Pictures Again!

Sorry, really short on time but.... This week was a great one! We were able to have the baptism for A.! He is way awesome! Super spiritual, super prepared, and just an all around great guy! I am so grateful that I was able to be apart of his conversion. What a blessing. His kids are also just the greatest! They crack me up! 

We were able to do some service this week! We were digging some foundations for a house. It was some good hard work! The sun was beating down and I was absolutely soaked by the end of it! The people out here are convinced if you sweat and don't change clothes you'll get sick... So a lady gave me a shirt to wear haha. It was nice of her! 

Sorry, that's it for this week. Take care, miss you, love you, and will keep you up to date next week! 

love,

Elder Payne 

One Week Closer to Rainy Season

I'll start off with saying... It is HOT out here! It makes for some good hard work! It also makes success that much sweeter! We were able to work hard this week and find some great new investigators. We were able to find a beautiful young family who were past investigators who are still interested in our message. It was truly a miracle to find them. Working with families (especially young ones) is so special. They have such a spirit about them and I love being able to help them learn the plan that God has for them as an Eternal Family. They are really great and I am very excited to start working with them! 

In other news... I'm not sure how much I have! We are getting close to the rainy season which I am stoked for! I love the rain and it kind of cools down the world over here! Plus it turns everything super super green which I love! The clouds get closer and closer to us everyday. I can't wait to feel a little bit cooler!!! I have been digging the mango's out here. There are literally mango tree's everywhere. You cannot go anywhere without finding mango trees which is really great cause they are sooo good! haha 

 Which does remind me of a story. We taught a lesson at a members house and when we finished we walked out of his house to our bikes. He asked if we wanted some mangos (of course we said yes) so he just climbed straight up a tree and started picking mangos for us. In the mean time some other kids where in an opposing mango tree at the very top of the tree (the tree was massive). We were trying to catch the mangos that they were throwing but I guess I need some practice cause I didn't do so hot... haha When the kids were finished they climbed down as low as they could and then had to fireman pole slide down a bamboo shaft that was growing close to the tree haha. It was pretty fun to watch! In the end we got our mangos and had an entertaining show with the mango kids lol.

Anyways, that's it for now Love you all tons! Take care this week and make someone smile who seems a little down, I promise you'll smile too ;) 

-Elder Payne 

ps. sorry no pics. This computer is not having any of it :( 

Note from home:

Andy's been mentioning the heat more often.  In the area he's in, it's currently 95 degrees there and feels like 108 degrees.  Baguio, the location that his mission is named after, is only 75 degrees right now (and feels like 75) but it's 4 hours away from him.  We are all looking forward to it cooling off a bit in the location where he lives. :)  Either way, he loves it and is grateful for the opportunity to serve in the Philippines.  

Happy Mother's Day!!!

 To start out, I'd just like to thank Mothers everywhere! You are all wonderful and incredible. Your jobs are far from easy but you do them so angelically! I cannot express in words how grateful I am for Mothers. I love you mom!

     This was a pretty good week, we were able to go to San Fernando for the follow up training of Elder B. We were able to see a lot of people and that was fun! It was weird driving through my last area. I felt like I needed to get off of the bus but haha not my area anymore... 

      Sunday was a little strange... we went to an investigators house to teach but the parents were busy. One of their kids (five years old) was in an argument with another little 5 year old boy. He got mad and picked up a bamboo stick and started chasing the kid. The kid running away ran into his house and came out with a massive knife! Bamboo boy ran back into his house and ran out with a cleaver!! They were both waving their knives at each other, screaming, and stabbing the ground! I was nervous someone was doing to lose a limb! I don't think anything came of it... I guess we'll find out the next time we visit! 

       To close it off, Skyping was so fun! It was so fun to see my family again! It's insane that is has already been 5 months since the last skype call! I love to see them!!! I can't wait for the next one! It won't be too long before it comes ! 

Take care this week and tell your mothers you love them! Love you all! 

Elder Payne 

Riding in a Tricycle

Sorry, This'll Be A Short One!

Hey everyone, sorry I'm out of time but wanted to shoot a quick email out to everyone. This week was pretty good, had some hard days, and had some good days. I'm learning a lot and loving the journey! I just always keep in my prayers the desire that I'm learning the things God would have me learn! If the best way for that is through trials, let the trials come! If it's through success, I'll take that too ;) As long as I do what he would have me do, I'll be happy :) Hope everyone has a good week! Take care of each other! Ohana means family, family means no one gets left behind. ;) Remember we are all children of God, we are FAMILY! Make sure no one gets left behind. :) LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Love, Elder Payne

Ps. If you didn't notice that quote was from Lilo and Stitch, I'd appreciate it if you watched it for me this week ;)