Dear Family,
I can't figure out what happened to our area! We've been so blessed this past week, with more referrals, contacts, and lessons than we expected. We've been running around, but I learned an important lesson last monday and tuesday -- when things dry up, they dry up -- without the Lord's help we couldn't get one lesson, one return appointment, one investigator to church, and we could never convince a soul of the truth by ourselves. I've had to really remind myself to not think about the numbers, but the individual progress of each investigator, how they're being benefited and what they need tomorrow and in the coming days. I'm so grateful because there are so many that have moved from the first lesson and have picked up the Book of Mormon this week. Two investigators -- the Digno's and Allen Epa, had a good experience with reading and I've got a testimony: As soon as they start reading, the Spirit takes over much of the teaching, our personal abilities can't take them very far, but if we can carry them to the Book of Mormon, they've got a good chance. Sister Aiza Digno came to church for the first time with their child, but Gilbert her husband worked in the coconut fields. We left early Sunday morning to drop by and remind them. She made it through three hours, and enjoyed it. We visited her last night and the Branch President came along to meet her. She has long time friends that are members, so things are moving right along. Now we've just got to help Gilbert get to church. His aunt is a member, but less-active.
I'm so grateful for our big, organized wards. It was a little trying yesterday to sit with our investigators in a room of a big house, with less than 30 members, mostly children. A little noisy, speakers didn't show up, our singing left a little to be desired... but again the feeling came to me that there will be investigators that can see beyond the current circumstances and see the kingdom of God when they come to worship. We promise incredible blessings to our investigators about attending church, and I'm sure that Heavenly Father won't let them down if they'll make that big step of faith.
Kim Delacruz passed his baptismal interview. He'll be baptized on Saturday at 3pm in Baler. He turns 17 next month, and now we'll have two priests -- meaning that we won't be called on anymore to help bless the sacrament! I had to help pass with a brand new deacon yesterday -- it was a great experience, but I was double his height.
Antonio is struggling a little bit and didn't make it to church, but we've got an appointment with him on Tuesday. Out of all the investigators, there are two complete families that are very promising -- the Dignos and the Amazona family.
Hard to believe that January is half-way over! Sounds like Sarah is busy...and dad... and mom. I loved the cold-looking january pictures, brrr. I think I'll just stay right here.
About the pictures: we bought two coconuts on the side of the road the other day and took them home to chop them open with a machete for the milk and the meat. The great thing: they were 13 pesos each, which is just over 25 cents. Exotic fruit doesn't even sell here -- you can't sell it because everyone already has it.
We visited the Balete tree for an activity after our meetings this morning. It's incredible inside and out.
Food! Coconuts and squid soup. Funny story: Here in the Philippines there is a company that has put a lot of money into promoting their product as something that helps youth grow tall. You'll never guess what it is -- margarine! Go figure... it just might work! At the Balete tree earlier, there was a man sweeping. We talked casually and he started talking about how he'd better get started carrying the leaves he'd been raking to another place to be burned. He added casually that the aswangs (ghosts) gaurding the tree might get mad if he burned them to close to the tree. These kind of trees are supposed to be their hide-outs. It's all part of the culture! It's been rainy of and on, and a little chilly at times. Elder Wirthlin said that our eyes are very good at picking out the unusual, and I still see the incredible sights as ... well, incredible! We walk on a long bridge every day over a crystal clear river, and the mountains are just so close! It's a beautiful place. Love ya'll lots!
Love, Elder Peck
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