My favorite clams are the ones in the swirly shells that you have to slurp out. They are so fun to eat...

Elder Fawson looking very thin with Elder Lindaya 

Helo! (That's how you spell it in Tagalog. :) Now you know a new Tagalog word. 

This week was really great! It actually just flew by. I am surprised to be sitting in the computer shop E-mailing again already. 

Life is going pretty awesome here in the Philippines! I'm just real busy doing the same missionary things. Even though I do pretty much the same thing every week it never gets old. I guess I am just good at noticing little things that make me happy and focusing on those things. That really helps to make things stay interesting. 

Yesterday we were in a skinny alley way and it was really dark and I hit my head on a something-really-solid. It really hurt and I said to myself, "I need to watch my head." then as I was being careful not to hit my head on anything I tripped on a little step-up on the ground. haha I guess I have to watch my head and my feet. It's hard when your feet are so big though. Sometimes stairs are super skinny and I can only fit almost half my foot on a step at a time. It's kind of scary going down those. :)

This week we met a super cool guy named Brother Lito. It's sorta funny 'cause in Tagalog, "lito" is the verb root for shower. haha He is super awesome though. He is really receptive to everything we teach. He keeps his reading assignments, and understands everything we teach him. He is progressing so fast. We already started lesson 2 with him (the plan of salvation [ang plano ng kaligtasan]). I'm really excited about him!!! 

that's so awesome that Heidi was team Captain for a robot competition. we actually met a guy named Capt. (same spelling and all. even the period. haha) a couple days ago. To bad he's not as much a captain as Heidi. :) How did she do? Did she take 1st place and then win a robot trophy? That's what I would have done. haha 

That reminds me, I think your prayers for me are actually working! While we were talking to Capt. he asked me if I was half Filipino. hahaha How outrageous is that? I'm the most non-filipino person out there. haha I guess my Tagalog isn't too shabby. :) I just thought that was funny. A 6' 8", white red head being half Filipino. hahaha Jon must be more Filipino than he thought. :)

Fun food for the week is clams. I really like them. They taste sort of funky, but they are so fun to eat that it's okay. We got the ones in the regular shells that you pry open, and also the one in the swirly shells that you have to slurp out. Those ones are my favorite. :) 

For our district activity we ended up watching Big Hero 6. I think next movie we watch I'm going to make a huge push for Pokemon, the 1st Movie. That's the one with Mewtwo. I think it's good because ash sacrifices himself and throws himself and takes the blow of one of Mewtwo's attacks and then turns to stone. Then everyone starts crying and all the Pokemon tears make ash come back to life. It's sort of a similitude of the resurrection. :) I think watching Pokemon will make me a better missionary. :) haha

I thought after Christmas all the Karaoke would stop, but no. It was blasting right outside my window into the late hours of the night last night. haha My favorite was when a guy sang, "I'm a barbie girl, in a barbie world. Made of plastic; it's fantastic..." It made me think of Grace Poulsen. One time we sang that song together. haha

Today during my personal study I read in 2 Nephi 5. I really like the verse that says, "They lived after the manner of happiness." Previously in the chapter it explains the things they did to do that. They kept the commandments, read the scriptures, built a temple, kept themselves busy, and had people to teach them the gospel. I realized that the reason why missionaries are so happy is because they are doing all these things all the time. We are exactly obedient, study the scriptures every day, attend the temple as much as time permits, we're always so busy, and we teach others the gospel. I am going to try to do these things even after my mission so my entire life can be "after the manner of happiness."

that's all I have to really say about this week I guess. thanks for all your support and prayers. 

Mahal na mahal ko kayo!!!

Elder Fawson

P.S. Quick shout out to the LV 3 young women. I got your package that you sent 2 months ago! Those were some yummy (and really sticky) candy canes!!! Thank you so much!!!!!