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!

Christmas and the end of 2008

It was a Merry Christmas at our home - as I hope it was for you. We enjoyed visiting with friends and family. It was a bit non-traditional, yet merry. It was our first year without the whole family. MIB wasn't here. He left the states on the 23rd and arrived in Bacolod late Christmas day. He left inches of snow on the ground here and welcomed the 90 degree weather there. He says he loves it there. He spoke of fireworks going off all the time. From what I understand, fireworks are how they celebrate in the Philippines from Christmas to New Years.

I've included a few quotes from MIBs latest email, as well as a picture of him with his MTC companion, Elder Booth:

"The little kids call us Joe and its funny, but we have started teaching them to call us Elder."

(I'm hoping that we may be getting some more language lessons on the blog soon. It seems as though MIB will be having some learn-as-you-go language lessons himself.)

"OH YEAH, BY THE WAY, we don't speak Tagalog here. Yeah, we speak Ilonggo. Yep. Oh well, I guess I'll be learning languages for the next two years."

(No matter how far from our basketball net MIB may get, his love for the game always shines through!)

"Basketball is huge here. Everyone is always playing it and my new companion, Elder Sibbet loves basketball too. Once again I got a companion that is a lot like me."

MIB has even received the nick-name of Elder Dewayne Wade. I'm sure he is eating that one up!

It's great to hear him so excited an upbeat. I hope that you will continue to write him. DearElder is still free. Just choose Philippines, Bacolod mission. The letters aren't printed as frequently, just on Thursdays for the pouch mail. But there is no excuse to not be able to drop him a few sentences, or more. I know the mail really helps to keep his spirits up. Everyone has been wonderful!! If you want to send a package or mail him through the postal service, just email me for his address.

Princess has been faithfully getting up for her basketball practices and team events. She is even doing her best to put on 10 pounds that her coach told her to gain. She isn't a junk food junky, so we've stocked up on protein bars and whatever else sounds good to her. "Needing to gain weight" is truly a trial I will never have the misfortune of enduring. : )

DK is living up the late nights and not-so-early mornings. He is loving the snow and all the "fair game" goodies that fill our home this time of year. He always seems to be engaged with his friends either here or there. There is never a moment for sitting still - it's go, go, go.

Naws misses MIB like crazy. He is always wanting to set a spot at the table and save food for him for when he comes home. Somehow, dinner or a cookie waiting two years for MIB doesn't sound too appetizing. Two years is a time frame that isn't fathomable for a 4 year old. Naws LOVES school. He is a bit frustrated that even though it is Tuesday today, he doesn't get to go to school today. In his opinion this vacation thing is for the birds. Although, I know he has loved having his older brother and sister home from school.

Hubby and I are enjoying the time with the kids. We'd love to be experiencing MIBs 90 degree weather. For now, we'll enjoying hear about it. We've loved and learned so much in 2008. We've enjoyed having you a part of it. I hope you continue to read and comment in 2009!!