Monkeys and Caves

July 8, 2013

Dear Fam,

Hey I am fine don't worry about things. Those transactions are my transactions. I am using personal money to buy some personal items. Like a proselyting bag a pair of sandals and other things.  Please don't worry so much. Transfers are not until next week it is very possible nga I or E. Ramilo will transfer. Ug gihapon I might become a trainer or DL so we will see. What about the I-Pod were you able to put music on it? Have you sent it yet?  

I got some good news and bad news. Good news is that I FINALLY RECEIVED the package you sent me!!! Thank you so much for the mini pmg's and for the foods. The bad news our star Investigator who had a baptismal date moved to Manilya for school. Nooo sayoung. Our re-activating efforts have been paying off we found a new sister (LA) that we stared to teach this last week she came to church yesterday. Bring others back into the fold is just as great! Her name is sister Colas. 

That is just the biggest problem in the Philippines there are so many less-active members. Since we are in the province and there is not much strength in the Branch missionaries do a-lot of the re-activation. This last week was great we had 10 lessons 4 to investigators 6 to less-active, That is our usual week 10

to 15 lessons. My health is !00% percent great you guys know me I am like an Ox. That is something that has improved my endurance, needless to say we walk a-lot 5km-10km a day. I still use my net mom every single  night... For the release date we will get a 6 month letter or trunky letter as it is called :D telling us when our release date is. Meaning I still have a long time fourteen months.... President Firmage  wrote on my papers that I wanted to be released in time for school I will find out when the time comes. I dont want to think about it right now...stop making me trunky. Today was awesome we went to this awesome place it had caves and monkeys. It was awesome because you could feed the monkeys banana's. There were so many 20 to 30 monkeys all wild (well used to humans). It was awesome. Again thanks para ang tanan nga mga butanga gipadala nimo sa ako.. ug sorry for not wirtting as much as I should with love E .Mga Hari                

Getting Better

June 30, 2013

This last week has been great, we taught 11 lessons. It is hard not to get discouraged sometimes. Its just we are not getting the support we deserve form the members. We have just been working so hard. The attendance was 36 yesterday, last week it was 50. It just varies and I hate that. Our work did pay off. A brother who we have been re-activating for a while finally came to church yesterday. Yeah potential returning member. We were able to attend the worldwide training meeting yesterday. I was amazed to hear those announcements. Missionary work is changing in this ever changing world. The changes probably wont hit us till the very last. I also heard that every companion ship will be given a I-Pad or I-Phone too, for other purposes as well. This next transfer is going to be interesting because we have 17 new sisters and 9 new elders coming in. Plus, I have a feeling that I am going to become either a trainer or district leader. We will see. My companion is doing alright, he has a pretty fragile body. He has had a lingering cold plus allergy's weighing him down. 

Giingonniya rme....mamatay ako der.....sakit sa akong lawas....We are probably are going to go to Tacloban this week so meaning I get my package..:D Well love ya'll hope your well and enjoying your summer under the sun. 

Love Elder Kingsbury

 Sorry wasn't able to upload the pictures like I said I will send them next week.

Continuing the Work

July 23, 2013

Dear Family

First to answer your questions. No, I don't wear my passport with me. It is at the mission home and it will remain there till I leave. My shoes are fine they are holding out well, if I need another pair or if they need to be fixed I can do it here no worries. Unless we have an activity on p-day we wear out proselyting cloths in public. On p-day we email, lava, study and sleep. Sometimes we like to have actives. Later today me and Elder Ramilo are going to have an activity (I will send pictures next week!) Lastly my Cebuano is amazing I am pretty much fluent.  

Sige, this last week was hard for both of us. We were punted a-lot.  We only had 7 lessons the whole week. That's just what happens sometimes. That is cool that Alicia Hansen is on a mission! I took her on ca couple of dates while I was in High School, goodness seems so long ago. I have really started to hit my stride. Hala 9 months na!! My companion keeps telling me nga I am going to become a District Leader or a trainer this next transfer. Hopefully I would like that. Wow Elder Firmage that is rough stuff, being comps with a branch president. How big is his branch? Tell him we are in the same boat sort of. I have definitely learned how important the priesthood is in this last 9 months. Wow 9 months its hard to believe but its been awesome so far. 

Well Ingat amping. Naghigugma ko sa inyo.

