E-mail dated 9/17/18

Kamusta Kamo!?? 

Its been another great week! And first things first I am perfectly safe and sound. The Typhoon did not really hit here, just a little. There was a ton of hype about it though. I saw the picture on the news as we were walking by and that storm looked huge, luckily it did not hit here. We were required to prepare in case it did hit, and the day it was coming through here, it wasn't even that bad, really windy and on and off rain, we actually worked for most of the day when it came through here. 

Well other than the typhoon it has been a really good week here in Lapaz! Especially because our investigator Riza passed her interview and she will be baptized this saturday!! We are so excited for her. She is living with the 1st counselor in the stake presidency (her uncle) because her family situation isn't good, but as we have taught her, we have seen the change in her. When I first met her she talked in a whisper and was super quiet, but now she has been attending seminary, accepted the gospel and she is happier now. This will be the first baptism in this area for the whole year. We have seen so many blessings! This area used to be the zone leader area of the biggest zone in the mission, but now since the zones split, the area is improving! 

Another great thing this week was that the Gabawa Family is doing great! Ever since we set their baptismal goal date, they have been so exciting! We set them a goal date for October 20th. We teach them quite often and as soon as we end one lesson, they start asking when we will be coming back. They want us to come everyday, it so awesome! Especially as we taught the plan of salvation, wow, they were so amazed, they had so many questions and we could tell that as we taught it, they received a witness that it is true. I am really hoping and praying that this will be my first full family baptism. It will be so special if the whole family embraces the gospel! That is what we are really praying for! 

Something thats funny that I think I have told you before is that here in the Philippines people start celebrating Christmas as soon as it turns September. haha. So if you all thought it was weird in america when people start listening to Christmas music after Halloween, well here I heard it on September 1. They call it the Ber months here (septemBER, octoBEr, ect..) Its interesting. We had a zone interview this past week and we went to the mission home and the christmas decoration are already set up! 

Well that should do it for this week! A mission is so fun, it is a great experience, once in a lifetime for sure! Have a great week everybody!

Palangga ko kamo!

Elder Degen