Kumusta Kayo?? What a crazy week. I feel like I am living in a mix of two movies, the first- The Other Side of Heaven, the second- The Blind Side. The first one is pretty obvious, the second one not so much. I feel like I am on The Blind Side because my companions shoe size is 17!!!!!! His heaviest weight was 360lbs daw! He's 6 feet 6 inches and we are a scary sight for tiny Filipinos who don't know missionaries. He is AWESOME! He has a big heart... but maybe a bigger appetite haha, I have never seen so much rice disappear so quickly. He's also very very good at Tagalog, people think he is Philippino by sound, but definitely not by sight haha. He's awesome and I am excited for the transfer. So many things are happening all at once, I hit my six month mark, I turn 20 this week, and IT'S CHRISTMAS! It is weird to think it is Christmas though, with no weather change it seems like no time has passed at all. I am truly living in an endless summer. No white Christmas here haha. People here just can't comprehend the thought of snow. I've told people about my baptism too, when we had to break the ice in the pond, they can't imagine it! So funny. So last week we had a CSP (community service project) and it was really cool. I saw some really cool and really beautiful things. I also saw a man, of which the only adjective to describe him is MAN haha, In fact I refer to him as MAN. He basically lives without human contact for a few weeks way up in the mountain jungle! And he's bare foot the whole time! Tell all the nieces I found the man who makes Rapunzel's hair. He makes rope out of banana tree's and it is a very interesting process. But we went up there and helped him and of course had some delicious BUKO (coconut)! Man is the husband of one of our members, Sister Espiritu. So we hiked way on top of this mountain, I could see the whole island pretty much and The Mayon Volcano in the distance! It was awesome. Then we helped this guy make his banana rope stuff and then carry this HEAVY stuff down the mountain. I about died getting my bundle down and they say MAN can carry three of those at one time. He's 67 years old, tiny, but as strong as an ox, his hands and feet feel like metal, I know because I felt them haha. He's my Philippino Grandpa Sherwood haha. I hope we can teach him next week. The problem is he is always in the jungle just walkin bare foot with his big machete. It was a great experience with the culture and has helped a lot with that family coming to church I think. Hopefully even more will come out of it. I hope the pictures load! So, now I have some way good news. I am progressing in Tagalog! More like SKYROCKETING! But that doesn't mean I am good hahaha. But just this last week I am really started to progress. It was like I woke up one morning and I understood the things people were saying to me haha! I am a long way from fluent still but I can't believe where I am at right now, I am so blessed. The Gift of Tongues is REAL, I promise haha. This last Sunday I had conversations with people and after we were finished I just couldn't believe what happened... I SPOKE TAGALOG hahahha. And I understood what they were saying. It is a cool feeling. If you've never had a conversation in Tagalog, do it, you'll like it haha. But truly I am a very grateful missionary right now, I am so blessed. It is truly GIVEN to me to speak and understand this language. Again I have a long way to go but I am progressing quickly right now! So awesome! And I thank my Father in Heaven for it. Malapit ng Pasko! Christmas is coming soon and I am excited. I wrote a poem a couple days ago about missionaries at Christmas I hope you will enjoy it. I am excited to have Christmas here, not here so much as, I am just excited to have Christmas as a missionary. Christmas is a great time of year, people literally change because we feel the "Spirit of Christmas" or we feel like being Christ-like; giving to others and being with our families. It is all about Christ, all He did and does is GIVE never take, all He is is selfless, never selfish and all He wants is for us, as Families, to live together again in the Kingdom of God. We give at Christmas and we are with our families and we think of Christ. But as President Hinckley taught, "Without The Atonement, Christ would be just another babe born in Bethlehem." I hope this Christmas we will all remember him, and what he did for us. This Christmas I would rather be here than anywhere else INCLUDING HOME. But it's an easy second place. Well I love you all. Thank you for your prayers and I pray for you daily. I hope you enjoy the poem. SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON SKYPE!!!!!!!!!!! A Missionary’s Christmas By Elder Chantz Hamblin Davis Naga Philippines Mission This Christmas, like those in all my past, I’ll be waking early and out of bed real fast. But this year will be different, from previous ones I’ve had. I’ll be away from family, and yet I am not sad. Still I’ll wake up early, but with a different plan, To go and teach and preach, about a certain man. Presents won’t be atop the list, of things I want this year. All I really want to find, is someone who will hear. I won’t tell’em about Santa, or Reindeer in the sky, But of the precious baby, born to suffer bleed and die. I’ll speak to them of Family, of God and Peace and Love, And what they must do, to return to Him above. And though I may be far from home, in a far and foreign place, I still feel the love of God, and His Son’s Eternal Grace. Yes 6:30 the alarm will sound, and I’ll rush out of bed. Not looking for the latest toy, but for a lost soul instead. So this Christmas will be different, from those in all my past, Just happily “Preaching His Gospel,” doing what He has asked. Elder Davis