,

The Best

June 16, 2019

Hey Family, 

This last week was great we had ten lessons. We teach a-lot of people, we try to balance our efforts, meaning half ivestigators and half re-activation. Our hard work payed off. We had two of our investigators come to church. (Ang ilang names Maribel Celmar and Teresa Lanugon We also had a less active family come to church 2nd time in a row (Togonon Family)! Almost a returning member.! We have three investigators committed to baptism for July. We have two progressing investigators

! The people we are teaching are awesome.         Of course some of them are less committed than others to keep and do our commitments that we give them. This last week I learned why St. Bernard has trouble progressing the members told us stories of how previous (previous meaning 2010-2011) missionaries were being disobedient and not fulfilling their purpose as missionaries. (All of them being Filipino). Boy do I have some stories for you when I get home about that! Basta that doesn't matter, what matters is that we are taking good care of the area and helping it progress. Wow that is awesome Oh plz tell dad HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!!!! (>0o)> I LOVE YOU!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR ME!!!!!!! My cloths are holding up fine if I need anything I can just buy it here. Wow you make me jealous I miss thrift shopping!! Wow I am glad that you have been able to lose 20 lbs!! Thank you so much for that last paragraph I really needed to hear that. My comp goes to Tacloban on the 27th of this month for a leadership training meeting so hopefully he can snag it while he is up there. It should be there by then.        

Excerpt from the letter I sent him:

Love you bunches and bunches, keep working hard and enjoy every moment of your day.  Continue in obedience to Heavenly Father's desires for you.  You are a faithful young man that has his whole life a head of him.  The Lord blesses those that love him and follow him.  I know that because Dave and I are blessed to be your parents.  We must have been doing something right to have such a wonderful son as you.  You, my dear Dylan, inspire me to be a better person.  

Always having an adventure.

Fantastic Week

June 9, 2013

Dear Family

I am doing fantastic! This last week was awesome. We got a-lot of good work done ,14 lessons. We got one investigator to church and three of our less actives who we taught came to church. It was great because has been a long time for them. My compship with Elder Ramilo has been getting better. Just the usual. There was a earthquake  but it was small. I have felt some in the past

, it is kind of weird feeling the ground shake. Wow I can't believe it is Trek again! I must be getting very old. Thanks again for the I-pod I can't wait for it. Yeah my package probably wont get here until, towards the end of the month. Ok lang kay my comp will in Tacloban on the 27 so I will see if he can pick it up. Haha mango in Visayan is mangga. Personally I have started to eat a-lot of pakwan (water melon) its lami kaajo. If you can make mango shakes. Those are really delicious. There are so many delicious frutas here in the Philippines. I hope you have fun tomorrow with your get together. Its funny me and Cody have been emailing each other every week, so we have been staying in touch. Speaking of talks I just got the General Conference edition of the Liahiona. !!!YES!!!! I cant wait to read it cover to cover!! Well I love ya'll hope you are doing great! Amping hangtud sa sunod!!              

Keeping the Faith

6-2-2013
 Dear Family,

Thanks so much for sending a package. Did you get a music player with church music on it? If not that's ok. Thanks for everything. I am so glad that you are recovering well mom. Just keep holding in there. My birthday was great, really its just another day in life. 20 years doesn't really mean anything. I bought a 1.5 liter thing of Ice-cream and that was it really. Thanks for posting those picture's on Facebook. Did anyone else wish me a happy birthday? (On Facebook?) Its been the same old in St. Bernard our investigators are great they just need to come to CHURCH!! We did do another service project or the same sister this last Saturday, we cut bamboo and put up a fence. I love sundangs! Great story though, last Monday after work and everything we were just doing the norm before we go to bed. We received a txt from somebody (We had no idea who) basta it was one of our former investigators (who dropped us at the beginning of this cycle). Anyways she wanted us to teach her again. So that next day we did. We asked her why she wanted us to teach her again. She said during those last 3- 4 weeks when we did not teach her, she did not feel the spirit like the times before when we did teach her. Long story short she missed the Holy Ghost in her life and wanted it back. That was a cool story. Wow I can believe Tristan is 5' 3" she should start playing basketball or something!! Wow you guys are getting old 25th anniversary.    

Sa kanunay naghigugma ko sa inyo!! Ayaw kalimot ana!!

