HELLO

Wow... sorry for the lateness today. Couldn't be helped.

First off , and very importantly , I got a lot of letters today! Hahaha. My zone was there when I got them and was like .. uhh.. is that seriously all for you. JUNE! Thank youuu. Finally , haha , but I got a ton of letters from her , Andrea , I saw one from Caitlin , and Sister Sturges! So thank you thank you. Momma - please ask Sister Edwards to ask Travis if he got my letter. Or better yet email him yourself and he'll respond thru his momma!

Okay , I'll describe my day and work back a little.

We had another zone activity today , so that's why I'm so late. We usually do these once a transfer for zone unity and for everyone to have a good time feeling like regular guys again , ha. So we went to a zoo! ahaha. It's not at all what zoo's are like back home... I saw deer... a turtle... birds... a snake... a crocodile... something called a bearcat (Awesome)... and an OSTRICH! The ostrich was sweet. I'm so sosososososososo sorry that I don't have my cord today. We had to book it out of the apartment today and scramble to grab a hundred things before we left , and I forgot the cord. Needless to say... when I do finally email the pictures there will be a lot. Including an epic one of me and an ostrich. We then took a bit of a hike , took some pictures , then went down to some picnic spot and had lunch. One of my zone leaders' uncles lives in Rosales , here , so he paid for everything (kind of rich, daw) so it was way nice. Took more pictures then headed back to Rosales. Oh , before then we played basketball and stuff. Then got back to the Zone Leaders' apartment and showered and booked it here to the SM. We've only got like 2 hours left of Pday and I know we're going to be late getting back to the area... gah bad.

FAST SIDE NOTE THAT'S IMPORTANT!
1. I'm turning into dad. It's bad. Here's how I know:
- I'm incredibly (if you can actually believe it) anal (sp?) about time-management. My companion is pretty dang slow and it annoys me so fast , ha. I need to divine help when that happens.
- Obedience , as you know , is a big deal to me here
- For some reason I've never , really in my life , been able to trust anyone to do anything the way I want it done. If I want something done out here , I really just do it myself.
- I've stopped using my wallet , ha. I know keep my cards and cash and stuff separate.

Okay , that's all actually.

It did make me laugh though when I realized all the things I've adapted from dad. Oh yeah , Mr. Culp wrote me too! I just rememberd that. I haven't had a moment to read the letters yet , but I will later on. That was so nice of him and I'm excited to read it.

Okay so this week has been good. I'm always positive now that I'll be transferred next week , but as always it's not up to me. We've had some pretty basic lessons this week and some good ones too. This family , Rabilas , is amazing. They don't rush anything , but steadily they're so receptive and the lessons are just some of the most spiritually powerful experiences one can ever pray for. Almost every lesson or every other lesson the mom starts to tear up because she can feel the message and it's just amazing. The mom is Gladys and the two kids are Kisses (the older daughter away from home is Hersey's) and Paulu , the boy. She has a husband , but their marraige is legally anulled. Becaue divorce is illegal in this country they have to get it anulled. It's actually so hard to make that happen , so it's amazing to find someone who has. But they came to church on sunday (the mom and son) along with 4 other investigators , so it was just a great great day. It's so discouraging when you labor and stress and worry and pray and pray and pray for all of your investigators and less-actives during the week and then they decide not to come on Sunday. But they came , and it was awesome. Also... the branch president was the last to speak during sacrament meeting , and I'm not sure how he knew.. but he gave THE most perfect talk for their family. The split of the mom and dad has been so hard on the whole family , and the mom still tries to keep the dad apart of their lives because she understands the importance of it. And President Dan spoke about family and how we need to talk with our kids frequently and all this stuff and she was taking notes like crazy during it and I think she started tearing up. Then the relief society just took over and she felt so at home. It made me think of our ward's back home... I don't think I've ever seen a convert? Have you guys ever fellowshipped? Ahaha... Weird.

Anyways I'll find out on the 27th if I'm being transferred and the 29th is transfer day. I've loved San Quintin , but I'm definitely read for a new experience. New zone , new things. I would also love to go back to Pangasinan (kind of like a state? or general area where pangalatok is spoken). Right now I'm in Ilocano area , and the people (maybe this is sterotypical and generalizing) but they're kind of more hard-headed and richer here. By richer I do not mean rich , but I do mean 70% their houses are about made of concrete and they can afford chicken. Of course not every day. That would bankrupt them. Then again we have investigators that make appaulingly (wow..sp?) low income. It's saddening , but it's life. They still find the bright side of each day and live happily. I really do love these people. I can't imagine having been assigned anywhere else. I find the times where I really appreciate where I am is during bus rides early in the morning when the sun is rising. Such an... awesome time of day. I love bus rides , ha. This is such a beautiful country and I'm so proud to speak their language walk their streets and teach their humble.

I think that's all for this week , sorry it's just a little but we're so short on time. Love you all and talk to you next week!!

[P.S... is it okay if I take out so money for a lot of necessities for I transfer? Like shoes with holes.. ha.. facewash , deo , contact solution , and christmas gifts for you guys? I should probly send that package by september and this will be my last transfer meeting before then (they sell very cool stuff at transfer meeting)

HOPE ITS OKAY! ]