☼ Mabuhay ♥ from the Philippines Laoag Mission!: Another email from your favorite missionary who is SO EXCITED to be an aunt! You have no idea!

Hey Family!

So, I have just one word for you to start out: BABY!!!! AHHHHH! I’m so excited! You have no idea! Actually, you probably have a pretty good idea. I was so excited after printing out my emails this morning, so sister Asuro and I bought a whole bunch of yummy snacks when we bought our groceries. We love snacks. It’s our weakness. And today we had a good excuse to buy them. I took a picture, which I am hoping to include in a separate email. I’ve been talking sister Asuro’s ear off about Nephi ever since this morning because I’m SO EXCITED!

There’s a little 1-year-old boy in the branch here who loves to play peek-a-boo games with me. He’s so cute! Nephi will be about that age when I get home. Maybe he’ll be like that too! I’m so excited!

Well, I guess you want to hear about what’s happening here. Yesterday we were really hoping Marlon would come to church. We arranged for a couple of the YSA guys in the branch to pick him up for church, but he didn’t end up going. It was really disappointing, but I guess we just have to really think more about how we can help him. He is reading the Book of Mormon and praying, and he says he’s noticed a difference in his life because of it. He feels happier and less bored. He just needs to go to church so he really can be baptized. Rebecca, if you can think of any ideas to help people go to church when they are shy to do so, that would be really helpful (unless you’re too busy with Mommy stuff).

We’re also teaching a woman named Lisa. She is in her 40’s and she works as a maid at a member’s house. She has a lot of trials, especially financially. Her husband is sick, so he sometimes can’t work, and they sometimes don’t have food, so she has to ask for help from neighbors. She is very humble, and she needs the gospel so much.

Could you all pray for Marlon and Lisa. They really need prayers so they will accept the gospel. If you could, also pray for Jackielyn. I don't remember if I've told you about her, but she is the 16 year old sister of one of the members here, and she is really excited to learn about the gospel, but she also has a hard time coming to church. she has a baptismal date for October, but she needs to come to church every Sunday before then. She's such a cute girl, and I really hope she will be baptized.

Hey Daddy, can you think of any experiences where the gospel really blessed your family when you were growing up that you can share with me? Especially financially because most of the people here are very poor, and especially examples of how living specific gospel principles brought specific blessings. I want to be able to share it with the people I teach.

Oh, and Mommy and twins, thank you so much for your letters! You have no idea how happy it made me to get real letters in the mail! And Rebecca, thank you for your dear elder! I love getting letters!

I love you all! Thanks for your emails and letters! They always make me SO HAPPY! You're the best family ever! Give Nephi lots of hugs and kisses for me! Make sure he doesn't forget his Auntie Lisa, since I'm not there to remind him!

Love, Sister Boekweg

Pictures for my favorite nephew!