Ratfink!

Dear Family,
It all began a week ago, when my two packages of "pancit canton" disappeared. I thought it was probably Elder Rallos, who occasionally steals my food -- but he pleaded innocent. Two days after that, as we stepped out of our tricycle at the end of a long day, a bottle of water on our window ledge fell without warning, and I might add -- without any good reason. As we approached the door, I jumped back as I saw a large rodent clinging to the outside of our screen. We were really close to the screen, and it all happened sort of suddenly -- and -- well, I didn't really have time to set my scream to "manly". Maybe it was the high pitch that scared the rat right through a hole in the screen, and inside the dark, big, house. Unfortunately, my companion lost his key, so we waited for the zone leaders and wondered what the rat was up to inside. 10 minuted later, we opened the door with a grimace and peeked inside. It was worse than we feared. The rodent got cut up during his hasty entry and left a trail of rat blood -- everywhere.
We spent half-an-hour searching and cleaning, but didn't find the intruder. So we rolled out the mattresses. You'll be comforted to know that we sleep on the floor, in the living room -- just a pad and a sheet. Images of "The other side of heaven" and rat-chewed feet fleeted through my dreams. In the morning after excercise, it was show-down time. Elder Rallos -- formerly a worker in the fields of the Philippines, and used to this kind of work -- pulled out the Cabanatuan Zone machete, and we started our search again. I thought about breakfast, but was startled when I saw a perfect, round hole in my bag of oatmeal. Smells like a rat, right? I thought so too.
It wasn't long before we opened the forbidden cupboards -- under the sink, where dark things that lurk are better left alone. Sure enough, the rat was scurrying around in there, and we shut all the doors. To make a long story short, Elder Rallos is good with a machete, and there were actually two rats. My pancit canton wrappers we found under the sink. Exciting, huh? I look at that blessing against sickness and I pray and trust in that every waking moment. It's only two years! Is it too much to hope to survive? Rats, Roaches, Dirty dishes, the opponents are truly numerous.
So I'm staying alive. I received the check card, but haven't used it. I've got the number I think.
School again! That look on Charlie's face sums it all up. Wow, you all look so great in the pictures. Landon, you're all big and . . . like bigger than me now!
I'll admit, it was weird looking at the pictures of the house. We are blessed. It blows my mind, I can't think about it now -- I haven't seen anything like what we enjoy -- not once here in the Philippines. Financial security, cleanliness, comfort, beauty all around. A backyard. Happiness and security in the gospel is rare as well. Complete families are rare. The world is so confused right now.
But I'm loving the new area, and there are some amazing investigators. I'm still settling in, and there's a lot to write about, but I wasted all my time on the rat story. So I'll save it up for next week. Dad, I haven't had any duck eggs yet, but my last two meals in Capas were roasted duck, or what they call "itik". It was tasty!
I love you all. Thank you so much for the letters! Have so much fun with the second week of school everybody!
With love,
Elder Loren Peck