Lions, and Pipas, and Lost Sheep, Oh My! (December 28, 2015)

December 28, 2015

Lions, and Pipas, and Lost Sheep, Oh My!

This week kind of passed by fast, and I don't remember a ton. I also didn't write much down because I was talking to my family this week. So some stuff...

We were knocking on doors while out and about. Houses here often have a large gated area out front of them, and then the door to the actual house is way far in. So what we were actually doing is knocking on the gate to the front porch, or patio, or whatever it's called.
As we knocked on one, we looked at the front area and saw a cage. In the cage was a creature, a beast! It had golden fur and a huge mane of hair. Its paws were disproportionately large, its face was shaped very distinctly, and its hair distribution was eerily familiar. It was a lion! Almost certainly there was a ravenous creature in a cage on the front porch of this house! It turned its huge face toward us, with its large mane of hair, and seeing us, opened its mouth to let out a huge roar...
and started barking at us...
That was the most let down moment ever. It was only a dog, which was disguised very cleverly as a lion...
Oh well.

In other news, I put Cola Cao in and on a ton of stuff:
milk,
cereal,
kiwi... 
I'm really loving it.
I also found some sunflower seeds, or pipas, from Spain, and so now I have happy pills I snack on every once in a while, since each one is a flood of memories.

I'm really feeling love for these people. I'm not surrounded by Filipinos anymore, not Asians, not people speaking a strange language and doing strange things, but just people.
And it helps me get closer to them. I am really feeling the pangs and joys of loving the people I share with, I serve.

Some of our members who have not gone to church in months now, finally, finally came to church!
If I hadn't been a missionary, I would have been awkwardly dancing in the middle of the chapel...
I've almost cried before with them. They've been having hard times, and it's been difficult for them to coordinate schedules to come to church. Because of the tightness with money, they've taken, knowingly, jobs on Sundays, both the husband and the wife, so that they often can't go, and they didn't take the time to prepare or pay tithing. 
What hurts is that you can see that even though they think the trials are the reason they aren't going to church, aren't paying tithing, aren't reading, it's the other way around.
You know that the blessings that come from doing these things would fix their trials, and because they aren't going to church, paying tithing, or reading the scriptures, they have those trials. And you know how happy they would be with those blessings they could receive from diligence to these things.
It hurts, and makes you almost not want to care for them, but then they finally come to church, and the sun shines so much brighter that day. You cannot wipe that smile off your face, and nothing else can either.

Unfortunately, that's all the time I have today. 
See you next week!

With love,
Elder Streeter

Rain, When a Missionary Gets Sick, and More Rain (Dec 21, 2015)

Rain, When a Missionary Gets Sick, and More Rain

Interesting experiences these last 2 weeks. Some to consider:

We go in to teach someone named Apo. Interestingly enough, the literal translation of his name is grandchild, but he is old enough to be a grandpa. He welcomes us, and tells us he is Orthodox Catholic, then he tells us his story. 
He got appendicitis, but the doctors only slightly healed him.
The next 3 nights he heard a voice tell him to go to the holy land.
Then he climbed a mountain dubbed a holy land.
He hurt halfway up, but his friends helped him to the top.
He drank from a stream in front of the church at the top, which stream ran past the feet of a huge statue of Mary.
It only made his pain worse.
He went into the church, but had to take off his shoes.
He met the preacher person, who he knew from years before, and never expected him to become a preacher/pastor or whatever he was.
He prayed in the church,
had an out of body experience,
felt an angel hit him in the back of the head over and over, with pain that felt real, telling him his sins.
He cried out that he was sorry.
He returned to his body and no longer had the pain in his side.
And the grand moral of his story is:

All religion is correct, as long as you worship the one Lord. It isn't about church, it's about God.

It isn't even a conversion story. He apparently was Orthodox Catholic just because.
So we thanked him, left him some material, and went on our way.
Good experience.

We also talked to a Lady. She wouldn't let us get a word in edgewise. She talked
and talked
and talked
and talked
about her beliefs
and it was an edifying experience,
but whenever we would try to have an exchange of ideas
it was met with another monologue.
We eventually found out that that was the point.
She was a Sunday School teacher for her church
and was trying to teach us a lesson, not have a conversation.
We closed on a similar note as Apo.
It was cool to see the similarities as well as the differences between our beliefs, and gave me new insight. But only we know the differences, because she never got to hear about ours, because she wouldn't let us....
Which makes me sad mostly because it doesn't allow as much for good edifying discussion.
But that's all right.

