Good morning family and friends,

It was a pretty good week. This is Palawan so the area is a little
more difficult and there is a lot to plan for. We have to worry about
paying for transportation and stuff like that. It makes it a lot of
fun. I am very blessed to be here in Palawan again! The branch is
great as well. There are a TON of RM’s here in the area. Which is very
surprising. But it keeps the branch very strong. They are fun to work
with as well. I need their help sometimes too and it is very nice to
have people with REAL missionary work experience.

This week went fairly well in terms of the work. We had 6 investigators
at church this week! That is very good for this area. Some of our
“regular” investigators didn’t even come so it should have been even
higher. It was a great week though. I am really excited about some of
them as well. We have one girl named Michelle, she is a student here
at Palawan State University. She is catholic and originally she was
kind of listening just with her older sister, but her sister has kind
of lost interest. So I told my companion we should focus on her. This
last week we taught about the Plan of Salvation. She said that they
have that in their church. I kind of laughed to myself about that, and
then she realized that there is no Heaven and Hell and that there are
the 3 Kingdoms of Glory. So we taught a quick lesson overview about
the whole plan and it went really well! So we invited her to church
and she said she was invited to a different  church. I basically VERY
limited her free agency and told her that we will be at her house to
pick her up. She said that would be fine, so that’s what we did! We
went to get her and she brought her Muslim friend to church. Which was
great! All of the RM’s did a great job fellowshipping and all that.
There are a few sister RM’s so yeah. It went well for them I think. I
sure hope that they will come again on Sunday. We stopped by their
house to set an appointment and she was already heading to her
church.. So that was a little awkward haha but it was good! She said
it was a good experience with our church and said we could come over
tomorrow. So yeah.

We have been working with this LA family named the Bagyo family. There
are SO many of them. They don’t speak Tagalog as their first language.
They speak the Native Palawan language. It is called Natibo. I don’t
really understand any of what they are saying. So I am doing my best
to learn their language! I am writing down words when they explain
them to me. So it is a lot of fun learning their language. They
understand Tagalog of course, but when they talk to each other they
use their native dialect. They also have 0 Christian background. So
when we taught the first lesson with some of the nonmembers over
there, they didn’t even know who Jesus Christ was. So that threw me
for a HUGE loop. I wasn’t expecting that and I actually had to explain
the crucifixion. So that was interesting. Some of them came to church
as well! So that was really cool.

Our last investigator that we are teaching is JR Delgato. We had a
great experience with him this last week. We taught him about the Book
of Mormon and he said he doesn’t know what the Holy Ghost feels like.
So we explained it and told him to read and pray about it. So he did.
We came back and he said he prayed.He then paused for about 20
seconds. Then he looked at me and said that he knows its all true.
Then he paused again, then looked up with tears in his eyes and said,
“I know the Book of Mormon is true.” The spirit flooded the area we
were in (because we were teaching outside his house in the forest
haha) and I know once again that is was true. It was such a great
experience. Those are the ones we dream of out here.

I think that is all here. I drink lots of Mountain Dew. So no worries
there. It will never top off Dr. Pepper though. We also have to cross
a river to get to some areas. So that is my favorite part. I am sorry
but I don’t trust these computers if I send pics. I am deathly afraid
of getting my pictures wiped. So I am so sorry about that. I just
don’t wanna risk it. I think that is all for this week. I am doing
well and happy as ever! Love you all.


-- 
Elder Lambert

Philippines, Manila Mission, Earth

Brookes Point, Palawan

Dear family and friends,

This is it. I made it. I am now assigned in Brookes Point Palawan.  I
love it here so far! It is just a bigger version of Rizal. The town is
much bigger, which means more people. It is also a tougher area, which
is good with me! I have another American companion haha. He is from
Missouri, from a town that had like 100 people with it. So Brookes
Point is right up his alley. I actually know a lot about the area.
From Elder Leofo and Elder Gibson so I have heard some stuff about the
place here. Some of the members have seen me before as well just
because of the District conference last year when I was in Rizal. So
far so good!

