In the Mountains

This has been a very good week and I am very tired because we are always walking. It takes a long time to go from house to house and it is a very mountainous area. Mabini wasn't even close to this. To get to Kabankalan it takes 3-4 hours and then it is another 30-40 minutes to get to Tapi. It is fun!

Elder Delima is great. We were in the same apartment for a short time while we were in Escalante. He is a great companion and has already taught me a lot. I am kind of sad that he is going home in 2 weeks.

The weather has been a lot of rain. We are high enough in the mountains that we get fog sometimes. It has been pretty cold were we are. I just have to say the water is freezing. I am looking forward to that warm shower waiting for me when I get home!!!

Tapi is a very good ward. Everything is set up and the bishop is great. He is an return missionary and does everything he needs too. Tapi became a ward last March is it is a pretty new ward.

We have lots of good investigators. Lots of families. It is amazing to see the work happening here. We had a baptism on Saturday of Reynaldo Rose (Roo- see). He has a great testimony. His wife was a member so it really helped him. We will be having a baptism on September 20th. The Baliguat family has been preparing and are doing great. They are an older couple and brother wanted to be closer to God so when the missionaries went to him he was so prepared to listen. They also have a grandchild that will be baptized on October 11 named Macie. Then we will be having Adrian and Bryan being baptized on September 27. They are 9 & 8. Our ward mission leader is really helping them. He is their support to come to church and they love it. He says they ask him if they are going to the church everyday they are so excited to be at the church. We also have a lot more investigators. I will tell you more when I can remember them more and can tell you more. I don't know the area very well yet so it is a working progress. I will send you pictures of a family that we are teaching. They were making smashed bananas with sugar which was really good. I will show you how they make it. We are also working in one area called Balicotoc. It is pretty far. We have to walk 30 minutes to get there after a 10 minute motor ride. They motors are called habol-habol. It is a pretty fun ride. In that area we are having a special sacrament and are hoping to start baptizing there so we can have a group there. A group will allow missionaries to be there so they can then progress to be a branch. It was an amazing week. I look forward to the coming weeks to see what the Lord has in store for the area and for us.

Love you all,

Elder Nielsen

PS I just want to be the first to wish you all a Merry Christmas. The season has started here in the Philippines.

PSS I expect to hear Christmas when I get home!