Patience, hope, and faith.

Dear Mom,It's been a really fast week, and the hottest that I have for sure ever experienced on my mission and probably in my whole life. I've spent each day looking like an idiot under my umbrella wiping sweat out of my face with my bandanna and then squeezing it out every few minutes. The cold sting of Provo never sounded so good. Showering in ice doesn't even cure this heat. Sorry for the lack of pictures this week. I've kind of avoided taking pictures a bit because I look like a monster right now because I haven't gotten my haircut since I was in Mapayapa. I was able to get a couple pictures of the area though to kind of give you an idea of what it looks like. Green, green, green. The most green I think I've lived in my whole...

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Titled and bound by mistakes.

Dear Mom, I'm still in shock to hear of Grandpa Severo's death, especially right after his 90th birthday. When I Ieft he was still so strong. It's really sad to hear of people being lost. I believe that life itself is the greatest blessing we have and is something that we all take for granted. The people you love won't always be here with you, and it's hard because we often take for granted that they will be there tomorrow. We let fights, differences, assumptions, and misunderstandings get in the way of people to love. We forget to tell them we love them, until it's too late. We can be so hard-headed as humans. I know it will be hard few days for all of us and you will all be in my prayers, especially grandma. I know that it's not permanent...

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Out of place.

Dear Mom, After nearly 21 months in the mission, I feel like I just landed in the real Philippines. I am now in Plaridel, Bulacan Province! The birthplace of Tagalog. Let me take you on a short update. The Companion: My companion's name is Elder Anderson from Canada - oh yeah. He's about 6'3" and is a typical jock. Eats, sleeps, talks, acts, dresses, everything just like your typical basketball or football player. He's pretty new in the mission, I will be follow up training him again just like I have been the last 203948573094857 transfers. He's a good kid though. We are completely opposite, but it's a good adjustment. Regardless of his stereotypical attitude, surprisingly, he has told me that he loves me more than any other companion I've...

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