2-7-11

Hi Family & Friends!
I know I'm learning patience everyday I've been out here. Like this week me and elder peterson reached mission standard on all key indicators. That may not sound that cool but thats very legit, something that doesnt happen very often. I mean I don't want to sound like I'm focusing on numbers too much cuz sometimes I feel like it, but they are important and are there for a reason. The best part of getting standard is it means we had people at church.  A lot! 10!  Thats the most since my first week. It's so awesome that really completes your week, cuz every week it seems come like saturday you feel real good about your week, taught lots of good lessons, new investigators, committed a ton of people to church. Then sunday comes and no one shows up, but not this week.  A family we weren't expecting really at all to come came   We taught them after church and as we came out he pointed out a picture of Jesus giving the apostles authority and told me what was happening in it. It was so freakin rad oh man thats the best feeling when you see they're actually getting it, actually learning it. I think thats why I love teaching kids the most cuz theyre so like innocent and not hard headed like all these old catholic people that dont even know what they believe in other than they're catholic.
But ya it was awesome having 10 at church. and better than that we had a baptism! 2 actually, Randolf and Maria Macasling who I've been teaching since I got here. It was fun.  I love those two. That Saturday wasn't really a good day, getting punted all over the place but then after the baptisms I felt so good.  Oh man baptisms are what its all about, that is what gets you really going out here on a mission. I love it. That's number 4 and 5 for my mission (including Nicole of course haha)

 Also on Wed. we had interviews with President Delamar. It was cool he came to our stake center and his wife and the AP's did some workshops with us while we waited for our turn with president. We also ate and brought our own food and someone bought horse ulam and I ate some, it wasn't great but not bad haha.  

On Tues. I did my first service here, but in a different ward, helping the tonsuya elders in the morning with some concrete stuff at a members house. Then I went that day on splits with Elder Aquilena, he's a filipino and way funny.  I like him a lot. It's the second time I've split in that same area so some of the investigators remembered me and were like Elder Stover! haha that's always fun.
 Seen lots of interesting things this week of course. Me and Elder Spiller saw an 8 year old smoking and took it from him and stomped on it. Then the next day me and Peterson saw a 5 year old puffing a way! oh man it was almost funny. oh and yesterday we saw a 10 year old with a cigarette. Word of wisdom is definitely a problem here haha. The 14 year old parambita girl is totally in love with both of us, its gross. She tried to hold my hand the other day and leaned in to kiss Peterson the other day. Its funny, we laughed about it later. All you have to do is have white skin here I swear its crazy! really weird.

 But i love you all.   Hope everything is going ok. Have a great week and I promise I'll keep working hard out here. Nothing else out here to do but work hard that's my mindset. Been called by God to serve Him below. No better calling, nothing more special

Love

Elder Stover

I'm pointing at the ocean near one of the member's homes, yes that is one of their homes in the background

Other then the dirty water he says it is beautiful.