10-3-11

Heyyoo.

Well this week was really long and really fast. It doesn’t seem weird to say that because that's about every week on the mission, especially in the office.

On Monday night we had a sweet FHE at one of our investigators along with that senior couple, the Bells. They taught a little lesson (in English) about general conference and all the names of the apostles. I thought it was cool and we had a really good turn out. I had a ton of fun and it was an awesome way to go out haha. Then the next day wasn't too much except for a few sisters going home who had their exit day. One is Sister Bonafe, who is my nanay (mom) in the mission (oldest sister in your district or zone). She is actually extending til the 13^th and is so awesome. She’s one of the hardest working missionaries I’ve ever met, and baptizes like crazy. She's way magaling. So on Wednesday I actually got to go to what they call Exit Day where you go to the American War Cemetary and Memorial, from World War 2. It’s beautiful over there, reminds me of the cemetary at Arlington in Washington DC. So that was fun and basically the whole Exit Day is pretty fun, especially because that’s the day we get to do a session in the temple as well.

Then transfers on Thursday, a lot less people got transferred, which was nice, but it’s always hectic . Just from that day I have almost 100 baptismal records to put in the system this week. Hopefully I can find time haha. We got 12 new missionaries, all foreigners that day too, some of them are really pretty cool. We drove a few out to their areas and I was surprised how good some of them are at Tagalog, like saying stuff I didn’t learn till like my 3rd or 4th transfer haha. I was a rough night tho because we drove one companionship out to the farthest area (about 2 hours one way, which is pretty close haha) and didn’t get back till around 11. Then at 3 in the morning drove the 3 missionaries going out to Mindoro to the airport. So ya, that Friday is always rough. President lets us sleep in an extra hour that day but then that just sets you back with all you have to do, add in that 2 hour comp study (believe me the assistants make sure we do it, always on my back about it) and we had no time in the office. That night we found some time to take the new elders in Quezon City 2nd around the area a bit and show them a few ward missionaries and recent converts. They’re going to do good in that area so that'll be way good

but we have our new ward now, the Cubao ward. They’re actually way awesome. On Saturday night they had a baptism of this girl, Mariecar a YSA (young single adult). The ward is way supportive, and really young. When we went on Sunday I almost though it was a YSA ward or maybe a college ward haha. That’s also because most of the area is boarding type houses so a lot of people are going to school and stuff, but they’re awesome. The bishop is like 30 and totally looks like a Filipino Tom Cruise, no jokes. When I first saw him I thought he was just another YSA. The assistants have been working hard tho to find some potential in that ward with part member families and finding former investigators. I’m pretty pumped about that and Sunday was really a pretty good day, even with fasting and all. I mean it’s probably easier to fast when you drive around all day but still haha. We taught this one family yesterday that was a former investigator, and it went so well. It was a lady about 30, her husband who's 25, the lady's daughter who is around 14 and their friend in his 20s. They all listened so well and asked a ton of questions, too many to answer all at once haha. But they just sincerely listened, not just acted like it because we're two white guys. I worked with Elder Haws and it was fun, poor Elder Quinton is having a hard time. He's really not very good at Tagalog, like nobody is just starting their 2nd transfer, but he makes mistakes that I corrected when I was in the MTC. I feel bad in a way because a lot of the stuff they do in the MTC is way different from when I was there, especially in the language and it didn’t seem to help him much. Elder Agner (the other assistant) who is Filipino, is determined to speak Tagalog to him and he struggles to understand. He gets kind of overwhelmed and I’m trying to find the right balance of correcting him and giving him encouragement, but when everyone introduces you right away as the guy who sucks at Tagalog, I’m sure that can bring you down. It’s funny tho, I think I forgot how hard it was those first few months, not understanding but trying so hard. The only thing that gets me with him is that sometimes he just doesn’t seem to try very hard. I’m just trying to motivate him and convince him that he'll get there if he just tries and has some faith.

Anyways I am really excited for conference this coming weekend. It happens to fall on our P-day but that’s ok, you got to do what you got to do haha. I’m just ready to get some good nourishing, with having to do my study everyday I may get sick of all that spiritual nourishing and no time for the other stuff, but I’ll take it for this weekend. You’ve got to be careful what you wish for right? I wanted to be able to find time to get my study in the past few transfers and now it’s being forced on me haha.

I love this work, now I’m just learning to love every part of it. I love you guys too and hope all is well. I hope everyone took good notes too in conference, I need to!

Love, Elder Stover