I'm A Greenie Again!

Dear Family,

It's a brand new year and a brand new start in. . . I don't know where yet! Tomorrow is the big day: Transfers. I got a note from President Puzey saying happy birthday and that they'd see me sometime this next week in my new area.

But for now, I've been working for a week in Palayan City, Bongabon Zone, (In Nueva Ecija) with Elder Alcibor -- who I went on splits with occasionally in Paniqui and who is one of my favorite Elders! I sure was surprised last Monday evening to know that I'd be out of the office on Thursday -- right before Christmas. I had a lot to think about. We'd just had some great lessons with some investigators in Sapang Bato, and we'd taught Brother Sibal about the Word of Wisdom, which he accepted. He and his wife both came to church last Sunday even though he was dead tired because of his graveyard shift. Sister Sibal said she wanted them to be baptized together, and hopefully Elder Landingin and Elder Williams (the new AP from New Zealand) got around to teaching them last thursday evening.
My last two transfers where some of the best in my mission. I love Elder Landingin and learned so much from him -- It's amazing the way we could work things out. Elder Landingin will be in charge of all the training, and he'll probably be in the office one or two more transfers. I just took Elder William's place in the field for a week, he was a zone leader here in Palayan. Poor guy, he only knew on Tuesday that he was leaving thursday noon, and he missed Christmas with all of his investigators. I feel like this is my area now, even though I'll be leaving tomorrow. I think I'd be just fine here for a long time -- but anywhere is okay!

On Christmas day first off we met a family that became new investigators -- poor mom was busy doing laundry on Christmas day and they let us right in to teach. We taught another 4 lessons and it was a very normal day! But every day here is full of the spirit of Christmas, so we're just lucky! I woke up at 6:30, exercised, then opened gifts! It was a special morning because I put on Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Music. For breakfast we had boiled eggs and dried fish, then at lunch a part member family invited us over. It was a birthday/christmas, and they shared their meager lunch of menudo, rice, and some homemade coconut salad. It's touching that whatever they have they're so happy to share. That evening we cooked up some barbecue to have with our rice, and we called it a day! Elder Alcibor is an incredible cook and an incredible teacher. He was a convert for only one year before coming here. He formerly taught professionally and cooked at the family carinderia. He's still the only member in his family (he's the youngest of 12). On the 27th, he cooked Filipino style spaghetti for my birthday, and we cooked up 2.2 pounds of it. There is still a lot in the Fridge and we've been eating it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Also on my birthday an investigator made us soman (from a sort of sweet potato) and a recent convert family invited us to teach during their family home evening. I took some balloons to give to the kids and they had a good time popping them. We've been hitting the area hard, finding this week. We've taught many new families and there are also 4 investigators preparing for baptism on January 15.
Christmas day was kind of a special day. Our last appointment was with a man named Emil, about 40 years old, who always comes to church and had kept from smoking for 10 days now. Poor guy, he's all alone right now and while he was reading on Christmas day, he saw some coins he'd forgotten about under his tv and he couldn't resist going down the road a ways to his neighbor's tindahan, and he bought 3 cigarettes. NO! He was heart-broken when we got there. The first thing he said was "Elders! I'm sorry. I sinned earlier." The poor man was so ashamed, he's been doing everything to be baptized -- his brother and sister in law are recent converts. We ended up having a really spiritual visit about the Atonement, reading from Alma. I remembered feeling at times what Emil was feeling, just struggling with disappointment and discouragement, and I felt so strongly while we were with him that the Savoir is so understanding and loving. Those feelings are just what he needs to bring him out of his addiction and we were able to promise him that in time he'll be completely free and his sins will be "blotted out". I know that's true.

Rachel asked how New Years is celebrated here. With lots and lots of illegal fireworks is the answer. And usually there's some bottles going round. Last year there was an early curfew, I'm not sure if there will be this year. Happy 2010, while it's still here!
Love you all so much! I'm glad Christmas was so good there, but you just can't top a christmas day in the mission field! Sorry!

Love, Elder Loren Peck

The BIG Day!

