FAMILY!!

So. Let's see. This week was GRREEAT.

Elder Nelson's devo was amazing. He talked a lot about recognizing the Spirit and I learned that I still have a lot to learn. It gets hard to always be listening to the spirit when you are busy doing other things. But it is important! He shook hands with each of us. It was just awesome! Cebu Philippines mission is just the best!

We have 2 investigators with baptismal dates and we are just ripping up the Less-Active scene. There are so many and most of them are just...well....kind of off the deep end. But we love them anyway :) I still love my companion, Sister Brand. We will FOR sure be friends after the mission and we've already planned to live together and travel the world together...that's if she won't be married in the next year while I'm still kickin it over here in the Philippines....

We are seeing progress in our area!!! We had church attendance close to 100. When I got here it was around 75 so we are talking about 25ish people returning and STAYING. Amazing. Missionary work is hard work but it is awesome.

My companion will go home on Monday and I will be working with members in my branch until Friday morning when I will go with the Elders in my city to Cebu City to pick up my new companion. I am so nervous! This will be my 4th companion. All I ask is just that I get to stay with her for more than one transfer. I've had an awesome opportunity to learn from 2 great missionaries but I want to stay with my next for more than 6 weeks. I feel like I was just starting to get rolling with Sister Brand but alas, all good things must come to an end.

I hope that all of you are doing well and starting to enjoy your nice Summer lives. It's still super hot here. But don't worry, we bought some fans so all is well in my life again. For the most part, haha. Every time I eat at this recent converts house I get super sick. I'm thinking it's the oil or something that they cook with...but yeah I get pretty sick like 2 or 3 times a week.

Today was a great pday. We went to the bukid (the mountain) and went fishing. It is crazyyy cool. Then we cooked the fish and ate our fish and rice with our hands in true Filipino style. Sometimes I just can't believe I am actually doing this. Crazyness.

Well I love you all. I hope you are all studying your scriptures. Even if for 5 minutes each day, DO it. Stay close to Heavenly Father and He will bless you. I know that it is true. I have witnessed it in so many ways.

I am grateful for each one of you and for the love you have shown to me. I can't think about how much longer I have because it feels so far away! But know that I love all of you and think of you often. You are amazing! Keep on keepin' on.

love
Nicole