Week 21

Hey everyone,

It was a really good week 1 out here in Bugallon. My companion is Elder Weaver from Colorado. We had a great week of work and I really like the area. I've been able to become pretty good friends with a lot of people in the ward and a lot of the people we're teaching and its been really fun. I'm really diving into the work out here in Bugallon and my Tagalog has gotten so much better in these past three weeks. 

I had a really cool experience being able to bear a powerful testimony in a lesson with a member who had been having some issues. I know that Heavenly Father Loves each of His children and calls us each to exactly the places we're needed exactly when we're needed there.

Its been another week, and I can now officially say I'm twenty instead of saying "mag-te-twenty" whenever people ask (that means  "I'm going to be twenty soon" in Tagalog).

Ingat,

Elder Collier

The first picture is an abandoned house full of bats

The second picture is me drinking out of a mug that my nephew sent me under a banner we put up for Elder Vallejo and my birthdays

The third picture is the back of some really cheap headphones I bought to be able to call my family that definitely didn't work

Week 20

Hey people,

Its been another very eventful week in the life of Elder Scott Collier. I am writing you from Aguilar because I got transferred again, but I'll get to that in a bit.

So, this last week was a great week of work in Alaminos Branch 2 and even though I left so soon. I was sad to leave. The work was great with Elder Liad and Elder Cajocson who got to the mission field on Thursday night. So from Monday to Wednesday, Elder Liad and I worked together as companions and we got to teach a lot of great people. We had a really fun Family Home Evening with some less active members and I had a lot of opportunities to speak and teach in Tagalog.

Thursday I got to go on exchanges with Elder Collins and Elder Terry which was a really fun day. It was cool getting to work with them and to be able to learn from them. We had a fun Valentines day together and then splurged on a fancy Valentines day dinner at Mcdonalds. Its a pretty fancy place here, and there were a lot of people there on dates.

Friday was Elder Cajocson's first day in the field and it was a really good day working. It was super cool getting to help him adjust to missionary work and to teach him stuff. Friday was also the day I got a call from President Espinosa telling me that he needed me to transfer on Monday (today) because one elder is getting reassigned to Sri Lanka and his companion needs a replacement companion. I was the only person in a trio in the mission, so it was me. 

This morning I got put on a bus and then made it to my area and just chilled at the bus station waiting for my companion and our mga kabahay (roommates) to come pick me up. It was fun but also slightly concerning because I was worried I got off at the wrong place. I didn't so its all good. I'm now in Bugallon with ELder Weaver

One cool experience from this last week. Elder Liad and I were out finding, which is when we don't have appointments and are just trying to find people to teach (bet none of you guessed that), and I felt like we should go up to a specific house. So we did and the lady told us to come back tomorrow because she was busy now, so we went back and she was really receptive. She even came to church on Sunday. I had a thought during sacrament meeting that I had been in Alaminos just to find her. I'm glad that the Lord is able to use me as his tool in the work.

So I'm here on day one of my 3rd transfer in the field. In my 3rd area. With my 7th companion. In my 4th zone (because I lived and worked in different zones). Good times.

-me

Picture one is me with my companions ELder Liad and ELder Cajocson

Picture two is Elder Terry, Elder Collins, and I out in a rice field

Picture three is me with a guy from Elder Lucas's (my MTC comp) home ward who lives out here now

Week 19

Hey everyone,

So, I'm back this week with a lot of news. I got a phone call on Tuesday telling me that I needed to go home and pack because I was getting picked up and transferred in three hours, so I went home and did that. The AP's came and picked me up, put me on a bus to Dagupan, told me to get off the bus at Dagupan and then find a bus from one of the 5 bus stations in Dagupan to Alaminos, and then get to Alaminos where my new companions would be waiting for me somewhere. I made it, but it was a little bit of a stressful trip. Good stuff.

So, I'm now here in the Alaminos 2nd branch and its been great so far. This past week I was in a trio with Elder Agudo (my old kabahay) and Elder Liad. Elder Liad is my new companion, and Elder Agudo was just with us until he goes to his new area today. Its been a good and crazy week and I'm excited for all the work to do out here.

This week I again found the story " The FIle Room" by Joshua Harris (maybe?) and I'd like to invite you all to read it. Its a beautiful allegory of what Christ did when He performed the Atonement for all of us. I want to just say that I know that Christ really did die for each of us, and He knows us and loves us perfectly.

Ingat

Elder Collier

Picture one is Elder Liad, Elder Agudi and I right before eating lunch (Elder Liad is a great cook)

Picture two is us getting lunch at what  was the most American like place I've seen in the Philippines. It was Filipinos found the Instagram of a trendy cafe in California and made a version of it. It was great just for how fun it was.

Picture three is me drinking a cookies and cream frappe (no coffee don't worry) and chilling on the hammock we have on our balcony.

Week 18

Well, this week was a pretty eventful one actually. Elder Agudo, one of our mga kabahay (roommates) got emergency transferred to replace an Elder who got sick out in Bolinao (way far away) so Elder Mower was in a trio with Elder Pangan and I for three days. We got to cover two areas in two different zones and had a lot to do. It was a busy few days and a lot of expensive travel back and forth. We had to go to two baptismal interviews in our zone (Bayambang), and then make it back in time for a 3 o'clock baptism in Alcala (Rosales zone where we live). It was a lot and a little bit stressful but we made it everywhere we needed to. Plus, I got to know Alcala just a little bit better and the members are way nice. 

Other fun stuff. I found an almost legit Monopoly game in the second floor of a store I originally didn't know had a second floor and is full of super cool stuff. It was a solid purchase and something else to do just every once in a while. Also, while walking out to one of our super far areas on Friday, we asked a man driving a tractor if we could just hop on the back and it was way nice and super fun. 

It's been a good week out here in Bautista/Alcala. A busy one but full of good work.

Peace out,

Elder Collier

Picture one is Elder Pangan while the three of us were catching a ride through the bukid

Picture two is a candid shot Elder Pangan took of me just talking to a little Filipino kid in Alcala

Week 17

Another week another email,

So this week we had zone conference on Wednesday. We got to go to Dagupan (not that any of you even a little bit know where that is but its another zone in the mission) and have a conference with 3 other zones in the mission. We have workshops where we learn how to improve our missionary work and also get free lunch (I was super sick and couldn't eat very much but it was still good). Anyway, when you get to zone conference, they hand out programs, and that's when you find out if you have to speak or not. There are missionaries randomly called to give a cool missionary experience of the week, lead the music, conduct, and give a Christlike Attribute Talk. I thought I was chilling, because my name wasn't on the program, but apparently the Elder assigned to give the CAT wasn't there, so as the program was about to start and people were called up to the stand President Espinosa decided I was going to give the CAT instead. So, instead of the usual 20 minutes you have to prepare, I had about 2. I decided to speak on diligence, which I felt prompted to speak on, and it tied in perfectly to President's workshop which was really cool.

We are teaching a lot of lessons and have people who are really progressing, and its amazing to see them change and grow closer to our Heavenly Father. I can honestly say that I know I'm exactly where the Lord needs me and that I'm doing his work out here in the Philippines. I love the work and I love His Gospel.

-Elder Collier

Picture one- I've managed to get a copy of the Book of Mormon in each of the major languages spoken out here. From the Left- Pangasinan, Ilocano, Tagalog (the one I'm learning first), and English

Picture two is Elder Pangan and I on our way out to one of our malayo (hecka far in English) areas, about an hour walk one way

Picture three is me doing a face mask out on our balcony the night after Zone Conference but also wearing my glasses so I could see what was going on below