We met an American!
He's been here 5 years, and has terrible Tagalog.
Really bad.
He has been obsessed with the corruption in the Philippines;
says that all humanitarian and missionary efforts here are wasted;
has over 60 hours of footage on the crime here.
And according to him, half of the debt of the United States is lost through medical corruption in the Philippines...

That was......
We avoided him when we saw him again later that day. Thankfully he didn't see us.


My companion got sick which means...
STUDY AND BOREDOM.
Our work this week was, frankly, pitiful.
But that's all right.
Lessons and strength were gained from the experience.

There was finally rain
and rain
and rain
and rain.
And our jeepney turned into a boat as it drove over roads flooded so deep that if we had been outside of the vehicle, we would have been up to our waists in the water. 

(picture from Internet: http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/children-play-in-a-street-flooded-by-heavy-rains-overnite-news-photo/454179860)

(example: http://english.cntv.cn/20110803/101733.shtml)

Whole neighborhoods were turned into rivers, entire intersections into lakes, and where there was a natural river that was usually 15-30 feet below the bridge, it was nearly on top of the bridge.
FLOODING, WHOO!

(Picture from the Internet: example: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/09/15/asia/gallery/philippines-flooding-sept/index.html )
Kids of course loved it. 

The world became one giant swimming pool
and toilet
at the same time.
I feel so bad for those little guys.
But I understand why Filipinos wear flip-flops and shorts ALL THE TIME.
I would too if the road outside my house turned into a river.

I saw at the Christmas party a movie. If you get the chance, watch it.
It is called the 4th wise man, I believe. Really cool. Old movie too, so it might even be on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcakPYoxYFo). 

I won't have time to email Nikolai. Give him my sincerest apologies, and let him know I enjoyed enormously his email. I also do know the game Destiny, so he doesn't have to explain it to me.

I have also enjoyed very much the cola cao.
I have been wearing the Minion slippers that came with it ever since.
If you ever send another package the thing that is nearly impossible to get here, because it is so expensive is:
Cheese.
Good, flavorful, tasty cheese.
So if you can send cheese in a way which it does not go bad, then if you ever send something else, that would be it.
Almost everything else is either available, or replaceable.

What's cool is when you walk past a herd of goats one week, and remark to yourself that they are quite fat creatures
and then you walk past the same herd, except that it is composed of skinny goats and a lot of kids (as in baby goats). 
And those kids sure are cute.

To Mama:
There are 7 days in the week.
Here are 7 verses to consider, which I think you'll enjoy:
Helaman 5:1-6, 12
1 And it came to pass that in this same year, behold, Nephi delivered up the judgment-seat to a man whose name was Cezoram.
2 For as their laws and their governments were established by the voice of the people, and they who chose evil were more numerous than they who chose good, therefore they were ripening for destruction, for the laws had become corrupted.
3 Yea, and this was not all; they were a stiffnecked people, insomuch that they could not be governed by the law nor justice, save it were to their destruction.
4 And it came to pass that Nephi had become weary because of their iniquity; and he yielded up the judgment-seat, and took it upon him to preach the word of God all the remainder of his days, and his brother Lehi also, all the remainder of his days;
5 For they remembered the words which their father Helaman spake unto them. And these are the words which he spake:
6 Behold, my sons, I desire that ye should remember to keep the commandments of God; and I would that ye should declare unto the people these words. Behold, I have given unto you the names of our first parents who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good.
12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

And that's it for time.
I have a composition, which I will send in parts if I have more time. I'm enjoying it.
I would love to see the poem by Rudyard Kipling about Gods. Something like the Gods of the Copybook Headings.
And I also will talk to Nikolai about something new I want to try for 2016. I hope he's up to the challenge.

Here's a little something from my letter to the president:

"Spiritual experience:
I read 3 Nephi 13:28-29. 
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin;
29 And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these.

And I felt an indescribable feeling, which was related to His words in 29. 
I have a very strong testimony of the creation, which I hope to carry into every scientific forum I ever endeavor to go into in the future. There is such beauty for me, in His words there. 
So I will go forward and "consider the lilies" 
Because He even took time to say they were beautiful."


From, with love
Elder (Kris-Tyan) Streeter

Magic, Balut, and Happy Birthday (12/ 7/ 2015)

Magic, Balut, and Happy Birthday

Las Pinas City

All right, what will I say...

I had Balut! (Editor’s note: Balut is a developing duck embryo that is boiled and eaten in the shell.)