Dear Family,
I don't know if I can compete with your week. The week was so busy that I forgot about the wedding until Sunday, and it still doesn't seem real to me! I'm glad everyone is so happy and that it turned out well. I also forgot that Christmas was so close -- this week! Time sure does fly.
These were the highlights of my week. We drove with President and Sister Puzey on his birthday to Baler for a zone training. We stopped by a tree called the Balete tree which is huge and it's a tangled jungle mess. I spent the afternoon proclaiming the gospel to folks on the seashore in the country called the "pearl of the east". The weather was great. I had pineapple/banana pancakes, coconut salad, and ate watermelon fresh from the field off the calabaw cart. I got to spend more than 10 hours talking with the Puzeys and I didn't waste a minute of it. I love the Puzeys. On Saturday we had a Christmas Open House at the mission home and the day before, Elder Landingin and I knocked on the doors of all of our neighbors in Redwood Villas, handing out invitations. Last year, only 3 or 4 came, but one of them went on to be baptized. We were expecting a small group, so we were surprised when 25-30 people came and were all watching "The Nativity" with us in our car-port! There was a man from Blanding, Utah, a man from Korea that spoke no Tagalog and very little english. The Sibal family came! Many others stopped by for cookies and picked up magazines. Success! We got a lot of return appointments, and in our free time we got out and taught lessons "behind the wall" in Sapang Bato. The Sibals came to church! It was sister Sibal's first time, but they are talking about baptism now and we taught about the word of wisdom last night. They accepted a baptismal date and it's a shame I won't be around to see it. There are about 6 really strong investigators now, and it's hard to leave them to do other things! We just want to teach all the time.
This week will be the two christmas conferences -- tuesday and wednesday. On Christmas, the Sibals invited us over to teach and it looks like we'll be out teaching on Christmas eve as well. We know very little about transfers but I'm guessing it's my time to head out into the field and thrust in the sickle just like the old times. Not like anything really stopped here, it's just a little different at the mission home. I've learned and seen things that I never would have, and my perspective is so much broader now. I understand more what is going on world-wide, philippines wide, and mission-wide. Above anything else I've learned so much from Elder Landingin and 3 months has not been enough time. He's the best. We've been out jogging in the mornings lately and I'm really sore. Next week I won't be able to write on monday because it's transfers. You can expect an email on wednesday. Next thursday is the day of transfers and I still have no idea what will happen! Every day is full. I love teaching, and I'm learning more and more every day.
I'm looking forward to talking with you. Hope you all know how much I love you!
Love, Elder Peck

Good Luck Family!

Dear Family,

I sure wish things would slow down a little bit so I could get more out of the days and spend more time with all these great people, like my companion, the Puzey's, and all the missionaries. It sure is strange to be on splits with different missionaries all week and then thrown together with your companion on the weekends. Our schedule is so unpredictable and we're planning as we go.
This week we're headed for Baler and I'm looking forward to the trip. President and Sister Puzey invited us to travel with them on Tuesday and Wednesday -- that's 10 hours in the car -- yes! Tuesday is President Puzey's birthday. We'll go on an exchange afterwards in Cabanatuan, and then we'll be getting ready for a Christmas open-house on Saturday. We'll be going around the neighborhood doing what we do best -- knocking on doors and handing out invitations. And we plan to get some lessons in as well to anybody that will let us in. My heart broke again this week because Brother Sibal wasn't able to make it to church. He was planning on it up until Saturday, and then he was suddenly called out of town. Our appointment didn't go through last night with him, so we don't know how he's doing. It sure is hard when we can't make daily contact! We went on exchanges and helped with zone trainings in Camiling, Sta Ignacia, Paniqui/Tarlac, and Moncada(Paniqui). I got to go back to the Bala family in Malempec, branch 3, and I was sure happy to see them still active and doing well. The Patricios -- they made sticky rice and sent it with Elder Landingin as a Christmas gift. I didn't get to see them but I sent them a picture and a note and they are working towards going to the temple. They've completed 5 months and there's just 7 more to go! We were on the road all week, and it felt like a looooonnng time. Because Brother Sibal couldn't make it, we ended up going to church in Paniqui, where the Paniqui Stake was organized. It's #80 in the Philippines. Elder Ko and his wife were there, as well as the Puzeys. Branch 3 was a little disappointed because they fell just short of the requirements to become a ward, but Elder Ko said in his remarks that they were very very close. He explained that he didn't want them to pass and become a ward as an exception, he wanted them to be in full bloom. It was a great meeting.

Yesterday we found a new investigator, a gaurd up behind the mission home. He's from mindanao and he's really serious about religion and we had a great discussion. He said he has all sorts of questions that he hasn't been able to find in his religion yet, like what happens to our soul when we die and what will happen when Christ comes again. How and when will the resurrection take place and things like that. You know -- the "golden questions". We could've been there all day because he really wanted to listen, but we talked about "milk before meat" -- a little about the Book of Mormon, restoration, prayer and an introduction to the plan of salvation before giving him a lot of reading material.

