Before I put Taylor's letter up this week, I want to tell you about an experience that happened while editing his last week's letter. I always read his emails on Wednesday's when they come in, then I re-read them when I am editing them. So while re-reading his email, I got a really strong impression that something was wrong. So in my email to him I asked was something wrong or was he having problems. I will let you read his email in response!!!
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Hey everyone,
To start off I will resolve your worry (but first i will probably make you more concerned)...
So we had a CSP is Talibon area on Thursday, so if you were reading my email on Thursday this is probably why...
And our CSP's are organised by the Elders in the area for a investigator of theirs or a less active they are working with... then it is confirmed by the zone leaders for approval. Basta(anyways)... We were splitting logs of wood into smaller pieces with axes... (oh no, you're already thinking)... and somehow the axe bounced off the log and across my foot and i didnt even notice, until Sis Robison yells out "Elder Cox! Your foot!" and i look down and there is a great big gash across the top and its pouring blood down the side of my foot. So I went and got it cleaned up and bandaged and Elder Gacos being the great wonderful missionary he is, helps with his great knowledge of herbs... i think it was horse radish leaves or something, but it really helped to stop the bleeding. Luckily we had prayed before we started and asked for protection, so it turned out to be only a surface scratch on the skin (see photos) , but a few mm deeper and it could have been much worse. I am so thankful to Heavenly Father that he is watching out for me and that i didnt lose my foot that day.
But other than that our week has gone really well and I have felt some really big spiritual growth in my life this week. I have come to gain a greater eternal perspective on things in this life.
We had a great baptismal service this past Saturday... and the Spirit was so strong there. It is just wonderful to see people come to a knowledge of the truth and receive much needed blessings in their lives.
I wouldnt worry too much about the trikes... cause when people get on top its cause theres no room down below which means there is lots of people on the trike... which means it is very heavy and cant go very fast at all... only about 50km/h or so...
Other things that happened this week... We had Christmas 1st Presidency message broadcast at Calape, which was just great... I hope you went and saw it too... and before that the Strouds invited us over for dinner for Australian beef burgers!!! Yes, real Australian beef from Australia... Elder Stroud said he got it while they were in Cebu... it was soooo delicious compared to the meat here... it reminded me of home. We also had jelly and ice cream for dessert... it was a great dinner!
We also had a Christmas conference meeting in Tagbilaran with Pres and Sis Schmutz. We had a narration and music sort of fireside thingo, with President Schmutz talking about the gifts of the Savior in our lives. We then moved into the cultural hall to play some games and then to eat pizza... it was a great and relaxing day... to start with... then back to work in the evening. We went and visited our favourite Nanay and Tatay B. at our last time for visits... it was dark by now, and they live semi-bukid... but anyways we went to visit with them and tried to teach them something, but Elder Holley just couldn't feel anything to teach... and we both discussed about this afterwards... there was more than just us and them present at that visit. There was this eerie feeling and something that didn't like us missionaries being there. Their dog outside had also stopped barking and started to whimper... it felt it too. So we closed our visit with a prayer and left a special blessing upon their home so that they would be safe there and feel love there. As we walked back to the road both of us had shivers, until we were at the road and waiting for a sakay(transport) with some of our friends in the area (both members and non-members, cause there are heaps of people that know us missionaries an love to just talk with us).
My testimony this email is that Satan is real... and so are his servants. They do exist and area s real as we are. They have power also, but we need to remember that we have more. We have gained a physical body and that gives us power over them. We have power through prayer also, as I spoke about last email. We can ask our Heavenly Father for anything we need, for protection, for help, for guidance. From my experience with my foot, I may have still been hurt even after we prayer for protection... but he did grant us protection. I still have my foot and the injury was nowhere near as serious as it could have been. And this is in similitude of our lives. Heavenly Father will not remove our trials and challenges. If he did, what would we learn?, how would we learn? Although this is the case, he will give us help to overcome our trials and challenges ourselves, that we may learn and grow from our experiences. "As we follow the commandments of God we will prosper" That is the lesson that has been repeated over and over in my readings in the Book of Mormon this week. It does not say "if we keep the commandments, life will be easier", or "we will have no trials". We will prosper... we will have the help from God, our Heavenly Father to overcome our trials and challenges, our problems and concerns, through our own efforts magnified by the help of the Lord. I know that Heavenly Father loves us all and will bless us if we but choose to follow his commandments.
I miss you all, and love you so much too,
Nahigugma ko kaninyo!
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
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Terri here: Notice the "But other than that our week has gone really well" So other than chopping my foot all is good!!! So casual about it!! And photos over on the photo page!! And I have asked how come he was splitting logs while wearing flip flops/thongs!! Anyway all is good, it's not real bad, but it's not just a scratch either! And the bit about the trikes...I just told him I was a little worried that they are up there on top with no helmets, you know, just being a Mother!!!!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Letter #18 (Dec 7th, 2011)
Hey all...
So we are doing awesome here in Loon! So about my week. Lots of lessons and lots of success. This Saturday we have 3 convert baptisms... Yay! and a child of record baptism as well... 4 in total! We have been finding so many less-actives this week and as we have done so come into contact with people who are being prepared to hear the message of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I have a story for the blog as well...
There is one family who has been less-active in the church for a long time now... they come to church maybe once every 4 months or so (so im told), and we have been visiting with them and teaching them. last week we visited with them and taught them about prayer. They all fish for a living in the family and each night at 4 they go out to fish and return in the morning to the market with all their fish to sell to get money to live off. The last few time we had visited with them they said they hadnt been catching much at all, only 2 or 3 fish. So after teaching about prayer we committed them to pray as a family before going out to fish each night, and to ask God or Heavenly Father to bless them with a greater catch. We then proceeded to promise them in the name of Jesus Christ, as we are representatives of Jesus Christ as we serve this mission, that if they did so, that they would have an increased catch and would be blessed to be able to obtain the money the needed for all their needs for food and water. So we returned on Mon this week and they proceed to tell this amazing story. They were intrigued by our promise and decided to try such. They prayed as a family and headed out to fish at sea. They said as they went out it was just the same as another other night, but as they began to fish that the sea began to be filled with fish. They said it was amazing how many fish there were there and they were able to catch heaps of fish. They said they stopped to give thanks to Heavenly Father right then and there for the wonderful blessing that had occurred. They told us how other nights they didnt pray and their catch was the small 2-5 fish which couldnt provide much for their needs but when they prayed as a family before going out they were able to catch so much more and there was so much more fish in the sea. What a wonderful testimony to the power of prayer in our lives.
To those unbelievers who read this and say "It was just a coincidence..." I say to you "Try my words now and pray to your Father in Heaven to feel his love in your life. Pray to know that he is really there and that he cares for you." I testify that God does exist and he is our loving Heavenly Father. He cares for each and everyone of us and knows our individual needs. I know that through prayer we have a means to communicate with him and he will listen to our every word. I know that there is power in our prayers.
Thats me for this week.
I love it here but still miss you all,
Nahigugma ko kaninyo,
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
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Terri here: Just a short email this week.
So we are doing awesome here in Loon! So about my week. Lots of lessons and lots of success. This Saturday we have 3 convert baptisms... Yay! and a child of record baptism as well... 4 in total! We have been finding so many less-actives this week and as we have done so come into contact with people who are being prepared to hear the message of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I have a story for the blog as well...
There is one family who has been less-active in the church for a long time now... they come to church maybe once every 4 months or so (so im told), and we have been visiting with them and teaching them. last week we visited with them and taught them about prayer. They all fish for a living in the family and each night at 4 they go out to fish and return in the morning to the market with all their fish to sell to get money to live off. The last few time we had visited with them they said they hadnt been catching much at all, only 2 or 3 fish. So after teaching about prayer we committed them to pray as a family before going out to fish each night, and to ask God or Heavenly Father to bless them with a greater catch. We then proceeded to promise them in the name of Jesus Christ, as we are representatives of Jesus Christ as we serve this mission, that if they did so, that they would have an increased catch and would be blessed to be able to obtain the money the needed for all their needs for food and water. So we returned on Mon this week and they proceed to tell this amazing story. They were intrigued by our promise and decided to try such. They prayed as a family and headed out to fish at sea. They said as they went out it was just the same as another other night, but as they began to fish that the sea began to be filled with fish. They said it was amazing how many fish there were there and they were able to catch heaps of fish. They said they stopped to give thanks to Heavenly Father right then and there for the wonderful blessing that had occurred. They told us how other nights they didnt pray and their catch was the small 2-5 fish which couldnt provide much for their needs but when they prayed as a family before going out they were able to catch so much more and there was so much more fish in the sea. What a wonderful testimony to the power of prayer in our lives.
To those unbelievers who read this and say "It was just a coincidence..." I say to you "Try my words now and pray to your Father in Heaven to feel his love in your life. Pray to know that he is really there and that he cares for you." I testify that God does exist and he is our loving Heavenly Father. He cares for each and everyone of us and knows our individual needs. I know that through prayer we have a means to communicate with him and he will listen to our every word. I know that there is power in our prayers.
Thats me for this week.
I love it here but still miss you all,
Nahigugma ko kaninyo,
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
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Terri here: Just a short email this week.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Letter #17 (Nov 30th, 2011)
Hi all,
My week has been very interesting... I have some stories for you all. But more on that later.
Elder Holley is still with me now at least until Dec 20th and then after that we're not sure.
So about the week.
Last Wed for Pday I had my first thanksgiving... because in every companionship in our zone there is an american. It was great because we got together and ate a ton of food (see the picture) and just played frisbee and table tennis and other things as well. It was a really relaxing day.
Thur we had a typical out and about day with lessons and rejections and making the school girls blush at lunch by talking to them in their own language. Fun, fun, fun!
Fri was an interesting day. We were visiting Tatay Pinales and he told us about a less active that lived up in the bukid... he said "...unahan gamay sa eskwelahan, duol ra..." which translated means "...oh its just past the school, its real close...". So we started out on this trail which seemd to lead us straight up inot the bukid. Here we are thinking"Theres a school up here???" but we continue... we end up really bukid, and lost. We see a bunch of bananas on the ground freshly cut and a woman running away from us. (in visayan) "Dont run away. We just want to ask a question!" She stops running and we ask if there is a school further along the path. She says there is and we continue along the path. after a total of 30mins or so we make it to this school in the middle of this nothing town. So we continue on to find this house of the less active member and when we finally get there... shes not home!!! ARGH! But it was okay. We found a sweet basket ball court in the bukid (see photo) which Elder Holley and I commented would make for a great pokemon gym. (thats for all those pokemon fans out there, who will understand when they see the photo)
So we got shown this weird lookin crab by Nanay Bordargo... its was so freaky i took a picture (see picture). How weird is that thing?!
Tues we had a CSP... we moved a ton of dirt... literally... with shovels and 40kg cement bags... it was long tiring and fun... we were all dripping sweat everywhere and so grotty. It was great!
