August 1, 2014 - I want to be like Elder Sims

August 1, 2014     Email

I'm on.

 

Coolest story, we went proselyting Wednesday so we got new kasamas (companions) for the day.  I was paired up with Elder Sims (who's been out for 11 months and is the coolest guy in the world and is the type of missionary I want to be.)  We had a 40 minute Jeepny ride, and I talked to a lot of people.  We did oym, and I gave a restoration pamphlet to a lady and got her contact info.  We stopped in at a part member family and shared our testimonies.  I love the people!

 

Email me some pictures.  I don't have any pics of the family.

 

Tell everyone thanks for emailing me and sorry I haven't replied to all of them.  I only get a little bit of email time.

 

 

August 11, 2014 - No Flirting

August 11, 2014      Email

I'm on.  Thanks for the pictures!  Did you get my pictures I sent you?

Funny story, one of my Samoans was flitting with the sisters.  So I said if I beat him in an arm wrestle he would have to stop but if he won I wouldn't say a thing.  He's a big guy so of course he says yes... I beat him.  Guess who's keeping his distance from the sisters.  Plus of course I told him about the spiritual side of things.

 

Gotta go, Love you

- Elder Colt Williams 

August 19, 2014 - The Moon is my Pillow

August 19, 2014     Email

Hi, I'm on.

I'm doing ok.  I don't get a lot of food, but I can always use a diet.  The people here are very nice.  I've been called as Elders Quorum 1st Assistant, and I'm speaking in church next week.  Kinda miss pillows, but I have shoes.  It's so pretty here.  Rice fields everywhere.  I get to eat frog this week! Air- conditioning.  What a blessing.  One that I'll get back in the states.  Its super hot.  I love it here. 

My tatays been out a year. we have a lot people we teach.  One of our investigators is pretty old and might have a lung tumor.  He's a very polite man and takes the lessons well, but he's living with a woman who's not his wife.  So we still need to teach LOC (Law of Chastity).  There's no divorce here because its too expensive, so there's a lot of LOC problems because people just leave instead.  Then they can't get married again so they live with each other.

We teach a lot of Law of Chastity Lessons, that and Word of Wisdom.  But there's a lot of active young men.  They're very good and activating each other. 

Did you know they love basketball here?

Cool story, There was a person from The District?  He's Filipino. So after he gets baptized he had some struggles.  Then goes back to the Philippines because his dad has bad health. So he was inactive. My tatay(trainer) meets him on the street and he reactivates him and baptizes his family and now he's an Elders Quorum pres. He was even sealed in the temple. 

Here is our bathroom.  The bucket by the toilet is for bathing and toilet paper.

It is so tropical here.  In the city you could probably find most of the stuff that you'd have in the states.  But I'm out in the sticks with the farmers, so no real stores.  They have small shops at some of the houses we get food from.  We'll eat breakfast or lunch at our house then most nights we'll eat with a member or we'll cook something. Yeah most people can't afford to feed us even though they'd borrow food from the store for us if we let them. Oh yeah it's poverty here. Our poverty is super rich to them. 

 

There are just the two of us where we live.   Our house is connected to the church here and there's an Air Conditioning box in the president's office so every night a lot of the young men come and sleep in his office.  We visit most nights for the Air Conditioning.  We have doors but no handles.  Windows but they're open. screens but they have holes.  But I feel safe.  It's a nice community.  They don't have any locks on the houses here, but I feel safe.  Their familiar with missionaries, and I'm bigger then everyone.  

 

 

 

In our home, the lizards are fine.  I don't care too much for the mosquitoes and cockroaches.  Oh and I stuck my foot in my shoe this morning and found a big toad. 

 

The camera is working great!

 

Cool story, my tatay had us do unofficial splits yesterday, so I went with some youth and taught four lessons.  I'm going to boast in my God a little because I did pretty well and I've only been here four days. 

 

We're heading out so talk to you next week.  Love you 

- Elder Colt Williams

 

PS, Could you send me pictures of the Ogden Temple Open House?

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 28, 2014 - If You Can't Say Something Nice...

July 28, 2014     Day 25     Letter

Hi Family,

My Kasama is getting annoying.  He knows more Tagalog than me but I'm still the one doing 90% of the talking in our lessons.  I'm ok with that because it helps me grow, but he always criticizes the lessons.  I know I'm making mistakes.  I'm not perfect, but I'm trying to teach.  We teach 6 times a week.

We taught a former investigator and her friend, and I thought the lesson was ok.  They both said they'd come to church the next week (and they did).  We walked out of the lesson and he says, "That was the worst lesson we've ever had."  I was a little all over the place, but it wasn't that bad.  But he's a good guy and things could be worse.

Oh, Sister Eves says letters have a 60% chance of making it to us.  It's better to send it pouch mail though Salt Lake and write things like "Jesus Christ" or "God Loves Us" on the letter or put some stickers of Christ.  The Filipinos are very superstitious, so it has a better chance of getting through.  And if you send it regular mail it can take up to 6 months to reach me.

