Sister Angle's Baptism!

Wow! Another baptism! How exciting! The person being baptized this time is Sis. Angle. She, of course, is the one in the middle and the Stake President, who happens to be baptizing her, is next to her. The sister on the right side is the wife of the Stake President.

Elder Booth, Elder Sanchez, the Stake President and his family, and Sis. Angle

Same as above...

The Stake President and Sis. Angle

Again...

Sis. Angle and the Stake President and his family

The next group of pictures are of "some members who were bored so stole the camera
and took some pictures," according to Elder Booth. I'm not sure of any names...

Here's another letter from Elder Booth:


Subject: Mabuhay
From: randybooth@myldsmail.net
Date: July 19, 2009 10:00:09 PM PDT

Well hello everybody. It sure sounds like everything is going well. I did not hear about too many changes taking place. It sounds like Ryan is back to catching the bad guys dressed in blue (tan). I don't know how you can do some of that stuff. I found that people are just easier if you don't have to deal with all their problems in life like that. It also sounds like Chad is the same old Chad. Just make sure you don't get out the paint ball gun. I still remember you shooting that poor dog with a marble as your ammunition instead of regular paint. It looks like a cute and fun dog, though. It will be big and fierce I'm sure when I get home. I sure miss all those outdoor adventures that I'm missing, though. It's not the same outdoors here. I want to be cold for a change. I still have a year and a half before that will happen, though.

Things here are going well. We have transfer announcements tomorrow, so we are all kind of nervous and excited to see what happens. I guess there is going to be a lot of change since a lot of missionaries are going home and none are coming in. So most of the missionaries are going to have two areas. Maybe even three. I have no idea what is going to happen to me. Anything could happen at this point. I really have don't know or have the slightest idea. I will just have to tell you what I am doing next week.

I finally got to meet the Mission President though, and have an interview. He is a really nice guy and really wants to get down and work. He is really in to obedience as well, which is how it should be. I just hope that a lot of missionaries will be able to shape up and follow the course. We can all do better. That's actually what he told me in when we talked. "Elder Booth you are doing good, but not good enough. We could all be doing better." I just hope that I will be able to improve myself and this area or the next one. Wherever they decide to put me, I guess. I am actually kind of nervous. I have just gotten comfortable again. I guess Ryan nailed it on the head when he said the Lord loves to pull you right out of the comfort zone. Making new comfort zones are always an adventure. I just hope I can do the job they give me.

The area is good, though. The baptism on Saturday was a success, but only barely. It had to be one of the most stressful times of my life. It all started when we got there and once again they had not started to fill the font. I found out that only one guy has the key to turn on the water and he was not told. So yea, I was kind of freaking out since the Stake President was the one who was doing the baptism. So I was kind of running around like a chicken without a head. I had to run to the guy's house and stuff. The Stake President just said that it was a great learning experience for me. He is a great guy. Oh, when it finally became time to change, we found out that he did not know for sure if he was doing to baptism. The investigator told him, but I guess he was waiting for us to tell him for sure. I never really had a chance to talk to him and I just figured her telling him was good enough. So he had to run home and grab some other garments. Then to top it off, the girl's dad had to leave right before it started. He said he would be back soon though. So I was just looking at the door while the speakers were speaking praying that he would walk in. When he didn't, I made a quick decision to do a special musical number by myself to take up time. I sung "Abide with me tis eventide". It actually went really well. Well that is just what I was told. I don't know if they were just trying to be nice, though. It all worked though. The dad ended up showing up as they were walking in the water. It was a great experience. In all though, we ended about two hours late. This was really a learning experience.

The rest of my investigators are doing great as well. We are really getting some special people to teach. I have been really lucky lately. Well I guess it's the spirit that is guiding me.

I have to be honest I can't really think of too many funny experiences. Oh, I guess I never told you about the crazy lady that gets up and talks in church. She used to be an investigator of ours but we kind of dropped her when we realized that she just was not right in the head. She still comes to church, though. I actually might try to visit her again. She comes to church and always sits on the stand next to bishop and gives him random papers that are supposed to be advice, I think. He actually just kind of complains about it. She is really funny, though. She is a great example to all those who can't find the time to come to church. I actually found out she goes to three churches on Sunday when most can't go to one. Well, I love you and wish you the best. I will tell you all about transfers next week.