Finally a picture that shows just how much of a paradise my area is... everyone will be so jealous! It is a small pier in my area where some of the men there dock their fishing boats.
I am again enjoying everything here and working hard as well. I am always so tired at the end of each day but feel the Spirit so string as well. This is truly an amazing experience and I cannot believe i have been out 4 months already on my misison.
Love you all, miss you all,
Naghigugma ko kaninyo,
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
My week has been very interesting... I have some stories for you all. But more on that later.
Elder Holley is still with me now at least until Dec 20th and then after that we're not sure.
So about the week.
Last Wed for Pday I had my first thanksgiving... because in every companionship in our zone there is an american. It was great because we got together and ate a ton of food (see the picture) and just played frisbee and table tennis and other things as well. It was a really relaxing day.
Thur we had a typical out and about day with lessons and rejections and making the school girls blush at lunch by talking to them in their own language. Fun, fun, fun!
Fri was an interesting day. We were visiting Tatay Pinales and he told us about a less active that lived up in the bukid... he said "...unahan gamay sa eskwelahan, duol ra..." which translated means "...oh its just past the school, its real close...". So we started out on this trail which seemd to lead us straight up inot the bukid. Here we are thinking"Theres a school up here???" but we continue... we end up really bukid, and lost. We see a bunch of bananas on the ground freshly cut and a woman running away from us. (in visayan) "Dont run away. We just want to ask a question!" She stops running and we ask if there is a school further along the path. She says there is and we continue along the path. after a total of 30mins or so we make it to this school in the middle of this nothing town. So we continue on to find this house of the less active member and when we finally get there... shes not home!!! ARGH! But it was okay. We found a sweet basket ball court in the bukid (see photo) which Elder Holley and I commented would make for a great pokemon gym. (thats for all those pokemon fans out there, who will understand when they see the photo)
So we got shown this weird lookin crab by Nanay Bordargo... its was so freaky i took a picture (see picture). How weird is that thing?!
Tues we had a CSP... we moved a ton of dirt... literally... with shovels and 40kg cement bags... it was long tiring and fun... we were all dripping sweat everywhere and so grotty. It was great!
Finally a picture that shows just how much of a paradise my area is... everyone will be so jealous! It is a small pier in my area where some of the men there dock their fishing boats.
I am again enjoying everything here and working hard as well. I am always so tired at the end of each day but feel the Spirit so string as well. This is truly an amazing experience and I cannot believe i have been out 4 months already on my misison.
Love you all, miss you all,
Naghigugma ko kaninyo,
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
Letter #16 (Nov 23rd, 2011)
Hi all,
this week has been great! and i love kinilaw so there is no way im not going to eat it. We are having fun tracting new areas and meeting new people. It is great, and the people are often so kind to us. The guys always want us to stop and play basketball, or volley ball, or ping pong, or billards, basically anything they are playing.
We planted rice yesterday... so now not only have i harvested but planted as well. We were all covered in mud by the time we finised... like it was really caked on.
I have sent some photos as well for you.
There is one of me washing my clothes by hand. one of my area after it rained for 5minutes. Another of me riding on top of a tricycle thingo.
Hope you are all enjoying life and having fun without me.
Miss you all...
Love you, Naghigugma ko kaninyo!
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
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Terri here: Just a short letter for the blog. I've also added the photos he sent.
this week has been great! and i love kinilaw so there is no way im not going to eat it. We are having fun tracting new areas and meeting new people. It is great, and the people are often so kind to us. The guys always want us to stop and play basketball, or volley ball, or ping pong, or billards, basically anything they are playing.
We planted rice yesterday... so now not only have i harvested but planted as well. We were all covered in mud by the time we finised... like it was really caked on.
I have sent some photos as well for you.
There is one of me washing my clothes by hand. one of my area after it rained for 5minutes. Another of me riding on top of a tricycle thingo.
Hope you are all enjoying life and having fun without me.
Miss you all...
Love you, Naghigugma ko kaninyo!
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
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Terri here: Just a short letter for the blog. I've also added the photos he sent.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Letter #15 (Nov 16th, 2011)
Hi all,
We are doing great here in Loon again this week!
bananas here are only like equivalent to $1:20 a kilo... if that... otherwise theyre free off the tree! :P
He wrote the other week that they had made Banana smoothies for about 5 days in a row!! I told him I was jealous because bananas here are still $5 - $6 a kilo, and I haven't bought them for ages!!
our apartment is really good compared to other elders. in Inabunga, thats the area of elder irvin, their house is an old funeral home were they would keep the dead bodies and dress them for the funerals. it is seriously creepy. we stayed there the other night cause we had csp (community service project) there the next day and it is real far from our area. Both me and elder Holley are sure the place is haunted... and you just feel 'something' we you walk in.... its weird.
Its hard to get balut here, and you can only get it a night in certain areas... so i have only eaten it once so far. but i always go and buy 'puto puto' now which is those little sweet rice cake things the philos always make for the parties. Lami siya!
At csp we killed a chicken as a zone... this will bring back memories for reg... and then cooked it with the help of a family and ate it. we also planted corn, chopped wood and harvested a bunch of papaya. it was good fun and the people were real nice as well... of course. they live on the side of this mountainous hill. to get down, you go snowboarding without the snow of the board, and with mud instead. to get back up you climb/crawl almost. it was really cool and i will send pictures next week for you all to see.
other cool things that happened this week... perhaps for the blog... we found a dog that had tangled it self i a hamock and couldnt get out... i bet dad will find that one funny... i got a picture of that too. also because its been raining, we have to tract in the mud... when we get home i have tan shoes and the bottom of my pants are caked in the stuff. Also we got to ride on the top of a trike thingo last pday... i have pictures... which was so awesome... we layed down on the top superman style. Dig our front neighbour has a dog that has gone insane and barks at 4 in the morning while trying to choke itself with its collar... sounds hilarious but is really annoying when you are trying to sleep. Oh and also, i have now eaten kinilaw two times... but i havent died so all is good... and it tastes pretty good when the philos make it right.
Something really funny, there was this truck that is used for loading dirt/ sand in the back it was passing our house in the morning while we were waiting for a bus. and there was this guy on the back with a shovel pretending to be rowing the truck with the shovel it was absolutely hilarious and we were laughing for a good 5 mins.
Thats about all this week, i need to send photos ane will do that next week (forgot my card reader, cause we are in tagbilaran, the big city of bohol which has the 'big mall'... about half the size of parra westfield.
Love you all muchly, miss you all (but not too much, cause its awesome here)
Naghigugma ko kaninyo!
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
P.S. word of the week...
"Alah" [ah-luh] - used with great emotional emphasis to signify surprise at a comment, action, or object (it sounds absolutely hilarious we done properly by a true philippino, perhaps you can ask Michael to show you :P)
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Terri here: kinilaw is made with raw fish (but a friend says it can also be raw beef) and apparently you have to be real careful when you eat it to be sure it's made properly so you don't get sick!! We were warned to tell him not to eat it, but he'll try anything, hence the "But I haven't died so all is good" line in his email. And "Reg" Is a nickname for Taylor's cousin who served in the Philippines in the Angeles area.
We are doing great here in Loon again this week!
bananas here are only like equivalent to $1:20 a kilo... if that... otherwise theyre free off the tree! :P
He wrote the other week that they had made Banana smoothies for about 5 days in a row!! I told him I was jealous because bananas here are still $5 - $6 a kilo, and I haven't bought them for ages!!
our apartment is really good compared to other elders. in Inabunga, thats the area of elder irvin, their house is an old funeral home were they would keep the dead bodies and dress them for the funerals. it is seriously creepy. we stayed there the other night cause we had csp (community service project) there the next day and it is real far from our area. Both me and elder Holley are sure the place is haunted... and you just feel 'something' we you walk in.... its weird.
Its hard to get balut here, and you can only get it a night in certain areas... so i have only eaten it once so far. but i always go and buy 'puto puto' now which is those little sweet rice cake things the philos always make for the parties. Lami siya!
At csp we killed a chicken as a zone... this will bring back memories for reg... and then cooked it with the help of a family and ate it. we also planted corn, chopped wood and harvested a bunch of papaya. it was good fun and the people were real nice as well... of course. they live on the side of this mountainous hill. to get down, you go snowboarding without the snow of the board, and with mud instead. to get back up you climb/crawl almost. it was really cool and i will send pictures next week for you all to see.
other cool things that happened this week... perhaps for the blog... we found a dog that had tangled it self i a hamock and couldnt get out... i bet dad will find that one funny... i got a picture of that too. also because its been raining, we have to tract in the mud... when we get home i have tan shoes and the bottom of my pants are caked in the stuff. Also we got to ride on the top of a trike thingo last pday... i have pictures... which was so awesome... we layed down on the top superman style. Dig our front neighbour has a dog that has gone insane and barks at 4 in the morning while trying to choke itself with its collar... sounds hilarious but is really annoying when you are trying to sleep. Oh and also, i have now eaten kinilaw two times... but i havent died so all is good... and it tastes pretty good when the philos make it right.
Something really funny, there was this truck that is used for loading dirt/ sand in the back it was passing our house in the morning while we were waiting for a bus. and there was this guy on the back with a shovel pretending to be rowing the truck with the shovel it was absolutely hilarious and we were laughing for a good 5 mins.
Thats about all this week, i need to send photos ane will do that next week (forgot my card reader, cause we are in tagbilaran, the big city of bohol which has the 'big mall'... about half the size of parra westfield.
Love you all muchly, miss you all (but not too much, cause its awesome here)
Naghigugma ko kaninyo!
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
P.S. word of the week...
"Alah" [ah-luh] - used with great emotional emphasis to signify surprise at a comment, action, or object (it sounds absolutely hilarious we done properly by a true philippino, perhaps you can ask Michael to show you :P)
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Terri here: kinilaw is made with raw fish (but a friend says it can also be raw beef) and apparently you have to be real careful when you eat it to be sure it's made properly so you don't get sick!! We were warned to tell him not to eat it, but he'll try anything, hence the "But I haven't died so all is good" line in his email. And "Reg" Is a nickname for Taylor's cousin who served in the Philippines in the Angeles area.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Letter #14 (Nov 9th, 2011)
Hey everyone!
We here in Loon are doing great! I am having so much fun and working so hard gihapon(also). We had another baptism on Sat. She has been investigating for quite a while but there was issues before with her bana but they were resolved so we proceded with the baptism. It was great and Elder Holley performed the baptism. She has a new born boy as well who was blessed at church the same day she was confirmed. What a great experience for her in the church!
I love the people here as they are all so kind... even the random people on the street that we contact. They are always happy to talk with us although sometimes hesitant cause we are two white guys that more often than not they dont think we speak visayan.
We had a CSP yesterday where we were slicing open coconuts and scraping out the insides for one of the sisters investigators. We also got to slice the tops of the coconut and drink the juice straight from the inside.... it was great!
