hello!

Hello family and friends! Things are still good here. This last week was another fast, busy week. Thanks for the info on our new mission president. He sounds really good. That is sweet that JR and them got goats. I always knew JR was a goat herder at heart haha joke. And i had no idea that Mike Rider is in the new Cottonwood Ward! Tell him hi for me next Sunday. At the tailor shops they make almost anything you want. They do shirts, pants, jerseys, shorts, and other stuff. The jersey i had done was 300 pisos. But it just depends. I did a whole set (jersey and shorts) for 400 pisos. You can also talk the price down and barter. It is alot of fun. And don't worry Mom, i didn't get sick or anything from my sunburn. It didn't even really hurt. I've gotten used to the sun here. I think i have gotten pretty dark while i've been here.

Tomorrow is transfer day. Yesterday we took my companion to the bus station to head to the mission home. So he is on his way home. I won't pick up my new companion until tomorrow. So right now a branch missionary is my companion. And there was no surprise, i'm staying here in this area. So next week i'll tell you all about my new companion. As of right now i know absolutely nothing about who my new companion will be.

So we just found out today that we will be calling next Monday. I think the time difference is 15 hours, but i'm not sure. You'll have to check. I'll call from here at 10AM on Monday. So that would be about 7PM Sunday there, if my time difference is right. Either way, i'll plan on calling when it is 10AM Monday here on. I'll text Mom's cell at that time, then you can call me back at that number. I'm excited to call and talk to you all! Crazy to think that this is my last phone call home. And of course Mom, you can invite Kirsten over.

This last week here was alright. It was pretty busy. This last week its turned hot again. I'm guessing we're finally in the mid 90 and 100 degree range again instead of just 80-90 degrees. Nice and warm! But by this time i'm pretty used to it. Yesterday was the Fiesta here in our area. Every little town here in the Philippines has a Fiesta once a year. They party, have parades, dance contests, lots of little bargain shop things to buy from, and stuff like that. Everybody also prepares lots of food. They started getting ready for it last Monday, and all week were getting ready with little shops setting up and stuff and decorating with streamers and banners. At night they would also have events like dancing, movie showings, different stuff like that. Then yesterday was the actual fiesta. For us, it meant lots of eating haha. Because everybody prepares lots of food and then invites you over to eat. But it kinda put a cramp in our eating when we had to take my companion to the bus station in Balanga yesterday hehe. With the fiesta it also meant lots of drunk people everywhere. That part is kinda sad to see.

Yesterday was also a Special Area Conference in the Philippines. For church we went to the District Center and had a broadcast. It originated from Manila, with the Area Presidency and others there. And then Sister Julie B. Beck (the General Relief Society President), Elder Quentin L. Cook, and President Boyd K. Packer also talked via satellite from Church Headquarters. It was really good. It was a special Area Conference because here we are celebrating 50 years since the Philippines was opened for missionary work. Saturday night there was also a cultural event with dancing and stuff. Then throughout the next few weeks there are more events, cultural events and conferences coming up. It is a fun time here. So our Fast Sunday is next Sunday.


Well our work here is still going good. Our investigators are progressing little by little. Sometimes they are coming to obstacles and trials, so i once again ask for your prayers for them. We could deffinetly use them. As missionaries we do have to teach sometimes. Nearly every week we teach the Gospel Principle class to investigators and recent converts. Sometimes we are asked to teach in Priesthood too. And sometimes we have to talk in church. Like a couple of weeks ago i had to talk in church when the main speaker didn't show up. So its always fun hehe. You always got to be ready. Lots of times its on the spot. In our branch here we have about 7 or 8 real active priesthood holders. Thats counting the 3 in the Branch Presidency. 3 of those are also Single Adults, in their mid to early 20's. Of course more than that come to Sacrament Meeting, but then go home. We have anywhere from 4 to 10 priesthood holders that stay for the whole block schedule. So that is one unique challenge here. The Branch Presidency just barely got completed while i've been here, by the Elder's Quorum President doesn't have any counselors. Neither does the Young Men's President. Our Branch Mission Leader is also only 24, and is starting to prepare for a mission. He is the one who is my companion right now. So we have lots of fun activities and stuff to build unity and just have fun. That is just how the Filipinos are, too. They are really fun.

Well, this email is pretty long. I'll leave it at this before i put you all to sleep. I know this church is true. Keep reading the Book of Mormon! :) I love you all, and God be with you til we meet again. Talk to you next Monday!



Elder Brough
P.S. Here are a few pics of us from this last week. Hope you like them!