Loving St. Bernard

Dear Family

I would love it if ya'll were to send over an I pod over full of church music. Its totally pwede (Yes you can).  If you were to do that could you please put the album :Reflections of our Savior on it. That would be cool. Thank you so much for the mini's the Filipino missionary's love the small ones. Plus my small one got real dirty. Just the regular beef jerky. This last week was a very trying we struggled to teach and find people we have few lesson's. It was hard probably one of the hardest of my mission. I am currently reading in 1st Nephi. Reading about the stories of Nephi humbled me. How he keep enduring his trials and relying on the lord knowing that he would strengthen him even when everybody around him was murmuring. As you know sometimes when I get discourage I begin to murmurer. I have worked really hard at trying not to do that. I know that bisan lisod sija the Lord has strengthened me this last week and I haved learned from it. Well I am looking forward to another week of service to the Lord. That service can take many forms this last week (Saturday) we helped clean and shape up here a house that she will be soon moving into. We csped 8 sa buntag hangtud 4 sa hapon it was a great experience. I learned nga a sundang is the multi tool of the Philippines!!        

Getting into the Groove

Dear Dylan,

How are you doing this week Elder Kingsbury, it was so nice to hear your voice earlier this week.  I hope you are doing well.

Grand ma caught a bad cold from Tristan and now Dad has it , so hopefully they will feel better soon.  I am gaining back my strength little by little.  Grandma goes home early next Wednesday morning, so hopefully, I will be able to stay on my feet a little longer that at present.

We celebrated Taylor's birthday yesterday.  He had  ordered himself a Dodger cake at Albertson's, and boy was it not good.  It made me wish for a costso cake.  He loved it and the balloons that Dad got for him.  He got a game he wanted.  Dad grilled us hamburgers, it was good.

How is your Branch doing?  After we talked I went and looked up images of St. Bernard on Google.  Which baranguay do you live in?  When you planted the mangrove trees, was it in the area of the slide of 2006.  Wow, that must have been some hike you took.  I am so proud of you.  It must have been an incredible view from the top.  How are other things going?  How is your companion?  Is it hard to overcome the language barrier.  I know that you know the language, the people will begin to understand you, just pray for inspiration and speak a little slower than normal.  The Lord will help you.  He is award of each of us and our distinct needs.  I know you must be super busy since you have more that just the missionary responsibilities now.  You will be blessed for your service in ways you may not have thought about.

I have been home for a week now recuperating from the awful surgery.  It is so good to be home again and not wake up in a strange place and wonder where I am.  Dad has been a blessing in looking after me and the children.  I am glad the grandma could come and keep him company and help him in the kitchen.  We have not sent your May package, so please, buy yourself a birthday cake and share it with others.  I have not been able to find english minis of Preach My Gospel, only spanish minis.  Which of the 41 principles are you focusing on at the moment.  Maybe our family could study the same one that you are studying.  We are so grateful for your service.

I have not heard of other calls. I will let you know when I do.  Well Elder Kingsbury,  please let us know what you are stuying, so maybe we could study it too.  I downloaded all of the scriptures and the hymnbook to my I-pad.  Tristan has the scriptures on her I-pod and we are trying to figure out how to download the scriptures to Taylor's Kindle.  Now Dad just needs his own device.  It is so neat because the i-pad will read the scriptures out loud, so no excuses for not reading scripture.  

Oh, the church released the architectural rendering of the Meridian Temple.  It did not state when It would be finished.  Not much else for now, keep up the good work our son, you never know the seeds that you may be planting.  We love you.  Love Mom, Dad, Taylor and Tristan

Hello Family,

So I live in brgy Himatagon. No we did not plant mangroves near the landslide area that is way out in the bukid. We planted mangroves in the bay area we planted around 150-20. The branch is doing ok. Its may so all the brgy's have there separate fiesta's so some of the members skip church and go the different fiesta's. The last two weeks attendance has drooped to the fortieths. I am honestly a little disappointed with them. Just Filipino's have a lack of understanding. I will tell you more after my mission. My companionship has been getting better we resolved some problems in our companionship inventory this last Thursday. The language is going great I can totally speak it. I just get frustrated when Filipino's think I can't. Its rough sometimes. This last week was ok lang we went to Maasin for our Zone Conferences then me and Elder Ramilo stayed is Sogod for a district leadership meeting. It was interesting to learn some leadership.  I have been able to find comfort in my patriarchal blessing just reading over and over brings a peace to me. Oh could you wish Taylor a happy birthday for me. Oh before I forget if you could look for a book call "New Evidence of Christ in America" I have been reading (When I have time in Parley P. Pratts' autobiography (Well I finished it already)  It was really good. (My Zone Leader Elder Morley gave it to me.) Right now I am mostly focusing on the lesson's for chapter three in preach my gospel. I started to read the Book of Mormon again I am currently in 1st  Nephi 16. I am glad that you are doing well and recovering mom. Just keep looking for a a small PMG mini my comp really wants one. We can't get them here because they are only in America. I love ya'll to death. Keep up the good work.  Remember that Jesus is the reason I am serving.

