Due to Typhoon Rammasun, (Glenda for the Philippines) we have not received any information from Elder Brycan Cole at this time. The particular area that he is in was hit pretty hard and it might take a few weeks before he will have any electricity or access to a computer to write. The church missionary department has been contacted and all missionaries in the Philippines were safe and accounted for as of July 17th, so there is not much more I can offer at this time.

Bill Cole (Brycan's father)

Magadang umaga po galing sa ung pinakang astig na gwapong missionary dito sa Naga Mission.  Just start off I would like to let you know that tomorrow a typhoon will hit the Bicol region so let's hope that it doesn't do too much damage here in Ragay.  It's fun coming from a place where I didn't need to worry about typhoons to a place where it's normal for them to happen.

This past week has been another average week for Elder San Pedro and I.  Due to school being in session right now and most of the males are working, it's been pretty difficult for us to be able to find new investigators or to teach in general.  But we've been doing our best to be patient.  Well I know that missionary work is a lot harder in other areas of the world so I'm grateful for this opportunity to be in a place where people are so kind and willing to listen to the gospel.  As transfer day is nearing, the members have started to express that they don't want me to leave and that when I leave that there won't be any more Pogi (handsome) missionaries.  I truly am going to miss the people here that I've grown to love.  I know I say it a lot but these people have become part of my life and all of them have helped me grow in the man that I'm becoming now.  

Well I've gotten a few updates that LeBron has returned to Cleveland and I don't know quite how I feel about that.  All I can say is that the NBA is going to be a lot different when I get home.  But on a different note, don't worry about me Mom, I'll be fine.  I know it's your motherly instinct to worry about me when there's a natural disaster, but I know everything will work out.  It's honestly quite the experience being in a typhoon, a little scary but kind of exciting at the same time for the fact that I'd never experienced that before.  Well I love you all and it sounds like things are going well for you guys.  Take care!!!  May God be with you till we meet again. 

Another week bites the dust and my official year mark in the mission is only 9 days away.  One year in the mission and only two areas so far; I must be one lucky missionary because that means I don't have to pack very often like a majority of my friends here.  Although it sure makes things rough when transfer day arrives because the area and the apartment (even if it's pangit) becomes a part of who you are.  

Well now about what glorious things happened this past week..... to be honest nothing really exciting happened this week.  Although Elder Bolombao stepped on a dead frog on the road while we were walking yesterday and that was pretty funny to see his reaction.  But anyway, life here in Ragay continues to go faster than I would like.  I almost 85.2689% that I will be leaving in only the matter of 22 days  I'm really starting to realize what parenthood is going to be like.  At first it seems  they won't grow up and then the next thing you know...skadoosh. They're in High School.  On a different note, last night we had Family Home Evening at Sister Neo's house and it was quite enjoyable. Quite a few members attended last night which only added to the fun.  All I can say is that games here in the Philippines are quite entertaining even if they make you feel a little weird at times.  But hey, life wouldn't be as much fun if you didn't feel stupid once in a while. 

 Last night they also made me teach the lesson for Family Home Evening so  I decided to teach about Family History Work and of actually how important it is.  I remember when our stake had a competition for the youth to see which ward could index the most names; and I remember seeing that our ward had.. well...0.  That's not the Oregon touchdown O. But a zero zero.  It really made me think of how many relatives that I have who are just waiting for me to find their name so they can have their ordinances finished so they too can have the opportunity to live with our Heavenly Father.  I don't know why I felt so strongly about teaching about Family History; maybe it is Heavenly Father's way of telling me again that once I'm finished with my mission that my missionary service in life has only just begun.  

Well I would like to thank you all again so much for that package!!!!  It was such a treat to experience the simple pleasures of home.  I also think my Filipino kabahay's (roommates) loved the beef jerky more than I did.  I don't think it lasted more than two days ha ha.  But again thank you for sending the clothes... just seeing the faces of the people of having a new piece of clothing is something I wish you could all experience.  It's so funny to see the expression on a little kids face when they're like.."This is from America!"

