Week 4

Hi mom, Happy new years eve

This week was pretty slow, Elder Canaya was sick a few days so I had lots of time to study. I started reading Jesus the Christ and True to the Faith. I was feeling a little "Food Sick" this week too. I started thinking about the smoked burgers and Brisket we ate at Ryan's house and how GOOD it was. Definitely going to feast when I get home. We went out finding one night and were able to teach some people just outside their doors. One woman we taught about families and the plan of salvation. We left her with a prayer and she broke down while we prayed. That was pretty cool. I'm glad Christmas was good, sounds like the usually craziness when everyone comes to town. Tonight we have to be in by 7 because the new years celebration is so crazy. Apparently we're not going to sleep very well tonight because it'll be so loud. I uploaded a bunch of pictures last week, they're all on the drive. The mosquitoes aren't too bad here in the thick of the city, so that's one benefit. It's been raining a lot the past few days too. We come home with muddy shoes usually. Hopefully everything is good in Boise. I miss you all and think about you a lot.

Elder Banister 2

Week 3 bonus e-mail!

Hi mom, Things are still good. Since Yesterday. When we talked. I'll have to try and find a nativity set and get a picture. Like I said Yesterday, I had my first baptism on Saturday! It was awesome and I'm glad that Diana decided to make the decision to be baptized. Other than that the week was pretty normal. Still teaching the people and learning the language. Hope everything is still good there. I haven't had to eat dog yet, actually all the food has been pretty good. I also made my box oven yesterday and hopefully I'll get to try it out soon. Don't miss me too much, just pretend I'm at work, which I really am, just the work of the Lord. Love you all!

Elder Banister 2

Nativity from the Philippines that we saw at a display

Week 3

Kolby's trainer Elder Canaya

Hello everyone! Kolby surprised us last night around 9:00 with a video call from Philippines! We knew it would be around Christmastime, but we didn't know when because of the 15 hour time difference. I had already put Hazel to bed, but we woke her up. The other kids were visiting family, so we called them to come home right away. They were able to see about half of his hour long conversation. He has only been in Philippines for a few weeks, so it was fun to talk to him about all the new things he's seen and done! He was at one of the stake presidency counselors homes so we could hear well (the picture would come on and off) and he had earbuds so he could hear us well too.

A few highlights:

His companion is Elder Canaya from Philippines. He speaks excellent English

He was able to attend the Manila temple to do initiatories and it was in English

He has only received one of my three packages (the two I sent in October by boat are in customs so he should get them soon!)

He loves the food, has gained 13 pounds since he left. He said there are many resturants and the McDonalds serves rice with everything. He really misses beef (steak especially). He ordered a hamburger once and it was small and not the same. He said he can get all kinds of ingredients and has stocked their pantry with flour, sugar etc. and requested recipes. They have a fridge and a hotplate to cook on and he bought some supplies to make a box oven. 

He said it's hard not to buy everything because it is so cheap! He did order some nice pants for 7 dollars. 

He told us in detail about eating balut. I recorded this conversation because we all know how much he HATED eggs before he left. I can't believe he ate it, but it just shows how brave he is!!

He played the violin at their zone Christmas party. 

He had his first baptism! A young lady named Diana. 

He didn't seem frustrated about the language, but he is very anxious to speak better and understand more. He said people stare at him all the time and it makes him feel stupid. (I told him it was probably because he's tall and blonde!!!!)

There will be a new mission created on July 1st so depending on where he is serving at the time he will be in Quezon City, Cavite or (the new one) Antipolo. He is hoping for one of the last two because they aren't all in the city like Quezon City will be. (he wants some jungle and adventure!!)

He hasn't seen a lot of spiders, just cockroaches. He described how at night the lights from the jeepney's revealed so many cockroaches all over the road. 

They find people to teach by walking along the homes near a canal. He said the houses are pieced together. 

It doesn't rain everyday, but the times it did rain the streets were flooding with water. 

He mentioned how crazy everyone drives and he wishes he could drive too! He wants to build a sidecar when he gets home and he studies it everytime he rides in one. He loves jeepneys and scooters and has even seen someone get hit (!!!)

I asked if he'd been homesick at all and he said no. (it doesn't surprise me!) He is so good natured and up for adventures so I don't think he has had time to miss home! (He does miss Hazel though, and she loved seeing him and hearing him talk to her.) He did ask about the truck and was reminded he has a motorcycle. He also wanted to know about all the changes Preston did to their room!

He bore his testimony to us in tagalog and it was awesome! I recorded it but Hazel was crying. If you don't mind the crying you can still hear him. I will try to post it on his blog. (quezoncityelderbanister.com) It was so awesome to talk to him and laugh with him. We love hearing about his mission and all his adventures. Thank you for all your support!! He loved all the Christmas cards and letters. 

Love, Beth

Kolby and his mission president: David Koster and his wife.

Week 2

Well I'm not dead yet. The field is a lot different for sure. Out of the little mtc bubble. I'm in marikina city, in the sumulong 1st ward. You should see the way people drive here. It's basically a free for all and there's always scooters or dirt bikes whizzing by. I'm already getting used to it though. Not as stressed about getting hit. The food is good too. I took a bunch of pictures but left my USB cord at the apartment so I'll have to send them next week. The area is all city, we teach usually along this creek where most the people in our area live. Tagalog is still coming slowly. Everyone looks at me weird and I wish I could just go off on them in Tagalog sometimes. The apartment isn't too bad, I've only killed 1 full size cockroach so far. And apparently there's no big spiders here in the city so that sucks. The ward is super nice and welcoming. I got to bear my testimony to them Sunday. I have to play the violin again for the Christmas concert. I've used this skill way more than I thought I would already. I also might get to baptize my first convert on Saturday if all goes as planned. Her name is Diana. She's 21 and wants to serve a mission also. Some exciting things already and it hasn't even been a week. Hope Christmas is good back home. Enjoy the cold, I never knew how lucky we are. Enjoy your hot showers too.
Elder Banister 2

Dang I almost forgot!!!!! I ate Balot at the mtc on the last day!!! What a snack, let me tell you. It was sooo good that my body didn't want me to swallow it!!! I had to force it down with this vinegar onion stuff that goes with it and some water. YUM am I right?! Anyways, I can't believe I almost forgot to tell you. Also can you send some recipes. like cinnamon rolls, sticky buns, rolls, bread, anything you think I could make in a box oven.I'm gonna make one maybe today. Love you

MTC Christmas and temple photos

Philippines week 1

Hi everyone. I made it safe to the Philippines thank goodness. Not sure I trust those huge planes all the way yet, but it was cool to fly in one. It's as hot as they say it is here which came to a surprise to me for some reason. We took a bus to the mtc from the airport and the traffic was INSANE. there's pretty much no rules and I thought we were going to crash like 20 times. There's a million people on scooters cutting through the cars. But we made it safely to our little mtc bubble. It's really pretty here. I haven't seen any big spiders yet, just a cockroach. Nothing special there, I saw those all the time in the Borah locker room. There's some massive bumble bees though. Like the size of a half dollar all over the place. The food is really good here so far. And the rolls and bread are all home made and I eat so many. I even eat the eggs because I don't want to waste food. Everything is super cheap and I almost feel bad wanting to buy everything. But that's not really important, what's important is what I'll be teaching. Anyways, the temple here reminds me of the Boise temple. The outside at least, I'm going there later today so I haven't been inside yet. Glad you finally got a tree. It doesn't feel like Christmas because it's so dang hot here, it's a little weird. But it's alright, I'll get used to it. I'll be in the field next week so I'm sure I'll have some more to say then. Love and miss you all

Elder Banister 2