Love Elder Booth

Up at the Mission Office...

On the next p-day, following the amazing zone activity, Elder Booth and Elder Sanchez made their way up to the mission office. While there, they decided to get a few pictures.

This is Brother Tommy with the two AP's:
Elder Bennett and Elder Romerate.

Here they are again in a "less-serious" pose:

This is another picture of the "Mission Office" crew, with
Sis. Tobias, the new Mission President's wife.

After visiting the mission office, some elders went out to "21" for a birthday party celebration for Elder Arle (or Arce or Arie - depending on how you interpret Elder Booth's handwriting) He is the one at the end of the table. Is he 52 or 25? Not sure what the numbers mean...

Another letter from Elder Booth:

Subject: Suprise Boat Ride
Date: July 12, 2009 8:11:56 PM PDT

Well, it's been another fast week here in Silay. I really don't know where the time goes sometimes. When I look back it seems someone has played a trick on me by saying I am close to half-way there. There is still a lot that must be done, though. Well, I haven't really heard from everybody for a while except what mom has told me. It sounds all good there, though. Nobody lately has lost their job, have they? That seems to be a common occurrence now days. The people here just kind of laugh when we talk about the crisis. They just say that it is always a crisis here, so they are used to it and it really does not matter at all. I guess that is a good way to look at things, but kind of sad when you really think about it.

Things are going really well here, though. We have some great investigators. I am really developing a love for them and it is great. I was, however, a little disappointed on Sunday again, as usual. I am beginning the think that the rain is from the devil. It just comes too much in some places and not enough in others. It rained really hard though last Sunday, or yesterday I guess, and the investigator turn-out was just not what I was expecting. First we are teaching a criple who only has one leg. He lives pretty far away from church, but usually manages to get there. This time, however, the rain made it almost impossible. He has to take a trike, which is that bike thing with the side car that I sent a picture of (a long time ago). Since it was raining, then it was too muddy to get to his house and he was not able to go. Then the even more disappointing one was a Wilrose. She was supposed to get baptized this Saturday, but had to come to church this week in order for that to happen. Last week she was really sick and this week her mom did not alow her to go because she thought that it might come back if she let her go out in the rain. She has to be the coolest little girl ever, though. She is all done with the lessons now, so for our teachings with her I just give her chapters of my favorite stories in he Book of Mormon and then we talk about them. Every single time she can tell me the whole story in detail. I love it. We just might have to postpone the baptism until next week. She actually did not care too much just as long as she gets baptized.

We still have one baptism this Saturday, though. It is with the really easy investigator that was like a free baptism. It really makes things nice when she lives with the Stake President. It's not hard to find a fellowshiper when you are teaching her there. She is really smart too, which made things even easier. I love baptisms so this will be fun on Saturday. OH, and I still have yet to meet with the new Mission President. I guess you will just have to wait for another week before you can know about him. I'm sure he is nice, though.

Tuesday was a surprise for sure. I found about that all of the Americans had to go to Panay for a day. That is the other island. We had to go there in order to do all of our finger prints and not get deported. I will have to admit it was really sweet. It was like a one day vaction. I was with all my friends and we got to go to different island. IloIlo is a beautiful place. I would not be sad at all if I someday get assigned there. It is a lot cleaner there than here in Bacolod. Plus, everthing is so much bigger. It is really a city there. The only bad thing about the whole thing though, was being so tired. I had to meet with some other people going Tuesday night and head out to Bacolod. We got there at about nine-thirty and arrived at the zone leader's apartment. It is nice, but really locked down and they could not hear us. After about twenty minutes I tried to climb the fence. I found out that they have shards of glass all over the top so people won't try and do that. It kind of tore up my hand pretty good. So yea, don't worry. I have not changed enough to stop trying stupid things every once in a while. You have to keep life intersting. It was a good trip though, and my comp was able to stay and do a little bit of work, so that was good too.

