Happy Holy Week!

Hey family! Happy Holy week and Easter haha. Here they don't really celebrate Easter, but Holy Week is huge because of all the Catholic churches here. So that was a different experience. Even in church Sunday they didn't say anything about Easter.

So Holy Week started April 1, and like i said, that was an experience. On April 2, (i think its called Good Friday, but here it is Biernes Santo) we didn't work. All the missionaries in my Zone had to stay in their apartments. Because on Biernes Santo, it is the day of Penitencha (spelling?). People walk around with these things with blades, hitting themselves in the back. It is a way they think they repent of their sins. So their backs are all bloody. And there have been problems other years with them trying to stain missionary's shirts and stuff, so this year they just had us stay inside. But it was only here in Bataan, because here in Bataan is where they do that the most. So that was an experience. And no Mom, i didn't see anybody doing Penitencha. We just kinda sat in the house, napped, and stuff like that. We called it our special p-day haha.
(I think this is funny sounds like for some reason he thought I would be worried about this. ;) )

So i hope Conference was good for you all. Over here we don't get to see it till this coming weekend, the 10th and 11th. They have a broadcast in a nearby town. It is so different than back home when we would just roll out of bed and watch it. Here we have to take about a 20 minute jeepney ride to the chapel in a nearby town, and i think a few Stakes and Districs will be there. So that will be an experience too. But i can't wait for conference! i only get 4 of them here in the Philippines. Things are still going great.

Our investigators are still awesome. We have a baptism scheduled for the 17th of April, here in a couple of weeks. It is Sister Ailand Marsan. I don't know if i've told you much about her. She is awesome. She is older, probably 60's or 70's, and she has back and hip problems and has to use a walker. She also had a stroke a while back, and it is hard for her to remember some stuff and to put her thoughts into words. But it is so awesome to see the way the Lord is helping her. I have learned so much from her. The Gutierez family is still doing awesome. Tatay Gutierez, or the father, worked things out at his job so he can come to church! He has now come 2 times! They are so awesome. They want to be baptized, and a few of them are ready, but we are waiting for some of the other members of the family. Right now 5 of them want to be baptized!! But Nanay, or the mom, hasn't wanted to have anything to do with our lessons yet. So we are praying that her heart will be softened.

Well nothing else to exciting this week. I still can't believe how fast time is going by! Only 2 weeks left in this transfer. it is just so fast.

I hope all continues to go well for you all. I want to tell you that i know this church is true, and i know that our family can be together forever. And i am so excited for that knowledge, and for that opportunity. I see these people that have never before heard that or thought that, and here i've known it my whole life and just taken it for granted. Stay strong on the faith, and continue to progress. Never be complacent. I love you all, and God be with you till we meet again. Elder Brough

ps. Happy late b-day to Dad and Heidi, and happy b-day to Lyndi this week