#19 New Companion

Wednesday, November 27,2013

Hey everyone,

Well I finally got my birthday package.  Thanks so much.   Also, I forgot to tell you that we moved and we actually have a pretty nice house now but I now have to wash my clothes by hand.  My new companions name is Elder Castaneda.  He is from Manila.  He was baptized about ten years ago and he is very interesting.  He is a good guy.  We get to teach a lot, but people didn't really change from the typhoon.  We did have one investigator come to church finally.  She had never been and now she has come 2 weeks in a row.  She is doing really good and the ward has been helping her.  

Sorry about no picture yet. The internet is a little slow and the computers aren't always reliable.  That is awesome to hear that Chastity got baptized.  That should make the missionaries happy.  Here we are doing pretty good.  The members help a little bit but our ward isn't that strong.  I actually found out on Sunday that the members don't even know everyone that is active.  They mostly worry about themselves but they are getting better.  I love being in the Philippines and it does still feel like summer but we have plenty of Christmas songs playing.  

Love

Elder Roskelley

#18 Is It The Rainy Season?

Wednesday, November 20,2013

Hey everyone,

My mom said that it is getting cold at home, it is super weird here because the seasons didn't change at all.  People here actually don't know what a season is.  They have a wet and a dry season but nobody knows when it is.  Today and Sunday could be the rainy season while tomorrow is the dry season.  If it is rainy it is the rainy season is the basic idea. It is way fun here.  I love it.  About Bohol, President was thinking about pulling the missionaries out of some parts of Bohol because it is pretty hard for them to live there because of the electricity situation, or lack of electricity, but with so many new missionaries we had to keep them there and our zone actually just got split to accommodate for Four new missionaries in our area.  Side note. Right now I am emailing where we normally email and they are playing American Christmas music and I am still sweating.  It is weird and awesome.

Well this week has been one of the craziest.  First off I was pretty sick with a fever and a headache. It was on my birthday, but my companion bought me a birthday cake which was amazing because they are actually kind of expensive here. I am sad that Elder F. will be transferring this week. Because I was sick  I had to stay home and rest.  That was pretty hard because I didn't get to feel like a missionary.  I just felt lazy but I could feel that the Lord still loved me and he knew that I was doing as much as I could.  I love that about the Lord.  He asks us to do our best and he promises that he will help us but we must trust in him and his plan.  Yesterday we did get to work and we picked up two new Tacloban missionaries that had been reassigned to our zone. They are super awesome and so ready to get back into missionary work.  It was awesome to get to work with them and it made me realize that you have the best feelings while doing missionary work even if people reject you and you have to walk a lot.  I love being a missionary and the Lord blesses me so much here while I give so little in return but I am giving it my best.  I love and miss you all back home.  I hope that you can see the Lord in your life as much as I have seen him in mine.  All you have to do is look for him and remember that God is in control of everything.  

Love Elder Roskelley 

P.S. Mom, I haven't got your package yet but we will go and check the office again tomorrow. We are about a 30 min bus ride from the mission office and the mission home is another 20 min by motorcycle. It’s nice being this close right now.  I do really miss driving cars partly because driving here is like racing.  I can't send pictures this week my computer is being dumb sorry.  Maybe I can figure something out.  

NEWS RELEASE —  13 NOVEMBER 2013

Church Continues to Assist Typhoon Victims

Church answers questions of those asking how they can help

SALT LAKE CITY — 

Update (13 November 2013 - 1:00 p.m. MST) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues to assist with relief efforts in the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan. Church Welfare Department personnel are working with Philippines Area leaders to establish a relief operations center and distribute supplies. Many areas affected by the storm are still without power or running water, and communication systems are not fully operational. 

Seven of the 21 Church missions in the Philippines were impacted by the storm, but all missionaries are safe. Missionaries in the hardest-hit areas have been evacuated to safer locations, including missionaries assigned to the Tacloban area. Those missionaries are now safely in Manila, staying in Church housing near the Manila Temple and missionary training center. Mission and area leaders will meet with missionaries in the coming days to evaluate their needs and determine future assignments. It is possible that some missionaries who are approaching the conclusion of their service may choose to return home. Missionaries in areas less severely affected by the storm will soon begin organizing to assist with relief efforts.

Many Latter-day Saints and others who have seen the devastation in the Philippines have contacted the Church wanting to know how they can help. They are encouraged to pray for those affected by this disaster. They may also consider increasing their fast-offering donations and/or donating to the Church humanitarian fund (http://give.lds.org/humanitarian-fund). The Church draws upon these funds to sustain its humanitarian work around the world. There are many opportunities to support other reputable agencies that also respond to disasters.

