Elder Lott has arrived in the Philippines

 Aug 17, 2014

Hey Everyone!! Sorry it has been like 2 weeks since I have emailed, I didn't get a p day at the Manila mtc so we didn't get the opportunity to email. I have been in the Philippines for about 2 weeks!! It is super hot here!! I sweat like crazy! That is cool that you could track my flight!  Everyone that was on that flight that day, we left on thursday and arrived in the philippines at about 12:30 a.m. so we skipped friday!! I got my new companion and his name is Elder Arorong!! He is pretty cool, Here in the philippines they call white people Joe so I get called Joe a lot!! I also have everyone staring at me
wherever we go because there is not really any white people here. Also the filipino girls like white guys so they always wave to me. Don't worry I definitely am not going to marry one! So pretty much everyday in our apartment we have lizards on our walls eating bugs, also my first night at the apartment we had a couple spiders in our apartment. That one in that picture was my shower buddy because it was in the bathroom...they are pretty big here!! We also have a bench and dumbells in our apartment. The bench is two rice cookers with cement in them cemented to a bar, and the dumbells are pretty much the same thing just much smaller!! I have my own fan so that is freaken awesome!! I hope everything is going well at home!!  I love you all

Love Elder Lott

                                    Finally to Cauayan

 The new companionships.  Elder Lott with Elder Arorong

 

 

 Still can work out.  Check out the weights- cement in rice cookers.

 

 

 

Gross.  Apparently they didn't kill this.  It eats bugs for them.  Personally I would rather have the bugs than this.  Yuck.

August 24, 2014

 

Hey everyone its been another week!!  I am adjusting to life in the philippines.  A couple of days ago I did my laundry and it was all by hand because we don't have a washer or dryer.  I have to admit that it sucked really bad.  It has been raining a lot here.  Last night me and my companion where out teaching and when we were on our way home it was poring.  By the time we got to our apartment I was soaked.  It was raining so bad that there was little rivers in all of the roads.  Me and my companion have two progressing investigators but we have like 10 in all.  The language isn't getting any easier though.  The food here, lets just say that I am not a very big fan of it.  I have been living off of french toast, eggs, and peanut butter sandwiches at our apartment.  I will send some more pictures next week.  My camera broke last week.  There is number 2 already.  Also my pin number doesn't work on my card so could you fix that so I can use some of the money on it.   Everything is so cheap here, but you have to pay for everything like transportation.  Our transportation is a motorcycle with a little thing on the side of it were we sit.  I can get some pictures once I get a new camera.  My area is a lot of farm land.  There is a lot of rice and corn fields.  Thats crazy that school is already started for them.  Have fun.  I love you all.  I will send a bunch of pictures next week if I have a new camera by then. Also thanks for that care package I got it yesterday.  My companion says thanks also. Love ya

Love Elder Lott

 

 

We are thrilled he is doing good.  We love him very much and are so proud of him.  Thank you for everyone's continued support.

 

 

Here is his mailing address for anyone interested.

 

 

 

Elder Alex Michael Lott

Philippines Cauayan Mission

78 Burgos Street

3305 Cauayan City

Isabela

Phillipines

 

(postage is $1.50 to send.  They have special international stamps at the post office or use three stamps.)

On a funny note (sort of), he has already had two cameras, a watch and a suitcase break. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lotts of summer fun

Why must the summer come to an end??   Didn't it just begin??  I recently mentioned to someone that I guess all good things have to come to an end.  She replied, "Or other good and new things start."  I told her that I liked that better.  So here are all the good things that we have done this summer and soon I will post about all the other new and good things that we will have started.

 We had fun camping up in Logan Canyon.  It rained a lot and the kids saw a few rattlesnakes while hiking.  Luckily we had no major accidents.  We enjoyed yummy dutch oven food and just spending time together as a family.   Thank goodness for baby wipes.  Ethan wouldn't wear shoes and his feet were as black as coal.  It was the first time in our new/old trailer and wow, that was great. The wind did blow one night and collapsed our canopy shade again for the second year in a row.  I found the humor in the situation even if Mike didn't.  I guess I will order a few extra replacement parts this time and plan ahead for next year.  We had a blast and can't wait to go again. 

 Adam loves being a cub scout.  He had so much fun during day camp up at Camp Kiesel.  Mike and I were the adult leaders (it was our date for the week) and we had a nice day watching the boys do various activities.  Adam's favorite was archery.  He has been working hard on his wolf and should receive his award next month.  I am still the Bear leader in our ward (along with my awesome mother-in-law as my assistant) and we have a lot of fun doing activities.  Ethan is thrilled that he usually gets to join in.  Adam usually joins in as well because we only have two Bears.

 The boys love to swim.  Check out Adam.  Maybe we have a Olympian on our hands.