I love you all so very much and I am so grateful for all that you do for me in my life.  I couldn't have asked for a better family.  Ingat po kayo lagi (take care always).  Mahal na mahal ko po kayo!  May God be with you till we meet again.

Today is the day.... I'm old now!!!  This is going to be a pretty interesting letter I can already tell you guys that.  Well the birthday celebration that the Bordon family was going to host for me... isn't going to happen due to some jealousy in the branch and so we just thought that it would be better if there wasn't any conflict so.... wala nang birthday party.  But this past week has been a great one!!!!  On Saturday we had three baptisms and boy was it a great pleasure to see.  It's a quite the privilege getting to see these wonderful people and the progression that they have experienced over the time that we have taught them.  I think one of the greatest privileges as a missionary is to be able to be able to see a person come up out of the water after they have been baptized and to just see their smiles.

Another great thing that happened this week was that..... Joy (Joselito's Wife) finally attended church for the first time yesterday along with their whole family.  We also experienced the greatest sacrament attendance ever  in Ragay with 78 people.  I can just tell you this that there was almost literally no space left in the meeting house.. None.. Wala.  Zilch.  

Well to my great surprise.... I got my package on Saturday!!!!  I would just like to express my gratitude for you guys for all the wonderful things that were included in there.  And someone must have the ability to read minds because right after I had requested pop-tarts after you had sent the package, boom...bang.  There were pop-tarts in the package.  Also about the clothes; you guys have made some very happy Filipinos.  Even just a new shirt means so much to the people here.  Honestly I can't express how grateful I am for all you guys and the sacrifices that you put into that wonderful gift from home.  Thanks to you guys I have breakfast and snacks for the next 2-3 weeks (although the jerky is almost already gone due to Elder San Pedro ha ha).  But  I love you all so very much and I wish you the best in everything that you do.  Mahal na mahal ko po kayo.  May God be with you till we meet again.

Dear Mom, Dad, and Family,

Happy Fathers Day Dad!!!!  This past week has been fun filled with things.  First off we are coming to the end of the transfer and...... well I thought I was going to be transferred but here I find myself here in Ragay still. 1 year in two areas, yeah I think I can do that.  But that just means it's going to be even harder for me to leave in July.

These good faithful members of Ragay have become another extended family to me.  For example; the Bordon family is going to host a birthday party for me and I honestly think almost everyone in the branch is going to end up showing up (I'm grateful my birthday is on a P-Day) Another funny thing that happened (is going to happen) is... well.... Joselitio told me that he and his wife are going to name their baby after me!!!!  Brycan Ano!!!  I never thought in my wildest dreams that someone would want to name their kid after me but hey, I guess I must be doing something right in my life.  

Yesterday we had the privilege of having stake conference and Quintin L. Cook and Michael Teh of the Seventy spoke to us (it was over a broadcast from Salt Lake but it was still awesome).  Elder Teh spoke to us about how one man in the Philippines that he knew, who lost two legs and one arm to polio when he was a child and of even despite his disability, he attended church every week.  He said that he tied old rubber tires to his knees so he could crawl to the highway and his  knees so that wouldn't get bloody.  Then from there he would take a tricycle to the church.  That story truly touched me as it reminded me of how easy I have it back home.  All I have to do is walk for 5-10 minutes to church or be lazy and hop in the car.  And yet sometimes I remembered myself complaining because I didn't want to go to church.  I have learned a lot from these Filipino people about diligence and fulfilling my responsibility as a member of this church.  It's not a responsibility that is accomplished in a few hours or days; but it is a lifelong commitment that needs constant effort on our part.

I can't believe that we're halfway through June!!! I know I put of how fast time goes in almost every letter but I'm just blown away about of how fast things have gone.  Sorry Sam about the glasses, that can't be fun.  Mom, about dad's car..... It looks like you got attacked by Sasquatch ha ha.  I didn't think the door would be that bad ha ha.  Still love ya mom.  Well I'm getting pretty good at Tagalog; I'm still not suburb but it's good.  I still can understand a lot better than I can speak.  As you might have noticed sometimes my English isn't quite as good as before.  Well I'll take that as a good sign though.  Well I love you guys so much and I'm grateful for everything that you've done for me.  I can't wait until I get that package so I can finally eat some cereal!!!  Maybe for my Christmas package you guys can send me poptarts and granola bars?????  Continue to be the great missionaries that you are; missionary work isn't just missionaries but all of us as members!!!  Mahal na mahal ko po kayo!!!  Ingat po kayo plagi!!  May God be with you till we meet again.

