Ayungon, I'm Pretty Sure You Won't Find it on the Map

Sounds like you all had a good week. Also sounds like things are winding down, but also speeding up around the holidays. We got to watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional last night. That was really good. We were reminded the importance of slowing down, relaxing, and remembering the true spirit of Christmas and Christ's life.

So this last week has not been that eventful for me. It was transfer week, which always makes things strange. But the main part of the week is just spent packing, the the stress of Friday. Getting to Bacolod on time for transfer meeting, then getting back to the bus terminal without losing any of your bags, then the bus ride home and getting to work in your new area.

Due to last minute revelation by Pres. Tobias, some things changed about who was transferring in our zone, so the end result was that I am just one area over from San Enrique! Yeah it was quite the surprise. But I am now with Elder Clark, we've been on exchanges before and we have been in the same district the whole time he has been in the mission. We are in the area of Ayungon. I'm pretty sure you won't find it on the map, but if it is there it will be somewhere between San Enrique and La Carlota. If it isn't there, just put the sticker on La Carlota, because that is where we actually live. We live in a four-man apartment with the La Carlota zone leaders. It's nice. They are both really cool and fun to live with.

Elder Clark is from Riverton, not related to our Clarks, already checked.
Zone leaders: Elder Grunniger is from Kaysville, Davis Dart. He's really fun to talk to.
Elder Daniels is from Cincinnati, Ohio. When I fist got in the mission we were in the same zone for six months, so its nice to see him again. He was going to BYU when he got his mission call.

The other Elder Phelps in the mission is now down here in the La Carlota zone. So today in zone meeting it was hard to tell who they were talking to. But we sat on opposite sides of the room so we could tell by where they looked.

Well, we are still working on how we are going to call (for Christmas) and getting a time. The 26th is a Sunday, and if we call then, it will still be Christmas for you all. And we can't be outside after 6:00 on Christmas Eve in order to call for Christmas morning for you. But well get something to work.

Well, Maayong Pasko!! Maligayang Pasko! Merry Christmas in Ilonngo and Tagalog.
Love you all!!!
Elder Jordan D. Phelps

Five Fun Focus Famlies

Yeah, I was excited to use the recorder, and after reading the instruction manual like four times I just gave up and decided that you had done the same thing I would have done and assumed that it could connect. Elder Whitman was surprised that they make recorders that dont connect, he asked, "What is it used for then?" If you do send another one, a small box or a bubble envelope get here relatively fast.

This last week we worked hard. The numbers at the end of the week didn't really show it, but the blisters on our feet certainly did. We walked a lot. In an effort to get new investigators we stopped by the seminary to give them pamphlets and commit them to give them to friends and classmates that might be interested in our message. Got one from that so far. That is the strength of the San Enrique area. They go through these phases though. One month we get a ton of referrals, most of them don't get baptized, but some do. Then the next month, or two, we get absolutely no referrals and the members stop working with us. They have work so thats okay, but they can still find referrals.

We got a list of five focus families from the Branch President. These are five inactive families that we are trying to reactivate. Things are going very interesting with them. One family, we can't find their house, but we keep trying. Another is never home, or asleep when we go to them. Another just doesn't care, their son is the YM pres, but the rest are less active. The last one is fun. They hate us. Every time we show up at their house the mom is sitting outside, and she'll give us the dirtiest glare and then either just walk away or go into the house ant not listen to us. So we went to them almost everyday this last week, and the looks aren't as bad. Yesterday we were able to catch the dad as he was leaving, he still didn't want to talk to us, but he shook my hand and I held on to his so I could talk to him for just a few seconds. He actually listened!

For mom: yes, I have gotten comments from elders that Kat and Nat are really cute. As far as Andrew's manly-ness, I showed the pictures to Elder Whitman and asked him how old he thought Andrew was, he said he didn't know, so I old him 14, and he just said, "What?! He does not look fourteen! I could have sworn he was older!" So yes, Andrew does look manly. I am even surprised at how old, and big (tall) he has gotten. He might be close to my size when I get home in a year. Oh yeah, my year mark is next week! Its so crazy to think that!.

So, I assume you have still been keeping track of what week it is, this week is week six, which means we found out the transfer announcements earlier today. And the results are.............................
Elder Whitman stays!
and Elder Phelps..................Transfers! We find out on friday where to.

Just another reminder, put my first name on all you send because there is another Elder Phelps here. Skinny little guy too.


I hope you all have a good week, I'll let you know about the Christmas call. Love you all!
Elder Jordan D. Phelps