Happy Easter.... April 4th

Family, friends, and my beloved fan club:

This week was pretty darn fantastic (I can't believe I just used "darn"!). We have another investigator who will be baptized in the next couple weeks, we're super-excited for her! There's another one coming in the next few months, as well!

General Conference is not live here in the Philippines area, but it's re-broadcasted from recordings. This Sunday (April 11) is when they show GC. I'm looking forward to it, especially when they cancelled October's broadcast due to storms and hurricanes... there was no power. So it's been about a year since I've been able to watch General Conference. It's ok, because that's what the Liahona is for!!! Go paper!

Thanks for looking for my stuff, I've just come to hate using the same tie every other day (I have about 3).

Here in the Philippines, they don't celebrate Easter the way we do State-side. It's actually called 'Holy Week', and during this time people remember the Atonement of Jesus Christ through a variety of different activities... one of the most famous ones is having yourself nailed (yes, NAILED) to a cross. If that's too much to handle, you can walk along the side of the road, whip in hand, punishing yourself. These are just some of the things they do. I don't know them all. Also, they honestly believe that each year during Holy Week Jesus Christ is put to death, and Sunday morning (Easter Sunday or Mahal na Araw) He rises again. It is held that it is a yearly occurrence.

Beside wild beliefs and strange activities, most everybody stays home and gambles (working is forbidden from Thursday until Sunday). THE STREETS WERE BARE during this week. The work was hard, but not without success, of course.

But in answer to you question: Missionaries, during Easter, do the same ol' thing as every other Sunday.

Thanks for the package that will be arriving on some future date!


I love you all, and hope to hear from you again next week!
--
Love,
E. Lefler

Ako ay nakakita ng isang haligi ng liwanag na tamang-tama sa tapat ng aking ulo...March 28th

Dear family, friends and my beloved fan club:

things here are great! The work goes on, just as prophesied. I enjoy
it very much. :)

That's good that you guys got to spend time with Candice and Ben.
There's a saying here: "Magkasabay" which means "we came at the same
time", which implies here that I was born as a missionary when Ben was
born as a person! He's like the little physical representation of my
mission! LEFLER + BEN = BATCH... go Aquarius!

Ashley, you've got guts to go to YSA activities all by yourself! Of
course, I did exactly the same things, but you're shy and stuff... A
celebration is in order when I go home! Ashley is no longer shy!

This week has presented a challenge in involving the members in the
teachings... Elder Lucillo and I are looking for ways to improve that.
It may help that graduations are nearly over, but then again, Holy
Week is this week. I'm not quite sure how the missionary work is...

Thanks much for the letter, I love getting letters!

I love you all!
--
Love,
E. Lefler

Victory March 14th

Dear family!

This week has been fantastic! There's been a lot of progress with the investigators and returning members, and as the grand climax, we had a baptism! It was really great, and they had me give a musical number (singing 'acapella' is hard!). The service was really spiritual.

Other than that, we've been having fun bonding with the members and investigators and those who are returning to activity. It's amazing what genuine interest can do!

I'm doing great over here! Teachin', preachin', sharin', and doin' the Lord's work. The best part is I haven't tracted in over 2 weeks now! It's great to be getting referrals once again!!

Well, I still do feel like a million buck, or maybe 100,000 bucks, because my back is all sore again and I'm hungry right now (feed me).

Million-dollar Smiles are dangerous things for missionaries to have. Iyen lang.

That's really all I have to report.

I love you all, and am already waiting for next Monday!

--
Love,
E. Lefler aka Papa Ketchup

Isa pang magandang araw sa kabahayan

Hello family!
Well, this week just BLEW BY way too quick... work work work! Those baptisms aren't just for one week. Ask Derek and Tony, they're investigators that are planning to be baptized in the next few weeks or months (depends on their progression). Here in the Philippines area, there's a "probation period" of 4 weeks of straight going to church, and 4 weeks of living the Word of Wisdom. If the investigator is really awesome (like one here), 4-5 weeks and they are now a member of the church! The goal is March 13, 2010. The others are further out, about April or so.

The "Activate the Inactive Members" effort is staring up now. Elder Lucillo and I are working to coordinate with the Auxiliary presidencies the effort. It will last from March until the end of April.

You're studying for your DRIVER'S LICENSE?! Bastilan.... I think I'm forgetting how to drive already. On top of that, the drivers here in my current area are crazy. They'll blaze by at about 70mph or so on a TWO-LANE ROAD, and if it's night, they'll leave their brights on. No regard for pedestrians...

Oh yeah, in answer to your question about shoes, yes. I have shoes that will last for about 3-4 months, but they're quite comfortable and affordable. About P180 only (about $4 only). That'll probably be what I use until I go home. They're waterproof, too! I also have shoes I can wear to meetings and conferences!

So what's Mom studying in those library books? I'm reading again in "Jesus the Christ" by Elder James E. Talmage. It's astig.

Yeah, it's really cold. Even in the cold weather though, there are a lot of lamok (mosquitoes), so I need to use (brrr...) an electric fan. I actually had to wear my long-sleeve pajama pants and also my long-sleeve work shirt! And a sheet to keep most of the cold wind off my body.

That's all I have to report for now with my life and mission here in the Philippines.

Have you ever thought about the cool stories found in the Book of Mormon? I found a cool prophecy this morning about the Book of Mormon. If I can remember the reference right, it's in 2 Nephi 27: 14-18. You can also link it to Joseph Smith-History 1:63-65. It's way cool stuff, and you can see that the ancient prophets truly *did* see our day and prophesied accordingly. It's astig.

I love you all, and am waiting for the next email!

Hanggan sa muling pagsusulat!
--
Love,
E. Lefler

PS. Here are some pictures, hope you like them!

More Pics

Good Mornin....Feb 14th

Dear Family, friends and my beloved fan club:

First and foremost, don't worry about the old email now; it died a slow and very terrible death. This be my new one!

Thanks for letting me know about my new little pamangkin (niece). I'll even write it down as to not forget!

Things here are fantastic! we are preparing 5 people for their baptisms in the next couple of months (March & April). They're really excited! Other than that, the whole mission has been tasked to bring as many in-active members as possible back into activity within those same 2 months. It's really gonna help the work here in the Baguio Mission! I'm excited for the challenge.

The weather here is actually really cold now. This morning we rode a tricycle into town and I nearly suffered death as a popcicle! It's ok, because one of our IBDs gave a a ride! yay for the blessings of the Gospel!

So Ashley, this is a simple phrase and I'm very dissapointed with the Internet that it was unable to translate. What I wrote was: "Ashley, Mag-take ka na ng gamot! Hindi puwedeng may sakit sa katawan!" which means in English: "Ashley, take medicine! You can't have sickness in your body!".

Well, I know I said that this week has been fantastic, but that's the reason: 5 IBD's! Maliban doon, there's really nothing to report.

I love you all, and I'll talk to you soon!

--
Love,
E. Lefler

PS. Thanks for the $ for buying shoes! I really need it right now...

PSS. Mother's day is really close pala!