PASKO NA!

Dear Family,

This week was pretty wild. Last Thursday and Friday we went to Cebu for Zone Conference. It was a blast! Now that I'm not in the newest batch of missionaries in the mission and I'm used to the language (and when I travel on the public transportation in the city I don't look terrified), trips to Cebu aren't as bad. It was a blast meeting a ton of Elders. We learned some good stuff about how to be better missionaries, and then, the First Presidency gave us all Christmas Cards, and President and Sister Hansen gave us these sweet Cebu Temple tie tacks. Just what I always wanted, it’s perfectly right.
Then the next night, Saturday, Elder Ko visited the Island Paradise of Camotes. President and Sister Hansen came and the AP's. The AP's slept with us which was a blast since the newest AP, Elder Elmer is “batch” with Elder Torrie (batch means they were in the same district in the MTC together). He's super cool. Then, Elder Ko came to church and had a special meeting where he said if the Branch doubled their members they would become a ward and would get a chapel. That’s crazy awesome! The branch is only a year old and already has almost 100 members. There were like 12 members when it started. So everyone is pretty excited about that. Then, we found out that one our families will get baptized this Christmas! Then, Elder Ko sat down with the missionaries and we had a meeting about the development here in Camotes. Cool stuff.
So about this phone call home, I'm super excited to talk to you all. It doesn't really feel like Christmas, we listen to Christmas music and stuff but it’s different. We bought a ton of gravy and me and Elder Torrie are making mashed potatoes.
Also Elder Torrie just told me the Provo Tabernacle burned down. WHAT! Crazy. He showed me the pictures of Jesus that remained unburned.
And now for the weirdest thing I ate this week: This week is a surprise. Friday morning before Zone Conference we ate breakfast at a little burger stand in the city. Let’s just say I don't plan on returning. Beef over here is rare and hard to find. My guess is this wasn't beef. It was really hard to feel the spirit for a couple of hours if you know what I mean.
Well, I love all of you. I got a letter from Danny so he is my favorite friend this week.

Gugma Elder Abbott

Day old lechon pig

So, the enemy has made an all out assault on the “Camotes Kings” (the elders who serve here). Sunday was going to be the happiest night of our lives - we had 2 dinner appointments! Elder Bajan and I were tracting the mountain behind our house, and then around dusk we stopped by the house for some water. It was locked, but the second we got there, Sister Malou (our next door neighbor/landlord/storekeeper/our mom/our best friend/not a member) told us to pray to begin her father’s birthday party. Then, she takes us to the backyard and there are like 30 people gathered around and she told me to bless the food. I was like, ”no problem.” I bless it and then they start dishing us out some food. We were torn - 3 dinner appointments? Could we do it? We were going to try. I started eating. I told myself just a little. I was feeling good, then Tatay brings out a plate of lechon pig for us. Elder Bajan has high blood [pressure], so he can’t eat lechon pig. So, I "had" to start downing it. It was delicious. Then we finished up, thanked them a million times and went back to work. About an hour and a half later we had our other appointment – it was super delicious. Then, we went to our third dinner – amazing! I was so happy and slept so well that night. The next day was bad. I don't want to go into a ton of detail, but our bathroom was being used at all times. We had district meeting in the morning. Then in the afternoon, when we went out to work, we put our stomachs in the Lord’s hands, because if you think our bathroom is bad, our investigator's is ..... Anyway, Satan tried to shut us down with day old lechon pig, but we beat him. Moral of the story. God always wins. 

Aside from that, my new companion, Elder Bajan, is really diligent and really great and my new Zone Leader, Elder Torrie, is great too. He is from Canada and we get along great. He and Elder Stirland are real tight.

We've been doing a lot of tracting and going all over this mountain. My legs are ripped. I love it! We have been picking up a bunch of new investigators. Also, Elder Ko and President Hansen visit this week, so wish us luck. Let’s hope everyone remembers to come to church.

Gugma Elder Abbott

P.S. Keep Benjamin in your prayers, he's having trouble with his gang.

Hapit na Pasko!

