November 11th

Well my companion is Elder Dela Cruz from Iloilo, and he's a great companion and very diligent. It feels so good to go home after a busy day of work. The work is hard here and in fact we are teaching a Jehovah's Witness pastor, a member of the ilglesia ni cristo or Church of Christ,  a born again, and many Catholics. The Jehovah's Witness lesson went very well because I read the day of defence the day before and it talked about all that we discussed.
He said Jehovah is God, so we showed him a scripture in Isaiah 43 "3 For I am the Lord thy God, the ^aHoly One of Israel, thy ^bSaviour: I gave ^cEgypt for thy ^dransom, Ethiopia and ^eSeba for thee." When we had him read it he read fast and skipped over "saviour" and so we said read it again slowly, and he got really really red. They have their own bible where they replaced all the names of Jesus like lord and all mighty into Jehovah (because they think Jehovah is god). So he read a scripture in his bible that said I Jehovah am the savior and then we referenced to the scripture that says (helaman 5:9) 9 O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world. So I said boldly, who is Jehovah? and he stuttered a little bit and then he went into his house and gave us a book and said read it. and he didn't answer our question and was embarrassed. But we were very loving and then told him to read the Book of mormon and showed moroni 10:3-5. Our religion has no false doctrine and when you trust in the lord , he really will put words in your heart in that very moment.

Well last week the Relief Society president passed away. The day before last Sunday we gave her a lesson on Sariah about how she endured in the wilderness while having babies because Sister Delores was becoming inactive because of her baby, but she actually came. I don't know what it was, maybe she fasted or something but she passed away after church in a room with her head on the table. Sad story. But at her funeral we gave talks about the plan of salvation. and the funeral had over 200 people, so we got after her funeral over 15 investigators which is a miracle and taught over 200 people Gods plan of Salvation. I"ll have a picture of it next week, I have no camera with me.

We have 3 baptisms in a couple of weeks now! We had 7 inactives that became active again (means they went to church 4 times in a row)! That's our accomplishments this week.

Oh ya, tell Elder Rosales my former companion that the next electric bill was 1090 pesos haha. He left me with the bill!

Someone tell me whats up the the new Halo 4 everyone is talking about here... haha.

Man, it's just so beautiful here. The scenery is just unreal. Its like paradise here. It feels like Jurassic Park sometimes haha.

Mahal ko kayo! Ingat!
Elder Kapeliela

November 11th

Miss ya all! I've been gone for 4 months now... wow, that means six more 4 month periods like this and I'm done! That is so crazy! I don't like how fast its going! But maybe you all do haha. Think about it, there is only 1 summer where I won't be home! I actually think that's pretty cool. Except that I can't light fireworks... I haven't changed much in physical looks at all... I do sweat and walk alllll the time, but I do eat a lot haha. So I think I'm still the same weight to be honest. I'm starting to think in Tagalog before English now and my Tagalog is better. I still wouldn't say I'm fluent though. I can understand my companion fluently but some people I just really cant understand well because they sound drunk. Everyday is still like the first day I was here. The people are still running at me like I'm an alien, and still freak out when they see an American. But anyways I had some extra time so I sent this.
 Love you all!

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!!!