Sarah Patricio

Last week was great, and it was hard to beat -- but it took a back seat to this week's adventures. . . because I got to go back to Paniqui on Friday! The week was again full of interviews, workshops, and exchanges with zone leaders. We left home on Tuesday morning again and got home on Saturday evening. During week 3 and 4 of the transfer, we live on the road. It's been interesting as an assistant, because nothing has happened twice yet. How do I figure out our schedule when it's always changing?
Cabayaoasan, Paniqui was heaven when I left, and it just keeps getting better! Elder Magsino and I split up the area, and I was devestated to see that Elder Tarronas and Elder Magsino would be going to Nancamarinan and visiting the Patricio families. It was solace that on my schedule were the Vergara and Bala families. I wrote a note to the Patricios and told Elder Magsino to get pictures of the new baby. Grabe, I wanted to see them so bad! I'll be back in October, I suppose. On our side of the area, we taught 9 lessons, and didn't get to visit everyone we wanted before 9:30. And the bad news was, it's the rainy season now, and the only way to get to the Bala's home is to trudge about 30 feet through knee deep water. Unless you have a water buffalo to ride across on, and we had none. I would've done it anyways, but last night the Melempec residents found, caught, and ate a 7 foot long snake close to the crossing. Brother Arnold Gonzales (Ronald's dad) skinned, cleaned, and cooked it. Adobo. It was dark when we arrived there, so we didn't make it to their home. The Elders say they haven't missed a Sunday yet, even though financially they are really struggling. I'll have to write them soon. On Saturday, Sister Bala's sister was baptized, someone that Elder Tarronas and I were teaching before I left. Another of our investigators has been to church 3 times now. It was great to see the members and investigators again, I really felt like I'd come home. I wanted so badly to stay, it was so hard to drive out of the area without seeing the Patricios and everyone else.
But Elder Magsino did get the pictures (I'll try to send them next week), and a message from the Patricios. Guess what the name they chose was? Sarah. And that's really rare here, I've never seen a Sarah with an "h". Can't tell you how great it was to work in Paniqui again.
We've officially got a house in the Bulaon area, and missionaries will move in on October 17th. In Magalang, attendance rose to more than 40 locals yesterday, with 13 investigators in attendance. The home did not fit everyone, and there were people literally out on the street listening. Amazing, right? A meetinghouse has been decided on and will be in use next week, and as soon as possible, they'll be made a branch. Things have been moving rapidly there, it's progressing faster than anyone thought. The bad news is, Elder Smith and Elder Pajela will probably move out this week. We've enjoyed our last preparation day, we played tennis for 2 hours this morning, and basketball, and frisbee. When we got to the hiking trail to the waterfalls just 5 minutes from the mission home, they said we needed permission to enter. So we decided to run home instead, in front of the van. I made it about one city block, and then I was toast. Very, very out of shape.
This week we have two meetings, one in Cabanatuan and one in Tarlac, for President to teach the new MTC curriculum coming from the first presidency. After that we'll be working in Bulaon and getting things ready for transfers.
I'm learning so much, about things that I didn't really think very much about in the day to day work. President Puzey sometimes shares things about how he approaches transfers, choosing leaders in the mission, and he involves us a little bit in the whole process. He teaches a lot of principles, and it's prompted me to study a little about revelation, what role a counselor plays, and some other things. That's about 1% of what happened this week! I'm not even going to try to write anything else -- there's just too much! I love you so much and I'm glad everyone had a good (busy) week. Thanks, family!
Love, Elder Loren Peck

Ocean In View!

Dear Family,
Sounds like Chris, Dad, and I all had a good time at the edge of the Pacific Ocean this week -- just on different sides. Salmon on that side, Milkfish on this side. Peach pie there, pineapple pie here. And I'm not sure which is more tasty. But I do miss Dad's salmon and mom's peach pie. It was district conference in Baler yesterday -- their first ever since they've only been a district for about a year. By the time I arrived in Baler, it felt like we were not in Angeles Mission anymore -- it's just too far out. It took 3 hours to cross the Sierra Nevada mountain range, the largest in the Philippines. And those are some rugged mountains. It would've been okay if it was all paved, but a large part is not, and those grades and turns are insane. Good thing there's next to no traffic and no speed limit and no police and no people. When my companion (Elder Magsino) explained the drive to me, he used the words "road rally". Good description -- that was a roller coaster, high-adventure drive. Yesterday it took us five hours of driving, straight to make it back to Clark. We spent 3 days in Baler, and I was amazed at the beaty of the place. It's the first time I've been through miles and miles of bukuhan, or cocunut plantations. Members gave us bags of citrus fruits and let us pick guavas on their property. At night, the fireflies come out, and that's a sight. The mountains are jungle covered and rugged, the scenery is just like what you'd see on "Emporer's new groove". But no llamas.

