In with the new!

It's been exactly one month today since MIB left the states. I miss him more than ever! This week's e-mail brought quite a delight with lots of stories and several pictures! The pictures really brought to reality that he is out there working as a missionary. It definitely is a year of "new" for MIB. The WELCOME picture was actually sent to us from the Mission President with a letter letting us know that MIB had arrived and where he would be serving. He is pictured here in between his Mission President and his wife.

Following are a few tid-bits from MIB's email with a taste of what he has been doing in Silay City. "We have been teaching a man named Lito and he is awesome. We told him there was a prophet and he was like, "Really? Ok, come teach me on Sunday. I want to hear more." We went and taught him and he is way, way interested. He is a way cool guy."

I wouldn't be surprised if the children in Silay love MIB as much as the children here. After all, MIB is just a big kid himself! The next picture is MIB with a few children of one of the families he and his companion are teaching on the ocean. Notice the beach behind him and the fisherman with their big fishing nets!

On the same day he taught this family by the ocean side, he also experienced all the climates and terrain the area has to offer. "It rained. It was hot. We walked through jungle, farm and a river." Yep, to save time, he and his companion cut across a river! "We walked an hour and a half to get to these referrals that we got. When we finally got there they weren't there so we taught the rest of their family. When we were leaving the house they told us if we walked through the river, that the road was only 15 minutes on the other side. We were already late for all of our other appointments, so we walked through!" I'm wondering if this picture on the bridge was the next time they needed to cross a river or if this was just the old way of thinking before they went through the river. : )

MIB has tried a few new foods, both of which he enjoyed. One is a candy called Chocomuch. He loves it! The other is Sisig. It consists of pig brain, ear and "other random stuff." He says, "It sounds nasty, but it is way tasty!" (Mmmmm. I'm so disappointed I can't get that at the local market.)

Good news - MIB did finally get the Christmas package and a few letters we have sent. I haven't quite figured out the postal timing. REMEMBER - dearelder.com is an easy way to send MIB a letter. You just go online, chose Philippines-Bacolod mission, put in his name, type your letter and click the "send letter" button. It's FREE and it's EASY!!

I'll leave you with one more image.

This last pictures of is the picture of how he does his laundry. I shall never again complain of having to remember to move the clothes from the washer to the dryer - or if I've left them too long in the dryer and the clothes have wrinkled. I'll take my washer and dryer and the simple task of laundry here to his very primitive way - bowls in the shower!

"Thank you!" to all of you who write letters and words of encouragement. We so appreciate the support and prayers to make this opportunity such a great experience!

I know MIB is doing the Lord's work, spreading the light of Christ and teaching His gospel!