Well, it sounds like you all are totally having Christmas. Here, I usually forget that Christmas is so close since I'm always sweating and telling people to repent. But it’s all good. Pasko [Christmas in Cebuano] is close and I am getting pumped! I have a feeling I'm gonna eat some crazy stuff.

As for my first baptism - it was Dope! [i.e. Great!] I got to do it in the ocean first off, which is a two-edged sword, because I slipped and almost went all the way under a few times as we journeyed out to deeper water. It was so cool - there were like a hundred of these purple jellyfish things in the water. It looked pretty dope. Then, I baptized for the first time. One girl kept popping her elbow up but aside from that it went very well. They shared their testimonies and it was great. All around a perfect experience.

Transfers just hit. Literally. We got the call 10 minutes ago. My new Companion is going to be Elder Bajan, who I hear is crazy nice. He is a little Filipino like Elder Deguidoy, which are my favorite. So I'm excited for that. Elder Tan is moving to City Zone as a Zone Leader. Elder Tan loves the city, so It’s perfect for him. City Zone is generally where they put the rowdy elders because it is close to the President and the AP's, but his companion, Elder Gubb, is super nice and from New Zeleand. And I'm still in Camotes!

Aside from all that, God continues to bless us with amazing investigators. We're teaching one guy right now named Antonito Estrera, and his family. He is blind, but crazy nice and an amazing listener. He catches everything we tell him. He and his wife aren't married yet, but they are working on it, because they really want to be baptized. All in all life is great here in Camotes. I can almost speak the language, but I'm no where near fluent. Keep me in all of your prayers.

Gugma, Elder Abbott

p.s. No pictures this week, the computer I'm using aint having it. I got some sweet ones, though, so get excited.

Lechon Pig

(12/01/2010)

My first baptism is this Saturday. I'm way excited because my investigators rule! We had five committed, but one who we felt wasn't really into it rebelled against her mother and ran away to Cebu city. She'll be back, they always come back. But I'm crazy pumped for the other ones. Benjamin is the man! Literally an Alma the Younger story. We found out details of his very shady past and it seemed like I totally underestimated how dangerous he was. But now he is the nicest guy in the world. His Auntie loves us. She is a very devoted catholic but she is glad her nephew is being baptised and not "bad boy bad boy" anymore. In fact in a couple hours she will have made some Sanging prito for us. Which are deep fried bananas and they are great.

Which brings me to the most awesome thing that happened this week besides our investigators. On Saturday, we went to a members birthday party and guess what they prepared? A Lechon Pig! That’s the entire pig that they skewer and then rotisserie grill or something like it. I mean the whole pig! 35 kilos I think. Head to boot. Holy cow, best thing I ever ate! The skin is way crispy, and golden brown, and the the meat - Holy Cow, Dad, you would have totally died - SOOOOO moist. So, we will call that my Thanksgiving dinner. Also, Elder Deguidoy (my zone leader) tricked me into eating some weird Sud-an (anything you put on rice). I was like "what is it?" (in flawless Cebuano of course) And he was like "It’s delicious" and then walked away, so I was like, OK. I ate it all. I then asked Elder Olsen (other ZL) and he said it was the Lung of the pig. Sweet! So, that was cool. The next day, a sweet old lady who is a recent convert made us Banana Lumpya, which is amazing. It’s just what it sounds. A saging wrapped in a lumpya shell, then deep fried and covered with sugar. So that was great.

As for other things, we just kicked Satan's butt as usual. President Hansen has been challenging us to commit to baptize during the first lesson. We've been seeing crazy good results. No one yet has turned it down straight up. And a lot of people are committing to be ready by Pasko (Christmas) so  that could be the happiest Christmas of my life.

Before I forget, I got Brothers Moore’s letter. Dear Elder Rules!

And I've gotten 3 letters from Alexis, the first two were written to MTC Elder Abbott but its all good mail is really rare so I dig it either way.

