Week 35

So, it's been 8 months since I reported to the MTC.  How crazy is that? It really doesn't feel like its been that long because I still feel super new out here. Its weird to see the changes that have happened in my life and the weird gaps between what I think I can do and what I can actually do. Apparently I speak a lot more Tagalog than it feels like I do, which is nice to here, and I've actually been able to start picking up and processing the Pangasinan that I hear in the street. The gift of Tongues is real, because I know that this isn't coming from me.

I had an experience this week in teaching about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ where I was so clearly able to feel the Lord guiding me it was amazing. We were sitting out in this little shack in the middle of a bunch of fields and it was raining ridiculously hard. The pounding of the rain on the metal rook and the wind made it hard to hear. It was windy, it was almost cold, and we were doing our best to help this girl answer her questions. We were teaching about prophets and why they were and are so important for us, and I had this moment where I was speaking and at the same time, realized that the words I was speaking weren't coming from me, but coming from the Spirit to help her hear exactly the things she needed. It was amazing and a powerful witness that the Lord is using me out here.

Love you all and hope you're all doing well,

-this kid

Picture 1 is us walking our workers through the bukid and they were all amazed we knew so many shortcuts like thats now what we do all day

Picture 2 is a bunch of people who wanted to take a picture with us at church on Sunday

Week 34

Hey everyone

This week was pretty fun. We did a lot of work and Elder Miague and I grew a lot closer together. We had some really powerful teaching experiences, and its amazing to see people take the first steps on the path to Christ. I think its important for everyone to remember that God, our loving Heavenly Father, really does answer prayers, and through the Holy Ghost, he will let you know exactly what you need to do in this life. It's wonderful to see people take those steps to pray and ask God if something is true, and then get to help them act on those things they know and feel to be true.

We also went on a pretty fun hike today with a bunch of missionaries up to Mount Zion and we just got to sit at the top for a while and talk about life and the gospel and how we've all changed and grown so much for the better. Life is good out here in Bugallon. I'll be sad to leave it, but hopefully that's not for a while. I love you all.

- E COOLER (which I get a lot of the time)

Picture 1 is me walking in a bukid

Picture 2 is me digging a whole for the foundation of a house

Picture 3 is Mr Zion Jesus

Picture 4 is us by a river just having fun

Week 28

Hey everyone,

So, Its rained a lot this last week. Its supposed to be Tag-init but we've been having a lot of rain all week. Friday night we got caught without umbrellas out in the rain and we had a fun time getting completely soaked as we went from house to house trying to invite everyone to General Conference on Saturday and Sunday. People were very surprised to see us but it was something we needed to do.

The next night we rolled up our pants and threw on closed toed jandals because we had some mud to trek through in one of our areas, and it was going well until my jandal broke. But its all a good days work right. We even got a free trike ride home that night from a super nice trike driver who delivers water in Dagupan. It was a simple blessing of the Lord because that late at night there are never trikes or buses or jeeps so we usually end up walking pretty far.

If you haven't I would like to invite you to watch general conference and act on whatever promptings you have. I still have a lot to do to, and I'm always trying to grow closer to GOd and be the best missionary I can be.

-Elder Collier

Picture one is Elder Weaver and me out on a dike trying to find new people out in a bukid

Picture two is a trendy picture of 7-11 ice cream because its 15 Pisos and delicious

Picture three is what cemeteries look like here (that's a pretty nice part of one)

Week 24

Hey Everyone, 

Hows it going out wherever you all are? Things are going pretty well out here in Bugallon. Its officially summer here and all the kids are going to go on summer vacation soon. That means its about to get a lot hotter. That being said, it did rain a little last night which was way nice.

This last week we had a zone conference and Elder Teh, a general authority, came to speak to us. We learned a lot about how we need to be more focused on listening to the spirit and having him as our constant companion always. That's something I've been working on this week.

Sorry there isn't much in this one. 

Love,

Ya Boi Elder Collier

Picture 1 is an even sketchier bridge than the one in my first area. Its really bouncy and I almost fell off. It was fun

Picture 2 is a fun sign by our house

Picture 3 is some of our workers who took my camera and took pictures. The guy who took the picture is now serving a mission in Davao City, and the girl in the pink shirt will be serving in the California Anaheim mission in April

Week 23

Hey everyone, sorry I didn't email last week, I couldn't upload any pictures and we went on a hike so i didn't have much time.

This week has been a pretty good one, as previously mentioned, I went on a hike this week with Elder Weaver. We thought 'hey theres some mountains over there, lets go explore' and so we did. It was really fun and exhausting hiking around for 4 hours. After hiking for an hour and a half down some really obscure narrow paths, we found a house that looked occupied but no one was home. Past that there were like 3 other huts and a farm, it was pretty surprising actually.
This week the work was really good too. I had the chance to go on exchanges with Elder Zaugg from my MTC district and it was fun to see how much we've both learned in the past few months. Its almost like we can actually speak Tagalog now or something.
We found a lot of new people to teach this week and have a busy week ahead of us. I'm excited for this week of work.
Peace out everyone
-me

The first picture is the first house we found out in the mountains

The second picture is Elder Weaver taking a picture of a stream pretending its a waterfall

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

Week 16

Hey everyone,

Honestly, if my week count gets messed up, I'm sorry. I never really know what week it is, but an Elder I met in the MTC has P-day on Thursday, so I just get the week number from his subject line. If I'm ever off then that's my bad.