Thank you for putting all my stuff away, but to be honest with you, now that i have lived here in the philippines for these 6 weeks, i can say that all that stuff is not important any more. I can see that clearly now. That doesnt mean that it wasnt fun or that it was a waste, or that you can go and throw it all away, but it is not as important as other things in life. Your all thinking "What has happened to you? Were is Taylor?" but alot of my perspective on things has changed. You are so rich, like ridiculously rich, its not funny. You have everything you need plus extra, enough for hobbies and leisure activities and even toilet paper. We live a life of paradise compared to the people here, and this experience is so humbling.
I dont know i have talked about Tatay B.... before... but he is the classiest, most talented, greatest Tatay ever! He must be like 60 or so, but he does everything. He made his own guitar and ukelele out of coconut shells and other wood and he plays them so well. He is building a second house at the moment by himself, and he is always wearing the classy button up shirt over a v neck tee, with a sweet cap tilted to the side and stylish pants. He is just awesome!
We had transfer call this morning. Only one person in our zone is tranfering and later today we are going touring with some members.
I love it here! I love the people, the culture, the food ( i dont know if i told you i ate balut and loved it!). It is just great here. And also i love the members, the investigators, the feeling of having the Spirit all the time, the other missionaries and everything is just awesome in everyway possible.
Love you lots, miss you just as much
Naghigugma ko kanimo,
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
Hey Dad,
had an interesting encounter with some cats at our branch presidents balay(house) with his youngest son, who is 7yrs old. He grabs hold of the cats, and pretends that they are motorcycles, and rides them on the floor. It is absolutely HILARIOUS!!! I will try to get a video of it cause it is so much more funny than pictures, especially when you hear all the funny noises the cats make.
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Terri here: A balut is a fertilized duck embryo that is boiled alive and eaten in the shell.
I have added some photos this week. Please go check them out!!
We here in Loon are doing great! I am having so much fun and working so hard gihapon(also). We had another baptism on Sat. She has been investigating for quite a while but there was issues before with her bana but they were resolved so we proceded with the baptism. It was great and Elder Holley performed the baptism. She has a new born boy as well who was blessed at church the same day she was confirmed. What a great experience for her in the church!
I love the people here as they are all so kind... even the random people on the street that we contact. They are always happy to talk with us although sometimes hesitant cause we are two white guys that more often than not they dont think we speak visayan.
We had a CSP yesterday where we were slicing open coconuts and scraping out the insides for one of the sisters investigators. We also got to slice the tops of the coconut and drink the juice straight from the inside.... it was great!
Thank you for putting all my stuff away, but to be honest with you, now that i have lived here in the philippines for these 6 weeks, i can say that all that stuff is not important any more. I can see that clearly now. That doesnt mean that it wasnt fun or that it was a waste, or that you can go and throw it all away, but it is not as important as other things in life. Your all thinking "What has happened to you? Were is Taylor?" but alot of my perspective on things has changed. You are so rich, like ridiculously rich, its not funny. You have everything you need plus extra, enough for hobbies and leisure activities and even toilet paper. We live a life of paradise compared to the people here, and this experience is so humbling.
I dont know i have talked about Tatay B.... before... but he is the classiest, most talented, greatest Tatay ever! He must be like 60 or so, but he does everything. He made his own guitar and ukelele out of coconut shells and other wood and he plays them so well. He is building a second house at the moment by himself, and he is always wearing the classy button up shirt over a v neck tee, with a sweet cap tilted to the side and stylish pants. He is just awesome!
We had transfer call this morning. Only one person in our zone is tranfering and later today we are going touring with some members.
I love it here! I love the people, the culture, the food ( i dont know if i told you i ate balut and loved it!). It is just great here. And also i love the members, the investigators, the feeling of having the Spirit all the time, the other missionaries and everything is just awesome in everyway possible.
Love you lots, miss you just as much
Naghigugma ko kanimo,
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
Hey Dad,
had an interesting encounter with some cats at our branch presidents balay(house) with his youngest son, who is 7yrs old. He grabs hold of the cats, and pretends that they are motorcycles, and rides them on the floor. It is absolutely HILARIOUS!!! I will try to get a video of it cause it is so much more funny than pictures, especially when you hear all the funny noises the cats make.
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Terri here: A balut is a fertilized duck embryo that is boiled alive and eaten in the shell.
I have added some photos this week. Please go check them out!!
Letter #13 (Nov 2, 2011)
Hey!
Im great. How are you all?
About the weather... this could go on the blog... we have whats called
the 'odto ulan' - let me explain:
odto is the time between about 11am and 12:30pm and ulan means rain.
So basically we have this rain that appears out of nowhere, hammers
down for a 30min period during the odto time period.... and then just
dissapears. Its fun because all the philos run for cover right before
11 cause they are all scared of the rain.
We are having so much fun and working our butts off... i am so
exhausted at the end of each day. Its GREAT!
Miss you all, love you muchly,
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
************************************************************************************************************
Terri here: A short letter this week, because Stoo emailed him this week and Taylor sent 3 emails home. 1 to Stoo, 1 to Reilly and 1 to me. Of course mine was the shortest!!
Im great. How are you all?
About the weather... this could go on the blog... we have whats called
the 'odto ulan' - let me explain:
odto is the time between about 11am and 12:30pm and ulan means rain.
So basically we have this rain that appears out of nowhere, hammers
down for a 30min period during the odto time period.... and then just
dissapears. Its fun because all the philos run for cover right before
11 cause they are all scared of the rain.
We are having so much fun and working our butts off... i am so
exhausted at the end of each day. Its GREAT!
Miss you all, love you muchly,
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
************************************************************************************************************
Terri here: A short letter this week, because Stoo emailed him this week and Taylor sent 3 emails home. 1 to Stoo, 1 to Reilly and 1 to me. Of course mine was the shortest!!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Letter #12 (October 26th, 2011)
Hey all, so this week i decided id just look through my journal and account for every day these past two weeks for you... okay? cool.
thur 13...
we teach on average about 4 lessons everyday or so and today was a typical teaching day. After we had finished everything up, i did another load of washing for the week, in preparation for Elder Holland's visit in Cebu.
Fri 14...
We had zone interviews in Calape, which is the neighbouring area of the sisters. Pres and Sis Schmutz came and visited with us to see how our zone was doing in regards to our individual companionships and how our area books are looking. Luckily for me Elder Holley is really kugihan(dilligent) and keeps everything in order and he is teaching me to do so as well. We had lunch with them, lechon manok, and headed back to work.
sat 15...
We had a baptism today of one of our investigators, Nanay Isang. One of the members was planned in the program to perform the baptism, but they didnt show up... so guess who got to perform the baptism?! Me! My first baptism ever... and it was a little bit difficult because Nanay has had a stroke and cant use her left side of her body, but we managed to be able to perform the baptism properly in the first go. Oh, also, we harvested rice in the morning, and i got to see how we get our rice. I got sunburnt and learnt some new visayas. You definitely want to wash your rice before you cook it, thats all im going to say.
sun16...
Another baptism but for the Sisters in calape. Elder Holley as the district leader had to go over there for the interview so we stayed for the baptism as well. Our zone is flourishing really well at the moment which is just great.
mon17...
We got told there was a fiesta going on in one of our areas in Loon, Catagbacan, but the information turned out to be a false lead... turns out it was tomorrow, so that was all the i2ls we had planned out the window. But we still got some really good member present lessons with our investigators.
tues18...
Cunning plan for i2l's #1: write down a whole heap of names. Ask people if they have met or know where they live. Ask them if the have met the missionaries before. invite them to hear our message.
weds19...
We found paradise! today we tracted this small baranggay behind where we live and it had white sand beaches!!! I have some photos which i will send either next week in an email or in 2 weeks in a letter. We searched for names and ended up going round in circles. We had a lesson with a couple and the husband turned up half way through drunk from karaoke with his mates... but soon left cause he wanted to go back to karaoke. It was a very interesting experience, but we ended up having a good lesson with his wife. We travelled to Tubigon, where the port is, and stayed at the zone leaders house so we could get up to get the barge to Cebu in the morning.
thurs20...
We got up at 4:00 so we could all get ready and have showers... (there was 8 of us) Turns out the fast barge was cancelled so we were on the semi-fast one which got us to Cebu. We caught up with people and then have the Elder Holland visit. We got a mission photo with him and then went inside with everyone shaking his hand on the way in! I was sitting right in the front row cause i was playing piano for the choir. It was just a great spiritual experience and we had a great time. We headed back to the pier to get the last barge to Bohol at night... but they wouldnt let us on!!! So we had to ended up staying in the apartment of the city elders, in Elder Laxtons apartment, and there was about 20 of us elders this time.
fri21...
We got an early boat back to Bohol and opened the package... it was a brown package with photos, cherryripes and a note. We did splits today with the priesthood from the ward and had great experiences with them in teaching less actives and recent converts.
sat22...
People in the philippines really enjoy playing hide-and-seek especially if you are white and a missionary who has a message to share with them, and especially if you have met them before as well. We approach the house, they see us coming and, nag-tago-tago sila! But thats just one part of the work here... sorting those who want to hear this message and those who want to play hide-and-seek. A funny experience for the blog... Me and Elder Holley were tracting and decided to take this back path, which was really just walking through jungle brush... but we came to this group of houses and there was a bunch of philos standing around, but we had an appointment to get to, so we just said "agi lang mi" (just passing by!") and walked right on through... it was absolutely hilarious to see the looks on their faces... two white guys just walk out of the jungle, wearing white shirts and ties and speaking visayan, just walk past a bunch of philos... they were surprised to say the least!
sun23...
Typical sunday, except i got to show of my drawing skills that dad taught me to one family we visited tonight in helping one of the kids with a school assignment. Oh, and the family say that dad looks gwapo!!!
mon24...
The Lord works miracles in the lives of individuals. The Lord uses missionaries to complete his purposes. Two facts shown to be true today. We have been teaching this one young man all the lessons but he hasnt been attending church. But then yesterday his aunt attends church out of the blue with the branch presidents wife. So like the good missionaries we are we follow up. when we arrive at her house she asks us if she can talk with us and if we can teach her the things we have been teaching her nephew over at the branch presidents house. It turns out that she had just had some difficulties with her husband and didnt know where to turn but then remembered the missionaries that had been teaching her nephew and how the things they were teaching him had affected his life for the better so knew exactly where to turn for help. How amazing is that!
tues25...
Member present lessons today... and we worked with a less active priesthood holder in the ward. He came with us to two lessons with investigators and the experience for him was truly amazing and helped to develop his faith and testimony. He has only recently come back but i feel that he has a great desire to make the effort to come to church every sunday.
wed 26th...
We went river trecking today and it was awesome. I cooked adobo for the district and we had lunch under a waterfall besides a cave. Will send photos...
So that was the last while, i have lots of photos to send and no means at this little internet cafe here in Loon. Tomorrow we are off to Cebu again so tonight we are at Tubigon again. I may get to try balut tonight, depending on how things work out tonight.
