long time no see

i know, i know. hello there!

school has caught up to me and i just haven't had the time to spend a few minutes writing (yet somehow i always find time for facebook. funny...)

can i just tell you how goooooood life is?? as busy as i am, and as overwhelmed as i feel sometimes, I love every second!

1. I have been called to serve in the Philippines Angeles Mission!!! I report to the Provo MTC on Wednesday, 19 January 2011. I will be teaching the gospel in the Tagalog language and couldn't be more excited! I still can't believe it! 119 days until I leave!

Here are a few photos of the night i opened my call! Sorry the photos are blurry...everyone decided to take videos instead of photos :)

thank you so much to all of you who were able to make it! it absolutely meant the world to me! salamat at mahal kita!

I'm not nervous at all that I will be 7,343 miles from Salt Lake. I'm not nervous about the food, or the people, or the bugs. I am nervous about the language, though. Tagalog?? I bought a copy of Ang Aklat ni Mormon and a Tagalog dictionary, but I am so very lost. I wish I had nothing else to focus on right now except the language. Soon enough :)

The very few words I know so far include puso (heart), maalinsangan (muggy), mahal kita (i love you), salamat (thank you), banyo (bathroom), kilikili (armpit), putik (mud), ulan (rain), mabuti (good), anak (child), Diyos (god), kumusta (hello), aklat (book), pangulo (president), pagbabyad-sala (atonement), and panalangin (prayer.)

Slow and steady with a lot of help from the Lord!

2. I received my endowment at the Provo Temple last Saturday, September 18. This gospel is so incredible. So perfect. I am so happy!

3. I love letters and I love photos!

-elder brinton and elder vidal.

steve got the opportunity to baptize this 9 year old boy on saturday. this just makes my heart want to explode!!

i can hardly wait for the future! i miss this boy like crazy.

4. I'm learning all about the world this semester and it makes me so happy. I love maps. I love learning why people live the way they do. Can I just tell you how much I absolutely love the world we live in?

5. Seattle! Love it. Here are more photos (definitely in no particular order)...

the incredible condo we stayed in on bainbridge island.

pike place.

merrymere falls.

port townsend.

bainbridge island.

cape flattery.