This week was a pretty good one. We met a lot of people in the beginning of the week and taught a lot of lessons. 

Also, I've learned how to cook chicken curry, sweet and sour pork, caldereta, and aftritada all from this little Nanay who has a Carnideria near where we live. She's one of the nicest people ever. 

We got to watch the Urdaneta Temple Groundbreaking Ceremony on Facebook live and it was a super cool experience to realize that the people I'm teaching now will have a temple so close to them so that they can recieve the wonderful blessings of the temple.

Its been a week

-Elder Collier

Picture one is the new Temple Recommend Holder we got as a present

Picture two is a goat just chillin on top of a grave. That's it. Also, there are goats everywhere, but people don't really eat goat so I don't know whats up with that

Week 15

This week was a really great week honestly. I was able to see at least one thing each and every day where I know that the Lord was using me as his instrument in the work. Elder Pangan and I did a lot of work this week and we have had a lot of success finding and teaching. We were exploring one of our baranguays (kind of like neighborhoods but they have councils and officials and stuff) called "Sinabaan" (which we now refer to as Cinnabon just for the memes) which I had felt prompted that we should go to ans while we were there we ran into three girls ages 17-21. They were really interested and when we went back to teach one of them she was really interested and asked if she could be baptized. We said yes and extended an invitation.

Also, this week we went on exchanges with our Zone Leaders in San Carlos and it was really fun. I learned a lot about Tagalog and teaching. Plus, while sitting downstairs in their apartment with Elder Fox and Elder Lucas (my MTC companion lives there but isn't a ZL yet) I saw a rat run into their bathroom. So, I said nonchalantly, "by the way you guys have a rat in your bathroom." They both looked over confused and as they did we saw it run into the kitchen. After a really entertaining circus of attempts to kill it, broken brooms and dust pans, Elder Fox smashed it with a broom handle. I then took it outside in the dust pan and lacrosse-threw it across the street. It was way fun. 

Also, on Sunday we had a Philippines wide stake conference broadcast from President Holland. It was really good and if you can find it I'd invite you to watch his talk.

Its been a week,

-Elder Collier

#kapayapaanalisnaako (kapayapaan alis na ako - a joke translation from english)

Picture one I found another drug sign I missed because it was covered by trees

Picture two is Elder Fox and the rat who we named Remi because he his in the back of the fridge 

Picture three is a fun depiction of a saxophone in Bayambang even though most Filipinos don't know what they are

Week 14

Hey everyone,

Today is the first day of my second transfer out in the field. I started a new planner in weekly planning and I'm officially using a Tagalog one so that's fun (honestly there exactly the same except the Tagalog one has less room because Tagalog takes a lot more space to write).

For the record, I did beat almost all of you into 2019, with the exception of the other missionaries who are getting these emails out here in the isles of the sea. It was way fun because there was a concert in the park across the street from our apartment and the music was so loud it sounded like it was coming from inside the apartment. I ate a Twix at midnight because American candy is mahal (expensive) but I wanted to celebrate.

This week Elder Pangan and I did a lot of work. It was great. On Christmas, Elder Hilis and I had found the daughter of one of his recent converts (who had moved to Honk Kong for work my second week out here) out in this far area from where her mom lived. When we went to her grandmas house to see where the daughter actually lived, and it happened to be the day after her mom had gotten back from Hong Kong. We were able to teach Angela, the daughter, that day, and that night we got a text from Virgina, the mother, telling us that her husband decided he wanted to be baptized as well. It was really cool to see the Lord's timing at work.

Also, one of the highlights of the week, I saw a Filipino trike driver, in this tiny little obscure barangay Diaz, wearing a CSULB T shirt. He drove by too fast for me to get a picture, but it is not officially the most random shirt I've seen here, just ahead of the UCSB Soccer shirt I saw.

It was a good week. I'm getting better at the language and I love the work.

Happy New Year

-me

Picture one is a group of kids we taught along with this 16 year old investigator, and after the lesson they held me down so I couldn't leave

Picture two is a cow and a lot of corn because this week I realized the humor in being sent somewhere with a lot of those, because that's where I didn't really want to go back in the states (l love cows and corn now turns out)

Picture three is a drug sign The Tagalog one translates to "Manambong Parte doesn't like/want drugs" and doesn't really make sense with the English acronym "MAD"  

.Picture 4 is just a picture Elder Pangan took of me while I was tired right before going home from our last appointment of the day.