Love you lots... missing you heaps...
Nahigugma ko kaninyo
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
****************************************************************************************************************
Terri here: Not much to add to his letter this week!! I hope you are enjoying his experiences like we are!!
thur 13...
we teach on average about 4 lessons everyday or so and today was a typical teaching day. After we had finished everything up, i did another load of washing for the week, in preparation for Elder Holland's visit in Cebu.
Fri 14...
We had zone interviews in Calape, which is the neighbouring area of the sisters. Pres and Sis Schmutz came and visited with us to see how our zone was doing in regards to our individual companionships and how our area books are looking. Luckily for me Elder Holley is really kugihan(dilligent) and keeps everything in order and he is teaching me to do so as well. We had lunch with them, lechon manok, and headed back to work.
sat 15...
We had a baptism today of one of our investigators, Nanay Isang. One of the members was planned in the program to perform the baptism, but they didnt show up... so guess who got to perform the baptism?! Me! My first baptism ever... and it was a little bit difficult because Nanay has had a stroke and cant use her left side of her body, but we managed to be able to perform the baptism properly in the first go. Oh, also, we harvested rice in the morning, and i got to see how we get our rice. I got sunburnt and learnt some new visayas. You definitely want to wash your rice before you cook it, thats all im going to say.
sun16...
Another baptism but for the Sisters in calape. Elder Holley as the district leader had to go over there for the interview so we stayed for the baptism as well. Our zone is flourishing really well at the moment which is just great.
mon17...
We got told there was a fiesta going on in one of our areas in Loon, Catagbacan, but the information turned out to be a false lead... turns out it was tomorrow, so that was all the i2ls we had planned out the window. But we still got some really good member present lessons with our investigators.
tues18...
Cunning plan for i2l's #1: write down a whole heap of names. Ask people if they have met or know where they live. Ask them if the have met the missionaries before. invite them to hear our message.
weds19...
We found paradise! today we tracted this small baranggay behind where we live and it had white sand beaches!!! I have some photos which i will send either next week in an email or in 2 weeks in a letter. We searched for names and ended up going round in circles. We had a lesson with a couple and the husband turned up half way through drunk from karaoke with his mates... but soon left cause he wanted to go back to karaoke. It was a very interesting experience, but we ended up having a good lesson with his wife. We travelled to Tubigon, where the port is, and stayed at the zone leaders house so we could get up to get the barge to Cebu in the morning.
thurs20...
We got up at 4:00 so we could all get ready and have showers... (there was 8 of us) Turns out the fast barge was cancelled so we were on the semi-fast one which got us to Cebu. We caught up with people and then have the Elder Holland visit. We got a mission photo with him and then went inside with everyone shaking his hand on the way in! I was sitting right in the front row cause i was playing piano for the choir. It was just a great spiritual experience and we had a great time. We headed back to the pier to get the last barge to Bohol at night... but they wouldnt let us on!!! So we had to ended up staying in the apartment of the city elders, in Elder Laxtons apartment, and there was about 20 of us elders this time.
fri21...
We got an early boat back to Bohol and opened the package... it was a brown package with photos, cherryripes and a note. We did splits today with the priesthood from the ward and had great experiences with them in teaching less actives and recent converts.
sat22...
People in the philippines really enjoy playing hide-and-seek especially if you are white and a missionary who has a message to share with them, and especially if you have met them before as well. We approach the house, they see us coming and, nag-tago-tago sila! But thats just one part of the work here... sorting those who want to hear this message and those who want to play hide-and-seek. A funny experience for the blog... Me and Elder Holley were tracting and decided to take this back path, which was really just walking through jungle brush... but we came to this group of houses and there was a bunch of philos standing around, but we had an appointment to get to, so we just said "agi lang mi" (just passing by!") and walked right on through... it was absolutely hilarious to see the looks on their faces... two white guys just walk out of the jungle, wearing white shirts and ties and speaking visayan, just walk past a bunch of philos... they were surprised to say the least!
sun23...
Typical sunday, except i got to show of my drawing skills that dad taught me to one family we visited tonight in helping one of the kids with a school assignment. Oh, and the family say that dad looks gwapo!!!
mon24...
The Lord works miracles in the lives of individuals. The Lord uses missionaries to complete his purposes. Two facts shown to be true today. We have been teaching this one young man all the lessons but he hasnt been attending church. But then yesterday his aunt attends church out of the blue with the branch presidents wife. So like the good missionaries we are we follow up. when we arrive at her house she asks us if she can talk with us and if we can teach her the things we have been teaching her nephew over at the branch presidents house. It turns out that she had just had some difficulties with her husband and didnt know where to turn but then remembered the missionaries that had been teaching her nephew and how the things they were teaching him had affected his life for the better so knew exactly where to turn for help. How amazing is that!
tues25...
Member present lessons today... and we worked with a less active priesthood holder in the ward. He came with us to two lessons with investigators and the experience for him was truly amazing and helped to develop his faith and testimony. He has only recently come back but i feel that he has a great desire to make the effort to come to church every sunday.
wed 26th...
We went river trecking today and it was awesome. I cooked adobo for the district and we had lunch under a waterfall besides a cave. Will send photos...
So that was the last while, i have lots of photos to send and no means at this little internet cafe here in Loon. Tomorrow we are off to Cebu again so tonight we are at Tubigon again. I may get to try balut tonight, depending on how things work out tonight.
Love you lots... missing you heaps...
Nahigugma ko kaninyo
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
****************************************************************************************************************
Terri here: Not much to add to his letter this week!! I hope you are enjoying his experiences like we are!!
Letter #11 (October 21st, 2011)
We asked Taylor some questions this week, and I've put in his answers!!
How's things? Is your stomach okay? I hope you've been good, health wise, this last week. Now can you try and answer some questions for us?
1. Are you eating anything other than rice and meat?
Our schedule has been really messed up so i have to be quick and then next week ill have a really long letter/email for you. I will try to answer all the questions real quick though.
Things are great, and my stomach is fine. We have been eating all sorts of stuff like meat fruits fish, etc.
2. Are you buying snacks to carry with you like Michelle told you to?
We don't carry round much snacks but we do buy things when we get hungry.
3. Why are you staying WAY under budget? (You need to buy veges and Fruit!!!...and then eat them!!)
We are staying way under budget cause we don't spend our money on fast food or waste electricity or water.Says the boy who use to have 20 minute showers!!!
4. Where is your companion from? ...other than the States!!!
He's from Utah and knows most ppl from my batch of elders that were from there as well.
5. How's your branch going? We pray for your branch, but do you want us to be specific about anything?
The branch is coming along well and the members are all really strong so no not really anything specific atm.
6. Have you got mail from anyone?
Oh, thanks for the pictures, i got them yesterday after Elder Holland's visit. And i did get Kristy's letter, can you let her know as ive been really busy
7. Have you been getting to play any piano? (Those of you that know Taylor know he absolutely LOVES to play the piano....to the point that his Dad would ask him to stop practising!!)
yes last sunday i played in the ward and they were all amazed that i could play while watching the choirister who was to me right and sort of behind me...(so basically i was playing without looking)
8. How was the typhoon experience?
Well, it never really hit Bohol like they said it would... but Cebu had a bunch of rain.
And the other questions... YES we have been VERY busy with everything thats been happening. I'll write more next week cause we have to be quick cause its not Pday.
And there are 4 of us on Bohol. Elder Irvin and me and Elder Dustin are in the same zone and then elder Dustins mtc companion elder Herbst is in the neighbouring zone
Love you all,
Thankyou for all the support and your prayers...
Naghigugma ko kaninyo
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
How's things? Is your stomach okay? I hope you've been good, health wise, this last week. Now can you try and answer some questions for us?
1. Are you eating anything other than rice and meat?
Our schedule has been really messed up so i have to be quick and then next week ill have a really long letter/email for you. I will try to answer all the questions real quick though.
Things are great, and my stomach is fine. We have been eating all sorts of stuff like meat fruits fish, etc.
2. Are you buying snacks to carry with you like Michelle told you to?
We don't carry round much snacks but we do buy things when we get hungry.
3. Why are you staying WAY under budget? (You need to buy veges and Fruit!!!...and then eat them!!)
We are staying way under budget cause we don't spend our money on fast food or waste electricity or water.Says the boy who use to have 20 minute showers!!!
4. Where is your companion from? ...other than the States!!!
He's from Utah and knows most ppl from my batch of elders that were from there as well.
5. How's your branch going? We pray for your branch, but do you want us to be specific about anything?
The branch is coming along well and the members are all really strong so no not really anything specific atm.
6. Have you got mail from anyone?
Oh, thanks for the pictures, i got them yesterday after Elder Holland's visit. And i did get Kristy's letter, can you let her know as ive been really busy
7. Have you been getting to play any piano? (Those of you that know Taylor know he absolutely LOVES to play the piano....to the point that his Dad would ask him to stop practising!!)
yes last sunday i played in the ward and they were all amazed that i could play while watching the choirister who was to me right and sort of behind me...(so basically i was playing without looking)
8. How was the typhoon experience?
Well, it never really hit Bohol like they said it would... but Cebu had a bunch of rain.
And the other questions... YES we have been VERY busy with everything thats been happening. I'll write more next week cause we have to be quick cause its not Pday.
And there are 4 of us on Bohol. Elder Irvin and me and Elder Dustin are in the same zone and then elder Dustins mtc companion elder Herbst is in the neighbouring zone
Love you all,
Thankyou for all the support and your prayers...
Naghigugma ko kaninyo
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
Friday, October 21, 2011
Letter # 10 (October 12th, 2011.)
Hey all,
Another week and more great experiences with the mission.
But before I start you have to know that, you know how you were following that blog of that Sister missionary in Cebu mission and the story about her companion getting scared by some perverts that tried to spy on them in their appartment... well she is in my district! Sister Robison... small world. She is really hard working and always pushing our district to achieve more than the mission standards.
Our district is doing great and this week we ad a combined effort of 1200 "invitations to learn" in the zone.Thats with only 5 companionships. I dont know if you know what they are... so they are when we meet someone, introduce ourselves as missionaries, share a little and invite them to learn more. We have been working real hard on doing the best we can. This week in my compaionship we taught a total of 25 lessons and that was with half of sat with conference and sun also with conference and having to go to the hospital. Now dont freak out yet... cause you havent heard the story. That will come later.
That's just wonderful to hear that Elder Laxton will be here this week... he is such a great missionary with such purpose of heart to this great work.
Oh, we now have 4 investigators commited to baptism in the next two months, after having a bunch of people telling us not to expect any because of the area we are in. Just goes to show that the Lords work continues despite the attitude of the people.
