So although I didn't get a letter from C.J. this week, the mission president did send a letter. He sent these pictures.

week 14

Didn't get a letter:(

Week 13

C.J. and his companion brought 12 investigators to church this last week. Without warning, the bishop announced that he and his companion were going to speak. He says he quickly decided to talk on the Savior's ministry, but then found out he was being asked to speak on the importance of the spirit in missionary work. It sounds like he'll be learning to prepare talks ahead of time just in case. So, he spoke for the first time in church on his mission, in Illongo. And after 2 1/2 weeks.
His mission area is kind of junglish, he says. and there is a volcano nearby. It sounds like they get their rides with jeepne drivers and trike drivers and he indicates that they often try to get him to pay more. I guess that's where a Filipino companion can really come in handy. He says the kids like him and they call him Joe or Brad. Not sure what that's about. I guess he could be seen as a young Brad Pitt :/

Week 12

C.J. almost had his first baptism. But, apparently it was postponed. He finally got to see conference, but missed the priesthood session due to some confusion on the time. They got 9 investigators to come. He seemed to understand a lot of what was said. From his letter, it sounded like the talk was given in either Tagolog or Illongo.

Week 11

C.J.'s been in the Philippines for almost a week. He is serving in an area just north of Bacolod City called Bata. His companion is Elder Labii, a Filipino from Northern Luzon. He is teaching in Illongo, which is not what he learned in the MTC. He's in a poor area with run down shacks and cardboard houses supported by bamboo. He and his companion are "whitewashing" which I'm still trying to understand the meaning of. They seem to have lots of people to teach, which should help his language, hopefully.

Week 10

We got to talk to C.J. 4 times as he travelled to the Philippines. He left on March 29th, but they are a day ahead of him, so with time changes, he lost a day. He first called from the SLC airport. Then, from LAX. He was anxious to talk to everyone and called Krystin at her play practice so that he could talk to her before he left LAX. I had sent him some snacks that he got on Friday. This was for his flight, in case he didn't have time to get something to eat. In SLC he said he was hungry, but his companion wanted to stay on the phone until the last possible minute. I asked him if he had the snacks. He said he'd already eaten them. No wonder he's gained weight. He also said that they have a lot of greasy food at the MTC and he had a lot of hamburgers and french fries. The 2 weeks before he left he started to have more salad. It was apparent that he had learned a lot of patience, because he was okay with not eating so that his companion could have more time on the phone. At LAX he seemed a little bit subdued. I think it was the recognition that he was so close to home. But, when he called from Taiwan he wanted a quick conversation so he could go eat. It was evident that if there was any homesickness during the flight, he was over it. Then, he called again from Manila. Luckily it was spring break for us so we were able to arrange our schedules so we were always home. In Manila, a church member picked them up and helped them get their luggage and weigh it (they had to pay for anything over the allotted weight). He took them across town to a smaller airport to fly to Bacolod. It took him about 3 hours to do all of that, then he called. It was only a short flight to Bacolod, and of course, we haven't heard from him since. I tried to give him lots of advice (like not drinking the water and letting the mission president know he'd been sick), but he kept saying that anything he needed to know he'd find out from the mission president and so I needed to stop worrying.
I have to say I felt a lot of relief after he arrived. I was feeling quite a bit of anxiety when he left LAX. I think knowing he was leaving the country was a daunting thought. It's hard to imagine him so far away. I know he's doing what he, the Lord, and us, want him to be doing. Now we go on faith and trust that the Lord will take care of him.

Week 9

CJ is with his Mission President, and Branch President. I'm not sure which is which cuz he didn't specify. This is C.J.'s last week in the MTC and he's excited to get out and serve. He sent us a beautiful letter bearing his testimony of the Book of Mormon. Elder Cook spoke to them and told them that the things that are going on in the world will humble people and prepare them to receive the gospel. He promised them that the righteous desires of their hearts would be granted. CJ has a lot of faith and knows that his own testimony and change of heart is a direct result of the Book of Mormon and he just wants to share that with others.

Week 8

Here's CJ with Mark Rosell. CJ says he's gained 15lbs (maybe more now) but he doesn't look it. This week he attended a fireside which he really enjoyed. He said that that he "regrets so much the opportunities I had to share the gospel with people when I was in school and at work because I failed to do so. I urge all of you to do your best to bring people into the Lord's true church. We are all sons and daughters of God and who are we to take the opportunity of hearing this gospel from God's children. Read Jacob 1:19. Please follow all the promptings of the spirit and do all you can to help bring others into the fold, everyone could benefit from having this gospel in their lives."