A week ago, after hearing about approaching typhoons from investigators, we recieved a text from the Assistants to make an emergency trip to our local palengke's to buy 3 days supply food and water, as well as an emergency light, in case we needed to ride out the Super Typhoon "Pepeng" that would hit the coast on the weekend. As the day approached, it became clear that our area was in a bit of a panic. At every appointment, our investigators pointed out the flood marks on their walls, sometimes 4 or 5 feet high, from past storms. In some areas their houses had been completely submerged in the past. One family told us stories of years past when they had to ride out storms on their roof. Everyone was washing clothes, packing things and waiting. Everyone was counting the hours until the predicted land-fall time. It's what everyone was talking about. When we woke up on Friday, the sky was grey, and the wind started to pick up. Up above us, low clouds hurried past above us. When that wind drops down, it easily takes the tin roofs off houses, lays down trees, and wreaks general havoc. Friday evening, the rain started to fall. Families started heading out, to friends houses -- higher ground. It rained off and on until Saturday when the storm was to hit. The hours passed by . . . the minutes drew short . . . .
Okay, alright! So it wasn't that cool after that. It really could have been cool, but the storms totally missed nueva ecija. We worked right through it. The rain came down though, and we couldn't make it to two investigators because the flood close to their home was just too deep, and they were gathering up the last of their things and heading to higher ground anyway.
You've got more news than I do, but it sounds like other places in the Philippines got hit pretty hard, like Manila and Quezon. My companion, who's family lives on the ocean in Quezon province (Infanta), is waiting for news from his youngest sibling, the only one in his family who knows how to email, to hear if his family is safe. Apparently they are going to let out water from a large dam here, and apparently it's pretty dangerous that our area will flood, big time.
That's the news. I'm way excited for general conference, it's sounds like you already know how great it was. I've got to wait until Saturday. But we've got some great investigators that will join us there -- it's so fun to teach about living prophets, when the investigators are ready. To see that look on their face -- ganoon ba? It's new to them, but it's right. I'm excited about the area, really excited. It feels like things are about to bloom, we've got some great progressing investigators and they have some real potential. I love my companion. We are really hitting it off, it's going to be a great transfer, and I hope I can stick around here for another one or two after this. But that's not up to me. Chris! What are ya doin? I can't believe your back at the house! Is that MY shirt? Back in the irrigation boots, how many minutes did that take? Is it wierd not to be in a suit? And speaking english? Take care, can't wait to hear how all the changes are.
I love you all! The work is true, and we've all some power to move it along. This is a living church, growing every day as every member grows. It works because it's true. It changes lives because it's true.
Take care, everybody! Charlie, enjoy having Chris home a little for me, will ya?
With love,
Elder Loren Peck
------Hey mom, I'm actually sitting next to Elder Razo right now, he filled me in on all the latest news about the Zamora family a few days ago. As the weeks past, the Zamora family started feeding the missionaries (I only got that once!) and brother Zamora, who seems real shy, but has some real inner strength, had a good talk with the Born Again pastor, and some of the neighborhood pressure was eased. Their neighbors aren't quite as nice to them anymore, which is a real shame. He filled me in on their baptism and testimonies, he said that in the teaching now Sister Zamora frequently asked questions about the temple, they are planning their trip one year from now. Sister Carla's baptism (she's 11) should take place any week now, she's got friends in the church and is attending church, but doesn't really want to be baptized because of her friends of different faiths. That's okay, it sounds like she's almost turned the corner, and knowing the Zamora's, they'll drag her to the temple kicking and screaming if they need to in order to be sealed as a family. Talk about a happy ending. I hope and pray everything will work out.
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