Week 13

Hello to everyone where ever you are. I almost ran out of time to write this because of these "safety zone" videos. They kind of suck you in. Kind of reminds me of my relationship with Netflix before leaving to serve. Not very "healthy" I guess you could say. But now it's for the Mission so I'll watch as many as I can. 

This week was a bitter sweet end to the transfer. (Dang, I should write poetry with this sappy stuff.) We said goodbye to Elder Santillian yesterday as he was going home. I learned a lot from him and know that he had a good time serving his mission. He'll be missed for sure. On the bright side he was my first kill in the mission, so that's nice. (meaning I was his last companion before he goes home). Boom, the glass is half full.

Out long time investigator Brother Marcos came to church for the second time to see Elder Santillian off, so that was awesome. We continue to teach him every week and he's super awesome. Him and his wife May taught us how to make bilo-bilo the other day. It's my FAVORITE dessert so far here in the Philippines, and now I know how to make it so...... bilo-bilo blessings I guess you could say.

Yesterday and today I've been trying to prepare the apartment for my new companion. LOTS of cleaning. The apartment was a MESS when I got there and that was terrible. The least I can do is make it better for my next companion when he comes. Isn't that what we all should do? Learning from our experiences isn't that hard, but applying it is sometimes more difficult. Anyways, there's some elder Banister wisdom for you all.

The less actives that we are teaching are starting to warm up to us and it's nice. The members play a big role in that too. read 3 Nephi 18:32 to make sure you're helping them out like you should haha.

I hope everyone is doing good and thank you all for your prayers. They aren't being wasted, that is for sure.

Elder Banister 2

Week 12

Hello everyone
It's been a good week in the Philippines, getting some things DONE. The city is "tough" for "some missionaries". Yeah, whatever, "some missionaries" can try working a little harder then, see if that helps. We found a super nice young man named Jerome this past week who's mom was baptized back in 2014. He couldn't be taught because it was only sisters back then and him and his mom were never there at the same time. But now, he's just DYING to jump into the baptismal font. We set a date for March 30 because we can only teach him on the weekends, but he's super excited. His mom apparently after being baptized was never taught about temples and temple work and so we told her that we can do baptisms in behalf of the dead. She got excited at that because she said that her Father never had the chance to be baptized, but now she knows that he too can receive the joy of the Gospel. 

I started reading the Saints book this past week and there's so much good stuff in there. If anyone wants to know some actual accurate history about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, read this book. 

That's about all I can think to tell. Transfer day is coming up this next week, but I'm most likely staying here again because Elder Santillian is going home. Anyways, hope everything is good back home. if you want something good to read, try the Saints. If you feel a little prideful, try Mosiah 4:10. I love you all, and thank you all for the support and prayers.

Also thank you for the "need a laugh" letter, I finally opened it this past week and it made my day. Yeah, basically I got the most pissed I've been in the mission this past week. I've never wanted to hit something more in my life, oh my gosh. But it was all good, my self control is STRONG. Just had to wait it out and let the spirit work it out. Maybe I'll tell the whole story when my companion leaves, haha. But Thank you so much for the packages!!! I'll be waiting for them

Elder Banister#2

Week 8

It's been a good week here in the Philippines!

Yes, the steak was good, but not like home. But the work was pretty good, just continuing to find and invite. We don't have a lot of return appointments but there's plenty of people to talk to. The area is pretty big and I haven't really worked in a whole section of it. We're helping to try and reactivate some members so hopefully that will work out. Definitely not a lack of work to do. Elder Santillian is nice. He likes to play basketball so that's cool. Definitely a little trunky, I mean I can only imagine, it's his last area. But we got work to do so hopefully he can help. Yes, there's 4 of us in the apartment, they're the same that were with me last transfer. Definitely a party. One of the most traumatizing experiences happened this week. We were heading out to work but Elder Santillian needed to use the bathroom, so we stopped at a Jollibee (a fast food place). I sit on a bench to wait for him and right as he walks in this giant Jollibee mascot that's almost 7 feet tall scuffles over out of nowhere. Man, he looks at me, kind of leans over with his big creepy head and gives a wave. You gotta remember, being white here means everyone stares at you, and now this giant red bee mascot is putting on a show. Probably the most uncomfortable thing ever. So I wave back then he proceeds to shuffle on over closer to shake my hand. So I shake it, just smiling away as if I was fine. Then he sits next to me and puts his arm around me for crying out loud. Keep in mind Elder Santillian is in the bathroom during all this so it's just me out here waiting for him. He turns his big fake head towards me and gives me a high five. I just wait there smiling until he gets up. He finally does and takes some pics with the kids then as mysteriously as he came he was gone. Then elder Santillian comes out and we go on our way. That was pretty funny and I probably won't ever go there again haha. Anyways, I hope all is well for all of you. The church is true. I love and miss you all
Elder Banister 2

Week 7

Hi from the Philippines

Sorry I forgot to tell you, because transfers are this week p-day was pushed back. I'm staying in my area but my follow up trainer will be elder Santillian, I'll meet him tomorrow. This will be his last area, so we'll see how it goes. Anyways, it's been a good week. We were able to find some new people to teach and meet some more kids. It was crazy, there was like 20 of them and they were all dancing around and messing with me while my companion was talking to a street contact. It's super fun, I can't wait until I can talk to them all in Tagalog though. Line upon line. In our ward it's a lot of English, which is good and bad, because it doesn't help me learn faster, but it's nice to know what they're saying. I broke down and bought some steak for our last meal as a companionship. it's marinating as I type. I also bought this little rack and some charcoal so I can grill it. Old habits die hard, I'll send some pictures next week. Hope things are good for you all. A cool scripture I found in study is Mosiah 20:11 at the end when it says "like dragons did they fight". I'll send pics next week, Mahal ko kayo lahat.

Elder Banister 2