Letter # 33 (21st March, 2012)

Hey all,
Negros is great! It is SO much cleaner than Bohol, and their are lots more gwapa diri. But the area I'm in is bukid kaayo man gayud!!! We spend a good 30mins getting to the area where members live to teach the people, and we walk for ages in the area as well. One area is habal-habal only from the highway... there is no other way... and I thought to myself "who came first? the members or the missionaries? cause if it was missionaries, who were the missionaries crazy enough to come all the out into the bukid for 30mins on habal-habal..."
Just past Sunday we had district conference for Dumaguete district and Pres. Schmutz came over with the AP's.

We got to meet a few members there but I havent really gotten to meet any members besides those we visited on Monday and Tuesday. They seem very nice here as well which is good and I like the area despite it being bukid kaayo. Elder Seumanutafa is great! We have set some goals as a companionship to improve our language and teaching skills this transfer so that we are the best missionaries we can be for these people here. We have so much in common from back home which is good so we get along really well. We like the same foods and have a great time eating pan together with peanutbutter or vegemite... depending what we feel like. The food is the same here as everywhere in the philippines except for the few specialties from the other islands.

The boat ride over was realatively short and very windy... it took 2 hours for the trip from Tagbilaran to Dumaguete, and then it took a good 30mins to dock and unload luggage because of the wind. It was crazy and the boat was rocking back and forth like crazy. It was fun!

Oh, also the buses on Negros actually have doors and windows!!! ...and they work!!! Its amazing! But there are others the same as Bohol but less often you see them here. And of course there are still jeepneys and trike thingos.


For the package if you could send consumables and give aways... cause i dont really have room in my luggage for things other things right now. (I might get another suitcase while im here, a smaller one of course.
Just a quick reminder... read the scriptures and always remember to pray cause it is the most powerful help in your lives.
Miss you all, Love you tons.
Elder Taylor Addison Cox



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Terri here: Just to let you all know that Negros is pronounced "Neg - ross". And why he would need another suitcase, I have no idea, but I'm going to ask in next weeks letter! If you want to know where all these places are, just Google, just like I do!!

Letter #32 ( 14th March, 2012)

Hey all,
So transfer calls... "Elder Cox... you will be transferring to Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental, to be a senior companion to Elder Seumanutafa." ... wait what!?

Yes I am being transfered and will be will my junior batch Elder Seumanutafa who is from Australia as well. So training Elder Tolentino will be cut short... and Elder McBride as well will have his training of Elder Francis cut short as he goes to Negros to be a zone leader.
I am grateful that the burden of being a trainer will be lightened, because to be truly honest, it was really hard being a trainer. I felt so much responsibility towards Elder Tolentino in training him right and being the best missionary I could be for him. I am disappointed too because this week was the best week we had so far and we saw amazing success in the branch with investigators and less-actives present for the whole 3hours of church (not just sacrament like before). The attendance has risen and is constant at the 100 mark almost every Sunday the last 4 weeks.

I think the Lord is trying to teach us to be humble, patient and thankful through being "punted"... just yesterday we had 7 people and families to visit that day and we spent a good hour and half the night before discussing their concerns, needs planning for the lessons. Then every single one except the last appointment was "punted". But the last was the greatest... we had botong juice, a great lesson about reading the Book of Mormon as a family and then were given more botong to take home.

We had splits last thursday and we got new investigators for the area... YAY!... even though i wont be there anymore. Sister L and Brother R live bukid and take care of some land with lubi(coconut trees) and saging(bananas). Sister L is really interested in our message and even got teary when we taught about the restoration and Joseph Smith's experience in the sacred grove. I have a feeling that Elder Tolentino will get to baptize her.
Also the night of splits we learned that one of the members had given birth to their baby girl, but she had died either before or while being born. We went a visited with the family that night and then the next day. The next day during the service and as we prepared things for the burial, I had visions about the funeral of Lochsley, especially at the burial site. It was a very different experience and I felt like I had been there before. We helped to make the cross for the head of the plot, and support the family.
This week was full of wonderful experiences that have helped me to be a stronger individual and better missionary. I know the Lord is preparing me for the eternities and for my eternal family.

Now for the package... jejeje... there is NO good chocolate here, as in plain chocolate or dark chocolate... so if you send chocolate can you send some blocks of chocolate especially dark... salamat!

So thats all for this week... next week... a new area and new companion... I'll let you know how that goes...
Love you all so much...
Elder Taylor Addison Cox


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Terri here: Some photos are added too! And Botong is coconut or coconut juice.