Angels Round About

Dear Family,
There's been a lot to think about and do this week. I've had so much to think about and do. My new companion is Elder Maandig, from Cagayan De Oro and he's a great missionary. He's excited about the work and it's great when we're walking to hear him say that he loves the work and that this is the best area and mission. It really lifts my spirits. He is really upbeat. He's easy to talk with and work with. On Thursday we got home from Pampanga at about 7:30 P.M. The jeepney was so loud that we didn't get to talk much, so when we got off at the house, sore and stiff, I started asking about his family. He started talking about them rapidly and excitedly, and about the MTC, and after a minute I started to notice that I didn't understand about half of what he was saying. I didn't pay much attention to that, because every companion has a different vocabulary and phrases. I was grateful that I was going to have a lot of new vocabulary to learn from him. We taught one appointment and he bore a short testimony. He gave the prayer and I didn't understand a lot of that either. But I have to say that it was a good 12 hours after that when I discovered that my companion isn't a Tagalog speaker at all! He speaks Viscayan and only knows a little Tagalog. I was not expecting that at all. I thought my companions were all going to be Tagalog! I guess it's about time I got the language nailed down, because now I'm supposed to be the "fluent" one. Yeah, you should see the looks we get when the American is the one that speaks the national language, and not the Filipino. I'm excited, because I'm going to be fluent by the time the transfer ends. Or toast.
Our first full day was very hard. One of the hardest days of my mission. We struggled and I was thinking that this was not a good introduction for Elder Maandig. On the other hand, it might have been just the starter we needed -- every day is going to feel good after that. Our appointments weren't there, the RM couldn't work with us, our door to door was completely unproductive, and we were tired. I hit my knees pretty hard that evening. I don't know what happened during the night, but like mom always says, the world looked a lot brighter when I woke up. We worked hard that second day, and there must have been a whole legion of angels working alongside us, because miracles happened. Our investigators were at home and the lessons went great. We found some new families that were really ready to listen. Things came alive in the area, and on Sunday the same thing happened. We're making contact with almost all of our progressing investigators every day and the effect is great.
One couple, the Galutan family, were taught two years ago before moving and losing contact with the missionaries. Their father recently passed away, and he was a member. Brother Galutan comes home from the fields when he regularly wouldn't, just to be on time for the teaching appointments. They accepted a baptismal goal date this week.
A part-member sister, Sister Marquez, joined us while we taught to her family that were part members. We focused our teaching for her, and while we were teaching she told us about the changes she'd seen in her family because of the church, and shed some tears. Even though her and her husband are not members, she told us how her husbands rough attitude had changed. They have both told us that they will make time to come with their children to church.
Every investigator has a different story so teaching is really a personal and a tailored thing -- so much depends on the spirit. I'm excited to keep working, and even though every day is packed and I rarely have a moment to think -- I'm happy and loving the work. I love you all and it sounds like ya'll had a great week! I pray for you and I love you all.
Love, Elder Loren Peck