So my companion’s name is Elder Carter. He was companions with Elder
Reber in the MTC. It was actually prophesied by Elder Reber himself
that I would be with him like 2 months ago. And here I am! Also, I no
longer have his awesome typer thingy. So my emails might be a little
shorter again. Especially since the internet here is basically pretty slow. So
just bear with me people, especially since you will all see me in a
few months ;) I will do my best to send pics home. But I also don’t
want any viruses. So I will be doing my best to send pics, but I will
be also taking a CRAZY amount of pics in this tour of Palawan. So
yeah. So far so good!
The area is a little tough. I wouldn’t expect anything less. The area
is HUGE. So transportation costs are through the roof. If we plan
effectively, we can minimize that. I feel bad for Elder Carter. His
trainer was also a VERY new missionary. So the two of them had minimal
experience. Elder Carter will hopefully benefit from at least some of
my experience. I also feel bad because he doesn’t know the area very
well either. So I am forced to memorize the area and the people. Which
is not a huge deal. It makes it more fun for me. Hopefully I can get
the hang of it fast so we can get some things moving this week.

In terms of lessons… I actually didn’t get to Brookes Point until
about Thursday. So we didn’t teach a lot of people. On Friday we went
out to the super far area. We met a family named the Baguio family.
They are converts from a while ago. The nanay that lives there is
super nice. She doesn’t know how to read actually. It actually threw
me for a loop because I haven’t heard that since my Rizal time! Also
all their family was speaking the native Palawan dialect. They just
call it, “Nativo.” So yeah… We didn’t understand anything they were
saying, but when they speak to us they use Tagalog. So yeah. That
again threw me for a loop haha. It is just so like… primitive in some
of these areas. I came from having malls and thousands of people to
like nothing! Lots of the people far away use solar panels for power.
So that is cool. The people in the town though do just fine. There are
some NICE houses here. So yeah it’s awesome.

Nothing else to really report on. The flight was good. The food is
good. We have a HUGE house here in Brookes. And I have  roommates!
Elder Jones is from England. He is a cool guy. We knew each other from
our time in Las Pinas. He is cool and his companion is a new
missionary from here in the Philippines. So yeah that is nice. We also
have some members come and do ALL our laundry. So that is a huge
blessing. We just have to pay them a little. All is well.  I don’t
know what else to say. I don’t really know anybody yet here. The
branch is really strong actually and we have an actual chapel. We are
doing our best and hope to have a baptism maybe in January. So yeah. I
love you all! Hope I can attach some pics. We will see. Love you all.


-- 
Elder Lambert

Philippines, Manila Mission, Earth

Palawan Baby!!

Dear friends and family,

This week was a really solid week. From start to finish, it was one of the best/favorite weeks of my mission. Lots happened this week. I will start with Pday. 

So last Pday we went to the the Jose Rizal monument in Pasay. Jose Rizal is the national hero of the Philippines. The monument that we went to was at the area where he was shot and killed by a firing squad. We had to get special permission for us to go there, even though the monument is super close to our house honestly. We saw the big huge statue, where they buried his remains. They have two Filipino marines guarding the statue. I had to explain to my companion that they were real people guarding the statue, they just aren't allowed to move. We paid to go back into the grounds area where he was actually shot and killed. They had HUGE 10 feet tall statues to portray him being shot. I have  pics of that. So we just walked around that area. It had a special spirit to it, it was basically a hallowed ground. It was super cool. There were a huge group of Koreans there on a tour, their Korean tour guide studied at the University of Utah, so he knew who we were. That was kind of cool to see. Anyways, so it was cool to be able to see the spot where all that went down. After that, we just toured some like Chinese garden areas and just walked around the area where there were lots of ponds and trees and stuff. It felt a LITTLE bit like Palawan. So that was cool. We walked to the end of the grounds area of the Rizal area and there was this huge statue. It was a statue of Lapu-Lapu. He was a king here in the Philippines like 500 years ago I think. But there was a 50 statue of this guy. So that was pretty cool. We got some nice pics at this place. I can't send them all, but I can send a few. It was a solid Pday. I also knew of this restaurant called "Army Navy." You can bet your bottom dollar that place had hamburgers AND burritos. So I smashed a burrito for the first time in 20 months. It wasn't quite cafe rio, but it wasn't bad. So that was our PDay, super awesome day. 

