companion almost fell asleep because he couldn't understand anything yet, haha but he is doing good, and definitely works hard which is exactly what the Lord needs. The ward is good, the ward actually seems a lot happier lately, and are having fun. 

I played a prank on Elder Olsen last night it was hilarious! I have always told him how Filipinos will just stuff you till you throw up, or else they will get offended. which sometimes they actually do! but last night we were at the bishops house, and I told his wife to just keep forcing food on his plate, until he has to say no. but, I told Elder Olsen to say no or else they will get mad at him. hahahahah so the entire family was in on it and boy did they just stuff him with food it was hilarious! He ate like 2 plates of rice, with all kinds of vegetables, and sausages, and a liter of soda. Then they started forcing him to eat bread and peanut butter, ice candy, and anything else they could find! He wasn't lookin to good so I had mercy upon his soul and told them to stop, they were all laughin pretty hard and he had no Idea why, the curses of not knowing the language... but I got a good laugh out of it as well, and said I never wants to do that again. 

So according to the Title of this e-mail tomorrow we are attending a Special Missionary training meeting in San Pablo! We all thought is was going to be an apostle but its not, its pretty dang close though! We are going to be taught by Elder Robbins who spoke in this last General Conference he was the one who gave the talk "Where do you face?" and also another General Authority I believe who name is Elder Tobias I think. So its going to be awesome! President said we couldn't sleep over at other missionaries apartments to go to the meeting because we are so far way, but he did say that if we leave early enough we can attend the meeting. So as a Zone we hired a van and are leaving at 3 am tomorrow, and for us Elders in Calauag we have to travel to the Zone Leaders area first because that is where we will start and we have to go at like 8pm because there are no more buses, so we will be there all night long with 3 other companionship! that means MONOPOLY!! ALL night long!!  WHOOO! haha I am so excited haha Its going to be a good couple of days, and hopefully we can stay awake for the messages these great men will give. I will share a report next week on what they taught about! 

Thanks for everyone's support I love you all! 

--
Elder Kikel

-on the Lord's errand-

San Pablo Philippines Mission

Training: Week 2

I think when I get home, time is going to go by so slow. I think about how fast 3 months goes by here in the Mission, and then I think how slow 3 months goes by back at home. Every now and then I think about how fast my mission is going by and it justs scares me! for example if I was to go home tomorrow I would probably cry... in fright! I am totally not ready right now, and I feel like I will never will be, its going to be so weird coming home, it will definitely be a culture shock again coming home. I joke I always tell people when I am talking to them is that I am now a Filipino I am not an American anymore haha I will talk about Americans like Filipinos do haha, I am just head deep in the culture here from the way the eat, talk, sleep, and wash their clothes by hand... I am so use to the environment (The Humidity is still not my favorite) but just everything else is now home too me. A nice burger would be nice though... and don't even get me started about Cafe Rio... the other day I thought about how Cafe Rio should advertise using Missionaries haha "Our Burritos are soo good LDS missionaries crave them their whole Missions!" hahahahah true... the sweet delectable green muwahhah man I can't wait! That will be a video in the making! 

anyways things are starting to get really good over here in Calauag, not really work wise but just everything else, I am just like 10 times more happier now that I am training, Elder Olsen is doing great and working hard, and I am starting to see the Lord's hand again in our work. Elder Olsen is a champ he works so hard, he pushes me to the very second until 9pm hits. So you could say I have been stronger mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and just a little bit more exhausted physically! ha.

We are starting to find new investigators here and there, we have been focusing on opening our mouths. Also we are having some success with Less actives which have been great, the Bishop here has been really supportive. I love this Work!! 

News Flash! Elder Kikel did not lose anything this last week.. phew...

So like a said last time that Elder Olsen's and I's personalities are completly opposite, I have noticed a lot of myself haha I like to talk, and often talk to much... I found someone who does not enjoy Elder Kikel's Story time. Its been taking some use, kind of frustrating actually, and one day he just flat out told me "Elder, you talk to much." I didn't get mad because its true haha, I often get unfocused because of it. All this means that there hasn't been much talk lately and more work which is great but man, the day and time in the apartment is so boring! Despite his differences I actually really like him, he has been helping me a lot lately, and he is kind of funny when he wants to be. I know that everyone companion we are with is for a reason, and so I hope I am not driving him insane inside with my personality haha. 

