In New Area (Palawan)

[sent June 9]

I got my wish. I got transferred to Palawan! It's so great to finally be out of the city. Everything is so calm here in Roxas. It's nothing like Manila. The people here are different. They're even more willing to listen to our message.

The people here don't live close together at all. Some of the members live 20 miles out of town. We still visit them occasionally. We have a sacrament meeting in the church building here in town and then every 2nd and 4th week we also take the sacrament to the people that live 20 miles from town, in a place called Magara, (20 miles south of nowhere.) Even Roxas is too small to appear on most maps, but it's the biggest town for at least 100 miles.

I got to witness a baptism in the ocean. Meaning, I went into the ocean up to my knees and witnessed a baptism. I'll try to send pictures.

I ate half of the Mac-n-cheese that you sent it was great. I found out that they have mac-n-cheese in Manila, but it's 300 pesos for a box. But here there's definitely no mac-n-cheese, so it works out perfectly. I'm glad you sent some. I've used the pitch pipe many times this week.

I've probably eaten 10 mangoes in the last 5 days. We have mango trees all around our house. Every few hours we hear a mango or two hitting the tin roof, and I feel like we're under attack. It's really loud.

I love being here. The people here are so sweet and hospitable and friendly. There aren't any big distractions from going to church or living the gospel. It's so unworldly here. It's paradise.

I wish I could tell you more, but I still need to send the pictures. Btw thank you for the updates and all of the pictures you sent.

[sent June 15]

I'm very blessed to be here in the Philippines, and I'm very blessed to have so many people who care enough about me to write to me and send me emails. I always look forward to the many emails that I receive every week, even if I have very little time to read them.

The encouragement and support that I receive from home makes me feel important and loved. I miss you all, but I've never been home sick. I was told that after 2 weeks I would begin to be homesick. I distinctly remember that never happening. I know it's not because I don't love you; I love all of you tons; it's because ever since I said goodbye and walked on the first plane I haven't looked back. I've accepted from day one that this is my new life. I know that the person that I become on my mission is who I need to be. I want to see all of you again, and I know that I will so I have no reason to be sad. Even if I had time to be sad.

If you miss me, do missionary work. That will help you take your mind off of it and also missionary work in and of itself makes you happy.

There's a great force that moves the work that I'm engaged in, and it's not the missionaries. The force behind everything that I do is the Lord, and His love and His plan are for every man. I've felt His influence in this work, I know that he truly goes before me and prepares the way and as I work he is on my right hand and on my left and His angels are there to bear me up.

I'm forever grateful for the grace that so fully he proffers me and everyone. I love this work because of the joy that our message brings to the hearts of those that are willing to change. The great plan of happiness is the most joyous message that we have to offer. And sharing it comes naturally. 

[sent June 22]

You should know that you're all loved. I think about you frequently. I know you have been busy, but my offer is still good. I will reply to any letter that you send to me. Also, I will write 2 pages for every 1 page that you write. Just keep that in mind. :)

I've had a great week. I feel like there's finally nothing holding me back from being an effective tool for the Lord. I'm getting along well with my companion; Elder Espano (with a tilde). He's very easy going and he's a very devoted missionary. I've learned a lot about teaching the gospel from him. 

Amanda and I had a great time chatting [by e-mail] last week, but I don't want any of you to feel excused from sending me long letters because you are waiting for me to get online. It's much better if you send me an email and then wait to see if I get online, because then if I do I get online we have something to talk about and if I don't get on until after you go to bed, then you'll get to read my reply the next day. If you keep waiting for me to email you you're going to be waiting a long time. I promise you I'm at least as busy as you if not busier. Don't hesitate to write to me. Your emails are precious to me; more than you know.

[sent June 29]

I have so much to tell you. I forgot to tell you last week that someone stole 1500 pesos from me 2 weeks ago. That's alright though. I have an enormous 8000 peso emergency fund. I played the piano in the last two sacrament meetings; I just got a new mission president yesterday; I've been taking my multivitamins everyday for the last 4 weeks; I gave a talk in sacrament meeting a week ago, and it was in Tagalog. 

There, that's all the stuff I've been waiting to tell you. Also I've thought of something else I want you to send to me. A piano. One of those roll-up ones. I miss having a piano nearby. The only pianos here are in the church buildings.

I really feel like I'm in the wilderness sometimes. When we travel the 3 hours south to get to our Zone meetings all I see are trees, and forests and occasionally rice fields.

I've been doing a lot of missionary work. We plan to have 2 baptisms this Saturday. I'll tell you all about them next week. I'm baptizing at least one of them. :)

I miss you guys a lot, but I'm sure you know that I love you and I'm where I'm supposed to be. I'm helping people come unto Jesus. It's the best job ever. 

I've been thinking lately that maybe the reason that we wear our missionary tags on our chest is so that they're at eye level for those that we teach. But actually, some Philipinos look up to read my name tag. So that theory is void. Oh, well.

I miss you, as I said. Continue to learn and grow while I'm gone, because I sure am. I love you!!