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

Week 6

Hello from the Philippines

Dang it's hot. I'll probably be super tan or have skin cancer by the time I get back. Joke lang, I'm doing fine so far. Still haven't gotten sick yet, even though the other three elders in my apartment have a nasty cough. They say it's because I was raised on potatoes, that's why I haven't gotten sick. Whatever the reason I'm fine with it. This week was pretty good, we had a mission wide conference to discuss the new mission changes starting in July. Praying for Mindoro/Cavite mission, but I know the Lord will put me where I need to be. The kids that we're teaching we taught about prayer, and how to pray. That was pretty fun. I usually give them some of the bubble gum you sent, but after I run out then I'll probably hand out some stickers. A couple "Jeepnee" stories for you this week. One was when I was sitting by the passenger in the front and he was watching a movie. I glance again and of course he's watching Venom. Dang, that was a little trial. And I've learned not to complain about the steering wheel in the yellow truck because some of these Jeepnies you have to turn literally half a turn before it starts to go. Then finally on the way here I saw a creative way to add coolant. The driver pulls out his coolant when we're in traffic and dumps it into his home-made funnel leading to the radiator. That was pretty funny. Anyways, Tagalog is getting there I guess. People say I'm doing a good job but I really can't tell if they're just saying that. But I'm sure it'll get there with time. Hope everything is good at home. All is good for me. I added some pictures of the zone. I love you all and hope you're all doing as well as I am

Elder Banister 2

P.S. The pancakes remind me of home

I don't need these things, but if you want to send them when I do need something..... I was wishing I had my Mister Bottle, the Orange waterproof box from grandma, this shoe glue I never used, and maybe another knife or two... and a couple pound bags of beef jerky. I don't need this stuff like I said, but if you ever do send one, Those are some things I could use. Thanks mom, Love you so much. Hope all is good at home. Sometimes I think about how things will be when I get back and it gets me excited to see you all gain. Hopefully it doesn't seem too slow, I'm sure it's not very fast though. But, Logan will be back before you know it and then I'll be right behind him. Hope Preston is good, and Dallin too. Tell Dallin that I was on the C team too, and it wayyy more fun because it's really relaxed. Hope Tayla is excited for young womens, I thought of her when the change was made. Tell dad that I say hi haha. Hope he's still getting through the days. Those windows should be nice though. Anyways, Love you so much

Elder Banister 2

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 Week 6-last week!!

Hi mom. Tagalog is going good, I've learned a lot but there's still a lot to learn. Should be interesting to be thrown into it. The past week has flown by super fast. I'm pretty excited to get out of here, it's gotten smaller every day. We'll see how this flying business is. Hopefully it's not too bad. Hannah looks so cute! She'll probably be walking and talking when I get back. That's awesome. I got TWO super awesome packages this week. The first was from Kerri. You saw the video when her friend Mindy gave it to me. It had 1400 ORANGE TIC TACS! And some awesome pens that I can use in my scriptures that don't bleed through. That was awesome. Plus the Mountain Dew you sent in your package were super good. Almost as good as green label. I still have like 12 left, but I can make those disappear pretty fast. The Christmas Crack will be gone today too, of course. I'm just a little sick this week, tis the season. No snow yet, but it's been raining pretty hard the last few nights. I'm excited about the next week. Big changes from here I'm sure. One thing that we've been working on this week as a district is virtue. It actually helps a lot. Just staying focused and having making sure I only have good thoughts has made the week go so much smoother. Hope Everyone is doing good, I miss you all.

Love Elder Banister 2

MTC week 3

Provo, Utah temple across from the MTC

Mural from the MTC

I'm doing well, I'll email you later today, I just wanted to check what you sent. We go to the temple in the morning on p days. I'll Email for real later. Love you

Alright I tried to share some pics in the photos section, I hope it worked. I hate technology, I'm so glad that I don't have to have a phone during my mission. It took me like 20 minutes to try and order a mission shirt on this stupid Ipad. The food never disappoints, I eat like 3 plates a meal and it's awesome. Elder Matina, a Samoan elder in my room, and I always go get more. My favorite thing so far is hard to say, there's been a lot that's good. Plus they have the blue powerade and it's awesome. Sometimes I mix that and mountain dew and it's sooo good. But enough about food. I got a package from the Stolps earlier this week and I have a new favorite tie now. I've worn the same one for the past 5 days I think. Grandma and Grandpa also sent me a card and that was awesome. When you send the package can you send me another shirt? like my long sleeve white wrestling one. Lightning during exercise time gets intense and my shirts reak afterwards. A typical day here is wake up, Breakfast, study, exercise, shower, Lunch, Class, Dinner, Class again, Bed, Repeat. It goes by pretty fast which is nice. I hope everything is going good at home. It's starting to get colder here. Another thing you can send if you can find one is a bit to fit the super weird head on these screws. I'll send a picture of it. It took me like an hour to get four of them out with some push pins. Oh, and that's another thing you can send is push pins. And maybe a bunch of orange tic tacs. I ate all the ones Kerri gave me haha. I haven't gotten sick yet so don't worry. I'm learning Tagalog just fine too. We've already had to do our first TRC in Tagalog. That was pretty stressful. Some words I have to try and say like 15 times before it sounds how it's supposed to. Like pananampalataya. That's the word for faith. Anyways, I hope everything is good there. Also you can send me my green label mountain dews, that would be super awesome. I'm through about half my supply that I brought. Love you all.

Love, Elder Banister 2

MTC district in front of Philippines flag

Kolby finding treasures behind the wall plates!!

Note on back of the wall plate

Elder Matina

MTC week 2

Mural from the MTC

Hi mom, I'm doing pretty well. I'm adjusting to the mtc pretty well, My companion's name is Elder Briggs, He's pretty awesome and helps a lot. I already got my visa and as far as I know I'm still leaving on December 12. I'm still healthy, I eat a ton every day and I don't really care, I'll just lose any weight I gain in the Philippines haha. I miss everyone a lot, and I'm glad that the trim is being worked on, I actually thought that it might not get done. On one of the nights while I was in the dorm I was just curious what was on the bottom of my drawers underneath, as any person would be, so I laid on the floor and checked and found a note card with a quote. THEN on the back it had a number out of 38, so I checked all the other drawers and found a bunch more. I found some in the lights also, it was pretty awesome. I found 22 so far and don't know where else to look. It was probably a prank to put out of 38 but its a conspiracy now and I may never know. Along with my shoes you can send that side by side Tagalog English Book of Mormon. Also some Carribeaners. I also picked what scripture I want on my plaque, its 1 Nephi 7:12. I'll try to send some pictures later today. Thanks for the Halloween snacks, I have so much candy still. I also have like 40 Mountain dews left so Thats good. I'm doing well with Tagalog and there's a lot to learn but Ang Kaloob ng mga Wika is real. I love you all and miss you all so much. I'll be back before you know it. Also, can you send some screwdrivers so I can look in the vents and the outlets. Thanks mom!
Elder Banister #2

Elder Briggs

Kolby's suitcase full of Mountain Dews and candy. (over 60 lbs!!) Elder Matina