6 July 1999

It's been exactly six months since I've been in this mission.

We went to Ormoc for P-Day yesterday.  After shopping and eating and all that, we went to a bakery with the Merida elders.  While Elder Roberts bought some bread, Elder Surowiec and I admired a cake in the display cooler.  As Elder Roberts left the counter, Elder Surowiec asked the lady who worked there, "How much does that cake cost?"  She said 390 pesos.  "If I buy it for my birthday, can I have a discount?" Surowiec asked, just kidding around.  The lady laughed and said no.

"Is it your birthday today?" another customer asked.  It was a 28-year-old woman that we had never met before.

"No, not until July 18," Elder Surowiec said.

"Okay," the woman said.  "I'll buy it for you."

We were stunned, because she was serious.  We tried to talk her out of it.  Elder Surowiec kept saying he was maolaw (shy) to take it.  She bought it for us anyway.  We thanked her profusely and gave her a Book of Mormon.  We shared the cake last night with the Pacres and Sarmiento families.