5-23-12

Good Morning from the Philippines!

This week is going to be a relatively short email because we have to get over to the church for Elder Nelson's address!

I still need to talk to President later about my exact release date but I still think that the 20th is going to be best.  I am thinking that a 6 day stay would be perfect, the 1st day being the day you land, and the 6th being the day we leave.  I think that it would be safe to bring the girls, even though that is a lot of money.

Work this week has been good.  We had another great Sunday where we got to do another caravan, and a good 30+ members attended.  We had a big FHE and had a great lesson with some innactives as well.  Included is a picture of the member who gave us a ride.  I imagine it will be kinda funny for you to see.  I just realized that it's so normal to me now...  Doesn't everyone fit 5+ people on one motorcycle all the time?  They do here.  We also had a lot of travel this week.  I'm off the main island again, which means it is a 3 day ordeal to get to where ever everyone else is for any events such as conferences or meetings.  Traveling is tough, but I'm excited to hear Elder Nelson speak.

I love you all!

Elder Garver

5-9-12

Hello!

Alicia I miss your letters!  I haven't gotten any since the one titled "I got a job!"  I'll talk to you personally this Monday and we'll figure it out.  I checked my spam and trash, and there was nothing in them.

I'm sending a couple pictures to you again.  Can you put these as my facebook picture thingies?  Thanks!

Also!  Could you guys look up some coin magic tricks and send them to me over email?  Maybe an attachment or something.  Kids here ask to see magic all the time, and all we have to use are peso coins.  Any trick that can be done with a quarter will work.  Thanks a ton!

So this week!  My first full week in Valencia was great.  We got fed every single night, and members gave us lots of rides on the motorcycles so we didn't have to spend much on transportation.  I am feeling a little bit more like all those spoiled American elders!  We do a lot of our work in the "country" as Dad calls it.  Here it is called the bukid, which translates to mountians.  There is not a big city located in my area, but we visit Tagbilaran to shop and email and stuff, just like I did back in Pilar.  We are in the same District as I was in in Pilar, but we are in a different Branch.  We are also about 3 hours from Pilar, and 1 hour from the nearest other branch, so we have our own chapel.  It's pretty nice.  We taught a lot of really great people this week, and many committed to come back to church.  We also found a good number of new investigators, and 2 of them already are attending church with us every week so it shouldn't be too long before they can be baptized as well.  This area is awesome.  We are also right by the shoreline, so it is relatively cool and breezy during the day, and I actually use a sheet over me at night!  It's so awesome!  Elder Tolentino is a music major, and is teaching me music theory in our down time.  It is crazy how much there is to learn.  It blows my mind actually.  We always learn about Einstein and Newton in school, but nobody talks about the guy who invented the music staff or the guitar.  Just as much math and skill went into those.  One thing is for sure, I am absolutely positive now that I am not going to be a music major when I get home.  I've been trying super hard to work on my voice out here too.  It's not going too well...

Well I am super excited to see you again on Mothers Day!

Love you!
Elder Garver

5/3/12

Hey Everyone!

First, there are no seasons here.  Well sorta.  There is hot and wet, and hot and dry.  Right now it's hot a dry.

So!  My new area!  I am in Valencia, Bohol!  It is paradise.  We have a branch with about 100 active members, and they feed us every single day, lunch and dinner.  They also give us rides all the time.  We are extremely spoiled.  On google maps, if you find Tagbilaran, then follow the coast line to the east, you'll hit Valencia after around 100km.  I'm guessing.  It's about an hour drive away.  My companion is named Elder Tolentino.  He is Filipino, 5' 2," skinny, has big round glasses, looks totally Asian, is super nervous and giggles and covers his face when under pressure, has at least 1 imaginary friend (that I'm aware of so far), sleeps with a night light because he is afraid of the dark, and loves hugs.  He is an amazing companion.  I love Elder Tolentino so, so much.  He is the epitome of Christ's command to become as children.  He is still new in the mission. (I am follow up training him.  This is his 3rd transfer.) He is super humble, submissive, meek, and mild.  He is always looking to become better, and is very obedient.  I have learned a ton from him in just a few days, and we have seen much success as well.  This is going to be an awesome transfer.

I'll have more to tell you about next week.  I'm still learning this area and everything.  I love you all!

Elder Garver