I can't remember if there were any other awesome things going on. I'm excited for the package. Philipino snacks are ok, but I really miss fruit flavored candies, like Skittles. The only fruity thing they have is called Yoogoo, and it’s a mysterious cloudy semi liquid semi solid candy cup. It’s really cheap, so I eat it a lot. Pray for me to not get transferred, its coming up next week. And since one elder is going home on monday the three of us remaining in Camotes were asked to all come down to transfer meeting. Which means probably 2 of us are being transferred. The odds are in my favor, I think.

That’s pretty much it. I love you all. I miss you all. But I wouldn't want to be anywhere else besides Camotes right now. God loves us. I know it. Don't you all ever forget it.

Gugma, Elder Abbott

p.s. Mom, the language is ok. I can sometimes talk to the people. It really just depends on how many teeth they have and how drunk they are. I'm only half kidding.  

p.s.s. Dad you have the right island, Porro is connected by what seems like a land bridge. There is this one spot in our area where we look right at Porro across the ocean. Its really really breathtaking. I'll get a picture one day.

Gangsters!

[Date of this letter was 11/23/2010 - sorry]

Now I remember why I wanted to go to somewhere warm on my mission - Winter. Winter here is great. The sun shines and the plants grow. Have I ever mentioned how green it is here? I'm going to get homesick if you keep writing stuff like that in your letters. But, I have a feeling Thanksgiving will come and go tomorrow and I'll forget all about it. Maybe I'll splurge and buy a soft drink.

It’s sweet, I got this belt made out of Caribou horn. The guy who makes them is a bishop and literally all the missionaries have his belt! It’s sweet, it’s kind of a Cebu thing. Speaking of which, the Cebu trip was cool. The City is SOOOO different then Camotes. The Camotes is the most bukid (mountain) area in the mission it turns out. The city is super loud and there are a million people. On the plus side, they have really, really efficient transportation systems called jipneys. I love them. They're old military jeeps that they use as busses, and they are mega cheap. They cram people on there. But, after the Cebu trip, I got to take a Habal-habal (motorcycle) from the dock back to my apartment and it made me realize that I was literally in the most beautiful area in the mission. I'm super lucky!

Also, because the people here are super prepared for the message. We have 5 people committed for baptism on Dec. 4 and the other two elders have one also. So that will be the happiest day of my life. Last week I talked about Gwen, this week I want to talk about Benjamin.

Benjamin is 19 years old, and totally thug. He has 2 diamond stud earrings and wears huge shirts. He also started the Bloods on Camotes. They're like the bloods in America, but probably less violent. Long story short, he is a pretty intense dude. We taught him and his cousin one night and much to our surprise he showed up at church the next day. He told us he wants to change. He has been super receptive, came to church again on Sunday and committed to baptism. He has given up smoking and drinking. He works with us now during the day and has serious street cred. He knows everyone cuz it turns out there 200 guys in his gang. He is inviting all of his friends to church this Sunday, so I'm way pumped about him. He is great. He worked with us yesterday morning and then went home and said he'd meet us again at 3 and he didn't show up so we were bummed. Later that night we were coming back from an appointment we hopped off the Habal-habal and sure enough there he was reading Elder Tan's Book of Mormon, waiting for us. He apologized for coming late and said he had dropped by 3 times waiting for us. He is super nice. Today we were going to go eat coconuts with him up in the bukid but we got lost and ended just taking a good long hike. Mom would have loved it, the view was amazing. The pictures really don't do any justice. It literally is paradise.

So basically my joy is full right now. I'm in such a good mood all the time, that scripture on my plaque is so true. The feeling that comes over you when an investigator says they will be baptized is indescribable. Also when I was in Cebu I got to see Elder Pasikala - the first time I saw an elder from my batch (the elders you were in the MTC with) so that was fun. We were going to do a temple tour but the group never showed up so we just chatted until they called and said they broke down. So to answer your question, yes I saw the temple. The temple Complex has the mission home and office on it. It’s a sweet complex, it feels super American. Also, the city I work in is called San Francisco, on Camotes. It’s on the Island across from Porro. So I look at Porro, and Leyte (where Elder Johnson and Sister Brinton are) everyday while I tract. It’s the best.