It was fine, actually. First you open it, and then you drink the amniotic fluids, but you put salt and vinegar first, at least, I think that's what they said it was. Then you go ahead and eat it. It's really like eating one big yolk, but...not as dry. Slimier...:) It's especially fun when you eat the actual bird, but you don't realize it. How do I say...It was interesting, and far from disgusting, but it wasn't so amazing that I can't wait for the next opportunity to eat it. 

What I do like eating is...Dunkin Donuts!

I found out that the munchkins, which are like donut holes, are pretty good and the ones I love are called Choco butternut. I have no Idea where the name came from, because it doesn't strike me as buttery or nutty, but it is really good.

My companion, Elder McQuarrie, has had stress added to his plate. He has become district leader of our district, so now he is training AND district leading... Definitely more stuff he's doing. But he handles it. He's good when it comes to stress...

I wanted to share with Mama Alma 38:5. I don't have time, however, to write it down, so she will have to find it herself. (Editor’s note: And now my son, Shiblon, I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day.)

As we were walking one day, coming back from buying ulam, which is just anything that goes with rice (i.e. adobo, menudo, bicol express, beefsteak, which are all some combination of meat and veggies in some sort of tasty sauce, and you put it with rice...), a man was riding a bicycle in the opposite direction to us. As he passed us, he looked directly at my companion, and sang loudly: "Happy birthday to you!"

Yeah. That was a chuckle to laugh moment. 

We also were mobbed by children this week...

Elder McQuarrie once did a magic trick for the children who play outside in the streets. He basically blew on his tie and caused it to crumple up, then blew again to restore it. Unfortunately...That's all they remember about us, so every time we come: "Magic! Magic!" These kids can follow us for ten minutes straight saying one word over and over again: Magic. We even tell them wala na, which means basically, there's no more, but no dice...

Well one night what did they do? A ton of them ran at us, a mob of like ten, just screaming and yelling and grabbed us and hung onto us and grabbed our ties and just held us. Somehow I was able to speed walk out of their grasp but I turned around and Elder McQuarrie looked like a jungle gym. That was interesting.


We are having a little trouble with investigators, because a lot of them are squatters, and for some reason right now is when the city decided to get active, so we have whole neighborhoods that we visited, found new investigators and then went back to and found they moved. Why? Because the city is going to demolish the entire neighborhood a few months from now and they are slowly relocating the people living there. But where are they all going? For some reason no one knows so...

Sayang.

But that's not too much of a problem. Why? Because the Philippines is friendly. Literally, it takes 10 minutes to get a new investigator. Does that mean they are really investigating? No... mostly just like having a couple of white guys around. But it's still great that you can knock on a door and the first thing they say is: "Come in!" (In Tagalog of course.) No introduction, no who are we, just, come on in.

Sometimes it is disorienting. I swear we will walk through back alleys, and suddenly be in a completely different part of the city. There aren't any roads on the map, no houses where they really are, you just sort of teleport. Sometimes, you go through a hole in the wall, and suddenly, you aren't in a squatter village, or a cement zoo, but rather in a wide open field, where you see goats grazing, and a man literally farming with a hoe, as though technology had never been invented..

.

What else?
It's still sweaty
There are cockroaches, and they come in all sizes
We have a frog that shows up every once in a while to eat ants
Rain likes to come and go in a matter of seconds. Still though, squatter areas get turned completely into a river of sorts.
And traffic is ridiculous, so you feel like you almost get killed a ton...

By the way, I am happy you sent me a package, which it sounds like has Cola Cao. But I'm going to have to pay about 40 dollars just to get it. That'll come out of my card that Papa keeps checking up on.
This is because it got stopped at the airport.
The mission isn't entirely sure what stops a package, but they think two things should be avoided: 
Don't send express
Don't send big packages...
Unless you send that big package by boat instead of air.

I am very happy to receive it, though I haven't gotten it yet, and will pay for it. However here is my suggestion:

Talk to the Filipinos in your ward and find out how they send and receive stuff from the Philippines. Probably one of them can point out the best method for doing so cheaply. If it takes four months, just make sure what is in it won't perish.

Also, I would love to hear Papa's advice on teaching Filipinos, as it may enhance my own teaching.

Finally, mention to them that I am in Las Pinas City (actually that n is an enye), and that I am in Pamplona Ward. Apparently, some of them might know where that is!

Also, it sounds like you, Mama, have been talking with Elder McQuarrie's mother, or at least she's been looking at what you post...But I found that out from my companion! Why didn't you tell me! That's pretty cool!

