I Have a Driving Spirit to Succeed

Hey, what’s going on everyone? This week went well. I guess I will start off with some pretty major news that we heard this week. My mission will be undergoing a new transfer schedule to better accommodate the missionaries from the MTC. This means there will be a nine week transfer in July(usually they are only six weeks) which means instead of me going home on Oct. 31, It will be Nov. 21. This is not 100% confirmed but that’s what it sounds like so I thought I would let you know. I am thinking they might give us a choice though if we want to extend to Nov. 21 or go early on Oct. 10 which would mean I could hunt and stuff haha :) but we will see, it is just tentative since we only have a little information about it. Tomorrow is Valentines and will be just a normal day of course (yes, they do celebrate Valentines here). We then have zone conference on Wednesday so we will talk to President and Sister Pagaduan. I think I forgot to tell you but last Sunday Elder Verzo, a branch missionary and I were walking on the highway and a van pulled up to us, it was President and Sister Pagaduan. It was funny. To be honest, we were disappointed yesterday. We only had two investigators at church and we were expecting like 7-8 so that sucked. We have some sweet investigators though and we will have a baptism this Saturday of Lalyn. She takes notes at every lesson so she "won't forget and can always read them to apply them in her life." so of course that is sweet. We have a huge area so it is super hard to travel and we spend lots of money on riding. There should be four Elders here in Pototan I think since there used to be but now there are less missionaries in our mission so they had to pull them out. I am liking the members and the area a lot though. We have one family that feeds us on Tuesday and a different one that feeds us on Saturday so they are supportive. I also really like our branch mission leader. His name is Phillip Michael Llavanes(nickname is Panoy) and he is rad. Regarding the earthquake. It wasn't as bad here. No building were falling or anything, everyone was just on the street and saying "linog" or "lindol" which are the words for earthquake. It wasn't a big thing though. The power was out but then in a few hours it came back on. I got a package from Nicaragua this week from Elder Tay Web. It was a letter and a Nicaragua soccer jersey! It is way sweet and I have been wearing it around a lot. He is the man, I haven't talked to him forever since letters take forever and also I can’t e mail him...I miss all my buddies. And all my family, but I love the Philippines and my time is going fast and slowly expiring so I will keep working hard! Talk to you all next week. Halong kamo ah! Your Boy, Elder Garrett Christensen Hey pops! What’s going on there in Utah? Things here in God's country are going well. We are having pretty successful work. I noticed in my Patriachal blessing it says I have a driving spirit to succeed, I think that comes from you. You have taught me that and it helps a ton here in the mission. It would be super easy to be an average missionary and do decent work until you go home. But since I have that driving spirit and want to succeed I feel myself work harder and harder every week. I love it here. It’s hard sometimes and obviously I have times where I am thinking "I could be at Lake Powell right now" or "I could be on a hot date right now" but it is all so worth it here and is going very well. Thank you for the updates on everything. I think it would be so sweet to get home Oct. 10 and hunt and stuff with you all! Also see three more weeks of NFL haha, but we will talk about that when it gets closer. I miss you lots and love you! Elder Garrett Mom, that is awesome you are having success at the business. You are awesome mom! Regarding the package…. hmmmm... I am really not sure.. I feel like I don’t NEED anything....maybe just like Reese’s chocolate? To be honest whatever you put in there will be great. Maybe some cookie mix, also pictures are cool if you have any new ones....just of things like, your new office or new things in the house. When you are on a mission it’s like even the smallest changes at home are a big deal haha so pictures are always sweet. But you can just e mail those haha. Maybe jerky! And whatever else haha. I love you momma, I gotta go :) I will e mail you next week! Bye Bye! oh and razors! haha thank you...Love you most! Bye