Transferred to Palayan and now training a new missionary!

Dear All,

Monday the branch threw a home evening for me and Elder Choresca, as we were expected to transfer.  It was really nice and cool, but unfortunately we didn’t get any investigators there. 

With Angie Mamaradlo and girls

Maria Branch farewell FHE

Goodbyes

Tuesday we had Zone Training which went well and we visited our recent converts in Baubo one last time (Nancy Adelina cried).  We were able to teach Dexter the Word of Wisdom and apparently Fevelyn has refused to buy him anything but Milo [a chocolate drink] for a week now, so he’s started to drop coffee!  Afterwards I gave out remembrances to everyone at the Habala house and then we went and found out transfer announcements!

First off, I’m training!  AND I’m opening an area in the Bongabon Zone that just got white washed!  AND I’m in the same house as the zone leaders ELDER WESTOVER and Elder Tufete! AND ELDER ARMATAGE IS IN MY ZONE!!!  AHHH!  I was so pumped!  [Elder Westover and Elder Armatage are some of his best friends in the mission.  Elder Armatage is his batchmate who flew out to the Philippines on the same plane as him]  And Elder Gordon, who is coming from San Jose Ward 2, is taking my place in Maria!  Elder Jacobsen is transferring.  Sister Penales is training AGAIN.  Crazy stuff.  Wednesday we packed then headed down to Cabanatuan.  That night we attended a missionary fireside with some of the missionaries there, but it was kind of awkward because we knew no one in that ward…Oh well! 

New kabahays:  Elder Westover, Elder Tufete, Elder C and Elder Palabrica

And Thursday was the big day.  I went to Tarlac to meet my new anak!  We had some good workshops by President and Sister Clark, and then I met my anak! Elder Palabrica!  He’s 19, from Mindinao, and he’s full of energy!  Seriously he’s your typical spunky greenie, but like overcharged!  I love him!  He and his older brother are the only members in his family of 8, and he has the most incredible faith and optimism. 

With his new anak (son), Elder Palabrica

With his son (trainee) and his father (trainer)!

After lunch, we headed back to Cabanatuan, where we met up with Elder Westover and Elder Tufele.  We had to wait there a while because a member of our zone hadn’t arrived yet.  Then we went to our new area, Palayan B!  After we dropped off our stuff, the elders showed us the houses of a couple of members, and then went home.

Friday we had an odd weekly planning, as we knew nobody to plan for!  Afterwards, we had an odd emergency-type meeting in Cabanatuan.  President just laid out that in order to meet the 1650 baptisms this year (our goal as a mission), each companionship needs to get 4 baptisms before December 31.  They talked a lot about faith, promise and trust in God.  We were all pumped.  Once we got back to our area, we hit the ground running, but man it was like we ran into a brick wall.  We found a less active, then we taught one family who really was not interested and then one sister who is OK with us visiting, but refuses to pray to know the truth.  Her name is Roby Bautista and she was our only new investigator.  I told Elder Westover that I was glad the hardest day of my mission was over with, because it could only go up from there.  Oh, I was so wrong.  Saturday we had two return appointments we had set up with contacts,  Yeah, neither of them were around. By the way, in the past 3 days I’ve never talked to/been rejected by so many people.  It a good thing that my companion is the courageous ball of energy in our companionship!  We were able to teach one man, Jeve, who accepted a soft baptismal invitation.  We got a couple of referrals, but as we went to try to find them, some guy on a motorcycle and side car fired a homemade gun that shoots marbles at us.  We didn’t linger long!  I was seriously freaked out.  We eventually taught a recent convert, then wandered around looking for houses with lights on (It was about 7:30 at this point).  We actually were able to set some appointments for next week.  But man,  THAT was the hardest day of my mission.

