Double Digits!

Wahoo - we are into double digits for MIBs return! He has been extremely busy the last few months. Here are a few excerpts from the last 3-4 months:

5/2 "Some things that happened this week: On Monday we had our Zone Activity which went really well. We kept it simple and just played games and ate lots of food. Tuesday we went and ate one of the best burgers I have ever had. After that we had one of the best ice creams I have ever had. Then we went to the doctor and wasted 4 hours there waiting for him to show up and then the actual appointment. I have an infection in my toe and am taking medicine for it.
Wednesday we had to go out to one of the sister missionary's apartment (spiritual story for when I am home and feel like it's time to share it.). Thursday we found out that our investigator, who had a baptismal date set, is actually a witch. : ( We have talked to her lots about the power of God and priesthood and everything (including that if she were to be baptized she can no longer be catholic) by the end of the week she dropped us. (Dropped = not investigating anymore). Friday we had a district c.s.p. (c.s.p. = community service project) where we built some one's house : ) Then afterwards we went on exchanges with the other District Leader. I had a good time with his companion. Later that night, about 11 pm, we felt an earth quake. haha. It was kinda cool; nothing to big but enough that everyone felt it and stuff was moving. Saturday had some cool stuff happen and depending on how things go, I'll tell you about it next week. On Sunday one of the coolest things that happened was right after church - I got to bless three different people for their sicknesses. :D So lots of fun stuff. :D"

5/16 "This week we had a baptism on Tuesday. We baptized a girl that is 14 years old. Hopefully she will continue in the church and her mom's heart will open up to us.
On Friday we had transfers. Elder Pullicar left me to go be with Elder Ridd in Sagay. My new companion was actually my District Leader last transfer. He stepped up to Zone Leader and is now my companion :D His name is Elder Eslava and he is native. Way funny guy, it's going to be a good transfer.
Well, that pretty much sums up this last week, but I want you all to know I love you and pray for you."

5/31 "So what I wanted to say to you is I really, really need your prayers. Working on trying to help people change their lives (missionaries and in-active members as well as our investigators) is overwhelming. I have been working on changing myself a lot too and Satan is working his butt off over here. Only having time to eat once a day, getting sick, running all over the zone, being on exchanges with other missionaries in their areas, rainy season starting up hard and fast, this week... I will have four days looking for apartments, working on strengthening the ward and branch we are over right now before they fall apart, preparing for the big mission split and huge batch of missionaries coming in (32), and still dealing with Satan's daily temptations is really working on my butt. I feel like I have aged 20 years just these last couple of weeks. Ahhhhhhhhhhh"

6/21 "Right now my companion and I have two areas. Next transfer, Friday, they will split. I will be in Alijis and he will be in Tangub... On top of that the mission is splitting July 1. As of 3 hours ago, my stress hit a peak. I now need to make sure everything in my new apartment is ready and that everything we need is in it. I also have no one to share the load with. So this week I'm going to be doing some serious soul searching and have some very long serious prayers. My focus on the work has to be at the top of its game."

6/28 "hah. Last week we had 32 missionaries arrive here to prepare us for the split. That is a huge bat (ours used to be the biggest with 16). I am a zone leader as well as training a new missionary. His name is Elder Ili and he is from Samoa. He is so, so awesome. I'm so excited to be his trainer. We have already had some way good times together. We also have seen some bad (not in the companionship just with in-active members.) The good is - we saw a 180 kilo pig. haha He tells everyone it looked like a small bear. haha. We also shook hands with a monkey and lots of other fun stuff. Sad thing that just happened about 10 minutes ago - he lost his wallet on a tricycle : ("

7/12 My companion and I are awesome. I made a request last night that we stay together another transfer. The work is really pulling together. :D. I'm finally starting to see people change and seeing those people that the Lord is preparing for us. (Once again stories to save for when I get home. haha.) There is so much going on and it's so hard to explain it all. Don't worry, 3 and a half more months and I'll tell you everything. haha. I get reminded like every hour of everyday that I am almost on the plane ride home. haha. It's not really distracting, just frustrating because I feel like I still have a long time, but not long enough. If that makes any sense at all."

Here we see what MIB is really missing about home:
"So apparently Dwayne Wade just picked up two of the best teammates ever; LeBron James and Chris Bosh. I expect the few games I miss here to be recorded and waiting for me to watch when I get home. haha. But I'm actually being serious about that; I really want them to be recorded. They should start the last week of October so there should only be like 1 or 2."

It's a great testimony builder for me to have MIB on a mission. The growth that we feel in his weekly emails is tremendous and we wouldn't change the last two years for anything. I'm so very excited to say, "We are in double digits in the number of days until he returns home!" I will keep you posted as to the date of his arrival and talk in church - just as soon as I know it myself!!