Tuesday and Wednesday was a pretty normal day. We just worked. Thursday we had zone meeting. We discussed a few new things that the mission will try out. One of the new things in the mission is the new OYM standard. Before we were to talk to 190 people a week. It got DROPPED to 105. I was a little mind blown. I think President is looking for more quality OYMs more than quantity at this point. So we will see how that goes. Also, our zone leader Elder Jim will be going home this week. So he gave his final words. He told a story, I will give a little run through, because it was so cool. So Elder Jim is from Ponpeii. I think thats the name, its like close to Guam or something. So this is the story, "So I knew a kid, who's father died when he was very young, he had 6 brothers and sisters, not including himself. He was the oldest of all the kids. This kid was kind of always getting in trouble, just kind of messing around with no direction in life. His family had a farm that he had to work on so they could have a little bit of food and some money to survive. One day he got into trouble with his mom, and his mom sent him away to work. While he was working on the farm, two "angels" (the words he used) came to him. These angels were wearing a white shirt and a tie, with a name tag. These 2 white skinned "angels" talked to this kid in his native language, which kind of surprised him, but kind of struck him. They asked to share a message. Now, this kid was interested, but his family was through and through Catholic, so he was reluctant, but he said yes. These kids came back the next day. The rest is history. This young man was baptized soon after, but only him. Not a single one of his siblings or his mom was baptized, just him. Less than 1 year later, this young man was in the MTC. Preparing to go out in the mission field. This kid marked 1 year in the church WHILE in the MTC. His family didn't want him to leave, but he knew it was the right decision. For 6 months of his mission, he didn't hear a single word or get a single email from his family. Until he was assigned in Quezon, Palawan. He got an email saying that his mother had been baptized a member of the church. He didn't know what to thing. After all his prayers and fasting, they were being answered. Since that time, 5 of this young mans siblings have been baptized. The last sibling lives in Ohio, she will be baptized on November 19, 2016, this coming Saturday. His prayers were answered. Prayer works." That is the story that Elder Jim told us. That young man, was himself. I had kind of known his story, but I had never heard it all in one big thing like that. The spirit was so strong. I am so grateful for the family situation that I live in. I have been so blessed. I was really touched by his experience. Tomorrow he will be going to the temple to have the temple work done for his dad. He will be baptized and confirmed for him, and then endowed. I love Elder Jim, he is the man. He is a spiritual giant. He will be missed here in the mission. 

Saturday was the next eventful day of the week. As a district and as kabahay (roommates) we had 4 baptisms! Sister Jahn Mae and Kristina Delacruz were baptized from our area, as well as Danny Santos and Rae Ann Delacerna from the other area. It was a great day. It was so SMOOTH! We made sure that every thing was in place, that the font was clean and everything. We did a good job and it went so well. The spirit was strong. The 4 candidates got up and bore their testimonies. Brother Danny Santos got up to bare his. He started crying, he knows he made the right decision. He dropped all of his alcohol and everything, so that he can be baptized. That was cool to see. Sister Kristina and Jahn Mae did great as well. Its funny because they are both the same age as Mckenna and Kelsie. It was a good day. I have so many pictures from this week I can't send them all haha.

It was just a great week. I couldn't have asked for a better last week here in Tondo. I think this will be my last week here. I have really liked it here. Like I have said before, my nose is numb, I have seen so many things that I think I could have lived my whole life without seeing, BUT I have loved every second of it. We will see where I end up on Wednesday. I wanna go back to Palawan of course, but I would be missing about 3 temple sealings, so its kind of hard to decided haha. We will see.

***Note from Mom:  This next section is regarding the recent Presidential election. Elder Lambert does not have a TV or internet access at all. So when he says he is out of the loop on the election, he means it! The only internet he has is once a week to email friends and family. So, I think really all he knows about Donald Trump is that he is a wealthy businessman who appeared on a reality TV show, which I think is what made him laugh. I'm sure he'll be more educated/involved when he is back in the country, but for now, his focus is missionary work! :)***

