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FAMILY!!!

Hello everyone. Salamat para sa mga emails ninyo!! I am sending lots of pictures this email...so I hope you enjoy ;)

Well, I received basically the saddest news of my life today. SISTER GUMAYAO IS TRANSFERRING ON FRIDAY. Now I didn't cry, I bawled. Usually you are with your trainer for 12 weeks now because of the program but for whatever reason we are going to be separated. She is my best friend, you know. She is SO good to me and I am so afraid to have any other companions because she has just been so wonderful. When we found out I just sat there and cried. So yes, I will be leading the area. It's a scary thought. You see, they don't have addresses in the Philippines. They have a main road that you drive on, then you just recognize the dirt path you are supposed to take to the person's house about a mile away, and then you get off the trisikad. I'm even more worried about the bukid (mtn) because we hike. But it will be okay because hopefully the ward missionaries will be able to help us out. My new companion is an American...this will be her last transfer. Luckily she is the sweetest, her name is Sister Brand. So she speaks Cebuano well and as long as I refuse to speak English to her my Cebuano should improve.

Let's see. We had 21 Less-Actives attend church. Boo ya!!! And it's only going to get better from here on out. I am SO motivated to find those people and bring them back into the fold. We especially have been focusing on the youth and YSA. If they are strong then there will be a stronger, younger generation of church members here. Our investigator is still waiting for her marriage papers. So we will have the privilege of helping with their wedding :) Fun, fun.

Also for Community Service hours I am teaching people how to read music and basic piano. I played the piano on Sunday and let me tell you, these people don't know rhythm.... haha. Anyway we were supposed to start Friday but now it will have to wait until next week as I will be traveling to Cebu City.

So Dad, I am on the same island as Cebu City. I believe we are just on the west side and they are on the east side of the island. We just take vans to the city...but since we will have luggage we have to get on a bus and it will take us just about 3 hours to get there. Yeah everyone PRAY for me. I have to be able to recognize where we are when I am coming back with my new companion so we don't end up walking for miles on dirt paths with her luggage...haha.

I email from internet cafes. AND I GET TO SKYPE for Momma's Day. So plan on it. My apt is quite nice. The CR a bit scary (the bathroom. CR=Comfort Room haha) Don't worry about me. I am taken well care of. Except oh my lanta! Hair product here is soooo expensive...haha it will cost be about $500 pesos every 2 weeks just so I can have not CRAZY hair...we get about 3500 pesos each support. A huge chunk. ANd they say curly hair is a blessing??

Anyway  I am doing fine. My Cebuano is getting better. I will just really have to study hard so that I am able to progress while having an American companion. Pray, pray, pray. Please!!

It sounds like things are great back home, Congrats to Josh on graduating!! And Nana and Forrest. So exciting!!!! Keep up the good work, fam!!
Love
Sister Nicole Trayner