The only funny story I have is about the language again. I have been working with some ward missionaries that are actually from a Sebuano speaking place. So he has been teaching me some words. Like any other person he decided to have some fun with it. The word in Ilongo for puppy is "totoy." I was saying this one time and he asked me if I wanted to know the word in Sebuano. Of course I just said, "Sure, why not?" He then told me that it was "pitoy." So I started to use this in a couple of our next lessons. I later found out after the people were laughing and giving me some really weird looks that "pitoy" in Ilongo actually means the male organ. So yea, I don't know if I can trust the ward missionaries anymore. Oh well. It was a funny experience. Well, I better get going. I hope all of you continue to be great and I love you all. Thanks for everything.

Elder Booth

Zone Activity at Patag

Elder Booth and his Zone had an amazing activity in Patag. Here's what he had to say about it: "The next pictures are all of Patag. We had a zone activity out there on P-day. Pretty much like the last one of Manbucal, but at a different place. Patag is actually above my area in Silay." Most of the descriptions of the pictures are in Elder Booth's own words.

We all me at the church in my area and and headed up in a big beat-up jeep.
That's why the first couple of pictures are just from the ride up.

A few views from the jeep:

Then we start with the hike to the waterfalls...

On the hike they decided to stop and take a batch pictures with the tour guides and Elder Bennian. He is in with Elder Booth's Junior's batch, Elder Fordham.

Then the hike led us down into a river.
"It had to be the greenest place I have ever been to," Elder Booth said.

Then we finally got to the falls. It was pretty much rain forest/jungle stuff.

Pictures from every angle...

We just got some zone pictures there:

Elder Booth and the falls:

The blue water was a dam that lead to some more falls, but they would not let us go because it was too slippery. The water was a way cool color, though.

The next couple are of an old pool and us heading back down.
There was a sweet river there.

Nice Haircut...

More scenery on the way back down:

Here's an email from Elder Booth. It's a little late because of the Zone Activity...


Subject: Sorry a little late again.
Date: July 6, 2009 9:41:58 PM PDT

Sorry I didn't get a letter out yesterday. I think this is the second time this has happened right? This time was a little different. P-day was still yesterday, but we had a huge zone activity. It went really late and by the time we got back we had no time before we had to be to our appointments. So we just bought some food and actually took it with us to our appointment since we were already late. So this morning I asked permission if we could email right now, and luckily it was approved. So yea, that is the story.

The activity was really amazing, though. It was actually held in my area. Well, you can't really call it my area because it is so far away, but technically I guess it is. It is called Patag, which just means waterfall. It is up in the mountains. I found out if you go to the mountains here you go into the rain forest. Yea, I pretty much felt like Tarzan or something. It had to be the prettiest scenery ever. I took some very good pictures for you all. I guess you will get to see them in about two or three month. You should be excited though, because it was awesome. It was kind of like Havasupai, except it was in the rain forest instead. The worst part about it was not being able to swim. That was a huge temptation for me, of course. That is somewhere I really want to go after my mission some time. I will just have to find a way to pay for the plane ride over here. That is kind of a big pain for me. It was great though the entire zone really loved it.

Besides that, my week has not been too exciting. I still have not actually met my new mission president, so I can't tell you anything about him yet. All I ever hear is: "He is really strict," which of course is fine with me. I always thought all mission presidents were, so that is all good. It should not have too much of an effect on me, I hope.

All of our investigators are still doing good. We actually just got one to come to church that does not have a leg. That just shows you that if you have to desire you can find a way to go. He is really a good example to the other investigators and all the members that seem to find an excuse not to go. I was actually one of them before I went on a mission. In a lot of ways the investigators are helping me more than I am helping them.

Tomorrow should be an adventure, though. I am actually going to get to go to Panay for a day. All the Americans have to get some visa stuff done. I have never been on the other island so that should be an adventure. I just hope I get to see some of my batch mates since four of them went over there and left four of us here. I will tell you how it goes next week, I guess. Well I am actually already out of time so I will have to write you next week. I had to shorten it this time since it is not P-day. I love you all. Keep working and having fun in the states.

Elder Booth