Milagro

Things are going great! As usual, I'm super happy all the time and love being a missionary. It helps that I get to look at the ocean everyday and then hike through the jungle. Hopefully, I'll be able to send some pictures to you this week. I get to go to Cebu in a few hours for 2 days. Since there is a leadership training and everyone in my house is a leader but me, they have to take me along. I guess I'm going to work in city zone for a couple of days, which I hear is radically different then the Camotes. But, I hear literally every district is different than Camotes. I wouldn't have it any other way. My trainer is really good, by the way. He pushes me really hard and I've seen some very positive results. He's been making me teach lessons in Bisayat every day since I've been here. It’s hard but I enjoy it and surprisingly the people understand me. I just have no idea what they say to me when I ask a question, but that’s slowly improving.

It’s been a great week as far as the work goes. It went by really fast. Wednesday night we witnessed a miracle. Remember Gwen? Her and her two sisters are getting baptized December 4 because we saw them on the street. Well, Wednesday night we finished teaching a lesson at the Perez house and were hiking back to the road, and the second we hit the road Gwen and Rowena drove by on the their motor. They stopped and were all happy to see us. We got to talking and they said they've been having some problems and Gwen’s ex-boyfriend started choking her. Crazy! So we went to her house and shared a quick message. We talked about 1 Nephi 3:7 and how the Lord has a plan for all of us. She thanked us and we left. Then last night we had FHE at her house and she talked about the experience last Wednesday night and how she thinks that this is all part of God’s plan to get her baptized, since she wasn't able to in the past because she was living with her boyfriend. So we have been very excited and very grateful. We thought about our meeting on the road. It was wild. If we had literally stayed 2 seconds longer or shorter at the Perez house, we would have missed them - not a coincidence.

Aside from that, the work moves along. I'm enjoying FHE's more and more since I understand more and more. They are fun because there are always a million little kids and they love missionaries. Like yesterday we got dropped off by our ZL's for an appointment and there were these 3 little kids outside of where our car was and they all started cheering when they saw us, and gave us all high fives and followed us up the hill.   

That’s pretty much it. I love you all a ton. The weirdest thing I ate this week was pig intestine. No Balut yet. It’s not very popular in Camotes.

Be cool, be good, Gugma Elder Abbott

P.S. Read Alma chapter 26. It’s my favorite in the Book of Mormon. It’s weird, Ammon used to be my favorite as a kid because he cut off all the arms of people, now he's my favorite for other reasons.

Kurat! Bunyag!

