Burnt rice. Burnt toast.

Dear Mom,
I've become really good at burning food this transfer. In fact, the elders call me "burnt rice" sometimes as a nickname because I always burn the rice when I cook it. You name it, I can burn it. Elder Stoker specifically noted yesterday how I have ruined most of our pans from burning so many foods haha. And then today, we got a brand-new non-stick pan... but I still managed to burn my toast. I was really surprised. Elder Stoker again commented that non-stick does not mean non-burn, and just because something is stick-proof, doesn't mean it's not idiot-proof haha.

The moral of the story, is patience - what has seemed to be the theme of this transfer.

The final week of the transfer laid out really nicely. The country has calmed down a bit, and we were able to have a nice, somewhat-normal last few days together. There are still fireworks that go off every now and then though.

 Saturday, Elder Betita and I were called as tour guides of temple tour at the second station. Elder Posadas took pictures, so I'll have to steal some from him at some point. Our station was specifically about the restoration of the Gospel through Joseph Smith. We had a lot of fun, but it was really tiring. It was really nice to see some familiar faces, especially Sister Lubrido, Sister Mila, and Elder Posadas.

Sister Lubrido and Sister Mila have become my big sisters in the mission. That's what I love about Filipino culture - you are all family. Sometimes they even call me "bunso" which means, "younger sibling." Sister Lubrido particularly touched my heart, because she protected, referred to, and treated me like her little brother the whole day. I've never had a figure like that in my life. After we were all done, we all had lunch together, and she made sure she saved enough for me to eat. I sat down next to her, and she got everything ready for me and said, "I made sure to save food for you, because you are my little brother" and after serving me my food, made sure to ask if it was enough, because she was willing to give me the rest of hers. It really made me feel loved and good inside. One of the funnier things, was when Elder Posadas was giving me a hug to say bye, she told him, "Watch it, that's my little brother, [hurt him and die]" haha, gotta love it - no protection like a big sister. I was really touched by the rembrance page she made me, when she told me that I was the reason why Valenzuela became so great, because my birthday was the start of the unity in that zone, because the zone unified for one purpose for the first time that day, and that was to make me happy. They'll be going home this transfer, and I'm going to miss them a lot. Sister Lubrido's younger brother who is my same age, has just been called to the Melbourne, Austrialia Mission.

Elder Posadas and I and our matching ties that we got him for Christmas.

Elder Posadas, Sister Lubrido, Elder Corpuz, and Sister Mila.

This was a great surprise, this is the former Sister Bernardo who I served with in Quezon City a year ago. She was one of my closest friends in the zone when I served there with Elder Tengelsen. She called me "niyong" which means cocunut, because I'm brown on the outside and white on the inside. She came to our temple tour to see us all and it was great to see her again.

Elder Hernando from Manila Mission.

 The rest of temple tour went great. I actually met the Assistants to the President of the Manila Mission who are both just like me, Filipino-Americans. I was able to trade information with some of them and look forward to catching up after the mission.
Anyway, the rest of the week went well. Sunday we got the breaking news that Elder Betita would be training. He deserves it after the huge changes his made this transfer and I'm really proud of him.

Having breakfast at Macdo.

And then the funniest and probably best part of the week, and best way to end the transfer. On Monday night when we got home, I got the news that Elder Posadas and I would be together as companions for Tuesday morning while our companions attended trainers' training. I nearly died when I heard that - I just couldn't believe it. What were the odds? Of all the missionaries and possibilities in the mission. It was great though, and it was so comforting and heartwarming to be able to spend time with him just like we used to. It was nice to know nothing had changed between us, despite differences in area, small-stupid fights, and differences in callings, our friendship hadn't changed. It was such a blessing to be able to be with him, and if we had just left a little earlier that day, we would have had the chance to at least teach one lesson together which we were both really looking forward to, but the future had different plans, and we rand into the other elders on the way and it didn't go through. It was amazing either way though, and it was almost like Heavenly Father just letting me know that He hadn't forgotten about me, and neither had Elder Posadas. There's nothign much more comforting than that.
  
Transfers? The verdict is, that I will stay in Mapayapa for at least one more transfer, which I couldn't be much more happier about. I was scared we would really get affected with the changes that the mission is seeing. We are receiving a net gain of 20 misisonaries this transfer which is huge, and it will just keep on growing each transfer after. I prayed really hard that I would stay though and am really excited to be able to continue the work here.

Never thought I'd see the day.

Elder Posadas' happy face biscuits.

On Monday morning, Elder Betita and I talked about what we learned this transfer, and we talked mostly about patience. It seems like life is just full of trials and sometimes they like to come one right after the other. Sometimes they last a lot longer than we expect them to last. Sometimes we hurt a lot longer than we expect to hurt. Sometimes we expect blessings to come a lot sooner than we expect them to come. As humans I feel like it's natural for us to set our expectations short and for some reason, put them at unreasonably soon times in the future. This transfer I've seen that things are often best when slow-cooked. Cared for, and not forced. The result comes best, and not burnt, when we follow the directions, and wait. If we force things to cook too fast and forget about the consequence, then we'll end up with flavor that is almost always undesireable. Being patient can sometimes be painful, but if we endure it well, I know that there is no trial, sorrow, or anxiety that heaven won't heal.