Now about Sunday and the hospital story... so on Sun morning at about 1 or 2 in the morning i start throwing up, mainly just rice and then i feel fine. So the next day, this is conference day, we head off to conference, and i feel a little bit queasy, but nothing else. We have lunch with Bro and Sis Stroud, a senior couple on their mission here in Calape zone. then we go back in for the afternoon session... and i start to get these abdominal pains. They get worse after the conference, but we head out cause my companion Elder Holley is district leader and has to do a baptismal interview for the sisters. After we head back to the Strouds cause they were concerned about my condition. They check my symptoms and things and cant tell whats wrong. Oh btw we are in a brown out at as well this sunday so they dont have internet or other power at their house. They txt Sis Schmutz about my condition and she says to go get it checked out at the hospital just to be safe. So the Strouds drive us over to Tagbilaran to the hospital which is actually pretty decent hospital. They aska bout the syptoms and then order a blood test to find out whats wrong. So after a blood test, an hour wait and 450pesos later they tell me im just experiencing cramps and to take some painkiller relaxants to help with the cramps. So that was Sunday from about 4-8 or so. Then Mon my stomach was upset most of the day,Tuesday I was better.
So that was that... and now i pretty much okay, but with a bit of a cough. Its been raining here and it really rains... and the philos are seriously scared of the rain. We were teaching some people under a little undercover seating thing, and it started raining. We started with 3 people and ended up with 7 or so. They all just rushed in once it started raining... even if they had an umbrella! So we finish up teaching our message and start out and they are all like "You cant go out! Its still raining!!!" "You'll die!" sort of stuff. So Elder Holley says "we're not afraid of the rain!"... and then the funniest thing happens... this old nanay is like "Well if they're not afraid of the rain then neither am I!" and she walks with us through the rain, and we talk with her as we walk.
We were sposed to harvest rice for some of the investigators of the sisters yesterday but because of the rain it was flooded out. So hopefully we will get to do that this saturday... but we are doubtful because... I dont know if youve heard anything about this... but Typhoon Ramon is supposed to hit Bohol early this evening sometime. We have all been warned and we are all preparing for the worst. Luckly we live in a higher area so we arent too worried about flooding where we are but we might not be able to get to some of our other areas for a while afterwards. We'll see and I'll let you know what happens next weeks P'day.
Alot more to write cause its real world and not just MTC schedule everyday... so i hope you appreciate the longer emails.
Please send my thanks and warmest regards to the YSA and thank Tamara for the CDs. They are just great! Also tell Alex Pinono that i dont speak Tagalog, cebuano lang.
The other package im sure i will get at Elder Hollands visit this next week. But like i said the rest of the mail gets delivered whenever someone comes out and its gets passed along to the ZLs.
Well thats this week... with a few scares and a whole heap of exciting experiences with the language and teaching lessons. Hope you are all enjoying yourselves back home. Missing you lots...
Naghigugma ko kaninyo,
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
*************************************************************************************
Terri here: Not much to tell you from me! We figure he just ate something that didn't agree with him, which wouldn't be much as this boy can usually eat anything!!
Another week and more great experiences with the mission.
But before I start you have to know that, you know how you were following that blog of that Sister missionary in Cebu mission and the story about her companion getting scared by some perverts that tried to spy on them in their appartment... well she is in my district! Sister Robison... small world. She is really hard working and always pushing our district to achieve more than the mission standards.
Our district is doing great and this week we ad a combined effort of 1200 "invitations to learn" in the zone.Thats with only 5 companionships. I dont know if you know what they are... so they are when we meet someone, introduce ourselves as missionaries, share a little and invite them to learn more. We have been working real hard on doing the best we can. This week in my compaionship we taught a total of 25 lessons and that was with half of sat with conference and sun also with conference and having to go to the hospital. Now dont freak out yet... cause you havent heard the story. That will come later.
That's just wonderful to hear that Elder Laxton will be here this week... he is such a great missionary with such purpose of heart to this great work.
Oh, we now have 4 investigators commited to baptism in the next two months, after having a bunch of people telling us not to expect any because of the area we are in. Just goes to show that the Lords work continues despite the attitude of the people.
Now about Sunday and the hospital story... so on Sun morning at about 1 or 2 in the morning i start throwing up, mainly just rice and then i feel fine. So the next day, this is conference day, we head off to conference, and i feel a little bit queasy, but nothing else. We have lunch with Bro and Sis Stroud, a senior couple on their mission here in Calape zone. then we go back in for the afternoon session... and i start to get these abdominal pains. They get worse after the conference, but we head out cause my companion Elder Holley is district leader and has to do a baptismal interview for the sisters. After we head back to the Strouds cause they were concerned about my condition. They check my symptoms and things and cant tell whats wrong. Oh btw we are in a brown out at as well this sunday so they dont have internet or other power at their house. They txt Sis Schmutz about my condition and she says to go get it checked out at the hospital just to be safe. So the Strouds drive us over to Tagbilaran to the hospital which is actually pretty decent hospital. They aska bout the syptoms and then order a blood test to find out whats wrong. So after a blood test, an hour wait and 450pesos later they tell me im just experiencing cramps and to take some painkiller relaxants to help with the cramps. So that was Sunday from about 4-8 or so. Then Mon my stomach was upset most of the day,Tuesday I was better.
So that was that... and now i pretty much okay, but with a bit of a cough. Its been raining here and it really rains... and the philos are seriously scared of the rain. We were teaching some people under a little undercover seating thing, and it started raining. We started with 3 people and ended up with 7 or so. They all just rushed in once it started raining... even if they had an umbrella! So we finish up teaching our message and start out and they are all like "You cant go out! Its still raining!!!" "You'll die!" sort of stuff. So Elder Holley says "we're not afraid of the rain!"... and then the funniest thing happens... this old nanay is like "Well if they're not afraid of the rain then neither am I!" and she walks with us through the rain, and we talk with her as we walk.
We were sposed to harvest rice for some of the investigators of the sisters yesterday but because of the rain it was flooded out. So hopefully we will get to do that this saturday... but we are doubtful because... I dont know if youve heard anything about this... but Typhoon Ramon is supposed to hit Bohol early this evening sometime. We have all been warned and we are all preparing for the worst. Luckly we live in a higher area so we arent too worried about flooding where we are but we might not be able to get to some of our other areas for a while afterwards. We'll see and I'll let you know what happens next weeks P'day.
Alot more to write cause its real world and not just MTC schedule everyday... so i hope you appreciate the longer emails.
Please send my thanks and warmest regards to the YSA and thank Tamara for the CDs. They are just great! Also tell Alex Pinono that i dont speak Tagalog, cebuano lang.
The other package im sure i will get at Elder Hollands visit this next week. But like i said the rest of the mail gets delivered whenever someone comes out and its gets passed along to the ZLs.
Well thats this week... with a few scares and a whole heap of exciting experiences with the language and teaching lessons. Hope you are all enjoying yourselves back home. Missing you lots...
Naghigugma ko kaninyo,
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
*************************************************************************************
Terri here: Not much to tell you from me! We figure he just ate something that didn't agree with him, which wouldn't be much as this boy can usually eat anything!!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Letter #9
Hey there family!
So once again I am safe... and having a great time here in the philippines. I have been assigned to the area of Lo-on in Bohol. My companion is an Elder Holley, from America and he has been here 1yr tomorrow. his visayas is great and we are having so much fun teaching and tracting here in the barungay. Our branch is very small with only about 30 ppl of which 6 are investigators. There are only a few priesthood, about 8 or so. But the priesthood that we have are so strong and help out so much with fellow-shipping the investigators and new converts. We have a baptism coming up the week after conference on the 15th and hopefully another one in the next couple of weeks after that. We contact about 20 ppl each day and invite them to be taught. But they all come up with the same excuse. "maglakaw karon" which basically means "im about to go walkabouts"... they all use the same excuse when we invite.
Our house is small... im sending pictures in another email... but we dont have very much at all. I have come to realise just how blessed we are in Australia, and just how much abundance of food and other things we truly have. But i love it! it is so much fun here besides the little that we have. In our house we only have rice and water... but that is really all you need here to survive...hahaha!
We have a toilet WITH a seat! and a giant bucket and ladel. Walay toilet paper though... kamot lang. But its not that much of an issue, at least not for me.
There are 3 of us in the same zone at the moment on Bohol. Me , Elder Irvin and Elder Dustin. The food is mostly rice and little sides of meat. My body hasn't gone spaz on me either, so that has been good. And they have Milo here so im happy! Im getting eaten by mossies every day despite the DEET stuff...(i dont think the mossies care) but its okay. And we have had heaps of lizards in our place... even some big "tuko"s which i had photos of, and they are pretty big... like two hands worth of size.
Oh... if you send a package by mail here it costs me 40pesos... thats just how things work in the philippines. And pres. schmutz said no emails from anyone cept family... so if you could pass that on to my friends through whatever means you want, including the blog. Salamat! So ill probly just send one to the famly rather than seperate ones unless there is something real specific i want totell ppl about. So there are 6 in my district and another 4 in the other district in our zone... so 10 in the zone, and 2 are sisters. The other lot are all in Cebu city, and i say good luck to them... it is mayhem there. On the roads... there are NO road rules... we thought we were going to die going back to pres. place from the airport. Basically if you are bigger you have right of way and if you honk, someone else has to make room for you. But surprisingly no one smashes into each other and no one gets angry at other ppl for pushing in, cause its normal. Its pretty cool how that works actually.
Today we are at the "big" mall on Bohol, which is sorta like Parra Westfield but half the size and with a ton more security with guns, and i mean big scary looking guns like shoties and ak47s and the like.
Now about mail... it all goes into the office in Cebu and then whenever Pres. and Sis Schmutz go out to visit they take the mail with them or when we go back in for meetings we can pick it up. So ill probably get it when we go back to here from Elder Holland, yes the Apostle, when he comes over on the 20th. We all head back into Cebu for the meeting, which will be great.
So far this week we are WAY under budget, and have heaps of money left over so far. You end up paying more for transport than for food.
Oh... cool story... coming into Bohol we cought a taxi to the peir, then a bout across the water, then we jumped on a bus... literally on top of it. We were going like 80km as well, it was so much fun and a great experience. Although since then we havent been on top of another one. On Bohol there are not very many gypnees, so mainly buses and litter motorbikes coverted into trike ppl carriers.
I having such a great time that the work is just so fun, and even though i dont know what to say back, at least i can understand ppl =]
Love you all heaps and miss you
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Terri here: "Tuko's" are gekko's, but apparently they can get big. If you google tuko you can see what they are!! You can also find where he is if you go to google maps and put in "Bohol, Loon", it should bring up on the map, where it actually is!! When we get photos I will post them up. So people if you want to write to Taylor, his address is over on the right side. I know he will enjoy letters from you all. Notice where he goes shopping the security guards have guns!!!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Arrival
Hey there family,
This is just to say that we arrived safely and all in one piece. We have had such a wonderful trip and things have all worked out fine. Pres. and Sis. Schmutz are the greatest! they are so welcoming and kind and have taught us so many things already about what to do, and what not to do in the philippines. They accommodated us all for the night and today we have our transfer meeting and will be getting our companions to train us for the next 6 weeks. Of the 11 of us, 6 will be going to Cebu and the other 5 to Bohol. So next pday when i get to email ill let you all know where ive ended up.
