September 3, 2012 and fun pictures!

Kumusta, So I knew today was too good to be true, we had RUNNING WATER in the morning. Usually we have to wait until like 9 or so to get water. But today we had water and a lot of pressure... but I knew it was too good to be true because now we don't have electricity! It happens on occasion here but hopefully we will have it back on tonight! Usually nights are pretty darn hot but it's not too bad with a fan on you... tonight may be my first no electricity night... Sweat and Hot will be the only two words to describe what it will be like. But I hope it will be back by the time I get home from emailing- we'll see. Also as far as the "Earth Quake" goes, I never felt it. It's probably because I constantly rock. But our furthest investigator said there was one she had felt... so there was one but I didn't feel it. I think some other Elders in the Mission did though. But yeah, I didn't feel it. So two things: 1 Nash's arm is NASTY 2 Markee's having a BABY? Holy smokes I'm going to have a bunch of nippers when I get home that I've never met. Also YES Markee I give you permission to name your child after me so just quit asking! haha. But congrats! What else is cool here? So I took a picture of my favorite food here. It's called Sinigang... but me and Elder Vogelsberg make Elder Vogelsberg's special recipe it and we call it Vogelsberg Davinigang! It's delicious. I'll attach pictures of this dish.YUMMY My goodness it is good. It may not look good but it is, as the our name suggests, Divine! So since you can't drink the water here because it will kill you in the face- a lot of missionaries drink a lot of soda. But since I don't want to come home chubby I just drink water. But I made a rule where if we get a baptismal commitment we're allowed to have a soda of our choice. Hopefully with this rule I will drink TONS of soda and still not be chubby hahaha. I think I have lost weight though like maybe ten pounds, but I don't know. Also this week I rode a Calabao (pronounced Caribou) basically a WATER BUFFALO! We had just taught at this members house and they have one. They use these massive beasts here for a bunch of work. Especially in the rice fields. But we totally got on and took some pictures. I've felt manly many times in my life, but I tell you this now, I may have never felt quite as manly as I did mounted upon that beast hahahaha It was fun. I'll attach pictures of course. Also, Elder Vogelsberg and I took BYU/Superman Pictures today. They're awesome! The Caption for them is... "The Real Heroes" hahaha I hope you enjoy. So now that I've told you all the "fun" things. Let me tell you about the happy things. The things that make everything worth it. We're teaching this investigator named Sharlyn. She committed to be baptised this week. She came to church and is going to a youth activity soon. It's incredible to see people take the first few steps of coming to Christ and starting the make covenants with him. We're also teaching a family and the mother is named Judith. She's incredible. She committed to be baptized in the first visit with her. In the next month or so we'll have a few baptisms. And seeing people's conversion to The True Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ makes everything worth it. It makes, not having running water, not having electricity, NOT KNOWING THIS LANGUAGE, and eating weird things ALL WORTH IT. I love being a missionary. I find myself just wanting to teach people all day. Obedience is what brings happiness. There are missionaries that waste time and break rules so they'll "have fun." But fun and happiness comes when you crawl into bed at night DEAD TIRED knowing you tried as hard as you could and you kept all the rules and you saw and felt the fruits of your labor. And you know you get to do it all over again starting at six thirty tomorrow morning. I love being a missionary. It's all worth it. I can't wait until I learn this language much much better. I am still pretty lost. But I study hard, I'm obedient and I've never prayed more in my life. I have faith I will learn this language and hopefully soon. I'll skype home at Christmas, hopefully I'll be pretty good by then. That's the goal- feel confident, not perfect obviously, but feel confident in Tagalog by then. Thanks for your prayers. I need them. Also we teach tons of Less Actives and Recent Converts and I about cry every time we teach about family prayer, scripture study, and Family Home Evening. I am so glad I can honestly say those things are huge reasons I am serving a mission. I tell them about how I remember growing up and I heard DAILY prayers in a family circle that always included getting Race and I on missions and the EVERYONE would get to the temple. Family Home Evening was one of the best times of the week. I am so thankful for that. Thanks Family, especially Mom. I knew that family was important, I knew I was loved, I knew/loved the Scriptures, and that prayer was real BECAUSE we had those things in our family. What a blessing. Well I must go. I hope all is well. Little baby Brighton was blessed, that's cool, but it would have been cooler if her name was Chantzy... You all know it's true. hahahha Just kidding. Hug the Mga Bata for me. I hope you enjoy the pictures. Elder Davis