We get to go proselyting Wednesday!  So excited.  How's Priscilla?

Love Y'all Tons

- Love Elder Williams

July 27, 2014 - Letters Mean So Much

July 27, 2014     Letter     Day 24

Hi Family,  I want to apologize for being a brat about you guys not writing.  I know y'all have and that it just takes a long time for letters to travel.  Thanks for emailing so much even though it is late at night in Utah. 

Elder K___, one of my Samoans in my room broke down last night and cried because he hasn't gotten a single email from his family and he really misses them.  It's bad when everyone's talking to family and he just sits there.  His birthday's on the 5th.  We had a prayer circle like we have at home where I started and everyone went around and shared something.  It lasted 15 minutes.  We're showing him our love and the we're his family.

Elder K____ is one of the best missionaries I know.  He's kind to everyone and shares all he has.  I shared a room with him the first night at the hotel.  I talked to President Beck, and they're going to see what they can do to get a hold of his family.

Thanks for writing me.  Oh, I'm in the MTC Choir.  My American sisters are having a little drama but they're doing better.  How's Priscilla?

Love you Tons!

Y'all don't need to write if you are busy  I've already been super blessed.

Love, Elder Williams

July 25, 2014 - Rat for Dinner?

July 25, 2014     Email

Hi,

I'm out of the hospital.  I just stayed over night.  I'm fine.  I was staying with an Elder with asthma problems.

On the way to the hospital we saw a woman washing a huge rat.  I assume it was for dinner.

Hey Priscilla you should tell my friends to email me. Let them know that I have replied to their letters.  How are you?

Love you

- Elder Colt Williams

July 17, 2014 - Survived My First Typhoon

July 17, 2014     email

I've sent you ten emails and six letters.  Y'all need to step up your game.  From the way it sounded with Hunter, the missionary was the one who never wrote. I've only gotten one letter and that was from a friend. Y'all should check out and tell everyone to check out the Dear Elder web site.

**FYI, we had sent Colt a letter every week and responded to all his emails, some how the letters just weren't getting to him and for some reason he didn't seem to see most of our emails.**

 

It's 1 here.  Last time I emailed around 11.  The first time though was at the hotel around 1 am.

 

Funny story for the week.  So most of the people here are natives or islanders so swearing's not swearing in their cultures, right.  So we're walking into class, and one Sister Peavler is singing.  And Elder Ki says "dam girl, you can sing." So funny.  Every time someone swears, all the Americans look at each other and laugh.  Its a culture thing so people don't really care.  And of course I won't use swear words.

 

I miss dancing. I tried dancing with some of the elders, but they didn't last very long and its not the same.  

 

We got to go to the temple today.  So cool.  The garden was beautiful!

 

The food actually pretty good.  The whole fish(eye balls included) and liver were a little questionable, but better than I feared. and the mangos oh the mangos, Delicious.

 

Hehe one of the sisters had a snail in her salad. That was funny. 

 

Since I know you were worried sick I want to let you know that we survived the typhoon.  Blew down some trees, but mainly just wind and rain.  Killed the power for most of the day though.  Did I mention its really hot and humid?   We're fine.  The powers not completely back on though.

 

We got a new batch of missionaries today.  But my companion's no fun and wanted to read scriptures instead of welcome and help the new people.  I appreciated help my first day. So I haven't gotten to meet them yet.

 

Did you get my last pay check from CFA (Chick Fil-A)? 

 

Dear Elder sends letters a lot faster.

 

Did you talk to the bank?

 

Love you too.   My times up so I need to go.  Love y'all.

Elder Colt Williams

July 12, 2014 - Catching on to what people are saying in Tagalog

July 12, 2014     Day 9     Letter

Hi Family! 

Still haven't gotten any mail from y'all or anyone else.  "I'm just a poor boy, nobody  loved me."

We taught a new investigator today and we did great!  It went very well.  (They are actually teachers but they don't speak English)  He asked what Mormon's believe.  So I gave him the first four Articles of Faith.  Then he asked about the Book of Mormon.  So I had him read a couple paragraphs of the Intro.  Then I invited him to read the Intro and Moroni 10 for when we teach him Tuesday. 

But the reason it went so well was I really got to know him before we started the lesson.  Once I started asking about his restaurant we were friends.  I do most of the talking during our lessons not because I know more Tagalog than my companion, he probably knows more than me.  But I catch on to what people are saying better and I can think on my feet. 

My companion's a good guy and I like him.  But he doesn't talk much and doesn't really want to socialize with the other missionaries that much.  Which is good 'cause it give me more study time.

For lunch yesterday we had fish and rice.  A full fish - head, eyes and all.  It was ok.  Most of the food here is actually really good.

Marshall, You still working out?  All the guys terrified of you yet?  They so much as talk to Priscilla alone you beat them up.

Priscilla, how are you?  Tell me about dance camp.  Tell me about life.  Tell all my friends to write me. 

Love you tons!

Elder Williams

P.S. Write me.