Love you all and miss you,
Naghigugma ko kaninyo!
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
Airport Phone call
Taylor flew from Salt Lake to San Francisco and then on to Hong Kong and then to Cebu. While he was in San Francisco he called us. (longer than 5 mins too!) We were able to speak to him for about and hour and a half. He called in the afternoon which was around midnight in San Francisco while they were waiting to catch their plane to Hong Kong. There were 11 missionaries all together on the flights. We all (as in myself, Stoo and Reilly) got to speak with Taylor. He was looking forward to be finally getting to Cebu. I was a little concerned because of the typhoon that had left the Philippines and was heading for China, but I knew they would all be kept safe.
Letter # 8 (September 21st, 2011)
Hey all!
Happy Birthday Mum! ...I remembered at about 4 on Sunday that it was your birthday... that still counts right? haha
First up the package size... 24" x 16" x 9" ...and it also said NOT to send it via Fed Ex or DHL cause then the missionary ends up with a big fee they have to pay to pick it up.
The Dear elder will get through so long as you send it before the weekend. then after that just email. Then i get to call home on Sun which will be between 7-10 on Monday morning.
We got our flight plans on Thurs. We dont leave till 4:30pm on Tues from the MTC. at 8:15 our trip begins at salt lake flying to San franciso, then from san fran to Hong Kong, and then from Hong Kong directly to Cebu. Only one problem i face with the flights is that its only one carry-on and a backpack counts as a carry-on... so ill just pack my carry-on bag with my books and stuff and put it as checked luggage.
I got a package from Andrew, Kirsten, Ethan and Harry... can you please thank them for me. It was much appreciated!
Our district gets to host new missionaries again this week on Weds. Basically we help them get all their stuff to their residence, get their books and things and drop them off at their classrooms.
I havent gained much more weight at all... i think im at 62kg at the moment... but i have been running alot more recently. About 1-2km each gym depending on how im feeling. My calves are starting to tone up really well.
Yes you can eat as much fruit as you want to here at the MTC, but honestly you wouldnt want to... the apples are like dust when you bite into them and the bananas are just gross. The only good fruit here is the stuuf they put into their peach cobbler thingo they have for desert usahay(sometimes). We'll see how the food in the pines agrees with me when i get there and have been there for the first week... dont worry i'll let you know.
So from today we have exactly one week left here at the MTC. Things have progressed well, we have learnt much and made some friendships for life. Everyone seems to be excited for the philippines and some more nervous than others.
I hope that people are planning to write to me once i get to the philippines casue so far here its been pretty pathetic to be honest. Not much mail from anyone... but i am comparing myself to a bunch of americans with family relatively close.
About the pictures... yes... everything... just pictures that show who i was and the people i hung out with, the things i did... please that would be great, thanks
Finally, this months ensign is amazing... dont know if youve got it yet... its all about the Book of Mormon and it has heaps of talks all about the role it plays in our lives.
I finished the Book of Mormon on Sunday and so im starting again. I love the spirit it brings and the peace i feel from it. I dont know if Reilly told you but i asked him to get you all to read the Book of Mormon together.
I know that the Book or Mormon is the word of God written for us in these last days. I know that through reading the Book of Mormon we can become closer to our Heavenly Father and our Saviour Jesus Christ. I know that it can help us to feel the Spirit, and to feel peace in our lives.
Miss you all heaps,
Love you muchly,
Talk to you later when i call,
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Terri here: As you can see Taylor is not bothering with spelling, or too much where words should have capitals etc. So just read them as they are, I was fixing it all, but now it's just getting too much so I'm just leaving them how he writes them!! We got to speak with Taylor on the Monday morning for about 5 mins. It was so good to hear his voice. He is excited to be finally going to the Philippines.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Letter #7 (Sept 14th, 2011)
Hey All,
We leave on the 27th, in two weeks exactly, so we are all very excited. We should get the flight plans this week sometime. The flight is going to be the worst thing cause its so long again and apparently we have a long layover as well (6hrs or so apparently). And i get to ring on the 27th morning or 26th sometime (i think)... but i will try and work out the times so it corresponds to a reasonable time.
The language is coming along well. Sometimes I'll have no idea for a certain word but it lets me know what words to learn the next week.
Thank you for the package... although i was disappointed with the photos... only 4???
But thank you again.
Tell Dad to learn some Cebuano from Michael so he can translate. Tungod kay, magsulat ko sa Cebuano sa Philipinas. Gihapon, kon magkat-on Tatay sa Cebuano, magistoryia ko uban siya sa dili pa sa akong mission.
For the blog, some words from me to post up there:
"Some fun conversational phrases/words in Cebuano:
Kinahanglang ko maglaglag sa C.R [kin-ah-hung-lung koh mahg-lahg-lahg sah cee-ahr] ( I need to destroy the bathroom) - frequently used because of the effect the MTC food has on some Elders digestive systems
Way Saps [why saps] (you're welcome) - because we are all too lazy to say 'Walay Sapayan'
Asa ang imong adlaw? [ah-sah ahng ee-mong ahd-lau] (Where is your day?) - used to make sure your teacher is paying attention to what you a saying as you are meant to say 'kamusta ang imong adlaw' (how is your day)
Unsa 'na? [un-sah nah] (what now?) - asked when we dont know what we are meant to be doing ( which isnt very often of course...)
Agay! [a-guy] (Ouch) - because it just sounds hilarious to say instead of 'ouch'
Hope you enjoy these phrases/words and get to use them at some point in your conversations.
With much love, Elder Taylor Addison Cox.
We leave on the 27th, in two weeks exactly, so we are all very excited. We should get the flight plans this week sometime. The flight is going to be the worst thing cause its so long again and apparently we have a long layover as well (6hrs or so apparently). And i get to ring on the 27th morning or 26th sometime (i think)... but i will try and work out the times so it corresponds to a reasonable time.
The language is coming along well. Sometimes I'll have no idea for a certain word but it lets me know what words to learn the next week.
Thank you for the package... although i was disappointed with the photos... only 4???
But thank you again.
Tell Dad to learn some Cebuano from Michael so he can translate. Tungod kay, magsulat ko sa Cebuano sa Philipinas. Gihapon, kon magkat-on Tatay sa Cebuano, magistoryia ko uban siya sa dili pa sa akong mission.
For the blog, some words from me to post up there:
"Some fun conversational phrases/words in Cebuano:
Kinahanglang ko maglaglag sa C.R [kin-ah-hung-lung koh mahg-lahg-lahg sah cee-ahr] ( I need to destroy the bathroom) - frequently used because of the effect the MTC food has on some Elders digestive systems
Way Saps [why saps] (you're welcome) - because we are all too lazy to say 'Walay Sapayan'
Asa ang imong adlaw? [ah-sah ahng ee-mong ahd-lau] (Where is your day?) - used to make sure your teacher is paying attention to what you a saying as you are meant to say 'kamusta ang imong adlaw' (how is your day)
Unsa 'na? [un-sah nah] (what now?) - asked when we dont know what we are meant to be doing ( which isnt very often of course...)
Agay! [a-guy] (Ouch) - because it just sounds hilarious to say instead of 'ouch'
Hope you enjoy these phrases/words and get to use them at some point in your conversations.
With much love, Elder Taylor Addison Cox.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Letter # 6 (Sept 7th, 2011)
Hi all,
I have put on 21pounds officially according to the original weight measurement when i first got here and the weight measurement of last Tues. I havent check since then because we have been going outside to play "beach" volleyball on the sand courts and there are no scales up there.
The package has not come yet... however this weekend hasnt helped... on Sat it was the start of College football season, so everything halted after noon. Then Mon was labour day... so nothing happened then either. So hopefully this week i will get it if i am lucky. I got mail form the mildenhalls and the partons today though, and it had been sent about 2weeks ago.
Tell dad he had better start learning the language cause i recon after 6 months in the field i wont remeber any english words. hahaha!
This week i have been focusing on the Book of Mormon. 5 chapters a day. But the more i read the more desire i had to keep reading and feel more of the spirit.
Alma 30:44 is just great... you should read it... also D&C 84:88
The language is coming nindot kaayo.
Im running out of time so more will be in Cebuano. (sorry ko)
Kinning semana, nato will get 5 new Cebuano speaking missionaries. Magtudlo kita kabahin sa Cebuano tingali... or just confuse them
Kinahanglan ka magsulti ni Reilly nga kinahanglan siya to leave me some clothes or get me some bagong clothes right before i get home.
Naghigugma ko sa MTC ug sa maayong mga kasinatian.
Sorry this is shorter than you probably want it to be.
Naghigugma ko kaninyo, Mum, Dad and Reilly
I miss you all...
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
Terri here: Again he's writing in Cebuano, and this may seem short, but this letter had some personal stuff just to his family!! Again, the translation below!! And if you are wondering why he is saying that Reilly needs to leave him some clothes, well Reilly has started wearing clothes that Taylor left here.
This week, we will get 5 new Cebuano speaking missionaries. We will teach them part Cebuano I think... or just confuse them.
You need to speak to Reilly that he need to leave me some clothes or get me some new clothes right before i get home.
I love the MTC and the wonderful experiences.
I love you all, Mum, Dad and Reilly
I have put on 21pounds officially according to the original weight measurement when i first got here and the weight measurement of last Tues. I havent check since then because we have been going outside to play "beach" volleyball on the sand courts and there are no scales up there.
The package has not come yet... however this weekend hasnt helped... on Sat it was the start of College football season, so everything halted after noon. Then Mon was labour day... so nothing happened then either. So hopefully this week i will get it if i am lucky. I got mail form the mildenhalls and the partons today though, and it had been sent about 2weeks ago.
Tell dad he had better start learning the language cause i recon after 6 months in the field i wont remeber any english words. hahaha!
This week i have been focusing on the Book of Mormon. 5 chapters a day. But the more i read the more desire i had to keep reading and feel more of the spirit.
Alma 30:44 is just great... you should read it... also D&C 84:88
The language is coming nindot kaayo.
Im running out of time so more will be in Cebuano. (sorry ko)
Kinning semana, nato will get 5 new Cebuano speaking missionaries. Magtudlo kita kabahin sa Cebuano tingali... or just confuse them
Kinahanglan ka magsulti ni Reilly nga kinahanglan siya to leave me some clothes or get me some bagong clothes right before i get home.
Naghigugma ko sa MTC ug sa maayong mga kasinatian.
Sorry this is shorter than you probably want it to be.
Naghigugma ko kaninyo, Mum, Dad and Reilly
I miss you all...