So, this week has been great. I think it was Thursday when we were just walking down the road and a motorcycle pulls over with two girls riding it. Elder Tan recognized them, so I figured they were either members or former investigators. They chatted with us and I wasn't picking up what they were talking about really, but all of the sudden the only sentence I heard her (Gwen) say was, “I can be baptized!” Everyone was smiling and looking very excited, so I threw up my excited face to match. I find out later she had been taught a few months ago by some elders before me, but she was living with her boyfriend and wouldn't break up or marry him, so they couldn't do anything. But she had just broke up with her boyfriend and moved back home with her two other sisters (Rowena and Maylin), who had also been taught already. So, we had 3 dynamite investigators dropped in our lap! She still needs all the lessons and to come to church 3 more times before she can be baptized, but it’s way great! Unfortunately, it’s moving slowly because a new rule in our mission is that there always needs to be a male present during every lesson, since some elders got sent home for some inappropriate conduct. So we have only been able to teach her once since we have to wait for a member to come with us before we can teach her, but we visit very often and they are super nice. Gwen (the oldest one) has a 3 year old daughter who only speaks Tagalog and always shouts my name.
Aside from that we are slowly building up a strength of investigators. Apparently, I came at a very slow time. We only had like 1 progressing investigator and the other companionship didn't have any, so we are getting there slowly. We had a bunch of people committed to come to church, but only like 2 did. So that was hard but it’s all good. I have my first baptism scheduled for December 4th. I'm pumped!
All in all, I feel like I'm beginning to figure this whole thing out. The bathroom is a trial, especially with my body adjusting to the diet here. I eat rice everyday, and I have eaten a bunch of stuff like squid. We eat a lot of these small fish that you clean on your plate. The head comes attached.  They are actually pretty good. Elder Deguidoy and a tiny little elder in the the house makes food all the time – it’s great! He is way funny and looks like he is 12. He met Gwen once and she was like “missionaries are so young!” She pointed to him and was like, “you must be like 14 or 15.” He was like, “I'm 20.” She was like, “oh, you’re so cute.” Its good times here. The only problem with the Camotes is that it called "outer Darkness" since it is the most far flung and devoid of missionaries place in the mission. It is just us four in the house. The AP's came to visit a couple nights ago but the second they got there they found out their was a problem the Mission President wanted them to solve over in Bohol. So they slept there and left at like 5 in the morning. That was the first contact I've had from anyone in the mission since I got on the boat. Although President Hansen e-mailed me and said President Ko of the area authority is probably going to come visit before Christmas. So that will be cool. He said the growth in Camotes has been huge, so he wants to visit the Saints.
Mom, I got your letter Monday night when the AP's came. Sorry. It was good though. I love getting mail. As for the package, don't bother with toilet paper. Just send stuff like American snacks and stuff. And maybe some cash. They have some cool stuff here you can't get in America, like these belts made of Carabou Horns and bamboo, or scripture cases made of bamboo.
P.S. Everything here is made of bamboo! All the houses. It's nuts. I really dig it actually. This one member made a huge bridge out of bamboo that goes out over the ocean and we watched the sunset there one night, gorgeous.
Well, I think that's about it. I love all of you. God definitely has been helping me. The language isn't easier, but I can tell I've grown a lot and I know its all Him. He loves us, individually. I really know that. I love you all, individually too.
Gugma Elder Abbott
P.S. Laundry here is sweet. It's all by hand. I feel like it does a much better job. I can really get the problem areas, but I still miss laundry machines like crazy.  
P.P.S I don't know if there is a way to contact Brother Young, but if there is, like he e-mails you or something, let him know I'm in the Camotes. He'll go nuts.

MTC Dance!

We had a MTC dance this week! Sisters choice! It was super fun!

This week was cool! I feel like I'm actually beginning to learn Cebuano. I can make sentences in my head and say them out loud with relative ease. Ultimately though, when I try to go days without speaking English, it is still mentally tasking and gives me a monster migraine. Still, it’s super fun and I can't wait to just master this language and baptize everyone in the Philippines!

I also got a ton of letters this week! I had an unprecedented 3 letters to write people back today. I felt so cool in the laundry room today. So, I send a special thank you to everyone who wrote me this week.  I still need people’s addresses, like people in the ward and stuff. I know they want updates, but I don't have their addresses so I can't really do much.

Also, a major need is pictures. I need a ton of pictures, pictures of my family, preferably the one with all of us including Omi and Emily. I like that picture a lot. My teachers said that the people in the Philippines can't imagine what a white family looks like so they dig pictures of American families. I bought a small photo album so now I just need pictures. Also, people not in my family should send me pictures since I've already forgotten what you all look like.

On a happier note, Elder Coppins knows I'm a missionary. We saw each other at the Sunday temple walk and finally caught up with each other. It felt good. Also, today marks my 5th week here, I believe, which means I'm over halfway done. YES! The Cantonese elders down the hall from us left on Monday and that was tough, because they were the “father district” we never had. They passed down all the Cantonese traditions to us since the younger Cantonese district hadn't come in yet. It was very sweet and it made me want to go to the Philippines so badly. Mom will be happy to know that occasionally at the dinner table we will start eating like a Filipino, with our hands. It’s a lot harder than you would think. When we eat rice, we have to pick the plate up right next to our mouth and start shoveling it in. It’s very messy.

This week has gone by a lot like every other week. I'm beginning to get so much candy and food I don't know what to do with it all. But, don't worry I love it.

How is everyone doing back home? It’s so weird. You all are so close, but I feel so far way. Tell me all about everything! Tommy and Tat are getting married soon right? Will you guys still make apple-skivers (I gave up on trying to spell it) for General Conference? If you do make some, send some to me. I'm sure they'll keep.

