Needle in a Haystack

kamusta family! holy cow where do i even begin haha. it was another good week kinda tough and slow. well first off i didnt get transfered and neither did my comp so thats good he only has like 5 weeks left so i'll be here in baguio for at least another two transfers which i am very grateful about cause i love it here. but one of my good buddies from the mtc got transfered into our district elder mansfield. he's a stud and we have the most legit zone! so it should be a good next couple transfers here. but the work was tough, trying to find people's houses here is like trying to find a needle in a haystack haha its way hard cause the numbering system is all messed up and we don't have complete addresses of all the people. so alot of our time is spent walking around for hours looking for these houses and talking to members trying to figure out where they live! but its good we've found some and its going to be tough to get these people to come back because they've got every excuse in the book. haha some people see us and hide cause they know exactly why were there haha. but its good im seeing a little improvement with the language and its good i've been studying it hard and have been truly blessed by the lord with it. im really excited for this new task in getting these people to come back to church haha i just need to understand what their saying and how to respond but with patience perserverence i know i can do it!. oh yeah i got a package from the schamps haha i can't spell im trying to hurry but it was way nice of them! they sent me a little christmas tree that you can decorate and they kept the tradition alive and sent me a ornament it was way nice of them and i really appreciated it. i also got a letter from kathy! haha i was way pumped when i saw that. its always good to get mail! and i got a letter from the stosichs! it was way good to hear from them it really made it a good week! oh yeah some exciting news! i'll be having my first baptism this dec 17th! we've been teaching this girl shes 26 and dating a RM so that helps a lot to. shes really progressing and has been coming to church and everything! its been really cool! the spirit is so strong everytime we teach her and she shows great faith! the koreans are planning on being baptized the 25th. but they have a hard time at church cause they cant really understand anything so they sometimes don't come which is beginning to be a problem! so i dont know there but ill keep you updated. oh man we had stake conference yesturday and Elder Maisulcha from the 70 came and spoke to us and holy cow it was amazing. it was about support from the leaders in helping reactivate and he told what was up and what was needed to hear. the spirit was way strong. haha he was way bold. i couldnt believe the stuff he was saying! he really reemed into the priesthood leaders and how we need to step it up. he's a way good speaker and i think it really fired up the people here. the philippines are great and im glad im here. i just feel so blessed its crazy! im going to try and send some pics home. but i love you guys and i thank you so much for your support! this is truly the lords work and we are all enlisted! remember that! love you family oh yeah i can call home anytime this month so when do you think? im thinking christmas or christmas eve let me know! Mahal kita Elder Machen