Hey! :)

Thank you for the early birthday present! :) I am going to talk to Sister Carlos about ordering the nativity sets tomorrow in Cauayan. We have our mission Christmas party tomorrow. :) I'm excited.

Another set of thanks... Thank you so much for the packages!!! They are ridiculously incredible! :) I received the first on the 5th, and the second on the 12th. The first had the chamomile tea and bacon and gummies and bacon... the second had the Christmas tree, bacon, etc...

It’s amazing how much my body has adjusted to the Philippines. For example, I had the most amazing breakfast last p-day. I ate a whole package of bacon, eggs, hash browns, Jell-O, along with a cup of chamomile tea. (Yes I also shared with my companion ; )) After that I started to get some rather painful stomach pains and really weird bowel movements which have continued on and off until now as I continue to eat all the wonderful food that you sent me. :) :) :) I love every bite! I'm afraid of what is going to happen to me when I get home. The food there is going to tear me up bad. I'm going to have to get a rice cooker fast...

So changes this week in my mission... I am still in Bagabag, Nueva Vizcaya.

 

Elder Caoayan was transferred. My new companion is Elder Valdez.

 

He is a Filipino from Laguna. He is also practically American. He can speak fluent English and doesn't like eating rice if he can avoid it. He would rather ham or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Fun information about Elder Valdez and I, we were both assigned in Paddad, Alicia in the past. He was also Elder Forrest's trainer while in Paddad. Remember Elder Forrest? I was his follow up trainer, which also means I was the missionary that replaced Elder Valdez when he transferred out of Paddad. After we both transferred out of Paddad, we were made Zone Leaders. Now, we are together in Bagabag.  

So I have exciting news!!! :) We will be having our 6th baptism in Bagabag since I got here in just 2 more weeks! Sister E----- was a special case investigator. I won't get into specifics, but her situation guaranteed that she would not be allowed to be baptized for 5 years... or so the previous elders thought. They just assumed that would be President Carlos' answer... No one ever bothered to ask President Carlos for an interview. Sister E----- is amazing. She is in her 40's and as an investigator has read the entire Book of Mormon, and also started Gospel Principles manual and Teachings of Joseph Smith the Prophet or something like that... Last lesson, she broke down in tears saying how she is afraid of what will happen to her if she cannot be baptized, and how she knows everything we taught her is true... After that I asked Elder Caoayan if anyone had talked to President about her, and he said no. I did so the following Monday, consequently she was interviewed the following Saturday, and will be baptized 2 Saturdays from that. :) She is the most converted and ready investigator I have ever seen. I am so happy for her. :)

Other than that, I don't have much to report with our work. It was really low this week since we were in Cauayan 2 days, then had a Christmas Devotional put on by the mission (all the elders and sisters in Nueva Vizcaya and couple missionaries and Pres. & Sister Carlos) and…Then add a p-day in there and that is 5 days this week down the drain. Elder Valdez and I hit it hard this past couple days and we managed to teach almost as many lessons as Elder Caoayan and I have the past couple weeks. I'm excited for this cycle. It ought to be really good. :)

So what is this new youth program/teaching plan that everyone keeps talking about? Nobody explains it... and we haven't heard anything about it...

I can't wait to talk to you guys! I have to run to Solano right now to prepare for our performance at the Christmas Party. Wish us luck, we'll need it! (The sisters want to make it Twilight themed... lol)

Love,

Elder Lundy