08/22/2010

It is really weird how quick the time does go by….. I was thinking just the other day Jordan is going to be home then shortly after Matthew then shortly after him me its really weird how quick it really is. This country really has grown on me. I wouldn’t want to leave if it wasn’t so hot 24/7. It is so awesome how it’s so care free and relaxed definitely not a place you or Andrea would like cause of the sanitation issues but other than that it’s pretty sweet.

We had an awesome baptism this week. The investigators have been investigators for a good 5 months and they decided it was time. It was so amazing there were so many people. Our mission baptized tons of people this Saturday and it was way cool cause president told us to pray for success and to focus on giving the baptism commitment and all the sudden 100 or so people get baptized it was way cool.

Sounds like you guys are having fun at home I can’t wait to play with the little kids and go hunting and stuff but at the same time I don’t want to leave the Philippines either its weird!

But as for you getting released that’s crazy I think I would be stoked for the time off haha. but that’s nice now you and dad can get up to the cabin and finish it with all the new free time haha! But yes I'm still sick but it’s much better I will survive. Other elders have it much much worst like no kidding I should consider myself lucky -- some elders have lbm (?) for months like 9 months straight that would suck. I think I'm the only elder on the whole mission that hasn’t had diarrhea once. I tell everyone I have a strong stomach. As for a US doctor that’s pretty funny mom good one... haha …. there is one in Manila actually they have a St. Lukes that’s where all the really sick missionaries go.

But thanks for the package I'm excited for it even though if I don’t get it this transfer it will probably be until next transfer so like 6 weeks but that’s ok it will just be all the sweeter when I get the package! But anyways we eat at the same members house every night she’s way funny she is the most talkative lady in the world haha! She has two daughters that are Eric’s age. They told me Eric is cute and that Eric should add them on facebook haha! I took some pictures over there but tell Eric they’re pretty cute too! Haha! But it’s weird here cause you always see 14 & 15 year old girls with kids and married and stuff. They graduate high school at 16. We don’t eat out much we usually don’t eat much for breakfast and have a quick lunch and leave. Then we don’t get dinner till 9 so we are usually starving by that time and eat alot. I am getting skinny but not like skinny skinny cause I work out all the time so I'm getting alot stronger but loosing fat cause you can't really eat bad food here haha so its a win win situation.

But anyways - funny story time …. so remember that guy that I told you was talking about astronauts? Well this week we asked him who the first people on earth were and he said "how should I know I wasn’t there." It was so funny he speaks Ilocano so we don’t understand much but we understood that and started laughing and he started laughing it was pretty funny. But I have a weird question at byui do they have or teach Ilocano too or can I take a test to get my Ilocano credits cause I started studying it too and I think I’ll probably speak Ilocano and Tagalog before I leave so I was just curious cause that would be alot of credits.

k funny story again! You won't appreciate this one but it’s hilarious ... so we were walking home and me and Elder Poloai were on splits and it was dark but we see this dog crossing the road and a huge bus driving on the road and in the Philippines they don’t stop for anything for people, dogs, goats … they don’t stop they just keep going. But anyways this dog was just walking so Elder Poloai grabs my arm and was like o....o.... o..... he couldn’t speak for a sec cause he was watching what was about to happen so the bus just smashed this dog - ran it over! Then another huge rice truck drove over the top of it and then another truck ran it over but the wheels didn’t hit it and he pulled over so we're sitting there with flashlights just standing about 7 feet from the dog just watching and the guy gets out of the truck goes to the dog and pokes it twice he doesn’t say a word to us just pokes it grabs it by the tail and takes it and puts it in the front of the truck like the cab of the big truck. Then I said to Elder Poloai “What - is that guy serious?” and my comp at the time said “yep”! it was so so funny the guy was seriously going to eat this mangled nasty dog and ride with it in the front seat the whole way home nasty huh. If you saw the dogs here you would be really disgusted they’re all diseased and nasty looking but anyways I got to get going!
love ya, jas

I wanted to tell you about a zone in the Philippines that I guess is supposed to be getting a temple and the success of the missionaries over there but I figured you would enjoy hearing from my president directly …. He is so awesome!

Dear Fellow Missionaries:
What a wonderful week it was for our mission! I am happy to report that this week, we have very, very few health issues. I had no personal calls regarding any problems with companionships. Whatever little issues came up, the Zone Leaders handled them. Thank you. This tells me that the things we have been talking about (obedience, divine companionship, no regrets, focus on your purpose), are taking hold.

The highlight of the week is definitely the 43 baptisms we had in the Tuguegarao Stake. It was a sight to behold. It was inspiring to see rows upon rows of white clothed people, waiting to be baptized. It was humbling to see a long line of people following each other into the waters of baptism. Truly the Lord was pleased! There were other baptisms in other parts of the mission, making this week one of the most productive for us. Thank you, Elders and Sisters for your efforts and devotion. I sense an increased level of spirituality and commitment from you. Your love for your investigators are evident in your letters to me. I am so grateful and humbled by the opportunity to meet some of your special investigators with special needs and unusual situations. I am impressed by how well they have been taught by you. I have been touched as tears flow and they expressed their testimonies and faith in the Savior, His atonement, and the message of the restoration. During these special interviews, these investigators, without exception, speak of their love for you. What a great testament to you, my dear friends.