Work Progressing in Cebu City

Dear Family,

First of all I love you all!

This week has been really awesome. I got a new companion Sister Caluyo. My trainer Sister Ramos got transferred after having her just one transfer. Sister Caluyo though is an awesome addition. She is our senior companion and she is super humble and meek. Sister Caluyo is a strong person her mother died while on the mission and she decided to stay with the suggestion from President Hanson. She is awesome. We met with Sister Judith and she was an activist against religion in college,but through meeting missionaries she gradually was willing to listen to the lessons. She has been going to church but has been hesitant in accepting a baptismal date. We met with Sister Judith on Monday, and after just one lesson with Sister Judith Sister Caluyo extended a baptismal date in a genius way and Sister Judith accepted it was beautiful. Sister Williams even teared up. And that's how missionary work is done! Sister Caluyo is basically teaching me things that I will definitely incorporate into my work.

This week is Sister Grace Hardy's baptism she is an awesome person. She is outgoing and refuses to let us leave her house without eating something. Her husband is American from Utah, and is a member. Sister Grace Hardy has been attending church for way long before i got to the mission. She just has been reluctant to listening to the missionaries because one missionaries approach she did not like. When I got to the ward she decided to let us teach her I think our approach was genius or she was just ready to hear the gospel. She is getting Baptized this week Saturday the Jan 29 2011. I am so excited for her. She is my first baptism that I was there to help teach all the lessons. She is getting baptized only after 6-7 lessons. We have given her a lot of information, but she has a great testimony and I don't see her turning away from the church in the future.

Rain: Adventures on the Mountain in Cebu

Family!!

First of all I love you and am thankful for your sacrifice to let me come on my mission.

It's been raining a lot lately because of El Ninyo it's supposed to rain a  lot until March that's what one of the members said. I think it's rained everyday this week.

Progress of the Work in Cebu City Philippines

So the Philippines is great I'm hot and sweaty all the time but it's an adventure for sure. During lessons ants crawl all over everywhere because most houses are bamboo huts. Some are one room. Some are two. Then we have the regular houses. I'm in the city zone Talamban so its kind of like America except not. We have a McDonalds and can get food imported but its more expensive. I'm not adjusted to the food yet but I figure it will only be a matter of time.

Today I was riding in the Jeepney and a truck passed by and one of the guys stared at me and poked his friend next to him and they both stared at me. I just smiled and waved. I'm the minority here and when I walk by everyone stares. I just say maayong buntag or maayong hapon or maayong gabbii (good morning good afternoon good night). Their jaws drop and they say stuff like you know my language or where are you from!

First Philippines Missionary Area: Experiencing the Custom of Alom Pulos

So I'm finally in the Philippines. It's pretty interesting. It's made me realize how much I have in the States. I miss the luxuries of life :) Today we went to the temple I love going because its a place to relax your mind for a couple of hours.

This morning we woke up at 4:30am to go play basketball with the district before it got too hot. But I am way tired now. I don't want to get up that early again, but my companions like to go. It's way good exercise. It's way hot here and I'm constantly sweating. It's some good times. If you couldn't tell by the pictures, I gained a ton in the MTC but its all good. I predict that I will sweat those off. haha...