The "Withered Season"

Dear Family,
Technically, there are only 2 seasons in the Philippines: The wet season (tag-ulan) and the hot season (tag-init). But when it gets to be this time of year, and it hasn't rained in more than 6 months, and even the die-hard weeds give up the ghost, the locals start calling it "tag-tuyot" which translates to "withered season". There are no thermometers here, but what I really want to know is the humidity! It's gotta be off the charts! There isn't a moment that goes by that you don't sweat -- as soon as you're out of the shower, you're sweating again.
Darius played the piano again yesterday in Sacrament meeting, he's now got 6 songs under his belt. We're not holding piano lessons every week anymore. This week we helped a less active member make a dirt staircase in a slope leading to his new bamboo home he's been working on for him, his newly baptized wife, and young daughter. My hands are getting soft!
Holy week ended yesterday, and it definitely wasn't as dramatic here as it was in Capas, nobody carried crosses or got whipped. But a lot of people were partying and the work was a little harder. Brother Presas packed his bags early this morning and less than half an hour ago I gave him a hug and got him on the bus. What a guy! I've learned so much from him and besides that, he reminds me a lot of Matt Thatcher. We got along great, and I learned 7 new dishes that I'm excited to try out.

These next two weeks are going to be a little tricky. My companion is Elder Carlton from Lehi, Utah, and we're about the same age in the mission. He's 6'2" and I'm 6'3" and we stick out like a couple of sore thumbs. We're going to go back and forth from San Isidro and Lupao in order to keep both areas limping along until april 22. Lupao is 7 kilometers past San Isidro. We haven't got to sit down and plan yet, but we'll make it work. Ronnel Carig came to church again yesterday (5 times) and plans to come to General conference next week, we're just trying to finish the lessons and make sure he's ready na ready.

Interviews was great. We sat down and President Puzey and I talked about the past year. He asked me what the hardest thing I'd faced in the past year was. Then President Puzey asked me about the best, golden moment in the mission, and right away I was back in Capas, on Ligtasan street, at 8:30 P.M. calling "tao po!" at the Zamora home, and remembering companionship study every day for them, spending every evening in their home, the times I'd felt the spirit so strong in their home -- When sister Zamora prayed for the first time out loud in years, and when Brother quit his construction job to avoid his old friends that encouraged him to drink. And now, reading that Carla was baptized! I only got a few words out in answer to the questions, but in my mind I experienced it all again. President Puzey said: "Thanks, I just wanted you to take that mental trip." We had a great talk, and it was so good to get some of my feelings out and get my perspective get put back in place.

I'm really looking forward to conference!
Funny thing that happened early this morning -- 5:20 A.M. -- 2 cats that must have been crawling on the top of our ceiling, in the rafters, stepped on a shaky ceiling tile and crashed into our main room. They landed on a small table with a weak leg, and the table broke. I thought somebody was breaking into the house! We got up to see the two cats running around in circles, scared to death, climbing up the curtains and screens, and hiding behind our dishes. They were screaming and making a racket! We got the door opened and shoed them out, then tried to fix the hole in the ceiling. I'm just glad cats is our problem, and not roaches or rats!
Love you all family, and I'm so grateful for the news! The days are flying, I guess on April 4 . . . it's been . . nope! We're not even going there! Talk to everybody next week!
Love,
Elder Loren Peck