Sunday morning I broke down.  I’m just not used to this kind of rejection.  I feel like I can’t get any revelation on where to go or what to do.  I just woke up with this dread in my chest.  I haven’t felt like this since my first couple of weeks of my training.  Elder Westover and I talked for a while and he really helped me get a better perspective on things.  We went to church, which was good.  We have a beautiful new chapel and the members were super nice and receptive!  And we had an investigator come to church!  He’s this 10 year old kid named Bien, and apparently he has a baptismal date for the 29^th!  What do you know!   After church  we had CJ, the Branch mission leader, and Nathaniel, a 16-year-old young man, come and work with us!  We also had a special sacrament for a woman who has had a stroke and can no longer walk.  We also taught Bien and there’s a possibility that we can teach his mom in the future, and she is super nice!  We found Anarira along the way.  She is a former investigator from Cabanatuan who welcomed us with open arms.  We started to teach, but her baby was getting all fussy so we just set an appointment for Tuesday.  We taught Roby again, teaching from the Apostasy to the Restoration again, which she understood more this time, but she is very active in her current faith and she still refuses to pray and ask God.  We are going to give her a Book of Mormon and hope for a miracle there.  After that we went looking for a referral given to us by a member.  We went to one house to ask if they knew him and they immediately opened their gate and let us in.  It turns out it’s this less active family that had a cousin, Mitsel, who is not a member, over when we visited.  At first Mitsel told us she wasn’t interested in this, but then Elder Palabrica shared a super spiritual message about praying for strength in trials.  It was a great lesson and by the end we were able to give Mitsel a pamphlet and she said it would be OK if we visited her again.  Actually, a good day!

We are taking it one day at a time here, but Sunday was an infinitely better day than the previous two days!  And I’m feeling OK now.  And I feel like we are getting more established here.  I am still so happy I’m a missionary and so blessed.  The Church is true, ya’ll!

Pictures from his last Mission Leadership Council meetings at the mission home

One last pictures with his kabahays in Maria before transfers

-Elder Christensen

Finally, a normal, full day of work!

Hello All!

Well!  Last P-Day was good!  I finally was able to explain via email what exactly happened to me to Mom and that I wasn’t dying and that I was happy and out of the hospital, hopefully for good.  We got our haircuts.  Elder Jacobson and I made a funny video at the apartment.  And Elder Anasario and I went out to buy some food from a little street vendor.  We start talking to this girl, and it turns out she’s a former investigator who knows all these members and just moved back to Maria! She totally wants to come to church and listen to us again!  And she is literally just around the corner from us and the meeting house!  Awesome!  We were able to teach four lessons in the evening, one of which was to Tatay Dexter, who is our next goal for baptism on the 29^th of November!  Good things are happening here!  Good P-Day!

And finally, on Tuesday, I had a normal, full day of work!  I was seriously so full of energy the whole day.  In the morning we taught Noel, who drove the Mamaradlo family to church then stayed for sacrament!  That’s the first time he’s come back to church since I’ve been here, so that was awesome!  We delivered the package for the Mamaradlo family also and Sister Angie sends her thanks and appreciation. She said it was "touching", and when we went back on Thursday the kids were all playing with the Webkins stuffed animals! It was so cute.  Big thanks to the 17th ward Relief Society!  In the afternoon we taught our old recent converts for the first time in over a week.  It was good to see them again!  Tatay Marcos gave me a kiss on the cheek!  That was surprising!  After that we did an interview for Elder Choresca and Elder Jacobson’s baptismal candidate, who passed!  Afterwards we got one more lesson as we taught Elma the Plan of Salvation again.  Goody day, but toward the end of it my companion wasn’t feeling so hot. 

Having fun with Baler Zone missionaries

On Wednesday we had district meeting as it was Elder Illustrisimo’s last of his mission.  Usually when missionaries are about to go home, they give a last testimony, which is usually heartfelt and spiritual. Well, during HIS last testimony, I can’t remember the last time that I laughed so hard!  I seriously was crying.  He is the FUNNIEST ELDER I’ve ever met, and I’ll miss that guy.  

​In the afternoon, Elder Anasario wasn’t feeling well, coughing and sneezing a lot, so he rested that afternoon, but toughed it out in the evening.  We were still able to get out and have good lessons with the young men, Dexter and Marivel.  Thursday we taught one lesson in the morning, and then headed down to Cabanatuan.  On the bus, they showed literally the worst movie (as in incredibly crass and rude) I’ve ever heard.  (I didn’t watch), then Titanic, which was better I guess.  I was surprised when I heard “Nearer my God to Thee”.  We bought some things in Cab, like Off lotion (that’s for you, Mom!) and a new Lebron jersey (that’s for you, Dad!). 

With his father (trainer), son (trainee) and grandson (trainee's trainee)

On Friday all the zone leaders and the sister training leaders met at the bus station in Cabanatuan, and then we headed to Tarlac.  Waiting there was the entire Tarlac half of the mission!  I got to see so many old friends!  I’m not going to name them all, but I did see Elder Antoni and Elder Tuifulasai, my apo!  