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
Terri here: Again he's writing in Cebuano, and this may seem short, but this letter had some personal stuff just to his family!! Again, the translation below!! And if you are wondering why he is saying that Reilly needs to leave him some clothes, well Reilly has started wearing clothes that Taylor left here.
This week, we will get 5 new Cebuano speaking missionaries. We will teach them part Cebuano I think... or just confuse them.
You need to speak to Reilly that he need to leave me some clothes or get me some new clothes right before i get home.
I love the MTC and the wonderful experiences.
I love you all, Mum, Dad and Reilly
Letter #5 (Aug 30th, 2011)
Hey mum and others...
Maayong buntag. Kamusta ang Australia? Unsa ang weather like? It was ulan'ing' over the weekend and now its sunny again. Im doing pretty good. emailing takes time cause i gotta think what im going to write.... especially when all i can paghunahuna (think) of is Cebuano words. I recieved 4 dear elders this week. Nothing else again. But its nindot to hear that the parcel has been sent. Salamat kaayo! We tell stories about all sorts of things... like Grandad getting Crocs and about drop bears to the elders going to Australia for their mission. Hahaha...!
All sorts of things are changing. Like the languange is the mas dako (biggest). it is really hard and fun and exciting to be learning so much. But just as scary to realise we know nearly nothing still.Ive decided that im going to read tanan ang Basahon no Mormon sa dili pa we leave for the Philippines. That works out to be 5 kapitulo (chapters) a day. Its been going good so far in terms of reading and im on track for now. I have the photos printed. i just gotta write about them on the back and sent them hopefully ugma or this week.
Kamusta ang imong trabaho? Kamusta ang tatay?
Have fun trying to translate the Cebuano in the email. Google doesnt translate Cebuano, or so ive been told. Kinahanglan ka magsulti ni Michael Sierra kabahin usa ka tawo sa pag'translate' para kanimo.
Naghigugma ko sa MTC experince, ug sa mga elder sa akong district. Nasayud ko nga this is where kinahanglan ko to be.
I now have negative time on my email countdown! haha.
Naghigugma gayud ko kaninyo.
Nag'miss' ko kaninyo.
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
Terri here: As you can see Taylor is not just learning to speak in Cebuano, but write as well. Luckily we have a friend who speaks the language, so he translates for us!! So below will be the translation.
Good morning. How’s Australia? What’s the weather like? It was raining over the weekend and now its sunny again. Im doing pretty good. Emailing takes time cause I gotta think what im going to write… especially when all I can think of is Cebuano words.
Ive decided that im going to read the entire Book of Mormon before we leave for the Philippines.
Have fun trying to translate the Cebuano in the email. Google doesn't translate Cebuano, or so i've been told. You need to speak to Michael Sierra who knows how to translate for you.
I love the MTC experience, and the elders in my district. I know that this is where I need to be.
I now have negative time on my email countdown! haha.
I love you all.
I miss you all.
Maayong buntag. Kamusta ang Australia? Unsa ang weather like? It was ulan'ing' over the weekend and now its sunny again. Im doing pretty good. emailing takes time cause i gotta think what im going to write.... especially when all i can paghunahuna (think) of is Cebuano words. I recieved 4 dear elders this week. Nothing else again. But its nindot to hear that the parcel has been sent. Salamat kaayo! We tell stories about all sorts of things... like Grandad getting Crocs and about drop bears to the elders going to Australia for their mission. Hahaha...!
All sorts of things are changing. Like the languange is the mas dako (biggest). it is really hard and fun and exciting to be learning so much. But just as scary to realise we know nearly nothing still.Ive decided that im going to read tanan ang Basahon no Mormon sa dili pa we leave for the Philippines. That works out to be 5 kapitulo (chapters) a day. Its been going good so far in terms of reading and im on track for now. I have the photos printed. i just gotta write about them on the back and sent them hopefully ugma or this week.
Kamusta ang imong trabaho? Kamusta ang tatay?
Have fun trying to translate the Cebuano in the email. Google doesnt translate Cebuano, or so ive been told. Kinahanglan ka magsulti ni Michael Sierra kabahin usa ka tawo sa pag'translate' para kanimo.
Naghigugma ko sa MTC experince, ug sa mga elder sa akong district. Nasayud ko nga this is where kinahanglan ko to be.
I now have negative time on my email countdown! haha.
Naghigugma gayud ko kaninyo.
Nag'miss' ko kaninyo.
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
Terri here: As you can see Taylor is not just learning to speak in Cebuano, but write as well. Luckily we have a friend who speaks the language, so he translates for us!! So below will be the translation.
Good morning. How’s Australia? What’s the weather like? It was raining over the weekend and now its sunny again. Im doing pretty good. Emailing takes time cause I gotta think what im going to write… especially when all I can think of is Cebuano words.
Ive decided that im going to read the entire Book of Mormon before we leave for the Philippines.
Have fun trying to translate the Cebuano in the email. Google doesn't translate Cebuano, or so i've been told. You need to speak to Michael Sierra who knows how to translate for you.
I love the MTC experience, and the elders in my district. I know that this is where I need to be.
I now have negative time on my email countdown! haha.
I love you all.
I miss you all.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Letter #4 (Aug 24th, 2011)
Hey all,
We are all doing much better in the district this week. All of us are over our sicknesses and feeling much better.
I have received no letters any week and this week only the two dear elders form you and Reilly... =[ ...but I wrote some more letters today and sent them out to people. And with the language... we are on a totally new program inspired of the Lord, in which the teacher does not speak English, we speak Cebuano, and practise with people who have recently returned from serving in Cebu... its much better than the last program they had and Cebuano is much different from Tagalog cause its so much better and only return missionaries are teaching it to us. So I'm pretty confident in what we are being taught, and not worried at all that the pronuciation might be wrong cause i know it is right.
This week we went to play sand volleyball up next to the feilds across form the temple, instead of going to the gym and playing basketball. It was great cause it was Fri evening... the sun was still up, but it was cooler and nice and quiet (until we started playing of course, haha). Basta... (that means anyways, or moving on...)
Im trying to get photos to you, but when there are only two machines for printing photos off, and one of them is always 'out of order', and there are however many missionaries there are here at the MTC trying to also print off photos... it gets a bit hard. :P
I will try again this week when i have some time and get all my photos done a sent home. Once in the Philippines ill be able to just attach them and email them across. =]
We have devotional fireside tonight again... so far these are the people who have talked to us:
Elder Simmons - dont know where from
Robert P. Swensen - Director, Missionary Services
Gerald N. Lund - Former member Quorum of the Seventy
James L. Hacking - MTC District Pres.
Merrill J. Bateman - Emeritus Quorum of the Seventy
Richard I. Heaton - Administarive Director Provo MTC
Stephen B. Allen - Managing director, Missionary Department
I hope you are spoiling Reilly while I'm gone! Did he pay for the 3DS all by himself? Dili maayo, if he did. Kinahanglang ka mag-spoil kaniya kada adlaw.
Missing you all muchly, Naghigugma ko kaniyo.
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
As you can all read he hadn't received any mail except from immediate family. So I think he's wanting some mail!! hint, hint!!!
We are all doing much better in the district this week. All of us are over our sicknesses and feeling much better.
I have received no letters any week and this week only the two dear elders form you and Reilly... =[ ...but I wrote some more letters today and sent them out to people. And with the language... we are on a totally new program inspired of the Lord, in which the teacher does not speak English, we speak Cebuano, and practise with people who have recently returned from serving in Cebu... its much better than the last program they had and Cebuano is much different from Tagalog cause its so much better and only return missionaries are teaching it to us. So I'm pretty confident in what we are being taught, and not worried at all that the pronuciation might be wrong cause i know it is right.
This week we went to play sand volleyball up next to the feilds across form the temple, instead of going to the gym and playing basketball. It was great cause it was Fri evening... the sun was still up, but it was cooler and nice and quiet (until we started playing of course, haha). Basta... (that means anyways, or moving on...)
Im trying to get photos to you, but when there are only two machines for printing photos off, and one of them is always 'out of order', and there are however many missionaries there are here at the MTC trying to also print off photos... it gets a bit hard. :P
I will try again this week when i have some time and get all my photos done a sent home. Once in the Philippines ill be able to just attach them and email them across. =]
We have devotional fireside tonight again... so far these are the people who have talked to us:
Elder Simmons - dont know where from
Robert P. Swensen - Director, Missionary Services
Gerald N. Lund - Former member Quorum of the Seventy
James L. Hacking - MTC District Pres.
Merrill J. Bateman - Emeritus Quorum of the Seventy
Richard I. Heaton - Administarive Director Provo MTC
Stephen B. Allen - Managing director, Missionary Department
I hope you are spoiling Reilly while I'm gone! Did he pay for the 3DS all by himself? Dili maayo, if he did. Kinahanglang ka mag-spoil kaniya kada adlaw.
Missing you all muchly, Naghigugma ko kaniyo.
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
As you can all read he hadn't received any mail except from immediate family. So I think he's wanting some mail!! hint, hint!!!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Letter # 3 (Aug 17, 2011)
Hey all,
Why so many questions in the last dear Elder? I don't have all the time in the world... joke lang.
Almost everyone in our district of ten got hit somehow be the illness. Even I got a runny nose for a couple of days. Now friends get mail before family cause usa(1), i can email you and duha(2), cause i did.
The investigators are actually our teachers. we have two teachers cause they study at BYU sometimes and only have us half days each. At first though we didnt know that our first investigator was our teacher until she turned up one day and started teaching us. Cool huh?!
My schedule is basically two 3hr classes, 1hr language study, two 1hr personal/companion study, 45mins breakfast, lunch and dinner, and 1 gym session each day. Pdays is laundry for 3hrs, temple for 3hrs, devotional fireside and district meeting for 3hrs and everything inbetween is personal time. We only have to wear suits on Sunday or to firesides and meetings with the Branch Pres.
Lunch and dinner... well you'll see in the pictures and yes, there is bar freezers with icecreams or iceblocks which you can just grab and eat at lunch or dinner or breakfast even... but only if they have restocked them.
For the blog though, just let everyone know I'm doing well and enjoying myself, especially eating food and gaining weight...(still only 61kg, so dont get too worried). Ive also been exercising to keep healthy. For the blog post this up for me please:
Nagtuo ko sa Dious ug kang JesuKristo. Nasayud ko nga tinuod ang simbahan ni JesuKristo. Nasayud ko nga tinuod ang Basahon ni Mormon ug sa pulong sa Dios. Nasayud ko nga tinoud ang propeta si Joseph Smith. Nasayud ko nga ang ebanghelyo ni JesuKristo nagpalig-on sa mga pamilya. Sa ngalan ni JesuKristo, Amen.
Naghigugma ko kanamo.
Thats just a short testimony in Cebuano and me just letting everyone know that i love them.
I hope everything is well with you all in Australia. Have fun this week.
Much love, and missing you all, nahigugma ko kanamo,
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
From Terri:
As you can see, Taylor is learning the language quite easily. (Well it looks like it to me!!) So through the blog you'll see bits and pieces of his letters with Cebuano written through them. That is how he practices as well.