On Wednesday I got to go on a split in Cabanatuan with Elder Thorn and his companion in Cabanauan. It was good to talk about the mission, we talked about turning points and things we'll never forget. He's amazing. I gave him a can of refried beans, and he provided some cold cereal and milk. The next day I worked in his old area in San Jose, where one of his old investigators gave us some adobong frog he cooked. To be polite, I had just a little taste of the leg. Hmmm, tastes like chicken! Tis the season -- kids are always on the edges of the rice fields nowadays with frogging poles and nets. Free meat! Speaking of "the season", Christmas music officially starts in the Philippines on September One. Meaning that inside stores and on bus radios, the songs of the season are being played every day now. I hope we can hold out till December -- Chirstmas is quite an event here, even with no change in weather.
We've been throught half of the mission on splits and giving a workshop at interviews, and this week we'll be on the other side. Last week we left our apartment early Tuesday morning and didn't come home until Sunday night. This week won't be quite so intense. Tarlac/Paniqui on tuesday, Angeles on Wednesday, and Sta Ignacia/Camiling on Thursday. We'll split in Camiling, Sta Ignacia, and Paniqui. Which means. . . On Thursday I'll be in Paniqui, and for sure I'll get to see some of the converts and investigators. That's something to smile about -- I can't wait, I love Cabayaoasan. I guess I probably wrote that the Bala's were baptized, and now Sister Bala's sister is getting ready for baptism.

We got up a little early this morning to rent some tennis rackets and play at the local courts! We had a great hour and a half, and at first I was afriad that I'd lost everything. But a few things started coming back. Sarah's going to whoop me on my first day back. I hear that President Puzey has a racket and likes to go play as well sometimes. Not just tennis today -- We threw around the frisbee as well at a beautiful park with ancient trees. We boiled corn, and the sisters in the district brought a banana fruit salad. We ate and then the Elders played some frisbee. It's been a great preparation day so far. Thanks so much for everyone's news -- it's so good to hear from everyone. Sarah! Tell Brother Stauffer HELLO for me. He's great, huh? He was my teacher and he was also over the seminary counsel my senior year. Give him a big thanks from me.

In the new area -- Magalang -- they had 12 investigators at church yesterday. A family of 9 came, and asked Elder Smith and Elder Pajela that after a family counsel, they want to know when they can be baptized. Another family also came, the Guinto family, which in english means gold. We love swappin stories at the end of the day. I've loved getting out and working in different areas this week -- there's some great things going on in the mission in every area. The gospel is going! That ward PMG activity sounds great, missionary work is so exciting. Well, hope everyone has a great week with homecoming and everything. Love ya'll lots!
Love, Elder Loren Peck

News from Angeles

How did President take the news about the van? Uh, thinking back, it probably would've been better to say something before they noticed it at zone conference. The way I had to back in, it was really noticeable to the Puzeys, who later parked right next to us. When the story came out, they said comforting things, like: "yeah, it really is tight driving in Bulaon", and "I'm sure you look around a lot more in all those skinny streets now." Then President Puzey took me aside and said: "Elder Peck, that's the cost of doing business. I know, because I'm the one that scratched up the other side."

We went to church again in Bulaon yesterday, and put in about 6 visits there. 2 investigators came to the meetinghouse, which is amazing because there are no missionaries at all there besides us. It would be great to spend more time there, but Tuesday and Wednesday were zone conferences, and Thursday and Friday we were on splits in Guimba and Angeles. There really is nothing like work in the field. I loved getting out with the missionaries, and wherever I go, I fall in love with their investigators. Tough, because I probably won't see them again. I'll do whatever I can here to help everybody else tear it up in every area -- sure is hard not being out there with them. But enough about that.
Zone conference was amazing. I've never seen it from "behind the scenes" before. It was a crash course for me as I learned where I was supposed to be and do. After the first conference (there are two in the mission: One in Cabanatuan, and one in Tarlac) we sat down with President Puzey in his office and evaluated it. I really learned a lot this week about how necessary evaluation is if we want to change and progress. It's the only good way to repeat the good things that we do and find ways to eliminate the bad -- to keep ourselves from repeating mistakes. I'm very impressed with our evaluations after every meeting, because we always come out with ideas for how to make it better in the future. The second day of Zone Conferences, I was surprised when President Puzey stood up and began teaching in the morning. I thought I knew what he was going to teach, but it was totally different. I noticed in the end that his main subject was basically the same, but the stories and references were all different. It was like that the whole day -- President Puzey seemed to have a different outline! I like to write questions down that I'd like to know, and when there's some downtime I sometimes ask President. In interviews a few months ago President Puzey asked me like he usually does if there's anything he can do for me, or if I have any questions. My whole mission I've replied that there's nothing I can think of. In that particular interview, he mentioned that if there's no question, there's no answer, and I got thinking about that. There's plenty of things President knows and can teach me, if I only have some questions. Anyway, I plan my questions very carefully. I think that when the time is right, I'll ask about what goes on at Zone Conference, and how his teachings end up being so different between the two days.

