Dearest Family,
It's
Hot. I'm not really sure what the temperature is but it's been really
hot this week. Sometimes it's hard to sleep which makes for some good
star gazing at 2 am
until you get eaten by mosquitoes and then still can't sleep because you
have a bunch of mosquito bites. On the bright side, I washed my sheets
last week and so they don't stink anymore but actually smell really good
(Don't ask how long it's been since I washed them last). Our water is
pumped into a tour and so when the sun hits it, the water heats up and
in the very moment a cold shower is the only thing you desire, you get a
hot one instead. I was grateful though because it's been a long time
since I've had a hot shower. I love this place though. My kabahays
(roommates) are amazing, Elder F. is getting the hang of things and
the L's are like family. Brother L. has taught me so much. He
is one of the smartest men I know. I am happy. I am content with where I
am, and confident in where I am going. I read a talk last week about
the being the "Fourth Missionary." It's by Lawrence E Corbridge. It
talks about Four types of missionaries. The Fourth is the one that submits
all. Consecrates all. In the end, the way of the Fourth missionary is
the easiest. The fourth missionary truly lets the Lord mold them. This
has been my goal this past week. To submit completely. Be Obedient and
work hard and efficient, earnestly striving to improve and then the Lord
does the rest. The Language is improving and I feel the Lord working
through me more and more as I improve in all aspects. This is a photo with Elder Banks, General Authority Emeritus, who went over to Leyte and Samar after the Typhoon Haiyan (Yolonda.) He spent three months touring the mission, inspecting missionary apartments and approving living conditions for the elders and sisters to return. He saw every elder and sister to their new apartments as they returned to the Tacloban Mission. He's 82 years old and spent three months of 14 hour days, six days and over 12,000 miles from one end of the mission to the next. He spent two hours with families of missionaries from the Tacloban Mission in a special fireside this evening (4/27/2014), sharing his experiences and showing pictures from his travels. Although he is "Emeritus" Status, he's still a special witness of Jesus Christ and share a powerful testimony of the Savior's love for each and everyone of us. -Gordon Lowe