Goodbye to Sister Thomas, his batchmate who flew out to the Philippines with him 17 months ago

​I also saw my sisters, Sister Thomas and Sister Tuione, for possibly the last time, so I had to say goodbye, just in case.  

​We all went up to Angeles for a special fireside with Bishop Causse, who is in the Presiding Bishopric!  So awesome.  He spoke about planning being a spiritual creation, and his wife spoke all about how we as missionaries are all like Spiderman, in that we’ve been given this great power and responsibility and we need to train and figure out how to use it.  I couldn’t agree more! 

Elder and Sister Causee

After that, all of the Mission Leadership Council went back to the mission home for leadership training, which was so fun  and for pizza, which was so delicious!  We learned a lot about trust and unity that night.  It was fun to see good buddies like Elders Westover, Paredes and Stenquist and to make other new friends on the council. 

Saturday we had a lot of business!  President Clark introduced “Follow up 200”, which is a program where we focus down our areas, visit every investigator every day, and better use Preach My Gospel, the Book of Mormon and the 12 week training program.  I’m so excited.  It will be a lot of changes, but it will be great!  We talked about a lot of other things, little things we need to “tune up” if you will, and those were good reminders.  After the council was over, we left those members of the council that will be going home.  It was sad to say goodbye to Elders Stenquist and Wilson, but everyone’s got to go at some point.  And to make a long story short, by the time we got back to Cabanatuan, there were no more buses, so we felt good about staying in Cab overnight.  Saturday night we worked with the Cab Zone Leader Elder Elevencione, as his companion Elder Wilson is going home.  

Sunday Morning we went to sacrament meeting in Cabanatuan, in my companion's first area actually! After that we got on a bus, but it didn't leave for a while. It was cool though, as we were able to accomplish one of my dreams on the bus that day! We got permission from the bus driver to show the Restoration video on the TV, and so I got to stand up and introduce myself and the church, and the video.  It went well! Next time we're planning on showing the Joseph Smith movie if we get permission.  We got home just in time to go to the Baler Chapel to watch the Elder Oaks Philippines area Broadcast.  It was great, I love Elder Oaks, and all the apostles.

When we finally got home to Maria we only had time to teach Dexter, who came to church again! He's progressing right along!

This morning we had a really good weekly planning, which may be my last in this area. I've been here 6 months already, so there's a fairly big chance that I will be leaving.  But honestly,  I kind of hope not. When I saw all of the members last night, it was like I came home, like this place and these people have become my home. I don't know, but I'll go where the Lord wants me to go!  Also, this week the Lord has shown me lots of my weaknesses, and that's been a little hard to take, but I have a strengthened testimony again that if you accept your weaknesses and bring them to the Lord, the Lord will be with us as we change and improve.

 I love you all!  Love this Gospel!  Keep the faith!

--Elder Christensen

*I sent Brandon a new Spiderman hoodie for Halloween, since his was stolen from his apartment.  I told him to take a picture of him in it :)

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Out of the hospital and back just in time for Elma's baptism!

Here are Brandon's updates from the last 2 weeks.  He answered so many questions for me in response to the email I sent him tonight, so I feel much more informed.  Overall he is doing ok, but still has a bad headache and he always feels exhausted, so he still has a ways to go, as far as feeling 100%.  Please continue to pray for him that he can get all the way better.  Thanks!

Update from last week (Oct. 13-19):

P-day (10/13) was alright.  It was the first day actually that we didn’t visit the Mamaradlo family.  Email was good.  I’ve been trying to fix my memory card with all my music, but it’s just super messed up.  We had some extra time, so us Maria elders went to the Balete Tree, the oldest tree in Asia(?).  That’s what they say anyway!  It was really cool, really big and you could go inside it!  In the evening we taught Darwin Montalbo finally, but it wasn’t a good lesson; we weren’t as prepared as we should have been.  We taught the young men how there’s a time and a season for everything and that went super well. 

Tuesday morning we had a good lesson with Tintin and then we visited Angie again, as that is what I felt we needed to do.  In the afternoon we taught our recent converts in Baube.  We found out that Linda has been having a really hard time recently and she told us this Sunday would be her last coming to church.  That was hard.  We let her know how much we love her and how sad we will be if she does that, and now much more our Heavenly Father loves her and how much more sad He would be.  She still knows the Church is true; she’s just been having a hard time with the people there.  In the evening we helped hold a special service at the Mamaradlos, where we shared a little message and sang hymns.  We’re doing better here, but it’s just sad still.  We had a good district meeting and Sister Morgan gave us smores, so that was cool!  I started feeling pretty sick to my stomach before we went out to work, but it had gone away.  We were able to teach four lessons, which was a low for us.