We're looking forward to a great week here! We got to watch the 1st presidency devotional and as I was thinking about the spirit of christmas, I thought about last christmas here in the mission. We had no eating appointments or party or anything. We spent hours in the afternoon talking to people on the streets and teaching people that were too poor to put together anything special for a christmas dinner. I feel so out of the world right now and so untouched by all the commercialism and other distractions. I realize that the spirit of missionary is the christmas spirit, and it's an especially happy time because other people are starting to light up about Christ and remember that they love Him. I'm so grateful that I'm here -- I wouldn't want to be anywhere else or doing anything else. This work honestly makes me happy. I'm becoming a happier person all the time and learning, line upon line and experience upon experience, how to live a happy life. I love the Savior and I know He lives. He is my hope when things look grim, and they often do. He gives me enough light and happiness for me to laugh at myself and my mistakes, and the Spirit shows me how to change. I love you dearly, family, and I hope this week is a week to remember!
Love, Elder Peck

Let It Snow. Over There!

Dear Family,

Since last Sunday, we've taught the Sibal family 3 times and we have another appointment later, at 6pm and President and Sister Puzey are coming with us. Brother Sibal's parents have been on vacation here along with Brother Sibal's young son, Daniel. Our last appointment alone with Brother Sibal was sketchy -- about tithing and although it was clear and we felt the spirit, in the end he still said he just might not be able to swallow that commandment. We taught just the elderly Sibal's first, who are very religious (and very catholic) and on our return appointment with them Brother Sibal (Harold) joined in. I was surprised when, before we'd even started the lesson, Brother Harold jumped in and started explaining about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon to his parents, and saying how good the things he'd heard were. Elder Landingin and I were surprised! And then Harold got his Restoration DVD out and suggested we watch it. We went through it slowly, explaining, and Brother Harold did a lot of explaining himself. We had a rough time that night getting the elderly Sibals to say the closing prayer that wasn't the "Hallowed be thy name" prayer. We probably had 3 practice prayers before they felt comfortable with it. We were getting a little bold with the prayer doctrine, but before we left Elder Landingin said very seriously "Sister, Brother, we've been sent to teach this, and we'd be sad if we didn't teach it right. Now, we've taught it, and we feel... (suddenly with a big smile) happy." It was hilarious and we all laughed and they accepted a return appointment for the next day. The next night we were there and they were waiting. And they had the prayer down! Brother Harold did even more of the teaching/testifying and just talked with his parents. We could see that he wanted them to understand, I really think that he intends to move forward here. The best thing was, he explained tithing to his parents last night, just like we'd explained it to him. Surprise! After that he asked us when we'd be back. The lesson tonight will be the third night in a row, and it should be good. We've done a lot of door-to-dooring up in their area the past few days, and we've taught 3 other families.

This week we went on Exchanges in 4 areas and participated in 4 zone trainings, taking a half-hour part in President Puzey's training about giving Baptismal goal dates on the first visit, which is part of the new "Teaching More Effectively" curriculum. I didn't get to split with Elder Thorn (in Gapan) but I did get to eat lunch with him, and February is coming up fast! He mentioned that it was only 2 months away.

Earlier today there was a power-outage in all of Angeles, so I wrote a letter to you, mom and dad, made an apple/tart mango shake and cornbread, along with arrozcaldo, and was invited to play on the Puzey's piano (if I wanted). Pretty good P-day!

Next week already??? Time is flying! Everyone sounds so busy. Thanks so much for your notes. I'm so happy here and I love being with Elder Landingin. I take notes after we get out and teach so I can remember what happened and what my companion said that really had a big impact in the lesson. It's been no problem at all putting on weight this week, we'll get there little by little. This next week we'll be on 4 more exchanges, including Paniqui on Friday. Then on Saturday we have another appointment here with the Sibals. Good luck with all the marriage prep! I haven't heard a lot from Chris... is he ready? Happy Birthday Rachel and good luck getting everything done! Thanks for the packages, it's nice to know that they are somewhere in the ocean or air. I want to write you all letters, but it's hard when I think that by the time I start, and finish, and send it off, and it's on a slow boat... it might be March before it gets there.
Love! Elder Peck