Why so many questions in the last dear Elder? I don't have all the time in the world... joke lang.
Almost everyone in our district of ten got hit somehow be the illness. Even I got a runny nose for a couple of days. Now friends get mail before family cause usa(1), i can email you and duha(2), cause i did.
The investigators are actually our teachers. we have two teachers cause they study at BYU sometimes and only have us half days each. At first though we didnt know that our first investigator was our teacher until she turned up one day and started teaching us. Cool huh?!
My schedule is basically two 3hr classes, 1hr language study, two 1hr personal/companion study, 45mins breakfast, lunch and dinner, and 1 gym session each day. Pdays is laundry for 3hrs, temple for 3hrs, devotional fireside and district meeting for 3hrs and everything inbetween is personal time. We only have to wear suits on Sunday or to firesides and meetings with the Branch Pres.
Lunch and dinner... well you'll see in the pictures and yes, there is bar freezers with icecreams or iceblocks which you can just grab and eat at lunch or dinner or breakfast even... but only if they have restocked them.
For the blog though, just let everyone know I'm doing well and enjoying myself, especially eating food and gaining weight...(still only 61kg, so dont get too worried). Ive also been exercising to keep healthy. For the blog post this up for me please:
Nagtuo ko sa Dious ug kang JesuKristo. Nasayud ko nga tinuod ang simbahan ni JesuKristo. Nasayud ko nga tinuod ang Basahon ni Mormon ug sa pulong sa Dios. Nasayud ko nga tinoud ang propeta si Joseph Smith. Nasayud ko nga ang ebanghelyo ni JesuKristo nagpalig-on sa mga pamilya. Sa ngalan ni JesuKristo, Amen.
Naghigugma ko kanamo.
Thats just a short testimony in Cebuano and me just letting everyone know that i love them.
I hope everything is well with you all in Australia. Have fun this week.
Much love, and missing you all, nahigugma ko kanamo,
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
From Terri:
As you can see, Taylor is learning the language quite easily. (Well it looks like it to me!!) So through the blog you'll see bits and pieces of his letters with Cebuano written through them. That is how he practices as well.
Letter #2. (Aug 10, 2011)
Hi all,
The email was not long! It was plenty long I thought... joke lang. Its just because of the time restriction its hard to write longer emails. Only 30mins on Pday isn't much at all. =[
Our district has been plagued with illness this last week. Just the flu or something, so we are doing okay. Hopefully it will be gone in the next few days.
This past week has been maayo kaayo, with some unfortunate events of illness. So far we have learnt to pray, bear testimony, greet, and some other basics in Cebuano. In the first week we taught 4 lessons to an investigator in full Cebuano. Walay Ingles! This week so far already another lesson but with a different investigator... so now we have 2 progressing investigators. In my district everyone is going to Cebu except 1 elder who is going Tagloban but speaking cebuano.
I've met a few Aussies actually... the guy from Harvey Bay came and said hi to me the other day, don't remember his name though. Also some guy from Perth knows Ma and Poppy... small world hey! And then there is this guy from Melbourne, an Elder Mits who knows the Orros and is friends with Benjamin. Even smaller hey?! And he is in the same district going to the Philipines as well.
My kauban, Elder Ervin is from Farmington New Mexico (go look it up) and when I said he's like a Mormon Jack Black, I meant exactly that. Think of how Jack Black is personality wise and tone it down to a Mormon level of humour and spirituality and thats my kauban. He has a great testimony and knowledge of the gospel, and I learn so much from his take on the gospel and the scriptures. Then I help him with the language with pronunciation and sentence structure. We work together quite well.
What do I want sent... here's a list:
Cherry ripe
Boost bars
Love you all, tell everyone to write to me (hand written snail mail is much better, please!) and I'll WILL try to write this week (not like last week when i said i would but didn't)
Missing you all muchly, especially Australia...
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
The email was not long! It was plenty long I thought... joke lang. Its just because of the time restriction its hard to write longer emails. Only 30mins on Pday isn't much at all. =[
Our district has been plagued with illness this last week. Just the flu or something, so we are doing okay. Hopefully it will be gone in the next few days.
This past week has been maayo kaayo, with some unfortunate events of illness. So far we have learnt to pray, bear testimony, greet, and some other basics in Cebuano. In the first week we taught 4 lessons to an investigator in full Cebuano. Walay Ingles! This week so far already another lesson but with a different investigator... so now we have 2 progressing investigators. In my district everyone is going to Cebu except 1 elder who is going Tagloban but speaking cebuano.
I've met a few Aussies actually... the guy from Harvey Bay came and said hi to me the other day, don't remember his name though. Also some guy from Perth knows Ma and Poppy... small world hey! And then there is this guy from Melbourne, an Elder Mits who knows the Orros and is friends with Benjamin. Even smaller hey?! And he is in the same district going to the Philipines as well.
My kauban, Elder Ervin is from Farmington New Mexico (go look it up) and when I said he's like a Mormon Jack Black, I meant exactly that. Think of how Jack Black is personality wise and tone it down to a Mormon level of humour and spirituality and thats my kauban. He has a great testimony and knowledge of the gospel, and I learn so much from his take on the gospel and the scriptures. Then I help him with the language with pronunciation and sentence structure. We work together quite well.
What do I want sent... here's a list:
Cherry ripe
Boost bars
Love you all, tell everyone to write to me (hand written snail mail is much better, please!) and I'll WILL try to write this week (not like last week when i said i would but didn't)
Missing you all muchly, especially Australia...
Elder Taylor Addison Cox
First REAL letter!! (Aug 3, 2011)
Hi all,
Today is Tues and my Pday... finished washing this morning and attended a temple session after lunch. It was amazing to go through the temple here. From the outside it looks the same size as Sydney temple, but on the inside... WOW! It is just HUGE! But what an amazing experience. Now about my companion. His name is Elder Irvin, and to describe him... he is basically a Mormon version of Jack Black. He keeps everyone in our district sane. I'm sure you've heard this, but Elder Lambert is in mine and Elder Irvin's residence, with his companion Elder Ursenbach.
could send some more cherry ripes, boost bars, and maybe some more musk sticks. It is soooo much fun to see the look on the American missionary's faces when they eat the musk sticks!
I've sent a letter today to Tom, through our post box, so if you could give it to him when you go visit that would be great. Also if you havent already, could you put my mailing address up on the blog and email my friends in the book of emails to tell them not to email but to write cause I only get 30mins to email each Pday.
The suit will still fit cause its too big for me anyway... and just a note... I've gained 5kg in the last week. Haha. Finally!
Missing you all & lots of love,
Elder Cox
From Terri:
I edit Taylor's letters to post some of it on his blog as some of the stuff he writes is just for his family.
Today is Tues and my Pday... finished washing this morning and attended a temple session after lunch. It was amazing to go through the temple here. From the outside it looks the same size as Sydney temple, but on the inside... WOW! It is just HUGE! But what an amazing experience. Now about my companion. His name is Elder Irvin, and to describe him... he is basically a Mormon version of Jack Black. He keeps everyone in our district sane. I'm sure you've heard this, but Elder Lambert is in mine and Elder Irvin's residence, with his companion Elder Ursenbach.
could send some more cherry ripes, boost bars, and maybe some more musk sticks. It is soooo much fun to see the look on the American missionary's faces when they eat the musk sticks!
I've sent a letter today to Tom, through our post box, so if you could give it to him when you go visit that would be great. Also if you havent already, could you put my mailing address up on the blog and email my friends in the book of emails to tell them not to email but to write cause I only get 30mins to email each Pday.
The suit will still fit cause its too big for me anyway... and just a note... I've gained 5kg in the last week. Haha. Finally!
Missing you all & lots of love,
Elder Cox
From Terri:
I edit Taylor's letters to post some of it on his blog as some of the stuff he writes is just for his family.
I'm here. (Jul 28, 2011)
Hey all,
This is now the '3rd day' in the morning and we, the international missionaries are getting taught how to use the computers to email. So far I have been in the temporary accommodation with other international missionaries, and I ended up with 3 other elders from Japan! One speaks some english, one a little less, and the other almost none. But we've had fun trying to teach each other to understand our own languages.
The flight was good, and it ended up there was no one sitting next to me... empty seat. So I let the girl next to me use it so she could lie down to sleep (cause I'm kind like that).
We are getting our 'mga kauban' or companions later today, and I'll send another email detailing more about the experiences here. But to tell you know, I will definitely be gaining some weight while I am here. The food is filled with sugar, espeially at breakfast. Donuts, pancakes, maple syrup and sugar filled cereal... its just the best!
I'm enjoying every minute here so far, its just a great experience, and there are so many faithful elders and sisters. Their spirits are so strong!
Lots of love,
Elder Cox =]
This is now the '3rd day' in the morning and we, the international missionaries are getting taught how to use the computers to email. So far I have been in the temporary accommodation with other international missionaries, and I ended up with 3 other elders from Japan! One speaks some english, one a little less, and the other almost none. But we've had fun trying to teach each other to understand our own languages.
The flight was good, and it ended up there was no one sitting next to me... empty seat. So I let the girl next to me use it so she could lie down to sleep (cause I'm kind like that).
We are getting our 'mga kauban' or companions later today, and I'll send another email detailing more about the experiences here. But to tell you know, I will definitely be gaining some weight while I am here. The food is filled with sugar, espeially at breakfast. Donuts, pancakes, maple syrup and sugar filled cereal... its just the best!
I'm enjoying every minute here so far, its just a great experience, and there are so many faithful elders and sisters. Their spirits are so strong!
Lots of love,
Elder Cox =]
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Taylor's mailing address
Hi All,
Taylor has asked that while he is in the MTC (Missionary Training Centre) you write to him instead of email as there are limited resources there and he only has a limited time on the computer, once a week. He leaves the MTC September 29th.
A quick way to get mail to him in his postbox is via www.dearelder.com
The mail from dearelder is delivered daily to his postbox, while he is in the MTC, or you can send it regular mail, not as fast as dear elder but will still get there.
His address is:
Elder Taylor Addison Cox,
MTC Mailbox #95,
PHI - CEB 0929,
2005N 900E,
Provo, UT 84604 - 1793
UNITED STATES.
Thanks heaps.
Taylor has asked that while he is in the MTC (Missionary Training Centre) you write to him instead of email as there are limited resources there and he only has a limited time on the computer, once a week. He leaves the MTC September 29th.
A quick way to get mail to him in his postbox is via www.dearelder.com
The mail from dearelder is delivered daily to his postbox, while he is in the MTC, or you can send it regular mail, not as fast as dear elder but will still get there.
His address is:
Elder Taylor Addison Cox,
MTC Mailbox #95,
PHI - CEB 0929,
2005N 900E,
Provo, UT 84604 - 1793
UNITED STATES.
Thanks heaps.
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