July 10, 2014 - Giving My First Blessing

July 10, 2014     Email

Hi, I'm on.

Everything's going great. 

Funny story.  We drove to immigration and the driver tells us the four rules of driving.
     1. Fill in the gaps.
     2. First come first serve.
     3. Busses r always right.
     4. If the bus is wrong refer to rule

#3. Soo true.  It's crazy but you never see accidents or dents. 

I gave my first blessing the other day.  One of the sisters in my district (by the way I'm a District Leader) was feeling discouraged, so I gave her a blessing of comfort.  It was super cool.  I prayed for help before I gave the blessing, and after I started my voice steadied and the words flowed out. 

How's everyone doing?  I still haven't gotten any mail from anyone. Priscilla tell all my friends to write me!

How are you doing Priscilla?

Funny story.  I share a room with two Samoans.  And they saw me take some peppermint.  And they asked if they could have some... they almost died.  It was hilarious!  I'm going to give to the Tongans and see how they do.

We've had rice in every meal but two.  It's a good thing I like rice.

 

Oh do we need to tell my bank I'm in the Philippines in order to use my card?  I haven't tried it yet, but I was curious.

 

We're right across the street from the temple, so starting next Friday we should be able to go every week.

 

Oh, my p-days Friday.  This is about when I get to use the computers. **So far Colt has emailed as early as 10 pm our time and as late in the evening as 1 am our time, always Thursday evenings**

 

Tell Enoch thanks for the bag of candy.  I still have it and it gives me something to munch through the day.

 

Tell all the Vanguard and dance people to write me.  It's no fun writing people who don't respond.  

 

I'm still struggling for the language, but I can greet people and testify and pray and share a simple message.

 

Don't you love me?  Remember my potatoes?  The one I ignored did worse then the one I said mean things to.

 

They had us teach an investigator our second day.  I think I might have told him all other churches are false.  Either that or I said if the Book of Mormon is true then this is the true church. haha one of the companions told him Jesus killed the Jews instead of the Jews killed Christ. haha a different companionship said they were Jesus.   

 

Tell people to write me

 

Love, Elder Colt Williams

July 7, 2014 - Write me

July 7, 2014     Day 3     Letter

Hi Family!  We had a meal without rice!  For breakfast this morning we had pancakes.  There were delicious!  I could taste the sugar. 

Two of my missionaries skipped a big workshop orientation yesterday and their name tags have been taken away.  I need to stress exact obedience more.

I've been here half a lifetime and still haven't gotten a single letter from you guys or from any of the people who said they'd write me.

The food's pretty good.  I don't trust most of the meat, but I like rice.

We had 2 fire drills today.  Only a few people died (none of them mine) so I say we did pretty good.

Teaching our investigator went better than I thought it would.  We used a lot of sign language, but we have him an "Aklat ni Mormon" and he said he'd read it.  We teach him again today, so we'll see how things go. 

Weather's been beautiful.  Rains most days but it clears up and if there's a breeze it's bearable. 

My companion isn't big on socializing so we spend our spare seconds in our room.

I used lavender and breath on the Samoan who snores and it worked miracles.  So much quieter and sometimes not at all.

Haha, I gave some Samoans some peppermint and they almost died.

Write me!

Love, Elder Williams

July 5, 2014 - Checking in to the MTC

July 5, 2014  Letter

Hello!!!

I made it!  So after you left me at the airport, I walked in and ended up finding eleven other missionaries, four sisters and seven elders.   One of the elders had traveled back and forth a lot so we didn't have any trouble on the flight. 

The flights were super rough.  We had a lot of people who had flown a lot and they all said it was the roughest they'd had.  We got to our hotel around 1:30 am and had dinner at KFC.  I had chicken, rice and potatoes with fries.  The fries were good, but I didn't really care for everything else.  And they gave us all cake, which was awful.

5:30 am we drove to the MTC in the coolest, and scariest ride I've ever been in.  There are no lanes (ok, there are but no one uses them).  And they use their horns a lot.  But I didn't see a single crash.

We got to the MTC and the next five hours were checking in and welcomes. 

I've been made a District Leader which is cool but more work. 

Bed at 10 pm.  One of my roommates is the worst snorer.  He was reading the missionary handbook before lights out and I heard him snoring.  I look over and he's asleep, still holding the book out over his head.

Today we had a tour and different classes.  I can almost say a simple prayer in Tagalog.  We teach our first investigator tonight!  I don't know how I'm going to talk to them, but we'll see. 

Oh, I threw up yesterday.  Probably the smell/food/heat.  I miss the smell of Utah.

Love you tons!  Tell Everyone to write me.

Elder Williams

July 3, 2014 - In the Philippines

July 3, 2014     Email

I'm here alive and well.  I met up with 11 other missionaries serving in Angeles at Salt Lake so my flight was a piece of cake.  The flight was crazy rough which was super cool.  KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) wasn't that great.  I like it better in Utah.  It's raining here, and I need to get back to the hotel so I'll write you about my adventure in a letter. 

- Love you tons, Elder Williams