June 18, 2012

To My Mom :),
Patience will be key if I am ever going to learn this language, I'll keep trying!! The Pilot Program was pretty cool I guess, will Bret be on the pilot program? I don't know what to compare it to, but I don't know if any amount of time in the MTC will fully prepare you for the real thing. I'm glad I did it though, I had a good foundation, and it's just building on it from there.Sometimes I feel like I haven't learned anything since the MTC, but people tell me that I'm getting better. I hope it's true!
I'm sorry that it is so hot for you! I can only remember what that felt like haha. It is way hot here as well, even though it's super rainy. The weather here is pretty moody, but it's good. When it rains at night, it is cooler which is good for sleeping! I use the umbrella Everyday! haha. Advise for Bret's mission supplies: Only buy slip on shoes!! the strings will just get wet; and there will be many times you should take off your shoes before entering people's homes. Don't spend a ton of money on umbrella, just get one that is compact and working. Buy a couple pairs of pants at the DI before you head out. Other than that, we did a lot of good things before. Also,don't bring any silk ties. Just polyester. I'll let you know if I can think of anything else.
I am so grateful for your prayers. I hope you know how serious I am when I tell you that they make a difference. Often I feel an unexplainable power pushing me forward.
(This is in response to news that someone donated money to Eric's mission fund) Wow :) I'm so humbled that people would give to my mission fund. I am so so so grateful. We have been so blessed mom. I don't know why us.(This is in response to mom telling Eric about some ties that  Brother Thomas is sending to all the missionaries.) Please send Brother Thomas my love and gratitude. He really is a great example of a solid priesthood leader.
We really have the most amazing family :) I love you so much mom, please know that I pray for you all of the time as well. I will be eternally grateful for what you've done for me.
This week I had a really cool experience as I got to know a guy on a jeepney;he was visiting and I rode with him on my way home from a meeting in Tarlac.The new missionaries here had a meeting with the stake president on Thursday,Tarlac is 4 hours away from my area haha, we had to leave at 3 in the morning! But it was awesome. As I got to know this brother, I was able to share the blessing of the gospel. I gave him a book of Mormon. I won't be able to see him again because he was only visiting, but I felt a real yearning for the truth from him. I know I was able to bare such a solid testimony because I know the blessing that it's been for our family. The gospel of Jesus Christ is for us;all of us. It is beautiful.

Stay strong and endure. You can do hard things :)
Love,
Elder Blackham