Finally, I would love for you to send me some of the Spanish songs I listened to, you know:

Hola Don Pepito, Hola Don Jose
Mi Barba tiene tres pelos
And that one about chocolate and the mouse, 
And any others. I would love to be able to sing them some. Especially to weird out my companion. :) hehehe...

Finally, a paste of my letter to the president, since nothing is really confidential in this one, and it could add to what I've written.

How am I doing:

Good. 
Yeah, pretty much just that. 
The days are going by at an appreciable pace.
Problems arise and are resolved.
Sometimes I think about home. Then I decide it would be better if I didn't.
I laugh. It's great for me to laugh. Elder McQuarrie made a caricature of me, and I was basically a smile with glasses. So I laughed at that too.
Miracles happen, little things all over the place. Maybe I'm kept safe, like that car that almost killed me, that motorcycle that nearly ran me over, that doorway that I almost didn't duck at, and that hole that, though I stepped in it, somehow didn't twist my ankle. And of course, spiritual ones.
The Philippines continues to be an enjoyable experience. When a random person sings happy birthday to your companion...Yeah, it's great to be here.
And it's great to be alive. 
Don't get me wrong, I'm tired. All the time. 
Walking, talking, 8 hours of sleep, but not really because you pray for half an hour...
Just kidding, I'm not that good. But maybe one day.
So yeah, it's cool
I'm just...
good.

I studied D&C 121:34-46 (Editor’s note: 34 Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
35 Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—
36 That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.
37 That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.
38 Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God.
39 We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.
40 Hence many are called, but few are chosen.
41 No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;
42 By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—
43 Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;
44 That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death.
45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.
46 The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.)

What did I realize?
That pride is a mighty enemy to the priesthood, and only leads to unhappiness when maintained by, or retained while in, the service of God.
That to command we must learn to obey, and to lead we must learn to follow, because the priesthood power is based on the laws of heaven, and obedience is that first law in heaven.
That the rights to leadership come not to one because of the priesthood, or position, or calling, but rather because of Christlike attributes, the greatest being love, or charity.
And finally, that the priesthood, being authority from God, works according to his will. It cannot be used contrary to his purpose, which is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. If you have the humility, to put aside your will, and through obedience, make his will your own, developing the love that is so ingrained in His work, then you need not fear; You can be certain that you wield the priesthood power, because your whole goal is His glory. 
The priesthood will truly be ours to wield, the attributes of Christ will grow in our soul, and we will become leaders without calling, leaders without position, leaders by example of righteousness and truth. If people follow, it will not be out of compulsion. And even if they don't, what blessings we receive!

With love,
Elder (Kris-Tyan) Streeter

Innocence, Smiles, and Laughter (11/30/2015)

Innocence, Smiles, and Laughter

(Some of this letter is in response to messages that we have sent Kris-Tyan.)
I've gotten more groove. And more grove! I shared the first vision several times. It was great. I did find gloves. Paglalaba, or cleaning clothes by hand, is now a lot less painful.

I don't know what to say about Obama. In fact, I shouldn't say anything. But I will say that whatever he says, I still like my country.

Culture of the Philippines? Just be really nice. You don't have to be outgoing, you can be shy, but as long as you generally accept life and roll with it, enjoy spending time sitting outside talking with friends, and even when you don't want to listen to someone, being nice about turning them away, you're doing it the Filipino way. Really, smiling is awesome here. You smile at someone and they will ALWAYS smile back.

In terms of Spanish, I'm determined to learn it. However, I'll need some way not attached to a grade. My drive is most definitely family history work, however. As long as you have missionary work of any sort in your mind, you can gain the gift of tongues.

(Veronica shared that she has been playing a new video game, Snoopy, and it is a whole bunch of innocent fun! Kris-Tyan responds to this.)
And the secret right there is innocent. 
I urge you to make your views more innocent, Mama.
I know that the world is not innocent, that there are all sorts of undesirable things, and we shouldn't ignore them. 
But throw out your cynicism by throwing in more fun. Laugh at things. Laugh AT things. Like a cartoon, or a song, or a poem, or a book. But also laugh at a door, or a window, or a wall, or a fruit, or a bowl, or a road, or a car, or anything. Laugh at kitty and laugh at her fur. Laugh and laugh and laugh some more. Why?
Because we are all children of God;
And because it is great to be alive;
Because that means we kept our first estate and because we'll get immortal bodies; Because we will gain a glory of which even the least is more beautiful than this world, laugh at the dust!
Look for the good. Don't focus on the fact that I'm missing! Focus on the fact that you have Papa and Nikolai!
Cheer up mama. There is a lot to love. Just thank God for everything, and forgive men their trespasses.