Pineapple .70
Avacado .45
Guava free off the tree or .005
Jackfruit 2.00 if it's huge
bananas .04 - .08 a piece
rambutan .10
peanuts - cheap
tasty tasty -- Elder Razo is a great cook.
You can tell aunt Kim that the "one month" prediction was waaaaaay off. I have a belly to be envied and it shows no sign of getting smaller. My face is getting chubby too. I'm going to learn to diet, I eat way too much rice and pasta. Ironic -- dieting in the Philippines.
Dear Family,
I love Capas -- half city and half rice/sugar cane fields. It's the most beautiful place I've ever seen. It's got everything, and I love the ward and our investigators. I want to do everything for them, I love them sooo much. I love the happiness of the people, despite their circumstances -- they go through affliction and trials that I couldn't have imagined before this, and they do it every day -- with a smile. They are so happy and loving.
I received a letter from Great Grandma Peck, and I hope to make the long trip to the post office next week, but she should have received a letter the same time I sent the pack of letters to you. Tell her thank-you so much from me, it really lifted my spirits.
I love you all, I'll send a little more news about some of the miracles of the week.
I love you,
Elder Loren Peck
Here's some more news, and, I don't know if this is legal -- but I included most of my letter to the President.
Sister Beth Zamora prayed out loud for the first time this week. For the first time in years. The spirit was so strong. We've been praying all week that she'd work up the courage to pray for us. Now she'll receive the blessings. We came out of their house smiling ear to ear. On Sunday Brother Zamora and their daughter came to church, but Sister Beth is still so shy! We love their family, and feel like two of their sons. Later tonight we'll go over the Spirit World again, and teach about where exactly their 7-year old son that passed away is. It's a question that they've been asking for a year, and the reason they're listening to the missionary lessons now. Having the opportunity to teach them is truly a blessing, being a missionary -- a "helper" is a gift from our Heavenly Father.
"This week I gained a new understanding of the "ice-berg" analogy in Preach My Gospel. An investigator that I knew had received a testimony suddenly started coming up with reasons not to be baptized, and sometimes dodged the appointments. I was so confused, because I still felt when we taught that she had a testimony, and I couldn't figure out what was going on. I'm so grateful for the flexibility that "Preach My Gospel" provides because yesterday, when Ruby Juanta said that they weren't interested in continuing the lessons, that flexibility, and the spirit, worked. Our planned lesson was not what Ruby needed, and I was clueless as to what we needed to teach. After the prayer, Elder Razo started teaching about the Plan of Salvation. I was surprised but I felt strongly that he was being guided by the spirit. As the lesson unfolded, the principle: "Our Life on Earth" became the focus, and something went right, because the spirit touched Ruby. At the end of the lesson she opened up and told us her concern. She said that she still had the desire to be baptized, and that she really did want to come to church, but her husband was not yet willing, and she was afraid she'd distance herself from him. It was something we had never thought of, because her husband had been there for most of the lessons, and had never said anything. Even though I didn't know her concern, Heavenly Father did. The Spirit guided us, and in wisdom greater than ours, did the teaching.
I have a testimony that our Father is at the helm. That truth is becoming more and more plain to me. As I studied this week about my purpose as a missionary, I was impressed with the word "help" as part of our purpose. Elder Holland stated that we're mortals -- we can't save anyone. But Christ can. As I read Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life, and think about my role as a missionary, the word "help" comes to me over and over. "Help" others find the path. "Help" people take hold of the rod. "Help" them face their mists of darkness. Help them to Christ because He is the only Help that's sufficient to heal, convert, and save. As a helper, I'm grateful that I get to see all that happening up close. I know this is the work of the Lord, and I'm anxious to do all I possibly can to be a worthy servant of the Lord."
I love you, family. I'm eternally grateful for the choices you've made, that I grew up in a family built on the eternal and immovable rock that is the Savior, with access to all the blessings of the gospel of Christ. Thanks so much, family!
Sincerely,
Elder Loren Peck
Sister Beth Zamora prayed out loud for the first time this week. For the first time in years. The spirit was so strong. We've been praying all week that she'd work up the courage to pray for us. Now she'll receive the blessings. We came out of their house smiling ear to ear. On Sunday Brother Zamora and their daughter came to church, but Sister Beth is still so shy! We love their family, and feel like two of their sons. Later tonight we'll go over the Spirit World again, and teach about where exactly their 7-year old son that passed away is. It's a question that they've been asking for a year, and the reason they're listening to the missionary lessons now. Having the opportunity to teach them is truly a blessing, being a missionary -- a "helper" is a gift from our Heavenly Father.
"This week I gained a new understanding of the "ice-berg" analogy in Preach My Gospel. An investigator that I knew had received a testimony suddenly started coming up with reasons not to be baptized, and sometimes dodged the appointments. I was so confused, because I still felt when we taught that she had a testimony, and I couldn't figure out what was going on. I'm so grateful for the flexibility that "Preach My Gospel" provides because yesterday, when Ruby Juanta said that they weren't interested in continuing the lessons, that flexibility, and the spirit, worked. Our planned lesson was not what Ruby needed, and I was clueless as to what we needed to teach. After the prayer, Elder Razo started teaching about the Plan of Salvation. I was surprised but I felt strongly that he was being guided by the spirit. As the lesson unfolded, the principle: "Our Life on Earth" became the focus, and something went right, because the spirit touched Ruby. At the end of the lesson she opened up and told us her concern. She said that she still had the desire to be baptized, and that she really did want to come to church, but her husband was not yet willing, and she was afraid she'd distance herself from him. It was something we had never thought of, because her husband had been there for most of the lessons, and had never said anything. Even though I didn't know her concern, Heavenly Father did. The Spirit guided us, and in wisdom greater than ours, did the teaching.
I have a testimony that our Father is at the helm. That truth is becoming more and more plain to me. As I studied this week about my purpose as a missionary, I was impressed with the word "help" as part of our purpose. Elder Holland stated that we're mortals -- we can't save anyone. But Christ can. As I read Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life, and think about my role as a missionary, the word "help" comes to me over and over. "Help" others find the path. "Help" people take hold of the rod. "Help" them face their mists of darkness. Help them to Christ because He is the only Help that's sufficient to heal, convert, and save. As a helper, I'm grateful that I get to see all that happening up close. I know this is the work of the Lord, and I'm anxious to do all I possibly can to be a worthy servant of the Lord."
I love you, family. I'm eternally grateful for the choices you've made, that I grew up in a family built on the eternal and immovable rock that is the Savior, with access to all the blessings of the gospel of Christ. Thanks so much, family!
Sincerely,
Elder Loren Peck
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