Heyo

Christmas is soon.

LETS TALK ABOUT WHERE I AM!

So yesterday , we were at church and everyone as like Elder White! you're still here! You'll be spending Christmas here! And I was like yeeeeeep. But I was wrong. Hahaha. After church we head home to pick up the cell phone we had forgot before church [good thing we grabbed it] then headed to our first lesson. Right as we're about to say the prayer the cell phone buzzes , so I glance at it ... and ... it wasn't the best news,ha. President Jensen had texted us and he says "Elder White , you're being transferred tomorrow morning. The APs will call you later with the information. All will be well." Hahaha that's all. So my heart sunk as realization set in that I'd be leaving just a few days before Christmas. Anyways after a hectic hectic night of trying to tell a few people I was leaving , then packing all night we woke up this morning , headed to the bus station , and headed down to my area. I'm in Agoo Zone - Damortis. It's pretty close to Baguio and I'll actually be going back up tomorrow for the Christmas Conference in Baguio. I was pretty bummed [kind of a lot] that I got transferred before Christmas , but I'll do what they ask of me, ha. This keyboard is horrible. Anyways I learned last night that my companion was going to be Elder Jacinto! He came up to Baguio with me as his first area , and just got here [his second area] two weeks ago! He still has no idea where like anything is so we're basically opening up an area , hahaha. It'll be a fun experience and there's so much we have to fix. Past missionaries were a bit ... unmotivated. But he's an awesome worker and way way happy and nice. Also it's FLAT! here ... so I'll finally be able to go running in the morning. I'll be getting rid of Baguio Fat I promise.

So that's my big news right now. I love the heat! Haha it's so humid and I've missed it so much. The apartment is okay and the neighborhood feels like a typical Utah neighborhood , haha. Also next to me right now is Elder Tolman. He's in my batch and me and him became trainers and district leaders together , he's way awesome and hes training an american , district leader , and opening an area right now haha. That's a work load. Right now I'm not the district leader anymore and pretty happy about that for now , haha. Being so new to the area and everything here would be hard to juggle that. I'm sorry for this poor english structure ... I can't form sentences really. Anyways. That again , was the big news.

This past week has been pretty awesome. We had so many less actives come to church yesterday and it's such a good feeling. Helping people remember their baptismal covenants and the excitement that came along with that and then seeing them actually return is incredibly fulfilling. It's missionary work with instant gratification and results! Haha. It was really really sad leaving the area , especially our apartment complex. Our manager and her family have been investigators for like two years and are so incredibly sweet to missionaries. They love missionaries but love obedient ones even more. So we got really close to them over the past 5 months and they cried a bit when I left , haha. It's just a really awesome place ... and if money permits me in the future I would love to be able to come back to see them. Other than that , though , Baguio isn't the most personal place in the Philippines. People down in the low lands are more personal [humble] and get close to missionaries. In a way it was really good , it makes leaving easier. But it's really so hard to leave an area. You become so attached with everything , and then to be Emergency Transferred as I was is like ripping you away from all of it. But ... not mine will but thine be done , ha.

That's another thing. I've been digging the Bible lately and really getting a lot out of my personal studies. Elder Holland and Packer have become idols of mine in their speaking style and the particular revelation they receive from the scriptures. They find things that are so blatant but I never would have thought of. So that's what I've been trying and have found some great stuff in Mosiah chapters 21 - 28. So that's been really rewarding as well.

I donno , just ... I'm at a spot in my mission that I'm grateful for everything. I have the maturity [that could be false , ha] to see the blessings in so many things. Even the trials. We had suuuch a hard day last Friday as we worked with a missionary that just got home. He's so so cool and was an assistant in Manila , and we taught 2 lessons the whole day. Walking around trying to find less actives for 8 or 9 hours... and 2 came through. It was so hard going home that night because we were so tired ... but as I prayed later on I just felt so grateful for everything , ha. Even the trials. I've come to feel trials are a compliment. When we have them it's Heavenly Father pretty much saying [in a non-blasphemous way] "this is my kid ... he can handle what I'm giving him" So yeah. I've just been feeling really really happy lately. Thank you for contributing to that with all your letters , emails , packages , and everything!

Hmm... what else do I write here. I think theres still another package coming mom! Don't worry , there's still that! And I'd so much rather spend Christmas reading Jesus the Christ and the other books you sent than opening presents! But thank you thank you , I know you love me haha. I'm actually currently wearing the watch Dad sent for last Christmas. I didn't think I'd wear it till I got home , because it's brilliant , but I decided to wear it yesterday. Also I forgot how much I stick out in Pangasinan , hahaha. I'm actually in La Union I think right now but its all the same. I just mean below Baguio. Up there people aren't too shocked because that's vacation central. But down here... wow. Hahaha.

Hey! Please tell Debbie thank you for the dear elders! I can't believe I've forgotten until now , but I love reading her news. No matter what it is. And Andrea if you want to Dear Elder me more awesome talks [look up speeches of the year - BYU Devotionals ...those are always the best] But Ive been trying to send out as many letters as possible , but it's so hard with so little time. hayaan nyo ako!

So yep. I think that's all my news right now. Nothing really funny has happened this week. It was sad saying goodbye to my son , but he's grown now and must be on his own! I'm really excited about this new area and hopefully we can help the branch and people here. I'm sure our Christmas will be pretty quiet , haha , but I'm going to go but some Christmas dinner stuff ... hopefully a bit more exciting haha.

That's all I've got for now. I'll call you guys next week. Please patch June in if she wants , and it'll be reeeaaallllyyyy weeeiirrrddd talking to you all haha.

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