I Ate Squid!!!

That's crazy! Jamie got hit by a car! I hope he is all good! keep me updated on that please!

Our week was OK it would have been better if I didn't get a cold. My nose won't stop running! It is really hard to get to sleep most nights. 

Not bad, but I wouldn't get it again

Our investigator and my companion Elder Basay

So right now in our area we ran out of gas for our stove. So we have been using a charcoal stove for the past 4 weeks now. It is not hard to do or to start up but it does take a long time for the charcoal to be ready and hot enough to cook. So for lunch we don't have time to go through that process because we need to get out and work. So we usually go to the market place that is probably a 5 minute walk from our house. Every weekday they have sudan (rice topping) and rice of course. Well when we were there Elder Basay got this one andit looked pretty good to eat so I got it too. So what I thought was vegetables turned out to be squid! I couldn't return it because I had started eating it, so I finished it. It was good, but I don't think I would get it again.

Yesterday we had an awesome lesson with the Bellos, they are my Filipino family. I reactivated them, I've been helping them with all things involving the church since the day I was transferred into the area. We taught about the Atonement and how we can show our love and respect for the sacrifice and love of Jesus Christ when he died for us so that we might live. The spirit was definitely there. It was a great lesson we actually have Family Home Evening with them later today. It should be fun. I'll take pictures.

Andoy Branch

I really miss going to Cardiff, and spending time with the whole family! We have to go to Cardiff when I get home!

I miss and Love MY family,

Elder Rivera 

Ambot ah (I don't Know, I don't Understand, I don't Get It)

Hey I'm glad you guys enjoyed the swimming. I'm not allowed to swim, even though I'm surrounded by so many rivers and beaches. The closest I get to swimming is walking through the water. We didn't even need to walk through the water there is a bamboo bridge but we were working with our Branch mission leader and he is a little lazy and didn't want to walk to it, so we went into the water. 

As to what Sister Ocampo said (I was talking to Sister Ocampo today.  She is very impressed for how you are dealing with serving in the Philippines, and in particular the remote area.  She says she can only imagine how hard it would be to have to adapt to living without a lot of amenities while being faced with learning a new language and eating unfamiliar food), It is really hard to adjust to the mountains, not just the walking but the way of life also. It is completely different from anything I have ever done. On top of learning a new language, it all adds up, I can feel the weight of my calling for sure. But I have made amazing strides in the language, I have learned a lot, I think I can say that I am fluent but still have much to learn. And the love I have learned for people in general is life changing. I have become a lot stronger in a lot of ways. I love my mission, I regret nothing.

It has been crazy hot this past week, not a single drop of rain has fallen in our area and it is HOT!!! I'm praying for rain this week. Our one investigator needs just her baptismal interview then she can qualify for the ordinance. The problem is she is living on the military base close to our house and we are not allowed to enter the base because they don't like Mormons or something, the usually crap right. We are trying so much to get in contact with her but it is next to impossible. All I know is that she is ready and wants to be baptized and some how some way the Lord will provide a way for her to be baptized, I just don't know what that way is yet but we will find it.

Elder Rivera

A Good Week!!!

Well This week was transfers and I am in Oringao for one more transfer it would seem.

This past week has been a pretty good week. We have been doing our work, finding people to teach. I miss Crawford Lake, and all the turtles there. 

My leather bound Preach my Gospel was finished just last week I sent the picture of the front cover. It looks so cool! On the back it's the Filipino flag. 

Andoy Branch President

A really hilarious thing happened yesterday at Andoy. So we were up at Andoy both me and Elder Basay just waiting for lunch to be ready. We both were outside hanging out with the kids, when people just started climbing on the church structure outside. There was a crap load of Spider-man stuff going on, really, really FUN. Then Elder Basay gets the idea to do some tricks. There is a bench about 1.5 meters away from a wood beam about 2.75 meters from the ground. He says elder can you make the jump. I knew I could, and I was being pushed to do it. So I did it easily. Now Elder Basay he has a little bit of pride and ego so he says he is going to do it too. First attempt he couldn't get a grip and just lands on the ground. I then egg him on and he goes to do it again. His second attempt was SO FUNNY. He makes the jump but there was some saw dust on the beam so he slips off lands flat on his back on a ground full of rocks and dirt. While also hitting his head off the ground too. I tried so hard not to laugh but this one priest from Andoy was in tears laughing so I laughed too. I will never let him forget what happened!

The Andoy Branch

I love you guys! I miss you guys! And I hope you guys stay safe and don't do anything stupid like what Elder Basay did!!!!

Elder Rivera

Chicken intestines, so good!!!

I'm Your Favourite Son!!!

So it seems like your guys summer has started off rather well. Tell both grandparents that I love them!

This week has been a pretty good one. We of course met our new mission president. He is really funny. I think he is going to be really good. We also went to Bacolod for my doctor's appointment. They want me to ask you if it's ok if I start Accutane. It is honestly a ridiculous cycle when they could have easily emailed you for permission. But I'm sure your answer is yes, Laura took it so seeing as I'm your favourite son you would want it for me too. So I will tell them it's ok. 

It has been raining here everyday for a month. Everything is wet, nothing ever dries it's insane! We will probably fall in the river we always cross one day. I hope it happens but at the same time I don't.

I also ate chicken intestine again but this time I chose to. They were really good. and they were spicy too. I would send you the picture but I left my camera at home, and we will probably have been stolen by the time we get home. But if by some chance it's not stolen I will send it to you guys next week.

I love you guys and I hope your guys summer is good even though I'm not there.

Love,

Elder Rivera