Elder Kapeliela's address:

 

 

Elder Beau Kapeliela

Philippines Olongapo Mission

Km. 140 National Highway

Mangan-Vaca, Subic

2209 Zambales

Philippines

 

:-)

November 4th

Kumusta kayo!!!!!!! So I just realized a couple days ago that people have been speaking 2 different dialects... ilokano and kapangpangan... Sooo that's why I haven't been understanding. haha I'm

learning kapangpangan for fun haha. There is a little town called Mabatang and it has its own language. I think that's crazy! So anyways for Bryan and Austin, this language in the middle of the ocean and in this tiny city in my tiny area is very special to my heart. Yes in Capangpangan is Oowa. They just spell it like uwa. So imagine your talking to someone and they respond with oowa everytime you ask a question and they are dead serious and try not to laugh. Its impossible. when I ask something and they say, oowa, I have to leave the room.. hahahaha.

What I also notice here is that everywhere is just a huge party where everyone shares everything and music is blasting everywhere and people are always in huge groups. It's like a giant party here haha. I love it!

Anyways, last week I talked about how difficult of a week it was, although it was difficult it was the best experience of my life, and I grew SO much so that when my new companion came, we blasted lessons with such power. He's the former assistant to the president so he's a good missionary. But he's so good that he makes me lead all of the lessons so that I grow. Its hard but I really feel like I have mastered most of the lessons. I can say I'm fluent when I talk about the gospel. Haha, seriously. Anyways, ya, I have grown SO much by those horrible difficult days.. But I made the best out of it with the ward missionary. I made games for finding people and it was a blast and I taught him how to approach people and everything. It was amazing how much I grew and how much faith I had to put in the Savior. He really did help me when I needed him. I've also been having to lead my new companion in the area and I can say I've mastered my area now.

We're teaching an iglesia ni cristo member. Look them up, they believe Christ was a man and not a God. They are extreme, I'll tell you how it goes!

Well I can't express enough how much I love you all! Families are forever! and I cant wait to share that message with every single person in my area! Love you all ! Help the missionaries in your area and give them referrals! Members are full time finders and missionaries, full time teachers!

INgat kayo! Elder Kapeliela

This was sent Oct. 28th




BAPTISM!!!!!!!!!!! It went so well!!! I baptized Julie Ann and Andria Sapinoro! Their dad told us that he wants to be baptized now! So We're gonna start giving him the lessons tomorrow! So that's my 5th baptism now! By the way, we opened this area. That means there were no missionaries that were working here before us and we had to find all our investigators. The lord blessed us so that the investigators found us! Plus in order for investigators to be baptized they have to go to church 4 times in a row! In a row! But it's all about faith right!?

So my companion is home now so My "companion" is a ward missionary. Brother Salazar from Cupang. This is the hardest thing I have ever done and I need all your prayers. I can hardly understand people , it was easier with my companion. Now that I'm leading I have to focus on a ton more than just what people are saying. Its in a way depressing but a better word is its EXTREMELY HARD. But I know I'm growing so I have to endure... My new companion comes Wednesday. So I have to teach and lead the area until then.

There is no Halloween here, its call Araw ng mga santos, or All saints day like Mexico. They tail gate on their graves. It's interesting because the graves are on mountains.

Just something funny I heard a little girl say. She said to her mom, "Mom, why don't leave leave dad for a foreigner? They have more money and that's what all the other moms are doing." Hahahaha sooo messed up haha.

We had a typhoon lvl 1, 2 days ago. It was raining ALL day super hard and the winds were hard too. But the heart of the storm was in Cebu so I was lucky. It didn't affect our work too much. But we ran to the investigators houses and we were soaking wet!

 

Love you all! Have a good Halloween! Be careful with my xbox Bianca!

Ingat! Elder Kapeliela

Conference Week

Sorry, I am a little behind! I'm trying to catch up on his posts!! Sent Oct 21st.

He writes:

 

 

 I just want to go serve and not have P-day! AH! Anyways! This was our conference week so I feel absolutely inspired! What a difference in this conference! What a growth in me as conference time rolled around. Last year I was in the living room at BYU-Hawaii shirtless doing push-ups with my roommates while the talk was playing on a laptop, opposed to me all dressed up at the church building listening to all 5 sessions and taking notes. All though I didn't grow in muscle I grew a ton in spirit!

 

 

Tell Judy Swenson I found her Filipino look alike, hahaha.

 

 

Someone told me I look like George from George of the Jungle and the actor from the Mummy? haha. I don't think so.

 

I hope you all went to General Conference or at least listened to it because these people here don't eat in order to afford going all the way to Orani. it is expensive yet they do it. I hope you all at least turned the TV on.

 

If you heard the priesthood talk they said they brought the whole priesthood to individual houses for reactivation, we did that before the talk too, haha, and in fact 2 of the people we visited came with us the last time too! The solution to bringing people back to church isn't inside the church, its outside the church.

 

Dad, in conference they said the same thing you said to me 2 weeks ago that no matter what happens, Christ will be on my right hand. Why don't you just give a talk at Conference already! haha

 

People here walk around with m16s and snipers and shot guns, its pretty crazy.

 

I hope you all read your Scriptures and Book of Mormon EVERY DAY, because my investigators are on Alma 30. They started 3 weeks ago. The Tagalog Book of Mormon is WAY bigger AND the translation is like 100 more pages, so don't let my investigators beat you! The 19 yr old girl I taught said "this is everything I ever wanted, and I feel like the mission age changing to 19 was all for me." She's going to serve a mission as soon as she is eligible. wow.

 

I learned a lot of valuable things this conference. LOVE = LOYALTY. Simple as that. It's not just the feelings of love, or saying it, or spending every second, although that is what you do when you are in love it is not love itself. Love, is LOYALTY. Elder Holland brought up a great point. When we die, and God asks you if you love him. Do YOU think you can tell God to his face that you love him? He says, "If you love me, keep my commandments". Love = loyalty. At that moment I thought, I have the SAME calling as Elder Holland. That calling is to testify of Christ. I HAVE the authority to speak with such power with such chastising, and I HAVE the right. So I'm asking you all: Can you say that you love Christ this VERY second? Can you say you loved him this day? He tells us loving him is keeping his commandments. Always ask yourself, every day: Can I tell God that I loved him this day? Hopefully it is yes, everyday. Love = loyalty.

(my companions last P-day)

I love you all!

Elder Kapeliela

 

 The family he taught

A baby praying

I want to thank Laura Palmer for sending me this picture that her son (Elder Palmer) sent her.
It means so much to me!!!