Another funny experience this week. So we all know that the election was this last week. It was actually very popular here. The Philippines really looks up to the US as like a big brother. So lots of people paid attention to it. Therefore, I was kind of in the loop about it. Now, I have no idea who I would have wanted in the election, I can't really say my opinion because I am super out of the loop on that stuff, but I laughed that Trump won. So yeah. Anyways, with that in mind. There is an American that lives in our area. His name is Bobby. He is from Maine. He knew right off the bat that I am from Utah, and we have talked before as well. I saw him on November 14th, which is what we call Veterans day in the US. I actually didn't know that... Because they don't really do that holiday here in the Philippines. But my homie Bobby, is retired US navy married to a Filipina. He was drinking some super hard alcohol in celebration for Veterans Day. He saw me and wanted to talk to me about the election. He asked me what I thought about it and I said something along the lines of, "Well, I can't really say. I am just a missionary and we actually are discouraged to watch that stuff so... I don't know." He proceeded to rip me a new one, (in English btw) "This is the problem with the young generation Americans! They don't care about politics. I care, I am a Navy veteran, I care! I want what's best for our country! You should pay more attention to that stuff to get an idea about life!" Now, he didn't really yell at me but he kinda just chastised me about not watching the election and paying attention to it. I kind of laughed. It was super funny for me. He is actually a really kind guy, and its good to see someone from the US every once in a while. He was super happy that Trump won and explained all that to me, but I am not emailing to explain about that. It was just a funny experience for me. 

I think that is all for this week. I figure that I should have a good last email for my last one in Tondo before I head off the paradise in Palawan. I don't know the area I will be in, but it is the same zone that I was in before when I was there. I love Elder Reber's AlphaSmart typer thingy. I might be going back to being lazy on emails in the future. So sorry about that. Thank you and love you all! 

Elder Lambert 

PS I have TONS of pics, but I can't send them all so sorry not sorry. 

-- 

Elder Lambert

Philippines, Manila Mission, Earth

Rizal Monument

Gotta rock the shades!

Close to the water, thank goodness for the selfie stick!

Gotta picture next to Confusious. Had to do a little Napolean Dynamite!!

This tall statue is Lapu-Lapu, it's like 50 feet tall!

My boy, Reber!

We are all squinting, it was so bright outside!

Gotta smash that burrito!

This is my man, Elder Jim!

This is Danny Santos. We love him lots, even though he is from the other area.

Good morning people of the world,

I hope everyone is doing well today. I know I am! Today we went to the cultural center here in the Philippines. So that is why I am on late today. 

This was a pretty solid week. We did a lot better than we have in the past few weeks. The thing that was the highlight is that Jahn Mae and Kristina passed their interview! So they will be baptized this coming Saturday. I was super excited, they are really active in the ward, including in the YW, so I think this will be a good thing for them, and their family. They are super awesome. Sister Brianna and Brother Aljan are hopefully on track to be interviewed this next weekend and then be baptized November 19. The problem with Aljan, is that his mom hasn't given permission for him to be baptized. His mom is working in Saudi Arabia, so it is a little hard for us to go and talk to her about it. So we are really really praying that she will say yes. Brianna I think will be fine, her mom is a member anyways. We have a few more people that we are working with that have lots of concerns. We are really trying to cover those concerns, I think that lots of people don't understand how our church is different. They think the message is good and all that, but sometimes its hard to clarify our purpose right up front. Anyways, I think that is about all the big things. 

On Saturday, while our investigators were being interviewed, I got to interview an investigator from the other area. His name is Danny Santos. He was an OYM from the other Elders from about 2 months ago. That guy is AWESOME. He is already in Mosiah 28 and every time they go over there he has his Book of Mormon open on his table. He loves the Book of Mormon and everything he says he always ties it back to the Book of Mormon. Everything he said to me was what we love to hear as missionaries. Everything makes sense to him, and things are starting to kind of fit together, in terms of a living prophet and all that. It just shows that the Lord really does prepare people to receive this message. When we commit him to do stuff, he always says, "I won't try, I will do it!" Haha so he is awesome. I have taught him a few times on exchanges, and he always has good insights. So that was a cool experience and a cool interview that I had. 

Another thing that we did, is that me and Elder Reber taught piano! Hahaha we all know how good Elder Lambert is at piano :') It was a little bit of a joke honestly hahaha. Elder Reber is super good piano player. So it is a little funny because I have to help him with the Tagalog. So while he is teaching/explaining the concept, I have to try to understand it so I can explain it in Tagalog to the students. So I was kind of learning piano too. It went okay though for not having like any books or anything to teach with. It went well. The pics I took of that are blurry... So yeah that's cool. One of the members I think put lots of the pics on Facebook, so ya'll can look there :) 

I think that is all for this week really.. I don't know what else to say other than, don't forget to dab! ;)

Elder Lambert 

PS I will see if i can send pics in a minute. This computer has a virus... 

-- 

Elder Lambert

Philippines, Manila Mission, Earth


These pictures are taken from a sweet sisters FB page.
Thank you so much!!