May Flight Plans Kami! AYYYYOS!

March 30, 2009

I'm excited for General Conference. Everyone is here. I'm sorry to say that the MTC choir won't be singing this time. We were all wondering when we arrived here, but they said we hadn't been asked this time.
General conference meant that this was the last week in Sacrament Meeting with the Zone. Our batch sang Kailangan ko Kayo - I need thee - and we had a wonderful testimony meeting. Elder Thorn got up, and bore an amazing testimony. He told us how much it has grown here, and I've certainly seen that. I remember one day when we were briefly teaching each other the first lesson -- we gave each other 5 minutes each so we could figure out what we could leave out to simplify our plan -- and after mine, Elder Thorn was teaching, and he got to the first vision, and gave it in Joseph Smith's words, and then he bore his testimony about Joseph Smith. The spirit entered so strongly, and with tears in his eyes he told me that he knew that Joseph Smith really was a prophet of God. He really did see God the Father, and Jesus Christ. And I knew it too.
It's an amazing thing about teaching, that the principles that I've borne testimony of have lodged in my heart, and they get stronger and stronger until I can tell someone on the phone or during a chat that the gospel has been restored and tell them that with all my heart. That is the best feeling in the world.
Of course I remember your letter, Sarah! Thank you so much! I'm writing one back. Thanks to everybody that's been sending letters -- I wish I had time to reply to more. By the way, I've got a letter written to Great Grandma Peck, but I don't know her address. If you could send it sometime before 7-ish I can get it and send it out. By the way, I found one of her great grandchildren here, a Sister Peck going to Hong Kong, I think. She'd a grand-daughter of Donald, and daughter of David and Rachel -- I think. That was pretty cool. By the way, Elder Dicter (sp?) from swimming wanted to get Christian's address. His is 230 Fuhriman Drive Providence, UT 84332.
That's great to hear you're all busy making soap and making pretzels! And I'm WAY excited about Alex's call to Indianapolis! That's amazing news! I haven't heard anything more than you about Sister Iverson's ribs, except that she was supposed to have a check-up today, I thought, and they'd make the final decision there. Scary stuff. We've all been praying for her here.
Yes, Tinangapp namin ang mga FLIGHT PLANS namin! My heart just about stopped when I saw that stack of papers. I was trying not to be excited all day, but it didn't work very well. We leave on the 6th, about 5:30 at night, to Salt Lake, and then San Fransisco, and then Taiwan, and then Manilla. We leave on the 6th, and get there on the 9th (nakakatawa iyen, di ba? -- that's funny, no?) but we cross the date-line. I'll write home a couple more experiences, I'm out of time.
Thanks for everything (and the phone card) I think I'm all set, but I'll write if I need anything else. I'll send home the camera card today, and talk to you next week!
Ingat --
Elder Peck