The anxiety for transfers never changes and it will be nice to have a new fresh start with fresh faces tomorrow.
This transfer, I'm not going to burn the rice.

Love,
Elder Corpuz

 P.S. Congratulations to Jake Tengelsen.

Here are some pictures from out last district meeting mom, I think you'll really like them!

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Love will find a way.

Dear Mom,

My heart is so full right now I feel like it's going to burst. Writing out my emails beforehand has proved to be one of the best decisions I have ever made.

New Year's was a great experience and probably one of the best, New Year's that I have ever had.

We had lot going on that day and had to be in early because of the fireworks (bombs) that start going off at dark. We were able to go to a wedding and attend the following baptism of people that I have been able to know and interview in the Batasan area of our district. It was very simple, but really touching. What a way for them to end that year and begin the next - fresh, with one another.

Afterwards, Bishop Tapan and his family, had us and our housemates over for dinner. We were surprised that night by late Christmas presents from a member in the Don Atonio Ward who got us matching tie clips. I was touched by the thought.

Our new tie clips

We made it home and bought some things to cook. New Year's was in the air in our subdivision and fireworks started as soon as dark came. We were all too excited to sleep, and with all the music blaring and bombs going off outside, it was impossible anyway. So we made a breakfast-for-dinner kind of meal around ten, and made banana pancakes and bought ice cream. Ice cream here is a really, really big deal because it's beyond expensive. So we decided that we should do something special for ourselves that night and treat ourselves to some ice cream. It was well worth it.

When eleven o'clock rolled around, I decided that I wanted to make the last hour of the year somewhat meaningful, so I decided to spend some time writing letters of thanks to people who have really touched me this year, like Elder Posadas, and many, many more while listening to the renditions of hymns that Jason has continued to make me. At about ten minutes till, I decided the best thing to do would be to end the year with a prayer of thanks, and kneeled down my bed and thanked God for all the blessings, and most importantly trials I've had this past year. When I realized all the things I've experienced this year, I couldn't believe how blessed I had been in 2011.

A few minutes later, I joined the others just outside the door watching the fireworks that our neighbors were setting off. The excitement was so thick that you could embrace it. As it got closer and closer to midnight, it seemed like the whole neighborhood was coming out of their houses and onto the streets. Our neighbors were blasting their sound system to my favorite Christian rock-artist - Chris Tomlin. It had been awhile since I had heard any music from him, but the particular song playing at the time was about love. I was so touched by the lyrics that talked about how love will find a way. It really set the tone for the New Year.

Then, it was like the sky roared and started to burn, families started screaming and jumping up and down, and smiles and laughs were just as bright as the fireworks in the sky. It was the New Year. At that moment, I felt like I was being embraced by love, seeing love all around me in the people and hearing it in the music. As I looked up into the lit sky, I felt like I could see the faces of the people I loved and cared about the most - mom, dad, Jason, Farah, family - the Squires, the Posadases - and shut my eyes, trying to hold back tears that were already streaming down my face, and wished you all a Happy New Year in my heart.

A modern art picture for Jason.

The Ragasa Family and some.

The next day, it seemed like everyone in the ward wanted to have us over to celebrate the New Year. We didn't have enough time to make it everywhere, but made it to the Ragasa family, another Ilocano family who was proud to have us over. They had prepared a great meal for us and invited other members over as well to celebrate. The family probably thought I was a little rude because I was so quiet, but I was literally speechless from their overwhelming kindness to my companion and I, as well as the other members there. Speechless because everything just seemed to be lining up.

Brother Ragasa and Elder Betita.

My surprise present from Elder Shumway's family.

For the New Year, I thought a lot about the song that played that night and how I felt like it was God's message to me for 2012. There was one line that really cut me that talked about how love is the answer and love will find a way.

Thinking about the anxiety coming from my mission coming to a close and changes that will come soon, I've thought about what exactly has me worried about leaving my mission and why saying goodbye to people is so hard. Is it worth it to get close to people and love people if we will inevitably always have to let go of them?

After a lot of searching, it all leveled down to one phrase repeated many times in 1 John in the New Testament: God is love.

 I've considered what that phrase means, and how it's true and makes sense. Everything good comes from God, and the most pure, good thing in the universe is love. I've thought about when I am the happiest, and it's when I feel loved or am able to share love for someone. I've thought about our family and best friends, and those I haven't seen in years, and the miracle being that I don't love them any less, and they don't love me any less regardless. What I have learned is that when we truly love someone, God is there, and that He is what binds those people. Love will keep people together. Love will always find a way, because God will always find a way.

Knowing that has brought me so much comfort to face this coming year. There are no goodbyes for those who truly love. Those relationships will endure and can be eternal if we choose to live according to the bounds the Gospel has set. My new favorite scripture is Proverbs 17:17: A friend loveth at all times. So my resolution for this year is to not be afraid to love because of goodbyes, but to just love and find more people to love, and although goodbyes will still be hard, maybe they won't be as hard in 2012.

Happy New Year.

Love,
Elder Corpuz

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