Teina Serving in Tacloban.: A Faithful18 year old...

HEY FAMILY!!

OK, well times is just flying fast!!! Another weeks down and my mission to going too fast!! I'm getting the language!!! I'm understanding a lot and its finally making sense. I'm still troubled at times in the lessons but I'm getting use to it!! My companion's impressed with me because in our language study, I could teach him nearly the whole restoration, ask commitments and prayer and testimony!! So its coming along slowly!!! Our goal is for me to be able to teach all the lessons the last week me and my companion are together!!!

We had our baptism and marriage for Irwin And Milan last Saturday and it was really a beautiful thing to witness!! Me and my companion had to sing - President asked if we could do an item, and we sang!!! I totally mucked everything up, and they still thought I was good haha, I pretty sure they're just being to nice to me.

Sacrament is so much different here family - they sing the same songs every week, and we don't have a piano player, so they put on the piano , and it automatically plays the church songs which ALWAYS puts everyone out of time!! Its funny!! I wish you guys could be here!! Its funny at church how everyone wants to sit next to me and my companion!!! especially the old sisters!!

We had our first feed with a member two days ago,The Bulanon family. Jesse Bulanon They are such a wonderful family and to me, they're a huge impact on our Stop Alginado branch, ALWAYS caring and loving to the other members and us missionaries! They feed us this kumara type vegetable. I took one bite of it, and it tasted like a kumara back home!! So I ate a lot, and they just kept feeding me, because I dont think my companion liked it - but it was REALLY tasty and nice!! And I think they really like me just because I ate a lot!! And I think it looked like I wasn't picky too..

Anyways I wanted to share something that really stood out to me:

A boy by the name of Jo Jo Bulanon, he's an 18 year in our branch, hes a strong member and very loving to me and my companion!! As we were eating at his brother's Jesses house, he told us, that his little 18 year old brother "jo jo" got offered a scholarship by the government, to go to uni in Baclolod and box, which is a massive opportunity !!!

His father and mother told him to accept it, accept the once in a lifetime opportunity!! Brother Jesse told us he dropped the scholorship because he wants to serve a mission!!!

I thought to myself , this 18 year old lives in a bamboo house, is not wealthy at all, and has an opportunity of a lifetime that "could" have given him and his family money!!

I saw this boy the same age as me, his faith, his testimony of the Saviour and my faith grew as I heard this story!! I have so much respect for Jo Jo and I love him to pieces!!!

I love these people and their faith in the Lord even though they dont have much!!!

I love it here and I love this gospel!!

Love you my family and have an awesome week:)

Love Elder Anderson