Monday, August 05, 2013
The Philippines is almost the complete opposite of
America! After I finished talking to everyone (except for David....) I
boarded the plane and 9 hours later we landed in Tokyo where everyone had to
try the badae's! I don't think I spelled it right but it's the toilets
that shoot water!
We were only there for a few min when we had to board
another plane and head off to Manila! When we landed in Manila and got
off the plane, it was an eye opening experience! Cars, motorcycles, and
people everywhere! It was mass chaos! It stunk so badly and it made
me super happy that I wasn't serving in Manila. I'm pretty sure that
Filipinos have an immunity to car exhaust. It was sooo hot and it felt
like I was breathing clouds of smoke! We all waited at the airport for an
hour and then we headed off to a hotel for the night. At the hotel when
we arrived I asked the driver if it was a nice hotel and he said "5
star." The standards are different here for what is nice! The hotel I
worked at was way better than the "5 star" one in Manila! (At
this time I didn't realize what I’d be living in) After about 3 hours of sleep
we left and went to the airport again to fly to Cauayan! It was only a 30
min flight which was good because I’m sick of planes for 2 years! From the
airport the AP's and Pres. Ralf came and picked us up. We went to the
mission home where we talked for a while and ate some really good Filipino
food! (I should have taken advantage of that food) When we finished
eating we got to see our new companions and mine is a native Filipino from
Manila! His name is Elder Guevarra. He's a pretty cool Elder and is
trying his best to teach me Tagalog! When we left the Mission home that's when I
realized I didn't know what I signed myself up for! After a 20 min ride
in a van we got out and had to take another 20 min ride on a triky. A triky or
tricycle is a motorcycle that has a little side car on it that is made out of
whatever the people who are driving them can find! It was kinda scary at
first because people were driving so close to us and so fast! Finally we
got to our apartment, just Elder Guevarra and I live there. The area is
called Da Gupon. It's the only area that has bikes because it's out in
the middle of nowhere! 
There have been a lot of first time experiences here so
far! I took my first bucket shower that day and my first no toilet paper
experience!
That night I wasn't feeling really well and we went over to
a members house for a dinner appointment. We went to their house that is
only 3 rooms and is the size of half our garage and 12 people live in it!
We sat down at a table than wasn't any bigger than the size of a monopoly board
and it didn't come past our shins! I felt bad when I didn't eat all their
food because I felt sick but she was nice and understood.
That night was probably the worst night’s sleep I have ever
had! I'm still pretty jet lagged but that night I woke up at 4 in the
morning and couldn't fall back to sleep! I was just lying there and
then all of a sudden about a million roosters start crowing! (They do this
every morning) It's the most annoying thing in the world!
We stayed in the house till about 2 studying and confirming
appointments and then we finally set out! The area I’m in is pretty low
class! Most of the houses have straw roofs or are just made out of cinder
block but the people are so nice and give a lot to us! Every lesson we
have with member or non-member they always give us some food and Pepsi/coke!
All they drink here is soda and they don't drink it in bottles! They pour
it in a sack and you drink it with a straw!
The same thing
happened the next day but we got a text saying "I want to be a member of
your church" I thought it was a joke because I thought that this never
happens! It wasn't a joke. I challenged 3 people to baptism the next day and
they all said yes and came to church the next day! I bore my testimony in
sacrament and in class about prayer and families!
That Sunday we went out and taught 3 families. In the
middle of the lesson I saw a rat going through the person’s food and
plates. I didn't tell them because I didn't want to distract from the
spirit and I also thought it would have embarrassed them. So I just
watched it run around and have fun. We taught a newly-wedded couple that
were recent converts and they said that sometimes they yell and get mad at each
other. They asked ME what they should do.... (For some reason people think
I know everything because I’m American) I had no idea what to say because
1. I’m not married and 2. I’m only 20 years old! So I just shared a verse
in 2 Nephi about patience! They seemed to like it and then my companion
took it from there! Now its p-day on Monday here. I think it's midnight
in Utah! I'm slowly learning the language and how to survive. I love you
all so much and I was so happy to talk to you! I can't wait till we can
talk again!
Mahal Kita, Elder Tribe
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| Our apartment |
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| Our kitchen |
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| Shower |
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