I'm not sure what else to say so I'll just tell you all some things I'm looking foward to in the Philippines:
1- Monstrous rats, my teachers claim to have seen one the size of a cat before. A cat!
2- Eating dog, it’s a delicacy!
3- Little kids will walk up to you and start petting your arm since they have never seen a hairy arm before.
4- A worm, everyone gets one. I found out this week I've only gained 2 pounds since I've been here. I'll lose like 40 out there so I need to start packing it in.
5- MANGO!

I guess that’s everything. I love all of you. I'm excited to go out on the mission. I can hardly wait! (I just broke my pen, like just now.) Be good, drive safe. Remember who you are and make sure to write me and send me lots of pictures!

Love, Elder Abbott

P.S. Walay cebuano niining e-mail. Sore, Naghatag ko sa akong pagpamuondon. Kahibalo ako nga nagila and dios Kanato ug nahigugma kanato. gamay pagpamuondon apan mas tinuod. NAGBUHI SI JESUKRISTO!

Living Book of Mormon

 I got the package from the Andersons today! It ruled. Josh gets me. I just want to say thank you for the package, I really appreciate it. Also thanks for the Stamps!
Also good Luck to Dad. I don't know if you've heard about the job or not but I'm praying for you.

So, cool story this week. On Friday morning I was running to gym (gotta get those four-square courts), anyway, I ran into Elder Coppins, who was just getting back from his gym time. We chatted briefly and found out more or less his schedule is polar oppossite from mine. Then, yesterday morning, I was doing service and I hear someone from behind say my name. I turn around and sure enough there he was again looking sharp in a suit. We talked and I found out his class is a floor above me, which sounds like he is just begging for a prank. The only problem is both times Elder Coppins has seen me I've been in street clothes so he might just think I work at the MTC. Hopefully I'll see him around.

Another cool story. On Thursday we have TRC and since there are 10 people speaking Cebuano in the entire MTC, we had way more volunteers than we did missionaries. So, our teacher broke up some companionships to teach, namely Elder Swicegood went with Sister Brinton and I was put with his companion, Elder Ashdown. This was a shock since I hadn't ever taught with him before and more importantly we hadn't practiced our phrases together before. So the Language task came up and we asked to greet the investigator and take them down the hall to ride in a fake jipney (bus) to church. We were so nervous that we just got to know them in our room and then after a few minutes I remembered we had to take them to the jipney. So we hopped up and asked, “Andam ka ba sa simba?” (Are you ready to worship?) The investigators looked at us and chuckled and we left. After an uncomfortable walk down the hallway we got to where all the other missionaries were. So it was crowded and noisy like a real jipney. We talked or, should I say, I talked and every time I looked at Elder Ashdown, he tried to think of something to say but stopped after “Unsa.” (What) We talked. I discovered they had not kept their commitments, which was the worst, since Elder Gertge was the one that would have taken over the conversation at that point. So we tried to think of ways to encourage them “sa Cebuano,” and then they began to ask about if their baptism was valid since they were Catholic. We hadn't even come close to practicing any part of the first lesson in Cebuano, much less the restoration. I tried to explain apostasy and ended just bearing my testimony of Joseph Smith. Then time was up. It was the longest 15 minutes of my life.

On the flip side, our lesson in English was a home run. Elder Ashdown is a killer missionary! Also, at one point, I tried asking him if he prayed about the Book of Mormon. “Nag-ampo ka ba bahin sa Basahon ni Mormon?” is what I should have said, but I ended up saying “Nag-Ampo ka ba buhi sa Basahon ni Mormon?” which means have you prayed living Book of Mormon. That ultimately makes no sense and he had me repeat until Elder Ashdown started laughing and corrected me. They just laughed at me and I was like “yeah, this will be a story!”

Anyway, there are some stories you can share around the watercooler with other seminary teachers or  all your friends in college or high school or at Tahitian Noni.

Did you all get my pictures by any chance? I hope so. I can't remember if I put enough stamps on it. I still don't understand the rules behind stamps.

