Just Pictures!!!

The front of our house, not as nice as it looks!!!

This is what it looks like when we come out of our house

Andoy Group on top of the mountains, our furthest travel in the area, I love the pulpit,
these people are so humble and loving I love them lots!!!

Andoy Group lunch after church services

Lizards Falling from the Ceiling!!!

Happy Fathers day!!!! I love you dad!! It's too bad we can't skype on fathers day too.

This past week was pretty good. We did a lot of work. There was one day when we were walking we had to cut across this river. Usually it's no problem, there are usually several stepping stones. But since it's been raining everyday for 3 weeks there was little to no stepping stones. We managed to get the video of us crossing this river. Unfortunately neither of us fell in the water. It would have made a funnier story. 

A funny story that happened to my companion Elder Basay was when we were sitting on our beds, just talking before going to bed, a lizard fell from the ceiling and landed next to him. He jump because he is a little afraid of lizards. But the lizard then jumped at him and tried to bite him. He hit it with the pillow and it ran away. It was a pretty good moment.

As I've been on my mission and have been studying preach my gospel and the scriptures I've found the Keys to Missionary Service:

1. Love for those you teach and the Lord
2. Faith
3. Humility
4. And Work

Everyday I try and apply these in my work. Some days it's easier to do than the others. Or some days it's just hard in general. But When I really honestly try to apply these I feel a stronger spirit and at the end of the day I feel like I accomplished the work for the day. It's a great feeling.

As for the package. Some Reese's peanut butter products would be awesome. Just really some candy and stuff. Anything you think I would like. I'm sure the package will be awesome no matter what is inside.

I Love and miss you guys. I hope the rest of the school year goes by smooth with nothing crazy. 

Elder Rivera 

Pretty Good

Hey it's been a pretty good week. I'm glad to hear that the school year is wrapping up nicely! I do really miss you all so much not that I want to come home, at least not yet anyways.

The best part of my week for sure would have to be the one lesson we taught to Melanie. She has been pretty awesome as we have been going through the lessons, she reads the Book of Mormon, comes to church frequently, everything is Pretty awesome. But we taught her the word of wisdom, this is when we found out that she drinks coffee. I got so sad as soon as I heard that. We were going into dropping the habit and how it might be hard but the Lord can help when she said "it wouldn't be that hard". She is what you call a "Golden Investigator". It is easy to tell that she has been prepared by the lord. Her house is also slightly high up in a hill, well actually a mountain. But all the hard work it takes to get up to her house is always worth it.

I love you guys! Sorry this email isn't that long my companion really wants to go eat.

Also I can't find a SD card reader anywhere. But we are going to Bacolod soon so I will look there!

Elder Rivera

Worth the Risk!!!

Hey Everyone! My new companion is Elder Basay! He was actually companions with my companion from the MTC. Pretty cool stuff!

Unfortunately our baptisms didn't go through again but we are going to work really hard with them this week and really do everything we can to help them to get baptized this Saturday. 

This week has been ok. Not my favourite. Yesterday was pretty scary. When we were on our way home from the Andoy group, on the Habal-Habal; of course probably 30 minutes after the rain stopped, we fell. It wasn't too bad. My knee is killing me right now though. I don't want you guys to worry or anything because nothing too bad happened. And the danger is well worth the risk especially because of those people up there in Andoy.

I still haven't bought card reader yet but when I do I will send you so many pictures!

Love Elder Rivera

To Get to Bacolod is Easy!!!

Our baptisms actually had to be pushed to this week. Some of them are not ready others haven't asked for permission from their parents. So this month we should have 4 or 5 baptisms hopefully. 

My face feels like this sometimes, so i hope it works! 

To get to Bacolod is easy it's just really expensive and is a really long ride. We have to take a Jeepney to Kabankalan then get on a Ceres (bus) that will take us all the way to Bacolod. We did it all and the dermatologist gave me a bunch of drugs and lotions and stuff and then I have another appointment in like 6 weeks. 

Quebec is always a fun trip, everyone loves just For Laughs Gags here like they watch it talk about it and they laugh so hard at it. I've seen so many episodes and clips at members houses and stuff. It makes me miss home a lot.

I heard about Britton's mission call, Calgary, it's cool! I was hoping for Bacolod mission but I guess you get called to where the Lord needs you.

This week was ok. Sad now that Elder Cagampang is gone. I'm actually Junior companion again which is awesome but my new companion is now in his last transfer so we will only be together for one transfer. But that also means that our District Leader goes home too, so there will be a calling to fill. To be honest I don't know who it is going to be but we have narrowed it down to me or Elder Dio so we will find out in 6 weeks. 

How is everything back home? I heard about Elder L. Tom Perry. It's really sad. He was my favourite even though you're not suppose to pick favourites.

I miss you guys alot and of course I love you. Sometimes I just want to go home but I know I can't because I have too much work to do. I love being a missionary I love the people, I love the gospel, and I love doing the Lord's work, it brings a joy like nothing else!

Sorry there are no real pictures my companion has the card reader and he got transferred so ya, I'll buy a new one!

I love you all so much!

Love,

Elder Rivera