Silly boys.  They came down stairs ready to box, and yes that is underwear on their heads.  Hopefully it is clean.   I let them go at it for a little while.  I got it on video and it's really pretty funny.  After a minute or so, Ethan had enough after getting hit in the face. 

Ethan came up with this idea on his own so the onions wouldn't hurt his eyes as he helped me make salsa.  Clever boy.

August 12, 2014 

(from the August 2014 Ensign.  There are so many wonderful messages throughout.)

I recently heard this quote.  "You will heal, but you are never the same."  This is so true.  I will always have a longing in my heart for my sweet Ryan.  And I will have joy, but it won't be complete until we are all together again as a family.  I look forward to that joyous reunion with all my heart.  With all I have gone through, I have learned so much and gained so much.  Much of this I wouldn't have been able to learn unless I went through what I did.  My testimony and love for my Savior is stronger than ever.  It has to be for me.  It keeps me going and gives me comfort and strength to endure.  I know it will all be wonderful in the end and I just need to be patient.   My Heavenly Father loves me perfectly, even though I am so imperfect.  And that's OK.  He sent his only Son to make up for where I lack.  And he sacrificed him so I can be with mine again someday.  My Savior loves me and my Heavenly Father does answer prayers.  He knows what's best for us, even if we don't agree at the time.  This life time is but a moment and eternity is what counts.  I try and look for the little miracles and blessings I receive ever day.  Even in a tragedy there are miracles and answers to prayers. We are never alone.

 Enjoying nachos at an Ogden Raptors game.  The boys are crazy about baseball  right now and love to practice with one another and with Mike.  I have to hide the metal bats as I am not in the mood for any head injuries or broken window.  The other day we went to the park to practice a little.  When I got up to bat Ethan told Adam (who was in the outfield) to move up closer.  How rude.  I showed him and hit a good one.

 Go Longhorns.  We went to the Weber County Fair.  The best part was the yummy kettle corn.  It's crazy we paid to get into a fair to pet goats and see chickens and cows when we have our very own little petting zoo at home.  The kids did have fun getting up close to these, which we do not have yet.  Just kidding Mike.

We went to a putting green for Family Home Evening.  Ethan was thrilled to get a dollar for getting a hole in one.  I even got a par.   We had to play super fast because a storm was coming in.  It was very fun and the kids can't wait to go again.  They love to practice with a set of Alex's old golf clubs in our yard.  Once again, they aren't supposed to use them unsupervised due to the fact that I do not want any broken windows or heads.  Apparently it's a secret but a ball has hit our house and one of the boys did get hit in the head with a club.  I can't remember which one though.  And thank goodness neither was too bad.  It's a good thing that Ethan isn't good at keeping secrets.  He always comes up to me and tells me he knows something but he can't tell me.  Luckily it doesn't take much to get him to spill the beans.

 We attended the Ogden Temple open house.  It was beautiful.  Ethan had fun pretending like he was a usher and directing us in the line.  He also loved to touch everything and sit on every couch and get a drink from every drinking fountain even though we asked him nicely not to do so.  I guess he felt pretty safe in the temple and knew he wouldn't get into much trouble.    Mike and I are excited to be able to volunteer on Sept 6th at the temple.  That will be a special opportunity.   I can't wait to be able to start attending this beautiful temple.  We are so blessed to have so many close by.  What a special opportunity it is to attend the temple and help those on the other side so they can be blessed to have their families with them forever.  It's also special to know that my dear sweet Ryan is doing a special work on the other side and we are working together in our Heavenly Father's great plan.

Ethan enjoyed wearing the shoe cover as a hat afterwards.  Silly boy.

Poor Ethan dropped a 35 lb weight on his toe.  He was so brave.  He cried for a few minutes and then was up and playing again.  It hasn't held him back.  I really hope he will now see why we have made the rule not to play with the weights.  I am just glad he didn't break his toe or worse.

 So soccer season has started and the boys are thrilled.  Yesterday Adam got his uniform.  It was huge.  I put it on and it fit me.  I guess I will try and shrink it in the wash or start hemming it.  Apparently they we expecting a giant 8 year old on the team.  Hey maybe I will just join in and play. 

I used this quote in a Relief Society lesson I gave a few weeks ago.  It is a great one and I wanted to share it.

The boys had so much fun making these little tool boxes for a scout project.  Don't be fooled, they came from a kit and only required four nails and a dab of glue and paint.  It was a perfect project for my two little boys and for me as well. 

Jaime  8th grade

August 20, 2014

Adam  3rd grade

   The first day of school.  Exciting times, except for Ethan who doesn't start kindergarten for another week.  He was up and dressed at 6:30am and couldn't understand why he couldn't just ride the bus with Adam.  We spent the morning playing some games to keep his mind off his heart ache.

Here's to all the good things yet to come.....