I will actually tell you a little story about him:

It was late a night and we sat down at a little burger stand to eat. While eating his burger a man approached him and just pointed at his burger like he wanted it, he kind of looked homeless, and was mumbling something that wasn't tagalog. Elder Olsen kind of looked at his burger and slowly handed it towards the man, and the man snatched it out of his hands like a dog and started eating it while laughing hysterically! We were just like "What the heck?" he ended up leaving, and we were still waiting for our fries to be done. Right after we finished our fries, the man approached us again! and just grabbed Elder Olsen's ketchup and start finger spooning it and laughing again, and so at that point we were just like lets get out of here, and then we realized that Elder Olsen got robbed of his ketchup by a crazy man haha... yeah the mission life, full of stories and thats why I tell them!

I am afraid I am going to be that return missionary that always says "Well in my mission..." No one likes those guys haha... I apologize in advance. 

Okay I will leave it at that my time is almost up! I love you all, and I hope you are enjoying the cool weather with soon to come snow, I forgot what snow even feels like or looks like... oh well the snow never bother me anyways.. ;)

Ingat kayo palagi! 

Elder Olsen!

Elder Olsen in action!!

Me and Elder Olsen with a Flower that a little girl gave me!

--

Elder Kikel

-on the Lord's errand-

San Pablo Philippines Mission

General Conference Weekend!

Hello Everyone this last week was full of the much needed spirit, and we here in the Philippines have been taught on High.

I was able to watch General conference this last weekend, and it was amazing! IT was probably the fastest session of Conference that I have attended! I was shocked how fast it went buy, I was just so into the messages that were being given striving to find something that I can improve on, and also apply in my missionary work. I really loved the messages that were given. It had a different feel too it this time, maybe because the were some talks given in a different language! that was pretty cool! I liked many of the talks, especially President Uchtorf's talk asking all the question "Lord, was it I?" I loved that talk, because not only here in the mission but all over the place there are people pointing fingers for their own mistakes. I could go on forever about the talks given in General Conference but I don't have time for that, I hope we will all study the talks that were given, to help us the follow the commitment that President Monson gave to all of us. To listen to these words and chose to be a little better, and a little kinder. I love it. 

All right so most of you probably want to know about my new Trainee! Okay my Trainee's name is Elder Olsen, and as you probably guessed he is American, he is from Idaho Falls, Idaho and we are not the same.. what I mean by that is that the Lord put us together for a reason! We get along just fine, and I all ready love Elder Oslen but I think this is the first time in my mission I have had an companion who is almost opposite in personality. He is a very quite Elder, and doesn't talk much, when asked to share he doesn't share much, and we don't really have much in common haha so its definitely taking some getting use too, but he is a really cool Elder, and he wants to work which is the important part! I am all ready seeing the Lord's hand in our short time together, and I have been feeling the spirit a lot stronger lately, and I am so excited to work with this Elder, and I my spidey senses are just tingling telling me that we are going to have some crazy success these next 3 months! I am definitely looking forward to that! 

All right so for the funny story of the day, I just have a tendency to lose things here in the mission, on Sunday while we were traveling to the Stake Center to watch General Conference Elder Olsen and I bought a bunch of food to eat during the break because it was Sunday, and also to share with others. The bus was SOOOO SLOOWWW, and I was getting frustrated because we were going to be late, and I don't like being late....so when we finally got there I just ran off the bus and left my bag on the flippin bus!! and I didn't even realize until Elder Olsen leaned over to me, and said " Elder, where is our food?" at that moment I just wanted to take my chair and smash the little TV we were watching General Conference on while I was thinking "AGAIN!!" haha, yeah it wasn't a good feeling but the good thing was that there was only food in it, instead of all of my support like last time haha. 

so yeah everyone get there laugh at Elder Kikel. I always forget something. 

Its been pretty funny watching Elder Olsen adjust to the Philippines, he just walks around like everything he touches is going to get him sick, and he does not look comfortable haha but he will get use to it, he has been the man at trying some weird foods! I still haven't gotten him to eat Balut! 

Okay thats it I got to get to some other E-mails I hope you all enjoyed conference, and I will see you next time! 

Elder Calianga and I before we left each other, and that lady is 4'11" hahah

So this is My trainer Elder Mack, if anyone remembers him. I haven't been in the same Zone has him since my first area! I totally miss him but I hardly recognize him because he lost so much weight as shown in this picture! That is his MTC card when He was in the MTC, and he goes home Next month. 

Picture of the Baptisms!

Ya know.. chillin in the Philippines...

That is the little TV we watch General Conference on

--
Elder Kikel

-on the Lord's errand-

San Pablo Philippines Mission