This week I started in a
new companionship. I am here in Sapang Palay with Elder Oronos and Elder
Stephens. We are in a trio; this means that when we teach there are three of
us, if we want to go anywhere all three of us have to go – the work is a lot
different. The other big change in the work is that now we are responsible for
the entirety of Sapang Palay. The size of our area right now is about twice the
size of my last area, because it includes my last area. Our teaching pool is
very large and we have a lot of people to visit. Every one of these things is
both a blessing and a hardship, but we try to think of them as blessings.
We are focusing on
following up with people that are progressing in both areas. We are also trying
to find time to find new investigators, but almost all of our time is taken up
with teaching.
Before the transfer, Elder
Stephens and Elder Kirifi worked in one half of the city, Elder Tagal and I
worked in the other half, and Elder Oronos was in a place called Baliwag. Now I
have to learn Elder Stephens half, he has to learn my half, and Elder Oronos
needs to learn everything. We are trying to combine the areas so it is more
like one area and not just two halves, but it is very hard work.
You learn a lot while
working with two people, especially when they best communicate in different
languages; I switch between Tagalog and English about a million times a day.
Elder Stephens understands a lot better in English (and obviously so do I) but
Elder Oronos understands in Tagalog. It pushes your language skills to switch
back and forth between two languages – especially when they are so different.
It is like writing an essay about art and doing math homework at the same time,
but you cant pick one or the other.
Welp that is pretty much
where we are at. The thing I am learning most here is that when put in a hard
spot it is not just good and bad, almost every part of the situation has a good
and a bad. Every hardship is an opportunity to learn, also every blessing is
received through our hardships and our learning. I don’t think I will be in a
trio very long, but I think there will be a lot to learn in that time.
That is pretty much most
of the update on my life right now. It is good where I am at and I am learning
a lot. I am learning to handle more stress without freaking out too much,
Culture: Indirectness: Filipinos
are not usually very direct with asking for things or giving feedback. it goes
a lot with the culture. It is not really acceptable to point out someone’s
flaws or ask for something directly. This can lead to the situation where
people will not fully express their feeling about you directly to your face; it
can be hard to get the point across because things are not generally said
directly. The same idea works with asking for permission, most of the time it
is easier for people to skip that step; they avoid asking for permission for
the time that they want. As foreigners, sometimes we are too direct in their
eyes but we don’t want to be misunderstood when we speak. It really is a
different culture when you talk to people over here.
Tagalesson: How Filipinos
understand the language: They usually don’t explain the language of Tagalog
well to foreigners. They understand it much differently. For example, if
someone asked you what the past perfect tense of "I am buying the
cereal" was in English you would probably not know what to tell them. When
we start asking about focuses and conjugations, they don’t really know what we
are talking about. It comes down to having a lot to learn and not always having
a person who can explain it well enough. I don’t really know what to put here
to help you all understand the language but I can say that as you speak it more
fluently, you understand it much differently.
Life is pretty good right
now. There is a lot to learn, and I find that I am feeling the process of
conversion in my life a lot stronger. I encourage you all to start studying the
Book of Mormon; really start giving time to it, it is the key to learn
what is true about religion. It testifies of Jesus Christ and his life, as it
says in the introduction. The Book of Mormon tells people what they
should do to gain peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life to come.
Who here doesn’t want that? One day,
just sit down in a place with no distractions. Give yourself 20 minutes. Start
with a prayer, and write down some notes along the way. You will see a
difference in your life. I promise.
Welp that is about all I
got for you. Keep on keeping on. I love you all.
Love
Elder Faulkner
No comments:
Post a Comment