hello!!!

Hello family and friends! Life is still really good for us here. Sometimes hot, sometimes rainy, and sometimes both hehe. The work is going good, still progressing. To answer a few questions; yes, they have hamburgers and hotdogs here. It isn't like ours there. Here they are smaller. The hamburgers are really small, like the dollar menu size. It takes a few of them to fill me up hehe. And usually they only eat them as merienda, or a snack. But they also have burgers at McDo and Jollibee (a Filipino version of fastfood). And i do know a few people from the San Pablo Mission. My last companion is from there. And i know a couple people that are there right now. Here you get to know a few people from other missions. And i'm glad Mom that you stopped freaking out about the no toilet paper and the dog meat and stuff. It really isn't that bad ;).

That is cool that they are starting to build the new church house there. Is that where the Cottonwood Ward will be going?

This last week was another week of working hard here in Cabcaben. And it is awesome because we have a baptism this coming Saturday! It is the baptism of Brother Allan Elcano. His wife is a member, they got married right before we started teaching him. In fact we waited for them to get married before we started teaching him. He is really good. He has given up smoking and drinking to prepare for baptism. It is really exciting to have a baptism after 6 months here.

Yesterday was also really exciting because we had 6 investigators at church. Only 2 of them stayed for the full 3 hours, but at least we got them there hehe. Next time. We also had a lot of members yesterday at church, 107. We have rarely hit 100 while i've been here, usually around 80 or so. So that was really exciting also. A few of our less-active members came to church again. We have plans with the Branch President to give them callings to help keep them from falling away again. It is awesome because they have been asking for responsibilities. Its like the story of one of the members we've reactivated. She is probably about Mom's age, but she is way shy and gets really scared in front of people. About a months ago they had her say the prayer in Sacrament, and she completely stalled and didn't know what to say. I was thinking "Oh no, see's gonna stop coming again because of that." But then later that week we visited her and she started telling us how embarasing it was. But then she said how she wants to keep at it, so that it won't happen again and so her kids won't be ashamed of her. Then yesterday at church this same Sister came to me and asked if she could talk at the baptism on Saturday so that she can practice talking. It took me by surprise. But i immediately told her yes. We all need those chances to help strengthen us and build our faith. We progressing by serving in callings, and even just by saying a prayer or giving a talk. That is a very important thing for less-active members. Give them attention at church. We can't think, "Oh, they're just coming back. It will scare them to answer in class, or give a prayer." It is the complete opposite. They NEED that attention. So i guess i would just encourage you to do that.

I've been thinking lately about how much time me and my companions have spent on reactivation here in this area. It is so greatly needed. Everybody needs help at some time or another. We all stray from the path at some time or another. But we can always come back. That is what the Atonement promises us. Just like Christ said, "Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give thee rest." We can always return to Him and return to the path. It is just easier if there are some people to love us and help us. And nobody is ever a lost cause. God loves everybody, no matter how bad of stuff they've done.

We are also nearing transfer day here in a week. Next Monday i'll know if i am transferring. I really don't know what is going to happen. I've been here for 6 months now, and thats how long i've been in all my areas. But i feel like i could stay here, and like i have more to do here. So we will see next week. Thank you all for all of your help and love and support to me. I love you all tons, and God be with you till we meet again.

Elder Brough