                                             -Elder Cole 

Dear Mom, Dad, and Family,

Well this past week has been a great one here in Ragay!!  Elder San Pedro and I have been able to find three new investigator families and hopefully they all continue to stay interested.  On top of that; we are able to teach a kagawad "City Council Member" and  he accepted the baptismal invitation after the first visit.  He said to us that he's been searching for a religion that would help him change his life and that the feeling that he got when we taught him was the peace that he was looking for.  Boy he was truly prepared by the Lord!!!

Another fun thing this past week was being able to help a member move.  Well now normally when you hear the word "move" you thing of just their things. But I got the surprise of my life when we helped them "move".  Now time for the punch line. We actually moved their house!!!  We helped disassemble the house and then moved the parts to where they were going to build it again. That was definitely a new experience for me but it sure was fun!!  I sure am going to miss these great members of Ragay when I leave; they have truly shown me of what qualities our Savior has and of loving and serving all men.  

One thing that I forgot to mention in my last letter...... wait for it.......... patience is a virtue. Well I never thought I would do it but; I ate dog for the first time, and it did not taste like chicken.  The good part about it was that Elder Bolombao washed two of my shirts for doing it ha ha.  What a great District Leader!!

 Well take care guys!!!  Know that I love you guys with all of my heart and that I'll be so excited to see you guys when I get home. Mahal na mahal ko po kayo!  May God be with you till we meet again.

                                                     -Elder Cole

 

Dear Mom, Dad, and Cole Family,

I'm really running out of good opening lines; ; so much for taking that AP English Class.  My heart is full of gratitude this week as I was able to witness the baptism of my good friend Joselito Ano.  I remember the first time I met him, and to see how far he has come and to hear and feel the strength of his testimony makes me feel like an accomplished missionary.  A few days ago Joselito introduced us to his aunt and cousins for the missionary lessons; and when we started to teach about prayer, Joselito literally taught it by himself like he was an RM.  It's simple things like that that really makes missionary work worth all of the challenges.  

Elder San Pedro and I have also been working with a young man named Rhenzo Singson.  This kid is a stud!!  End of story.  His older brother is a former investigator and well... I don't know why Elder Joaquin and I didn't think about teaching Rhenzo in the first place.  The first time we invited him to attend church... he went. We invited him to YM and branch activites.. he went.  He has an excitement for the gospel like Joselito and it just makes my day to see him.  Not to mention that he is quite the basketball player.  

Just for kicks and giggles, I think I am the most eligible bachelor in all of Ragay ha ha (it's honestly not very surprising).  But it is pretty hilarious.  On three or four occasions this past week I've had young women run up to me and ask to have a picture with me.  This one girl yelled "New Wallpaper" after the picture.  Oh my.  Sometimes I feel like I'm a member of One Direction or some boy band.

I can't believe it's summer time already and that Jarod is riding his bike now!!  Time truly has flown by here in the Philippines and looking back it doesn't seem that long.  I still feel like mom and dad dropped me off at the MTC a month or so ago.  But yet here we are nearing my 19th birthday.  The last official stand of my teenage years.  It's so much fun to hear from you guys every week and of what's going on back at home.  The map of where I've served is pretty cool, I wouldn't have thought of that.  But Dad, it just about as accurate as you can get.  Elder Savage was just called as the new Finance Secretary and he doesn't sound to happy with it.  Although he was excited that he gets to drive and he has a McDonald's close by.  I love you all so much and I hope you enjoy your summer, because I'll back the next one!!!  Mahal na mahal ko po kayo!  May God be with you till we meet again.

                                                  -Elder Cole