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