Transfers

Transfers were… the worst. I thought for sure I'd be leaving; Elder Abuan was here for only one transfer. But he's gone now. He went to Guimba zone. I have a new companion. He's new, very new. I'm training him. I’m still in San Clemente. I will spend seven and a half months here in the best branch in the mission. My companion is super great. I taught him how to use an area book and weekly planning, and he has taken care of me ever since. And he can teach like a seasoned Filipino. I also haven't slept since Wednesday, it’s been.... Interesting.  I ate balut last night. We went to a funeral, they are so strange here. They keep the bodies in a casket with a glass case over it. Elder Bell is really cool, I like him a lot. This means nothing to you but he lives only a 50 peso tricycle ride away from me. That’s like a 7 peso bus ride. We have roughly 190 missionaries right now; President Martino wants to get over 200 within a few transfers.

 Sorry transfers were so bad, are you glad you stayed or hoped you would leave?  So now you will be there for another 2 transfers right? Because you are training?  What is your new companion’s name? Why are you not sleeping? How was the Balut? What made you try it?

I'm so glad I stayed. I never want to leave San Clemente. But I just don’t feel ready to train. My new companion is Elder Basilan. The balut wasn’t actually that bad. Just the fact that it is an underdeveloped duck is the bad part. I haven't slept because being a trainer is a lot of work. What made me try it is a kid on a bike was yelling "BALUT! BALUT!"

 Is he a flilpino and is he a brand new missionary?  You are ready to train because you were finally getting comfortable in your mission.  It is now time for you to grow.  Did you have a baptism on Saturday? Are you sending any pictures this week? 

He is filipino, and has been in the mission 5 days. We had a baptism but I forgot the SD card with the pictures on it. I don’t have any pictures to send this week. I will send the SD card sometime this week.

  Tell us about your week...Where do you go to pick up the new companion and how was the baptism?  We want to know more...

 We went to Angeles City, had some training, and then ate food with all the trainers and trainees, then came back to San Clemente. The baptism was awesome; he wants to go on a mission in 2 years. Three of my last four converts want to serve missions.

Last night I played chess with Elder Revillio (our new district leader) and he beat me in three moves. It’s been a really stressful week. I've had to lead the area for the last 2 months, and i still can't speak tagalog that well. It's getting better, but sometimes I don’t know certain words or don’t understand what people say to me.
My time here is up. I'll talk to you again next week! Love you!

Elder Williams loves and misses his cousins. All of them are at least 3 years younger than him.   He was always so good to play with them and make sure they felt important.  We decided to send a monthly craft from his cousins.

Fun crafts from his cousins