Mother's Day... Not What I Expected

I had been in the hospital recovering from some major surgery and I begged my surgeon to please let me go home on Saturday so I could have my Skype call with my beloved Dylan.  After much begging, I was released late Saturday evening.  We tried all day to get a Skype connection, but it was just not working out.  There were national elections going on in the Philippines and it was impossible for Dylan   to get a bus to a better area of the city with newer internet cafes.  He emailed me his phone number and I was able to finally talk to him on the Tuesday after Mother's day.  Boy did I cry.  But I know he is doing what he has prepared his entire life to do.  I am so looking forward to my Christmas Skype . . . .

.Love you much... get the calling info. The number I gave you is exact.

SO I will look out for your call this week. Love you all.

Elder Kingsbury

New Companion Time

4-28-13

Everything is good here in the Philippines. Elder Parsons was transferred this last week. My new kauban is Elder Romilo. He is an awesome pinoy. So gahapon (yesterday) I was set apart as 2nd counselor in the branch presidency. So now I have additional responsibilities instead of just being a missionary. I know as I do my best the Lord will do the rest. Gaah yesterday we had a set appointment with Ganda family but they were not there. Our branch had a service project this last week we harvested mangrove seeds then we planted them. It was cool we planted around 200 mangroves! Missionary work is very hard here in St. Bernard this area has not had a baptism in over a year. Sogod Zone as a whole is lowest baptizing zone in the whole mission, but I wont let that discourage me. I know I just need to work my hardest. How is everything at home? That sucks that the Lakers are getting destroyed. How is Elder Lundberg doing in Russia has he made it ok? How is Mom doing?  Wow school is almost out. I have  been gone along time (8 months in May). Oh if you guys send me a package (for my birthday) could you plz send some beef jerky? I love ya'll .

Love your son Dylan.

/

Elder Parsons and I

Mom you haven't wrote me yet so I will write you! How are ya'll doing. Tis last week has been great. Yesterday was awesome because two of our investigator's finally came to church. Gihapon me and Elder Parsons found a family that is willing to listen to and accept the gospel. Their name is Ganda family. They are so awesome we committed them to baptism. This week is transfer week yikes again. I can't wait what changes wiil happen, but I am kind of sad because Elder Parsons will probably transfer this has been his 5th transfer here in St. Bernard. Changes are coming for sure in St. Bernard I am 100% sure nga I will become the second counselor in the branch presidency.

 This last transfer has been awesome (best so far hands down). Elder Parsons and I have been working so hard! We are getting close to a baptism. I guess this area has not had a baptism in over a year. So how are ya'll doing? I have been great mom, stop worrying about me I am fine. Have the playoffs started yet? Wow school is almost out for the summer there that is crazy. Oh plus I can't believe I turn 20 in a month. In fact I came to that realization yesterday nga I am almost twenty years old. Wow time has been truly flying by! How is Idaho doing? How is America doing? I heard there was some bombings? Where? Gosh I just hope everything is alright with ya'll. I hope I hear from you next week. Wala pa ang injo email.

Our emails crossed.  

I CAN UPDATE AGAIN.....

It has been a long time since have updated Dyaln's missionary blog.  You see, I am an Apple girl and when my Mac Book Pro battery blew up and my power supply was runined, I was forced to use the Windows based desk top in my husband's office.  After being on the Mac Book since 2008, I just about lost my mind, between the 10 days of being in the hospital in May along with recoveing from a 5.5 hour bowel resection surgery, I simply lost my memory of how to use the Windows based computer and I have not had the brain power to try and figure it out.  Healing has been my priority this summer.  So, thanks to my dear husband, I am now back in business on my Mac Book.  So her goes.  I will go back and systematically post his letters and pictures from where I left off.