Thursday morning we helped an elderly member from San Luis move, as a zone, and while we were out working in Baubo, I got a severe headache and after a visit with Grace, I started to feel dizzy and feverish.  We went home and I struggled in bed the rest of that day and Friday.  Friday was spent battling the fever and it was not fun.  Saturday was crazy.  I was still feverish, but we joined the Assistants and the President and Sister Clark in the procession and burial of President Mamaradlo.  It was pouring rain.  After, I rested a bit then we went to Baler for zone interviews.  We gave our workshop on “Finding the Elect” which went well, but I delivered it sitting down.  My interview with President was good.  I love to talk with that man. I always feel good.  After the interviews we had our SMC meeting, and then finally at 6:00 pm I got to go home and sleep.  

Sunday I was feeling just a little better, but I still had a headache and dizziness and I was just drained of energy.  Elma was interviewed by President Clark for baptism and passed!  That’s the best.  Many came to church, over 80, and Alexies was called as the new branch president.  He’ll do well.  We did an interview in San Luis then we went with the Lunds (missionary couple) to their house to have my blood pressure checked, then they fed us lunch.  I love the Lunds.  They are so nice.  We had some meetings at the church, and then I did as Sister Clark commanded me and rested again.  I watched that EFY DVD that Mom sent and it was really good.  I especially liked the segment about diligence.

This week’s update (Oct. 20-26): 

Monday I woke up and didn’t feel any better and I just was super stressed out and fed up.  We went to the doctor and she said it is possibly Dengue Fever and that I need to rest for two more days.  NOT happy about that.  There’s work to be done! Agh!  But I’m trying to be more patient.  I got to email chat with Mom during my email time and that helped.  It just wasn’t my day, though.  But, I printed out President Monson’s talk from last conference and I just felt light as I read it.  It helped to be reminded that the Savior has walked a much harder path than this, and that I need to walk like Him!  And that was about the highlight of Monday. 

Tuesday I just chilled in the house all day (doctor’s orders).  Elder Jacobsen and I stayed together in the afternoon and we had some good laughs while watching “Joseph Smith: the Man” with angry preachers making funny faces at Joseph, and watching Jacob from “The Testaments” have his proposal shut down by the question, “Is the place of records far?”  I sure do love that kid and we enjoyed our afternoon as best we could.  And that’s also when I first noticed the rash forming all up and down my arms (a sign of Dengue).  

On Wednesday we had district meeting and we were supposed to have exchanges in Dipaculao.  After a blood test and lunch, Elder Purca and I awaited the results of my blood test.  Well, the doctor said that my platelet count had dropped from around 340 to 215, which apparently is pretty significant.  And with the emergence of the rashes, Doctor Roque was sure it was Dengue and said I needed to be admitted to the hospital to make sure my platelet count didn’t drop too low and to see it eventually go back up.  I was shocked.  I fully expected to go out and work in Dipaculao.  I called Sister Clark and she said if I was going to be admitted, she wanted me in Tarlac.  She wanted to make sure I had a proper medical facility if my platelet count dropped too low and I would need to get a blood transfusion.  So the Lunds took me and Elder Jacobsen over the mountain.  I didn’t take Elder Anasario because Elma’s baptism was scheduled for Friday and I might not make it back.  We met the Assistants about half way and they took us the rest of the way to Tarlac.  There they checked me into the hospital.  They did a legit Dengue Fever test and it was positive.  And only then did I really believe that I had Dengue…..again.  Well, they stuck me with an IV, which I discovered is like my least favorite thing ever!  They injected something into my IV that was supposed to help my internal organs with the low platelet count.  It really hurt (burned) when they added that to the stream.  That night it was hard to sleep, as they kept waking me up and drawing blood or taking my blood pressure or other tests. 

