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
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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