12-12-12 That's kind of cool...

Hey everyone!

I'm still super safe.  The Typhoon totally missed us in Toledo.  There were lots of people who died though on other islands.  From what I've heard though 0 members died.  Fast and testimony meeting was all thanks and praises to God for His mercy.  It was great.

I'll talk to President about applying for school.  I think what we'll have to do is you'll do everything for me that you can, and then I'll fill out the essay questions and what not.

So here is the final news on me coming home.  Due to all the changes and new missionaries coming in, all return dates have been pushed up 2 weeks.  This means I am now officially finishing my mission June 5, 2013.  Mom and Dad, you can buy the plane tickets.  Just come in on that day and we'll meet up at the temple complex here.  I'm thinking 5 days will be just right, so see about getting our flight home Monday night on the 10th or Tuesday morning on the 11th.  I can't believe I have less than 6 months left...  So scary :(

The work has been super fun this past week.  Elder Fudge and I got to work a day or two in our area, and we got to trek the bukid!  We hiked through mountains all day and found a good number of less active members as well as tons of potential new investigators.  I love the mountainous wilderness so much out here.  It is one of the funnest parts of missionary work for me; hiking through the jungle talking to every person you meet, and sharing the gospel.  It's such an adventure.  

ZLC and Zone Conference got rescheduled so we attended those this Monday and Tuesday here in Cebu.  Both were awesome.  President Schmutz and the APs gave more great workshops, and we even got to watch President Schmutz wrestle Elder Irvin.  Both are such big guys.  President is so funny.

Tell Crystal I'm praying for her, and she has her name in the prayer roll here.  Tell her I love her.

I love you all!

Elder Garver

Pictures are of all the Zone Leaders at ZLC and President Schmutz taking on Grizzly Bear Elder Irvin afterwards.

12-5-12

Good Morning!

Thanks for the update dad on your trip to New York.  Are we going to get to do that when I get back?  I hope you can find ways to enjoy your trip to Germany.  Keep me updated on all the crazy fun you have while you're over there!

The beginning of this week was great.  Elder Fudge and I got a lot of work done in our area from Thursday until Saturday, and we found 8 new investigators and a few new Less Active members as well.  We then had a great district conference on Sunday.

We had a zone conference in Cebu scheduled this last Monday, and ZLC scheduled for Tuesday, so we had all the elders gather together in Balamban Sunday night and we were all going to travel to Cebu together the next morning.  Right after we all got to Balamban for the night we got called by the APs informing us of a Super Tropical Hurricane that was hurtling towards Cebu with winds exceeding 300 kilometers per hour.  We we told all meetings were cancelled, and we had to make sure everyone in our zone had food and water provisions for 3 days as well as 72 hour kits all ready.  We then went back to our areas to wait out the storm.  We were all really excited, and were looking forward to being able to do a lot of service after the storm, but after hiding in our house for 48 hours, we were informed that the hurricane had changed course and pounded Bohol and Dumeguete, but completely missed us.  We got a couple drips of rain.  That's it.  So that was a huge disappointment.  On the plus side, we were lucky and had 6 elders in our apartment for the hide out, so we spent the 48 hours playing monopoly, chess, checkers, scum, and other card games while eating chips and oreos and lots of soda,  If I had had to spend another day in that house I think I would have literally gone crazy.  Now we are out again though and I am very excited to get some missionary work done tonight.

I love you!
Elder Garver

ps.  Here are a couple pictures.  I'm borrowing Elder Fudges memory card adapter thing.  1st is of the Dela Cruz family who we reactivated last transfer.  They are now enrolled in the temple prep class and are preparing to be sealed to their 6 children.  2nd is of Nanay Epifania at her baptism.