The Church has a vast, local volunteer force among the members in the region and is not seeking volunteers to travel to the Philippines as part of its relief efforts. In addition, the Church has learned that the most effective way to respond to disasters is to work locally, purchasing needed supplies in country as near to the disaster as possible.  This not only ensures that the goods are appropriate for the area but it helps build up impaired, local economies.  

#17 Typhoon

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Well Hello Everybody

I am doing okay.  We did experience a large typhoon and we had to stay inside our house all day.  It was kind of hard but luckily we have four missionaries in our house instead of just two.  Many of the members of the church went to the chapel and stayed there because they weren't sure that there houses would hold up for the storm.  Many trees and houses have been knocked down and broken here and we didn't have electricity for 4 days at our house.  We were smart though and we had enough water and food for the four days that we couldn't really get much support.  We were one of the lucky parts of the area.  The way the storm was spinning the winds were mostly blocked by a couple of mountains that protect the Danao valley.  We are very fortunate and grateful that it wasn't worse.  Part of our mission that is very north is called Bogo.  They were hurt quite bad and we are not sure that the missionaries will stay in that area.  The damage from the hurricane was about equal to that of the earthquake in some areas.  For the Tacloban mission they were hit the worst for the storm and all of the missionaries were evacuated yesterday and they are now safe in Manilla but the plan for them is not so sure.  We are looking at lots of problems to deal with but  nothing that will stop us.  We will continue to work hard and do our best because we know that this is the true gospel of Jesus Christ and we can help these people.  I love you all back home.  I am safe and I still have my testimony that keeps me moving.  

Love Elder Roskelley

News Release about Tacloban Mission

UPDATE (11 November 2013 - 7: 15 p.m. MST) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported that all of its missionaries serving in the 21 missions in the Philippines have been contacted and are safe following the devastating loss of life from Typhoon Haiyan. The parents of those who had been unaccounted for have been personally contacted.  

The Church expressed its love and sympathy to all those affected by this disaster and all the people of the Philippines. Church buildings provided life-saving refuge during the storm and are now serving as shelters and disaster relief sites.

The Church is pleased to engage with other relief agencies in the Philippines to address the aftermath of the storm. It is providing food, water, shelter and other life-sustaining resources. 

UPDATE (11 November 2013 - 10:45 a.m. MST)In recent hours, Church leaders have made significant progress establishing contact with missionaries in the Philippines Tacloban Mission. All missionaries have been contacted with the exception of 24 missionaries serving primarily in one location where communications have been especially difficult. Church representatives are doing everything possible to contact missionaries and have been providing updates to family members of missionaries regarding their status as soon as they become available. Local Church leaders continue to determine the safety and well-being of Church members in the impacted areas and to seek out ways to assist others affected by the typhoon. 

Finally get email

From: Carson Roskelley 
Date: Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at1:39 AM
Subject: Typhoon
To: Jen Roskelley

Yes I am okay. We didn't have power for 4 days so we were glad that we were prepared.  We had about a category 3 typhoon. It was pretty cool but there was a little damage and lots of clean up. 

Love

Elder Roskelley

Email from Mission President

Friday, November 8, at 9:50 AM

Subject: Cebu East Storm, Haiyan

As you my know, we had a very strong storm today that covered our whole mission,
 and in fact, all of the Philippines. The Lord is mindful of His missionaries, and they
 faired well. All our missionaries are safe and accounted for.
 We are still without power in many places, and communication is limited, but we will
have your missionary contact you as soon as possible via email.

Once again, the great Cebu East missionaries have an opportunity to go forward
 and bless the people of the Philippines with a message of peace and love that the
 Gospel brings.

With warmest regards,
President and Sister Tanner

 NEWS RELEASE —  7 NOVEMBER 2013

Church Members, Missionaries in Philippines Prepared for Typhoon Haiyan

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Philippines has taken precautions in anticipation of Typhoon Haiyan. Church leaders have been evaluating resources and making specific preparations for the storm for the past week, and they will work with local authorities and relief agencies to provide assistance as the storm progresses.

The storm is forecast to hit the Visayas region of the Philippines, and it may impact nearly two-thirds of the country. Officials are warning that the storm has the potential to cause widespread damage.

Church buildings in areas near the storm’s anticipated path are already being used as shelters for those in need of safer housing, and more buildings will be used as needed.

The Church has 21 missions in the Philippines. Mission presidents have taken precautions to protect the safety and well-being of missionaries, moving them to alternate housing where necessary.