In the morning I showered with an IV in, which turned out to be extremely difficult.  Afterwards, we had visitors!  Elder Gomez (my batch mate from the MTC) and Elder Weitzel (my friend from Timpanogos High School), who are serving as the office elders, came.  President and Sister Clark and the Assistants were out in San Jose for zone interviews, so the office elders looked after me, so to speak, because the food was less than spectacular and they wouldn’t give food to Elder Jacobsen.  We had the office elders get us McDonalds!  And shortly after that they came back with my recent convert from Tarlac.  Sonny Layug came to visit!  He brought donuts.  Oh, it was so good to see him!  We talked just about all afternoon.  I almost forgot! Elder Antoni was in town to get a checkup at my same hospital, so I saw him and his trainee who visited me! Such a nice surprise!  

​Eventually the doctor came in.  My platelet count had continued to go down since being in the hospital, but on the latest test it went up just a little bit, like from 158 to 167, but that was a good sign!  When I reported that to Elder Briscoe and it eventually reached the ear of the missionary doctor in Manila, he said I could leave the hospital!  Yay!  The office elders came and paid all the bills and checked me out and I finally got the IV out!  Yes!  Afterwards us five went to a dinner appointment with the Reyes family, the same family that used to feed us every Sunday in Tarlac!  It was good to see them again!  We dropped off Sonny, and then we went back to the Assistants/office elders’ apartment and slept there.  

In the morning we got one last blood test just to make sure the platelets were still going up and it was somewhere in the 180s, so I was cleared to go home!  The office elders drove us half way again.  It was so great to visit with them and it was especially fun to talk to Elder Weitzel about home.  And we made tentative plans to go down to California after the mission, so that’s fun!  We met up with the Lunds and they took us back to Baler, just in the nick of time for Elma Habala’s baptism.  It was a beautiful service.  I was so happy that I made it!  

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​Afterwards the Habala family fed us, and then we went home.  It was so good to see Elder Anasario again and he gave me a big hug when we saw each other again.

Saturday I woke up and got ready, but I wasn’t feeling well and I was terribly exhausted.  I eventually called Sister Clark and she said I really needed to take it easy, but I got permission to go and teach the Habala family later in the evening.  So after dinner and cooking the pumpkin bread mix that Mom sent me (Thanks, Mom!), I taught for the first time in over a week.  We taught Marivel, Dexter and Elma.  It was so good to get out and work again, even just for a little.  Sunday was fantastic.  The whole Habala household came to church, as well as all but one or two of the young men we’ve been working with, Nancy, and many others.  Our attendance was about 85, so that was great!  Elder Anasario and I can’t help but feeling hopeful for the future here.  Good things are coming.  Also, Wednesday morning we got Nancy’s papers processed and we should get those back on the 4^th, so her marriage is getting close and hopefully her baptism as well!  Just good stuff!  We have lots of referrals to contact and things to get excited about!  I just hope my body can keep up with me!

Well, after church my head was still hurting, so I rested again.  But Sister Clark told me there’s nothing really I can do for it, but it will go away.  Lingering headaches behind the eyes are normal after Dengue.  But I did go out and work in the evening and taught our less active, then Fevelyn, and then pretty much the whole young men’s class about the apostasy. 

I’m just anxious to really work, like back to normal everyday mission life.  I’m just always exhausted and always have a headache.  But it’s all good.  This too shall pass!

-Elder Christensen

Elder Christensen in the hospital for Dengue Fever

Hello All-

I just wanted to update you all on the latest news I've heard about Brandon's health.  I saw a post on Facebook late last night, from Sonny (who Brandon taught and baptized back in Tarlac 7 or 8 months ago) that showed him in the hospital.  I FB messaged Sonny who informed me that he had been transferred up to the hospital in Tarlac to get the care he needed there for his dengue fever.  He had been able to visit him and he said that Brandon was doing well.

I then sent an email to the mission office, inquiring about Brandon's health.  The mission secretary then called Brandon at the hospital to see how he was doing and he told her to tell me that he was fine. She emailed me to reassure me that he was doing ok.  I then got an email from Brandon's mission president's wife, Sister Clark, who filled me in even more on his status.

Here is what she wrote:

Dear Sis. Christensen:

I appreciate your concern about your son's health.  I want provide you with some information about what has been happening the past week.

Last weekend we traveled to Baler and spent considerable time with Elder Christensen dealing with his health concerns.  At that time he was experiencing fatigue, headaches and dizziness.  We had him get additional rest over the weekend and continued to monitor his condition through a senior missionary in Baler.  His condition seemed to be improving on Monday and Tuesday.

