2 January 2013

Hey Mum and Whanau,

Guess what?  I will be staying another transfer in Tandang Sora and will hit my 8 month mark for serving in the same area for this length of time.  Amazing!  My companion will also be staying with me so we're going to have a great start to the New Year. 

This morning I set some goals for me and my companionship.  Goals that will better help the area, the Bishop and my companion.  It's going to be sweet and I've calculated that I have approximately four months and twenty days left in the field and I have much to do.  I know it's going to pass by so, so quickly but  I kind've don't want it to, but I know that their is life after the mission.

I cannot believe that Jenna, Jared, Charlton and possibly Fletcher will be coming back in the next week.  Please ask them to email me and send some words of advice.  I need some help from the experienced missionaries as I finish off the rest of my mission.  I love the scripture found in Alma 17:2-3 where it talks about Alma reuniting with the sons of Mosiah and how he rejoiced exceedingly to see his bretheren and what added more to his joy was that they were still his bretheren in the LORD.  That is what I am looking forward to in May - to be reunited with my, "brethren and sister in the LORD."  Hehe

Christmas was fun and New Year's was a blast - literally!  We had a curfew on New Year's Eve where we had to be home by 6:00 p.m.  We went out and worked all day then we were home by 6:00 p.m.  We stood out the front of our house to watch all the firework displays.  It was so loud and when 11:30 p.m. came around you could barely hear the person standing next to you due to all the noise.  It was awesome.  I took some good pictures of the fireworks and it was so much fun to watch.  This will be my last New Year in the Philippines.

The work has been a little slow this week due to the holiday season but next week it's game on.   We have  some good plans in place knowing that we are staying put in Tandang Sora and we want to go out and find new investigators and put our heads down and get straight back to work.  I'm also looking forward to the ongoing training of my companion.  It will be good to  help him improve on his Tagalog. 

Well family, there isn't much else to share because not much has really happened this week.  Oi, the old lady I blessed passed away on December 21st but the family is doing great.  They are moving forward and we continue to teach them and hopefully, we will baptize Michael by the end of February.  He is a trike driver so he has a really busy schedule.  The work will go forward this transfer and I can't wait to see the results. 

I love you all so much and I figured that if I miss anything from the Philippines when I get home, I'll just go and visit the Ramirez family.  Hehe.  

Thanks again for everything and please give Geena a big hug from her big, but younger brother.  Give Jared, Charlton and Fletch a hug too.  Take care and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Elder Chadderton