Blessings Are Coming Down, like the rain, from Heaven

Hey Family!
I just got back from Tarlac, it's another busy day. Earlier they gave me a huge shot, right in the sitter. Woohoo! It was my 3rd visit (for rabies shots --see last post). So far I've been given 4 shots in my left arm, 3 in my right, but I really didn't see the big one coming. The lady told me to hold some shot medicine to warm it up while they shot me in the arms. I thought the fluid I was holding was for someone else. I laughed when I saw one of the nurses with the huge, huge needle and asked who the poor person was. She just looked at me funny and then told me to turn around and undo my belt. That's not funny --
I've got one more shot in July, then I'm done. I already told mom that despite everything I'm doing to prevent more boils, I'm just getting over a really bad one. Interviews with President Puzey are tomorrow, and I'm really looking forward to that. They went to Lupao a few days ago and delivered a keyboard to Darius (my piano student). I hope to hear how the delivery went tomorrow.
The work in the area is doing great. There's been a lot of progress and I'm loving this branch and these great investigators. We were surprised again with the numbers yesterday, 11 investigators at church, 19 lessons with member, 5 others, 10 to new members/less actives. At church there were actually around 16 non-members, but some of them we haven't got around to teaching yet. Wild, huh? What happened: on saturday we happened upon a group of young men with member friends, ages 15-23, and we taught them a lesson. To our surprise, 7 of them came to church yesterday, all piled on one trike. They stayed the 3 hours and were treated well by the members. out of 11, they were the 5 counted. Besides them, the 6 that came are really progressing towards baptism. The Patricio Family: Philip, Lorma, and Jezebel, came to church for their second time yesterday, and had a great time. They have a lot of fellowshippers and are feeling like a part of the ward already. They read every assignment and study hard for our visits, both mom and dad. This week these things stood out for me. We challenged them to pray as a couple about what we were teaching, and they agreed. On our next visit, we found that they'd done it, and they laughed because they said it was awkward the first couple of times and that they were shy of each other. Yesterday they said they've been keeping it up and teaching Jezebel to pray, and Jezebel (3) imitates what they say. We taught the Word of Wisdom about 1 1/2 weeks ago because Brother Philip wanted to know about it. We were afraid he might not be interested in keeping the Word of Wisdom, or might struggle with it because he drank alcohol and coffee. Because we hadn't planned to share that right away, we haven't been following up on it, but last night we found out that Brother has entirely abstained from both coffee and alcohol for some time now. He said it was hard at first, but not impossible. He's switched to what they call kapeng bigas (rice coffee) every morning and noon. "Rice coffee" is a misleading name, because it's not coffee at all, it's burned rice in hot water with sugar. I'd never tasted it, and when they found out they gave us some last night. Tastes like burned rice in hot water! It's basically what poor people drink when they've got no money for coffee. Last night we taught about baptism and confirmation and gave a really overdue baptismal date. They said "yes" before I finished extending the commitment, and we all laughed for relief. I really feel like their baptism will take place as now scheduled, on July 24. They are absolutely golden. The great thing is that their extended family is also getting interested. This wednesday when we taught, their cousin, Sister Remedios Patricio, and her daughter joined us and listened to the lesson. Afterward they invited us over to their own home, where we taught them as a complete family. Now, Philip's mother is also interested in listening. Later tonight, we've planned to have a family home evening at the Patricio's, and we hope to meet much more of their extended family. It's a great situation, and here in the area right now we're struggling to get everywhere to visit all the investigators just 3 times a week. The Lord is really blessing the entire branch and area. I'm learning a lot about teaching from my companion and the time is flying! I'm not really looking forward to the end of the transfer, I wish we had more time, but that's life.
Brother Ayeras is now a Priest and the Liahona Representative in the Branch. Doing great. We have a two pat member youth, ages 13-14 that will probably be baptized on July 17.
It's raining almost every day now, and from what we hear, this area is affected badly by floods in the wet season. This week I've already had to wade about a hundred meters through shin deep water, but things may get much much worse. But weather can't stop the work!
Love you all --
Elder Loren Peck