You asked about the Magalang group. We didn't get to go to their service yesterday, but after a full week of work, the attendance rose from 39 to 42. That's the total, but the people just from the Sta Lucia area rose from 19 to 30, a big move. Melchizedek Preisthood went from 4 to 7. Investigators went from 1 to 4. This morning President Puzey said he'll put in a note right away to the stake president encouraging them to make them a branch as soon as possible, so they can get a building and start functioning on their own. Yesterday was just their second meeting! It's really exciting for all of us, and the 4 of us talk about their work in Magalang every night.

This week: Hello BALER!!! Don't tell Sister Puzey I said that -- I'm not supposed to be excited, it's business, after all. This week is Interviews with each zone, and Elder Magsino and I will be giving a half-hour workshop each meeting. We'll make it to 7 zones, out of 11. After the interviews in the mornings, we'll be going on exchanges with the zone leaders. On Tuesday, it works out that I'll be going with Elder Thorn and his companion in Cabanatuan. We're both really looking forward to that. We'll be out of our apartment from Tuesday morning, and then just stop by on Thursday afternoon to wash some clothes and then head right back out to start the 5 hour drive to Baler. We'll drive two hours to Cabanatuan and sleep there, and the next morning we'll be heading up the mountains and to the side of the sea. Pacific Ocean, here I come! We'll be in Baler from Friday until Sunday doing interviews and two days of exchanges -- then this weekend is their branch conference. Love ya'll!
Love, Elder Loren Peck

Yeah, so about the van. . .

Dear Rachel,
no kiwis.
Dear Family,
A little bit of follow up on those pictures I sent. That food picture is squid, cooked as adobo. After I got used to it, it tasted pretty good. Those tentacles just looked too wierd. . . and I'll tell you, that does not taste like chicken. I got your package this week, and it's great! Thanks especially for the letter. I've been thinking a lot about what you wrote, mom -- you're right, the package is just as good as the letter! I'm trying to think of the best way to use the pie-filling. We might make a cobbler. We've been baking corn-bread and other things lately -- it sure is something to have an oven. . . and a microwave. Here are some of the things that happened this week.
Monday (formerly known as P-Day): played ping pong and frisbee in the morning, then was up until 11:40 that night getting everything ready for Zone Leaders Council.
Tuesday: Woke at 5:40AM to pick up all the zone leaders from bus terminals. Helped out at ZLC and helped give a workshop. The best part about zone leaders council was that Elder Thorn was there this time -- he's been assigned in Cabanatuan. We had a great time catching up.
Wednesday: ZLC again, we introduced the BIG changes in the mission, a change in schedules, and President Puzey is just about to re-introduce standards of excellence, and some other big things. There was a lot of discussion, but we all came out of the meetings feeling good and everyone was happy in the end. President Puzey is amazing at helping missionaries "buy into" these plans and get excited. He is so respected by the missionaries, it's great.
Thursday: Went on splits with zone leaders in Bongabon. Had a great day, and I realized just how much I missed being out in the field every day. That's truly where things happen, and it's hard not to have our own investigators and members. It's hard to step out of the daily teaching in one area. But getting to go on these splits lets me learn a lot from these other missionaries.
Friday: Drove to Tarlac and split again. Another good day, and I'm going to learn so much because every missionary's style differs and so does their area.
Saturday: After returning home, we had little to do, because President and Sister Puzey were gone to the Paniqui District Conference. So we went to an area that recently had missionaries taken out (after a robbery/assault), and taught their investigators. The area is still doing surprisingly well. Even with no missionaries, some of the investigators are still going to church, and branch missionaries have taken over some of the teaching. In October there will be new elders in the area, called Bulaon. We've found an apartment, and are getting the contract worked out. Saturday wasn't the best day of the week, because I put the first dent and scratches in the van. The streets there are crazy and there are soooo many people. We have to fold the side mirrors in to get the van to squeeze through most of the streets and weave through parked cars, jeepneys, trikes, and wheelers. I scraped into a parked jeepney on the right side. Thank goodness, the owner wasn't too upset (didn't have much reason to be, that jeep was a rusty, ancient thing). But. . . I haven't really had a chance to tell President about the scracthes and dent, and I'm still trying to figure out what the best way is to bring that up. It's a little comforting that the left side is scratched up much the same, and that President was the one that put those scratches in. But I'll just wait for the right moment.
Sunday: We attended church in Bulaon at 9-12. They had 2 investigators there. After that, we drove over to the newly opened area in Magalang. Their service was just one hour, and was their first meeting -- ever. It was held in a member's home, and a nearby bishop, from Mabalacat, presided. There were 39 people total, and 19 that belonged to the new group. 4 melchizedek priesthood holders. It was incredible hot in the big room, but it was dead silent and the spirit was strong as they talked about being pioneers and the fathers from local families stood up and bore their testimonies. Many of them simply could not afford to pay for fare for them and their family every sunday to go to church in Mabalacat because it's so far. It sure was exciting to see the beginning of a group, and it looks like it will quickly grow.
It's Monday again! We went with the district to a Museum here on Clark. This week will be zone conferences and more splits with the missionaries. There's so much to do every day, and it's exciting work. Thanks so much again for the package and your letter. Way to go Sarah on the tennis matches! I love you all!
Love, Elder Loren Peck