On Wednesday a rash appeared so it was decided that he go the doctor.  Based on his symptoms, a blood test was taken and dengue fever was confirmed.  Doctors in Baler recommended immediate hospitalization.  We decided to transfer him to Tarlac so we could be closer and he could have a higher level of care.

The mission assistants were dispatched to pick up Elder Christensen and take him to Jecson's Medical Center.  His blood tests there confirmed the diagnosis of dengue fever.  Ironically Elder Christensen was feeling much better, regaining his strength and showing signs of recovery.

Throughout this episode, I have been communicating regularly with our area advisors in Manila.  They instructed that hospitalization is not necessary but we elected to take a conservative approach and have him spend the night in the hospital where he could be monitored.  This evening, we contemplate that he will be released for further care at the home of our assistants.  We will continue to have him go to the hospital for blood tests until we are certain that he is well on his way to recovery and strong enough to resume work.

We will keep you posted if there are any significant changes.  We love Elder Christensen and you can be very proud of the fact that he is a fine missionary!

Sis. Clark

So that is where we are at.  Please continue to pray for his speedy recovery.  Also pray that he might be well enough to go back to his area tomorrow.  He has been teaching the Habala family ever since he arrived in Baler five months ago.  He has taught and baptized two of the daughters and the mom, Elma, is being baptized tomorrow.  From Sister Clark's email, it sounds like they are keeping him in Tarlac until he is completely well (as confirmed by blood tests), but I am hoping that maybe he can get back to his area (which is several hours away unfortunately) for the baptism tomorrow. It's probably a long shot that he'll be able to get back for the baptism, but maybe with our prayers it is possible.

Thank for your love and concern.

Please pray for Elder Christensen

Hello All-

Brandon did not write a weekly update this week because wasn't feeling up to it. He did email me to let me know what was going on.  He's had a rough week.  On Thursday he became ill with dizziness, headaches, fever and chills and he is still sick with these symptoms.  He went to the doctor on Monday and she told him it was a viral infection which might be a different strand of dengue fever.  He is to stay down and then return to the doctor on Wednesday. He hasn't been able to really work since Thursday.  

He did push himself on Saturday so that he could go to Pres. Marmaradlo's funeral (in the rain and w/o an umbrella because his broke).  Then he and his comp gave a workshop at zone interviews and then went to the monthly meeting that they have with all of the branch presidents, the district president and his mission president.  He crashed after that.  Sunday he had church and a meeting with their new branch president, Alexies (their former branch mission leader).  He was really hoping to wake up Monday feeling better, but he is not and he is disappointed with what the doctor said. He is starting to feel frustrated and stressed, on top of just feeling really sick.  I know that he would appreciate your prayers at this time.  Hopefully this illness will pass soon and that will help him be in better spirits as well.  He's had some hard experiences these last couple of weeks and now with the illness on top of all that, I think he needs our prayers more than ever. So thank you in advance for your prayers.

Since I don't have a letter or pictures from him to send (he lost his camara cord this week, too), I will attach some pictures that I got from his mission mom.  

Mission Leadership Council elders

Leadership Council dining at the mission home

A sobering week and a request for prayers

***Brandon has been writing his update in his journal, during the week, so it is written usually in 2-3 entries.  It is very apparent in this particular update, so I just wanted to let you know that that is how it is, so it makes more sense***

So! Monday was good.  We cleaned this super definitely haunted hospital.  We all probably contracted various forms of cancer, but we had fun serving as a zone and with members!  We came home, showered and emailed.  Afterwards, I made lasagna!  Well, the mix Mom sent me anyways.  We joined in President Go’s family’s Family Home Evening, where we got to further build our relationship with our District President and his family.  Good fun, great people!  Tuesday morning we visited the referral of Angie, the branch president’s wife, and she was super nice and she’s got tons of potential because of her incredible fellowshipper.  I also met a man from Palestina, San Jose City!  I got so excited!  It was like running into someone from Lindon!  The rest of Tuesday was good…

I’m sorry; I’m not going to finish that entry.  So much has happened.  We found out that our sister committed to be baptized needs to have her interview pushed to the 18^th.  Wednesday we thought of the solution to Nancy's problem.  Elder Choresca suggested that she wash our clothes and we pay her so she can have money for her marriage papers.  After we taught her and told her the good news, President Mamaradlo (our branch president) and Sister Angie got home.  

