Dog poo.

Dear Mom, It's been a short four days. It's hard to believe I'm coming to the end of this transfer already. The transfers seem to just keep getting shorter and shorter, then again, anything seems short after that last nine-week transfer! Well the missions are starting to see some new, strange things as far as media and things they are allowing missionaries to now do. Missions around the world are now receiving one portable DVD player per companionship for training purposes which is great. The training DVDs have really made a difference as well as being able to watch church DVDs during study. Media is playing a big role nowadays in missionary work. Our mission now is really focusing on getting people to mormon.org which seems to...

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An Elect Lady.

Dear Mom, You know, it's been a longer week than usual, but not too much has happened. I feel like I say that every week, I'll stop saying that. Moving out of the last apartment. Well, we still aren't moved into our new apartment, so we're just squashed in like sardines in our little dink right now. It's a lot of fun though. Elder Aquilena and Elder Naraja are a lot of fun, and it's nice to be around other missionaries. I wouldn't mind spending the rest of the transfer there to tell you the truth. This past week, since we've finally found an apartment, we've finally been able to focus on the area. No really crazy things have happened just yet, that will take some time. Heavenly Father has put a lot of trust in us to build up this area from...

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It's All About Love.

Dear Mom,It's been a fast, short week. I guess all weeks are similar in length, but this one didn't really entail much. We have finally found an apartment, but we are suffering for a bit. This morning we moved out of our old apartment, and into the nearest one, with the other elders in our district for about a week until we can move into our new one next week. It's going to be a rough week. Just imagine the loft we have... now imagine four desks, four beds, a fridge, bathroom, and a place to wash clothes. Now add a dining table, kitchen, and luggages. That's what we're living in, like sardines for the next week. Oh well, nothing we can do right? It's all about the experience! For now, we are finally getting started with our work here. It's been a long way in coming. This past week, I've really...

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As You Like It.

Dear Mom, Well, I'm back to me again. Good ol' quirky me. I know I haven't been myself the past few weeks.It's been evident here, and I know it's been evident in my emails, but I've decided, I'm just going to be myself, and let people judge me. As long as I know I'm doing what's right, I know I've got nothing to fear. Thank you for your love, support, and prayers; they've been really obvious to me here, even all the way across the world. And opening my email today and receiving the songs from Jason and the former Elder Tengelsen were just the ice cream on top. They put together this primary song that I had never heard about popcorn on some kind of tree, and rearranged it and put words that made me laugh, and then left a great message for me...

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Fourth Area

Dear Mom,This is going to be a short email. I don't have too much to say this week. I am now in my fourth area with my eighth companion in Marulas, Valenzuela - right next to my second area and very far from the beautiful mountains of Montalban. This has been the hardest change of my whole mission. Leaving Ampid and San Mateo was so, so hard. We did have a good last night though with our ward missionaries. We all went out to eat at Mang Inasal and had a last great night of bonding for a few hours. I gave each of the  boys a tie and each of the girls a remembrance page. And then after dinner, each person went around and said a little personal goodbye. It was a nice way to end and leave the area. I was sad Enrique couldn't come because of...

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