Also, another reminder that I do not have anyone address besides my family, Joey's address, and the Anderson’s address. So no one can get letters from me until I get their address, wink wink. Write me. www.dearelder.com works too.

Ultimately, I can't remember if there is anything else important I want to say, besides, “I love you. I miss you all. I miss food that doesn't sit in me like a brick. I miss naps most of all I think.”

Nasayud Ako nga tinuod Simbahan! (I know the Church is true!)

Gugma, Elder Abbott.

Elder Abbott needs your address

Just a reminder that if you want letters, postcards, pictures from Elder Abbott, then he will need your address.

If you are not sure whether he has your address, assume he doesn't!

You can post your address as a comment here or email them to jeffabbott57@gmail.com or put them in a letter to Elder Abbott himself.

Thanks!

Every day feels like Sunday

Cebuano. It’s no big deal.
It’s actually really hard still, but it feels like it’s coming along way way better.

Kumusta Mo pamilya! [Hello, family!]

Thanks for the package this week, the pants are rocking, the hoodie is warm and really bright orange, and the box is plenty big for the monster of a blanket that you sent me.

Big news this week, the Tri-panionship got called as Zone Leaders! which just means that we have about a million more meetings on Sunday and have to do orientations on Wednesday and Thursdays. It’s cool though.

The TRC last week was a piece of cake, Elder Taylor surprised everyone and started speaking in tongues to save us from not taking up any time. The Lesson was a slam dunk, tommorow we teach the plan of salvation which I'm excited for since it’s a lot easier doctrinally. I got this way cool book of pictures that I hear Philippino children will simply love. I also think I'm gonna buy the Cebuano version of the animated Book of Mormon stories, and send it home for you all to hold onto for me. This way you can see how ridiculous (Cebuano is killing my english spelling I'm learning) the language is, and I can buy it with the missionary discount!

I'm sending a letter full of pictures so you can see what my district looks like. and see what I look like. I mentioned this in the letter but I'll say it here. I keep forgetting to say anything but I do not have any addresses. So, Friends, (looking at you) I don't have your address - so you need to write me first! DearElder.com works too.

Also that awful watch I bought at the Missionary Mall died after three minutes. Not surprised. Anyway I bought a dirt cheap watch at the book store and it looks pretty good I thought until further inspection revealed that it has these weird diamonds instead of numbers. So it looks really masculine until you look at it closely and realise it is also very feminine. I've received many compliments on it, but I still don’t feel right with it yet. Pasikalla tried to convince me it’s bling, but then everyone realised that I'm the last person on this earth who would ever wear bling or look good wearing bling! All in all, I'm ok with it. If anything, I'll give it to Erika.

I always feel like my e-mails should be longer, but not alot happens here everyday. Kevin Barnes said it best when he said "Everyday Feels Like Sunday, Everyday feels so good!" It’s true.

Oh! I got a letter from Omi. Let her know I Love her a ton. Gugma ko kanimo Omi! [I love you, Omi!]

I guess the sum up, I love all of you, I want more letters, send pictures so I can tell my district that these girls are waiting for me when I get back. Nasuyud Ako nga tinuod sa simbahan ug nasayud ako nga tinuod ebanghelyio. [I know the Church is true and I know the Gospel is true.]
 
Ayo Ayo!

Gugma Elder Abbott.

Week 2

This week went by way fast! Every day feels way long and sometimes way boring, but at least I have 4 square to look forward to. The week went by way fast though, which is really nice. Every day is pretty much the same, I study the scriptures, I learn some Cebuano, I practice talking to people on the street. It's fun, though. Cebuano is really coming together, which is nice. I don't feel like I will ever be fluent ,but I can invent sentences sometimes which feels great. I got jinxed and that means I had to speak Cebuano until my name was said 3 times. It was way hard, and lasted like 30 minutes! My companions are still way cool. I can't remember if I mentioned this, but Elder Taylor went to Lone Peak, so some of you may know him.

 

I got the package, which was THE BEST! Maayo kaayo as the Cebuanans would say. The fun bugs lasted maybe 10 minutes, cuz my companions and my district fell in love with them. Keep on sending that and send letters, lots of missionaries get tons of letters, I only get a few. Whats up with that?