“If there is any concern about the safety of an area, we move our missionaries out of that area,” said Stephen B. Allen, Missionary Department managing director. “We’ve known about this storm for some time, and all mission presidents have moved missionaries to areas where they believe they can be adequately sheltered from the typhoon.”

The Church stands ready to assist affected communities during and after the storm. Emergency response resources have been secured, including food, water and other supplies (items such as blankets, hygiene supplies, tarps, chain saws and shovels).

As the storm progresses, local Church leaders and Welfare Department personnel will make assessments and coordinate with local authorities and response partners to determine needed assistance and future relief efforts.

Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) Strengthens, Threatens Philippines

While the Atlantic hurricane season may have taken its last breath, that is certainly not the case in the western Pacific Ocean. The most powerful tropical cyclone of 2013 anywhere on Earth is raging toward the Philippines.

• INTERACTIVE SATELLITE LOOP

As of Wednesday night (U.S. time), Super Typhoon Haiyan had top sustained winds near 175 mph (equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane), according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. A typhoon is considered a super typhoon when maximum wind speeds exceed 150 mph.

The Japan Meteorological Agency estimated the typhoon's minimum pressure at 905 millibars. If such a storm were in the Atlantic basin it would beamong the strongest on record, but the Western Pacific basin is less of a stranger to typhoons of this intensity.

Super Typhoon Haiyan will continue to move westward away from the Republic of Palau on Thursday local time. Winds gusted as high as 77 mph at the National Weather Service office in Palau early Thursday morning.

Haiyan's forecast west-northwest track will put it on a collision course with the Philippines, with external rainbands lashing the nation as early as Thursday. The Philippine weather agency, PAGASA, has named the approaching typhoon Yolanda using its own separate naming list.

According to the latest forecast from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (shown in the second graphic at right), Haiyan is expected to remain a super typhoon as it approaches the central Philippines early Friday, local time (Thursday night, U.S. time).

Given this more southern track than previous tropical cyclones this season, the Philippine capital of Manila – home to roughly 12 million people in the metro area – could see significant rain and wind impacts from Haiyan Friday night or early Saturday local time (Friday, U.S. time).

Additionally, some 10 million people who live on the central Philippine islands are most at risk of a direct strike from Haiyan.

Furthermore, another tropical cyclone (T.D. 30W) has already soaked parts of the central Philippines. Any additional rain from Haiyan will fall over saturated ground in the central Philippines, raising the threat of flooding and mudslides.

Haiyan is then expected to sweep quickly into Vietnam by Sunday, possibly still as a strong typhoon.

According to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, the Philippines are hit by six or seven tropical cyclones in an average year. 

In October, Typhoon Nari flooded farmlands and destroyed thousands of homes north of Manila.

Heavy rainbands on the southern edge of Typhoon Trami flooded Manila in August, claiming at least 18 lives and chasing over one quarter million from their homes. This occurred just over a week after Typhoon Utor slammed into the northern Philippines.

Roughly 30 percent of the average annual rainfall in the northern Philippines is believed to be from tropical cyclones, according to a 2008 satellite study.

Haiyan is the Chinese word for petrel, a type of bird that lives over the open sea and returns to land only for breeding. Haiyan is the 28th named storm of the 2013 Western Pacific typhoon season.

#16 Tropical Storms

Wednesday, November 6^th, 2013

Hey everyone,

Well this week has been amazing.  I have seen a lot of growth in our area and a lot of growth in myself.  We have had some trials but we have also been very blessed.  I don't think I would want to be anywhere else in the world for my mission than the Philippines.  It is very beautiful here even though we sometime get tropical storms.  We just have to endure through those.  I love the Lord now more than I ever have before and I rely on him more than ever before.  Without the Lord we could not see the growth in our area that we have seen.  I love everyone back home and miss you.  I want you to know that I know that God is always there for us and he is helping us.  I know that we are given trials for our growth.  

Love

Elder Roskelley

P.S. Some interesting facts:

The people here are mainly catholic because the Spanish originally came here.

The church manuals and such are in English and Cebuano.  It just depends on what the person prefers.  The Cebuano translation is harder to understand for some than the English.  

I got a haircut when I first got here and they are really good.  Better than any haircut I got in America.  

If you send another package sometime, put some super glue in it, for just little things that happen.  Duct tape would also be awesome.  I just know that super glue looks a lot cleaner than duct tape if I want to mend my pants.:) I got a little whole in the butt of my suit pants and I already sowed it up.  There is no problem and my clothes are holding up very well.  I haven't had any rips or tears.  I am going good here.  My shirts mostly all have a yellow tint, not super white any more.