Hey

Good morning!

I'll be honest , I'm quite impressed with the amount of emails I received today. SHOUT OUT! Junie - A++ , many an email a coming from her. The rest of ya!! I still love you , haha.

No , I'll be honest , I'm constantly distractd with this little mormon movies on Lds.org andmormon.org and stuff .. it's difficult to really type out a solid email haha. This is the one I like a lot that I'm watching ... Junie , you may like it. It's cool animation. I'm sure you know the exact term for the type of animation , haha.

youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dNYpXZIN_c&feature=player_embedded

It hasn't rained too much this week , so that's quite joyous. haha. No , but we taught a lot of lesons ... what usually happens is we'll get punted [they will hide or purposefully not be there or say come back another time instead of just saying they're not interested] haha , but although we got punted so so many times we were still able to knock out like 28 lessons. Things are started to come through , we're really seeing the Lord's hand in all that's taking place. We're finding tons , teaching tons of new people , dropping those that are not interested , but still working with some great potentials. One thing ..

this is touching http://lds.org/pages/mormon-messages-gallery?lang=eng#opportunities-to-do-good

about Baguio is that eventually you'll run into someone who actually knows their religion. So , from time to time , we'll have very refreshing conversations and discussions of faith. I'll actually have instances where I'm able to use the Bible and they'll honestly be open to the connection it makes to the Book of Mormon. Honestly , the biggest thing that I love about everything I teach is that it just makes sense. So so so many people here leave the catholic church [where they all come from] and venture off to Born Again , Church of Christ , Iglesia ni Cristo , or Jehovah's Witness. But almost every one eventually comes back to the Catholic Church. For two reasons. 1] It demanded too much of them and 2] there was absolutely zero conversion. That's why people leave the church , there is no conversion. But what happens in these other churches is that it's just their interpretation of Bible scriptures. One person interprets it one way , another a different ... and they in turn build two churches. That's the entire Philippines. But what I am saying is that what I love the most about our church is that it Just. Makes. Sense.
everything about it ... just makes sense. Nothing is based on interpretation lang , but on things that make perfect sense ... all backed by a book. A book in which you ask God , you will know if it's true or not. I can understand perfectly how some people don't feel the spirit of it's truthfulness , or that don't want to join. I understand that , now. Not everyone is meant to join the church , not everyone will accept it in this or the next life time. There are just some that won't. But for the honest seeker , it's a wonderful thing.

This past week has been fun , but nothing too miraculous has really taken place. We've had some good lessons , and as I was saying before , teaching some people that really turn into spiritual and educational lessons. I don't feel myself trying to simplify the teachings , but really letting their delve in it's [ I'm lacking a word here to describe what I'm thinking ] ... like many weaves ... anyways. It's hard to describe. But it's not deep , it's not complicated , but intricate [IYAN!] So we've had a bunch of fun lessons like that. On Tuesday after district meeting I got to go on splits with a Phil/Am that doesn't speak Tagalog hardly at all. He's a way good guy , though , and his father ... steady yourself for this ... cured himself of cancer. Apparently he researched this machine that uses electricity that you attach at the wrist , to kind of zap his body twice a day for a month or two. It apparently kills cancer and AIDS. Skeptical as we all may be , the doctors gave him a less than 10% chance of recovering , and after two months the signs of cancer were gone. And 7 years later nothing has returned. I was a bit dumbfounded , but I'm in no position to argue. He said the guys name was Bob something that created it. Anyways , that was a fun split.
When we met back up with our companions we went to a restaraunt that is supposed to be an old american ... something ... type diner. Hahaha. They've got every era ... Elvis , Michael Jackson , Marvel Comics , James Dean , .. and many more. Like pictures all over the wall and stuff. Anyways for 245 Pesos [that's a ton of money for us ... about 5 dollars american] there was an all you can eat pizza and pasta option. Me and Elder Esling were tricked into it , haha. The pasta literally was horrible Almost torture swallowing it ... but the pizza was way good. By their regular prices we both ate like 500pesos + each. I think the restaraunt might take down that option if we keep going back. They kept trying to push the pasta on us , because it's so much cheaper for them ... but it was horrible.

Anyways , let me give you a few more details here.

A "Regular" Day:
6: wake up , run
8: personal study
9: companion study
11: language study
12: lunch
1 or 2: start to work
930: plan for tomorrow
1015: journal
1030: pass out

... dinner isn't always an option ... haha.

Anyways .
Yesterday was Fast and Testimony Meeting at church.
And ... every speaker spoke about missionary work , haha. It started with an old man , which was really just about the book of mormon .. but then an RM talking about his mission , next RM about his mission , next RM about his mission , next RM about her mission , next RM about his mission , my companion .. about his mission , ... and then , yes. Me. For the very first time in my entire life. I bore my testimony during fast and testimony meeting in sacrament. It was a different experience , haha. I really am not nervous to give a talk , or talk to people , ... but that one shook me. It's funny how it was in Tagalog , although everyone else spoke in english , ... bearing testimony is just easier in Tagalog. But in lessons if I really want to get my point across I've got a stern american english voice. It's a secret weapon! Haha. No , but it really was a cool experience.

Anyways , being a district leader is just like being a missionary ... because you are a mission , haha. You just have a couple other responsibilities. I teach workshops during district meeting , interview the other missionaries weekly , receive and talk to them about how they're doing and then am kind of a mediator to the zone leaders. It's a fun thing and I love my district. Though there is a ... hard headed texan ... who has been in the mission 20 months and doesn't yet speak Tagalog. I don't think he wants to learn.

Okay , well I think that's all I got for this week.
Junie , no letters yet but keep the emails coming!!

I also want: [selfish] mormon movies , haha. About missionary work. So like , we've got the best two years here. But if you can track down The RM or The Other Side of Heaven , or movies like those ... those are allowed here.

Okay , love you all! Stay safe , eat you veggies!
-Elder White-