 

I realised that it might get kinda cold while I'm up here (its already way cold in the morning on p-days and service activities), so if at all possible send up a package with my tan pants and my red hoodie. Also put in a biggish box so I can send back the blanket and hoodie when I leave the MTC.

 

I love everyone, Mom, Dad, Erika and Chris, Josh and Carissa, Jasi, and everyone else who reads this. Missions are cool, I feel the spirit everyday and I wear a tie everyday.

 

I don't know what else to talk about. Every day feels the same. Tomorrow is TRC (where we test our Cebuano and teaching abilities to fluent speakers of the language who pretend to be investigators) so pray for me tonight cuz thats the worst/best night of the week.

 

Thanks for all your letters this week and thanks for your email last week, Dad. Dear Elder (www.dearelder.com) rules and is free, for the MTC and my mission so everyone has no excuse!

 

Drive safe out there, Love Elder Nik Abbott.

 

[Editor's note: see Nik's first blog entry for his MTC address and write to the boy! :)]

I miss sleeping.

Dear Family and friends,

 

The MTC is a crazy place, apparently time at the MTC moves slower than time in real life because it feels like I have been gone months. Its only been a week though. Cebuano is also the hardest language I have ever tried to speak. Its insane, there is no grammar and next to no sentence structure, its an oral language which means everything is spelled the way it sounds. So every teacher has a different way of spelling all the words. I got Mom's letter which ruled, it got there about 3 hours before Hillary's. so they are my only friends as of this moment. Anyway, down to the nitty-gritty, I'm in a tri-panionship which is cool and hard, and frustrating, and dope. My companions are Eder Gertge and Elder Taylor, Elder Gertge is from south Weber Utah and Elder Taylor is from Highland and went to Lone Peak and everything. They both rule! actually my whole district rules, they all feel like my companions since we all go everywhere together pretty much. In my district there are Elders Pasikalla and Johnson. Pasikalla is this huge hawaiin who laughs at everything, and Johnson is from Sandy and a lot more laid back. Elder Swicegood and Ashdown room with them and Swicegood is the D.L. he is really mature and smart and keeps us all grounded, and Ashdown is the most rowdy and talkative elder I've met. There is also Nelson and Prescott, Nelson reminds me of Josh Abbott and Prescott reminds me of Dad. there is also a sister, Sister Brinton, she puts up with us and pretends to totally dig the fact that she has to sit through hours of class with a bunch of teenage boys.

 

Everyone at the MTC said that after sunday the days fly by. not so. Everyday drags on so slow, today has gone by fast but thats cuz it was p-day and I haven't had to try and study Cebuano yet. Hillary asked me is I'm all about 4 square in gym, and I kind of am.  its fun but super competitive, so I usually play baseball. the best part of gym though is waving to all the cars that drive by, they love seeing missionaries here in Utah, and sometimes we just wave and they honk their horns and scream out their windows. If I had one message that I could share with my family and friends it would be, send me letters, Elder Taylor gets a letter from his girlfriend every night and sometimes more. so lets stick it to him. also notice all the shout outs Hillary got in this e-mail, I counted three. that could be you!

 

I love all of you, being a missionary rules, Church rules!

 

Love Elder Abbott

Sending letters to Nik while he's away.

 MY MTC ADDRESS!!!
Elder Nikolaus Jeffrey Abbott
MTC Mailbox # 96
PHI-CEB 1028
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793

Letters=>
Elder Nikolaus Jeffrey Abbott
Philippines Cebu Mission
POB 30150
Salt Lake City UT 84130-0150
(To prevent Possible fines, only postcards and letters that are single sheet, folded into three panels and taped at the top only (no envelopes) may be sent through the pouch.)
 
Packages=>
Elder Nikolaus Jeffrey Abbott
Philippines Cebu Mission
PO Box 338
Cebu, Cebu City
6000 Cebu
Philippines
I love you all, and would love a letter now and then even more. Don't use this address until I get out there so end of October-ish.

Love Nik