Week 39

Happy New Year to you all. I am hyped for this upcoming full year of 100% missionary and dedication to the Lord.

So I didn't write last week because it was obviously Christmas and I had the opportunity to Skype my family which was the Best thing ever, but in all honesty was weird. I have gotten so used to the culture and I didn't even realize how much I forgot back at home. For Example the other day someone asked where I was from and I said, "California", my normal response. But then he said something I wasn't ready for. He said," where are you from in California"......Sounds normal, but for me that's like the first time someone has asked me that and then I completely forgot where I was from IN California. After 10 seconds of awkward silence I spat out, "Orange County", So I guess you can say I am forgetting myself and going to work.

Sadly on Christmas Eve, Christmas day, and New Years Eve we had curfew at 6:00 and we were not allowed to leave the apartment and work mainly for safety purposes. I spent those days with my 3 Filipino housemates, spoke Tagalog, ate a Filipino delicacy, Spaghetti, and played Monopoly. I also received a Christmas package from my Family and I was very thankful for mostly the socks and ties they sent.

Elder Obias and I are still companions even though the transfer just ended, so we will be together for a little bit longer because I guess we apparently are having good success together and I guess I can agree to that. We have had some BAPTISMS and are expecting more to come. It has been difficult trying to balance everything because we literally have so many people to teach it is hard for us to keep tract our recent converts and get them settled in the Ward, teaching the upcoming Baptisms everything they need to know, and getting out new investigators to start progressing, and even teaching members and Less Actives and Helping the Ward and Bishop grow and prosper.

It has all been rewarding and great though and I know that all these blessing of course come UP ABOVE so I am just going to keep doing what I am doing and Rely on Him.

The Philippines pretty much