9 Months

hello hello!

Hey fam! Wow I was looking through all the info you sent me about the typhoon in the Philippines. That breaks my heart. I have asked around quite a bit to see if the members and investigators knew anything about it. It's interesting because only one person I have asked has heard anything about it. I guess that would be due to a lack of technology.

We had a good week. Suni had her baptism. She is pregnant with twins; what a great way to begin her family. The baptismal service was very nice. I told Hermana Thomas that I was going to prepare a talk because I had a feeling they were going to ask me to speak - last minute. It's good I prepared something. As soon as we walked in the church I was asked if I could give a short talk. It was very short. But it was a great night and four of the Elders in our zone came to the baptism. We are super united in our zone. It is probably because our zone is the furthest out so we have to be friends with each other because we are so isolated.

 

- The mangos are slowly disappearing and the orange season has begun. I bought a ten pound bag of oranges for the equivalent of $2.50.

- We had a long discussion with one of the less active members. She is a teacher and insisted that there are 5 continents. There are 7 right?

- The cruise ships come in every Tuesday. Quite a few times we have run into members. So far they have all been from California. On Tuesday we were talking to some members for a while. The woman said, "I have never sweated like this. I have a river running down my back and I know I am not imagining it." With the humidity - the heat here is a different heat than we are used to in our lovely Deseret.

9 Months

- Can you send me more shoes? I am so sorry, I already have holes in the ones I have right now. I remember my friend that served in this mission told me that he wore hiking boots because the ground here is so abrasive. It really is. I put cardboard in the bottom of the shoe and I have enough cardboard to last me a couple of weeks so don't overnight it or anything. But when you get the chance can you send me some new shoes? Thank you!

- There is a phrase that they use often, "si dios quiere", or if God wants. We have noticed that they say it more when they don't want to do something- or don’t want to be fully committed. We sometimes get a little weary of hearing it after we extend commitments. Sometimes we can’t help it but say, "Hermano, of course God wants you to keep the law of chastity", or "Hermana, of course, he wants you to go to church."

- God is such a huge part of the culture here. I kid you not that most of the vandalism says Cristo Viene. There is a big grocery store here called Christ is Coming, Repent. My favorite is an underwear store called The Holy Ghost.

- Our area is doing really well right now. We should have two more baptisms by the end of the month. Fingers crossed. I am so nervous because one of them says that he has something he needs to tell us... I hope it’s something good.

Thank you for all the updates and photos. Love you all so much!

"There are two kinds of failures: The man who will do nothing he is told, and the man who will do nothing else."