Letter #74 (2nd Jan, 2013)

Terri here: First off, can I just say....Taylor will be home THIS year!!!!

Hey all,
Transfers! Im transferring to the city in Labangon as ZL with E.Harris
in the central zone, and E.Manansala is transferring to City zone as
DL there.
Yup! Pulled-out! our replacements will be E.long and E.Verano, who
will both be great for the area in continuing to help our
investigators and the branch to progress, and in helping the Zone to
improve as well.
I have to say, the transfer is both a surprise and not really at the
same time... I don't really know how to explain this. I had an
overwhelming odd feeling this week that I was going to transfer, but I
knew that Elder Manansala was going to transfer as well. I couldn't
figure it out until I thought about the fact that we are foreordained
to meet certain people... and that I am needed somewhere else at this
time, and that my work here is done. I definitely felt that yesterday,
when we were out visiting the members. I felt strangely detached and
foreign in the area, like I didn't belong. I knew I was transferring.
It has been so interesting how the Lord has prepared the area for this
with the last focus on the Area Book and working with members. We have
great branch missionaries who work with us at least 4 times a week,
and the Area Book hasn't seen so much updating for a long time... (it
also helped that we made it so if we didn't update the Area Book there
was a fine of P5... I think we only missed 2 days each before we were
making sure it was updated every single night, no matter how tired we
were). The Area Book will be a great tool for Elder Long and Elder
Verrano, and I am very confident that they are going to be great for
this area and for the Tanjay zone.
I am excited and a little nervous about heading into the city... this
will be my first "city" area in my entire mission (I don't count Danao
city as a city, because it was very bukid still...), and look forward
to working with Elder Harris. I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father
for all my experiences here in Amlan with Elder Manansala, and for all
the friends I have made in the gospel here. I am excited for Brother
J to receive the Aaronic Priesthood and he has been helping us
with a new investigator. He is going to be such a strength for the
branch, and for his family as well. He has had so many spiritual
experiences that have given him such a strong testimony of the gospel.
I am excited to hear where he is in a years time from now and what
amazing things have happened for him ans his family. And also for Sis
D-A... hopefully her family will begin to listen to the
missionaries as well, and we have heard that the members are trying to
help them by fellow-shipping.
Its been hard this last week with all the holidays to not get
homesick, but it has been great to know that I am doing to Lords work
here and that there are so many blessings been poured out upon
everyone.
I'm sure to have a lot to say this next coming week after a week in the
new area and another ZLC... and lots of photos of the new area
(hopefully  :P ).
Not much else to report this week to you all back there... we had fun
these holidays and got fed not much at all, but still felt the love of
the members. It was good.
Missing you lots,
Love you tons,
Elder Taylor Addison Cox