Hey Family,
It was great to get two weeks worth of news all at once! I'll tell you what, the incredibly high number of motorcycle drivers here in the Philippines makes driving a nightmare, and I think not a single one of those people out there every really learned to drive. The best advice I've heard since I got my drivers licence on Tuesday is "don't worry about the trikes or anything smaller than you. They'll take care of themselves. Just watch out for whatever is bigger than you." I'm learning to drive with one hand on the wheel and one on the horn.
It seems like I've been here a long time, but it's only been a week. We sent off departing missionaries and welcomed new ones. We spent a day in an area being opened looking for an apartment and possible meeting house. Finding an apartment is not easy in a resettlment area. There really isn't supposed to be renting going on, because all the lots originally were given by the government to people effected by natural disasters. So there were no signs, no newspaper ads, nothing. We just walked and talked to people. After looking at a few apartments, we found we'd save ourselves a lot of time by telling people right off the bat that we were expecting running water, electricity, and a little more than a tin roof. That narrowed the field dramatically. The area is completely packed with people -- of course, back when the government opened up the area, people rushed in and the lots got divided and divided and it's just crawling with people. But there are a lot of members there and there will be a meeting held on September 5 in a members house. Elder Smith, the AP I'm replacing, is in that area. They drive over (1/2 hour) every morning, and sleep at the office with us. Here in Clark, Angeles, we have a few investigators, and we made some contact with them. But we spend a lot of time in the office as well. There is a zone leaders council tomorrow, and there are some big changes in the mission with P-Days and District Development Meetings that will take effect next week and we've been up late scrambling trying to get everything taken care of. And we're supposed to give a half an hour workshop tomorrow that we've been working on. This thursday we'll start a long schedule of companionship exchanges, 2 or 3 a week, and then there will be zone conferences and interviews. The coolest part of what we do is getting to meet with President Puzey (formally) at least once every day. Elder Magsino and I give ideas that we've talked about and studied when we're asked, and one of the biggest things we do is just try to come up with 2 or 3 options to resolve concerns or things that he brings up. We discuss and study options that we can come up with, and talk about the pros and cons and what would need to happen, and then we present that to President Puzey. In some of those meetings, it's just inspiring the way that ideas come and it's so clear to me that President Puzey is very, very inspired about what goes on in the mission. Once a plan is decided upon and refined, we get to work on it. Sometimes I feel like a runner in the law office again when we get working with papers and on the computers with forms and letters and everything. That was pretty good practice. There aren't any "office elders", just the Maharry couple, who are more effecient than 10 missionaries. Sister Maharry worked for 23 years working in a law firm in Idaho and this is the couple's 3rd mission here in the Philippines. They are good.
Elder Magsino is from Batangas, and he's really talented. He is my navigator in the car and he's been teaching me everything I need to know. Our discussions together are great and it's so cool when we get the same ideas and things just come together. He's also really good at englsih. It's strange to be surrounded by English about 50% of the time.
I miss Paniqui -- a lot. I miss the daily schedule, I miss investigators and the branch and I miss teaching to investigators that I really know. I don't know if the Balas were baptized on Saturday, but I assume they were along with MaryLyn. I'll know for sure tomorrow. Wow, I miss the Patricios a lot. But at the end of the months we'll split in that area, and I'll see a lot of them. From morning until night we're busy, whether out in the mission or in at the office, and there is a lot of excitement. When we have a formal meeting with President Puzey, we always sing a hymn and it always involves someone singing a verse solo. It's been fun to hear stories about the old Paradise wards, tri-millers, and Hyrum and Avon, as well as other stories, like construction stories and President Puzey's visits to Mongolia, Russia, and lots of other places around the world . . and some really amazing stories. The big city is a lot different from Cabayaoasan, Paniqui.
Well, that's about what I can think of off the top of my head. It sure was fun to hear all the news -- exciting things going on! Love ya'll lots!!!
Love, Elder Loren Peck