Email sent June 14, 2009

Hi Friends and Family, Things are going well over her in the Philippines. They celcbrated their 111yrs of Independence on June 12. It was alot calmer then in America on the July 4. I understand their big day for fireworks is New year. We have had two weekends of baptisms we have attended. Our friend Fred was baptized yesterday and he asked Steve to confirm him today. It was a very special day. Yesterday we attended the Duenas' Family baptism in La Castellana. The river is still too muddy to do baptisms in Moises Padilla. It involved father, mother, and 1 daughter. They have 2 more daughters that are too young. It is so special when the mother and father are baptized at the same time. Last week Mayline Pacheo was baptized. The large print Book of Mormon we had sent got here just afew days before the baptism, so we were able to give it to the Pacheo family. They both have some eye problems. He is one of the people Steve gave his reading glasses to.It is really neat because they are both members now and their little girl is doing so much better. Something that is really sad over here is the easiness of getting cigarettes. Anyone can buy one if they have 1 pesos. They sell them by the single smoke, pack, or carton. We have seen young kids smoking. We have even seen people walking around the streets with trays of things to sell and on the tray are cigarettes. One large built missionary seen a young boy smoking and went up to him and took the cigarette out of his hand and crushed it. Told him not to do it ever again! The boy was so surprised he didn't know what to do. We are so grateful for this opportunity to serve and are really enjoying working with the members! Love E & S