Elder Bills! ... I need a favor

One favor eventually turned into many favors, and next thing you know, you're sitting there at the end of the week going, what happened? Sister Torida is leaving this week, so she's had a lot of favors she's wanted to be done. We are happy to report all of them were completed, after a couple headaches and pain pills. We gave her a good sendoff though, and they had a super successful week, with a staggering 3 baptisms. So Sis. Torida was pretty happy. 

We had kinda a District Activity again this morning. We got up at 3am and went and watched the sunrise at a place called Bagasbas, which was our way of sending Sister Torida off. It was fun, but all of us are wasted because of it. It was super early. We got some good pictures though, and saw a beautiful sunrise. 

A big change happening this next week is Sister Torida and her Trainee are getting pulled out of their area, and are being replaced with Elders. So these past couple weeks has been me learning their area in order to learn where all of there progressing people are and how there doing. We've almost got it done, but it's a big change. We're also reworking the area boundaries, so our area can finally become a little smaller (it's really big right now). That should be super fun this next week, we'll get some new Barangays, and leave the others behind. Big change, but I'm super excited!

That's it for this week, not much out of the ordinary, besides doing favors. Pretty fun week to say the least, and the last one before everything changes and it starts to get crazy again. 

Elder Shepherd is still doing good, his Tagalog is getting there, and he's learning little by little. He just survived his first Transfer Cycle, so he has one more to go, and then he's on his own. But he'll be fine. Until next week!

All is Well

Elder Bills

1. Daet District 2.Early Morning Sunrises 3. I'm going there in 10 months

Isaac is doing well. He's a little overwhelmed with training, being DL, reorganizing the area, sending off the sisters, getting ready for a new set of elders and just trying to get work done in his area. 

We asked him about Christmastime in the Philippines. They celebrate Christmas in every month that ends in -ber. So, beginning Sept 1-Dec 31, it's CHRISTMAS! He says people are already caroling, but when they carol to your home, they expect to be paid. There are Christmas lights and music everywhere, too. 

We asked him about food. He says they eat rice with EVERYTHING. They pair it with some kind of vegetable and meat, if it's available. He says every meal is usually 3/4 rice and 1/4 vegetable or fruit and meat. He mentioned that every missionary's digestive tract takes a beating when they first arrive, but that after a few months, the system gets used to it. He loves the food, now, he says, but can't eat in the mornings because of a parasite he contracted in his first area. He just wakes up feeling kind of nauseated. 

He loves serving with Elder Shepherd. They are becoming better friends as time goes on. The zone leaders have been living with them, but now the new companionship that is moving into Daet 2nd Ward will live with them and the ZLs had to find a place of their own. Isaac has gotten close to Elder Cotton who he was with in the MTC, but Ike is excited to get to know the two new elders, too. 

Isaac still loves the Book of Mormon and can't believe he only has 10 months left. He says it's NOT ENOUGH TIME! He is worried about all the less active members, too, and wishes he could do more for them as well. 

This being able to talk to our missionary each week is huge blessing and it's a fantastic way to end each Sabbath day.