President & Sister Mamaradlo & son

President Mamaradlo was excited to hear the news and I shook his hand and he gave me that big ear-to-ear grin he always has, just like normal.

I’m sorry; no other happenings seem so significant now.  Wednesday night I dreamed that something happened to President Mamaradlo.  His countenance and demeanor had changed.  He looked tired, almost drunk actually.  Anyway, in my dream it was apparent that he could no longer serve as branch president, so we were looking for another.  Then I woke up at about 5:50 am and the phone immediately rang.  I picked it up.

“Hello, this is Elder Christensen”, I said.

“Elder?  This is Sister Angie.”

“Yes, How ---”

“Elder, President is dead.” And hysterical sobs follow.  I was dead silent.  I couldn’t speak.  I certainly couldn’t speak Tagalog.

I say, “Oh my gosh, I’m so, so----“

“Elder, I need your help!!!”

“OK, we’re coming.”

I prayed, woke the others and told them what happened, and then we headed over.  I guess that the lyric is true: “We’re all just one phone call from our knees.”  On the way I was hoping that it was all some kind of sick joke, because I just couldn’t believe it.  President was so young, healthy and active.  It just seemed so wrong.  But when we got there, there he was on the floor, and Angie was not leaving his side.  He had a stroke at about 1:30 in the morning that killed him in a manner of seconds.  That was one of the one the saddest mornings of my life.  He is only 34, has 4 kids (11, 8, 4 and 1) and he was the nicest, most optimistic man I knew.  He literally was always smiling. He worked so hard and sacrificed so much for his family and the church here.  

I cried SO much on Thursday.  We were at their house most of the morning, mourning with our brothers and sisters. 

The members asked us to dress his body after the embalming, which was to take place in the neighboring town, so we had emergency exchanges where Elder Hedman came here and I went with Elder Purca there.  We waited for a while at the mortuary then they let us dress him.  You know, I didn’t have a good use for my white long sleeve shirt here in the Philippines, so I was happy to provide a white shirt and tie for him.  As we dressed him, I kept it together until I had to button up his sleeves.  I lost it.  That’s what I used to do for my Dad on Sundays back home.  It was so sad.  That whole day was so hard.  Usually smiling is something that comes natural for me, but I had a hard time smiling that day.  While I was working with Elder Purca, all I could think about was the Mamaradlo family.  I kept thinking of Angie talking to his body earlier that morning, how they were so happy the day before, and how many plans they still had, and how she kept telling her kids to wake him up….. I had the thought a couple of weeks ago that I’d never seen Sister Angie sad.  Well, Thursday she was a different person.  I called President Clark that night for guidance, which helped.  On Friday we taught close to the Mamaradlo’s house, and we even had a couple of relatives approach us, wanting to be taught.  In the evening Elder and Sister Lund came, then we put the temple robes on President. 

Saturday was finally a chance to smile as we enjoyed conference AND my companion’s birthday!  We ate at Costa Pacifica in between sessions, and the zone wrote him little birthday notes.  General Conference was SO AMAZING, but went by so fast.  I’m not going to try and pick a favorite.  In the evening the Habala family fed us dinner for my companion’s birthday.  Then we went back to the Mamaradlo’s to sing hymns with the members.  The Mamaradlos and the branch are our top priority right now.  And the support from the members has been phenomenal.  Sunday was good, but with everything going on, we only had one investigator come to conference.  After conference, we taught our investigators close to the Mamaradlos’ again.  We did set a date with Nancy, because finally, her papers, marriage and baptism seem to be in reach.  And it’s worked out perfectly, as she’ll wash our clothes for the meantime, as Angie (who was washing them before) is not exactly available now. 

Angie is doing better, thank goodness.  She’s not crying all the time now, and she seems a lot like her old self.  But of course, not as many smiles.  Just keep them in your prayers.  Please pray for them.  They need all the help they can get.  They never had a whole lot before, and now… Just pray for them.

This week was a sobering week.  You know, I never told President Mamaradlo that I loved him.  I guess that lyric is right, “If you love somebody, better tell them while they’re here, ‘cuz they might just run away from you.”  John 13:34, Alma 40:12, Moroni 9:25, Moroni 7:41

With little Walog Mamaradlo

-Elder Christensen

The Maria Branch after General Conference

Birthday lunch for Elder Anasario at Costa Pacifica

Eating the most beautiful burger ever at Costa Pacifica