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

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