Hey!
So the Philippines is crazy. Man I can't believe I'm
actually here. The flight went well, we actually stopped in Guam to refuel, but
didn't get off the plane. We talked to a couple people and everyone stared at
us haha. I'm guessing I'll get that a lot. I have had everyone staring at me
and if I smile at them they just stare longer, so I don't know if I should
smile? We got to LAX and took forever to find the international terminal. When
we finally found it we had to stand in the longest line to get our boarding
pass (like an hour i think) and there were a million filipinos all speaking
tagalog and lugging these huge boxes and bags around. It looked like all of
them were moving their whole lives. I talked to one lady and she said they were
probably all bringing gifts back to their families in the Philippines cause if
you don't it's rude. I asked her if the line was always this long and she said,
ya I don't know why but everyone wants to go to the Philippines!
haha anyway I
slept pretty much the whole flight and Sister Winger kept calling me Maka Mohe.
But I still feel tired. We came out of the airport and some random Filipino was
waving at us. I was like, that looks sketchy, but Sister winger and Elder
Christensen went right up to him and let him take their bags so I just
followed. I was like, Um where are you taking us and then he said, don't you
wanna go on your mission? We got to this huge van surrounded by a ton of skinny
filipino guys all staring at us and looking us up and down. I was pretty nervous
but I guess they just hang out there to help with luggage and get paid. So we
all got in the van and then finally the driver told us his name. I was like,
This guy could seriously be anyone and we'd have no idea! But turns out he was
the right one thank goodness and he drove us to President Sperry's house.
We went through a gated community with grass and really nice
houses. The mission home is amazing! Everything was like glass and marble and
it was so cool. I couldn't believe it was like 90 degrees F at 8 in the
morning. haha it's 1:20pm now and it's SO hot! It reminds me of the middle of
summer in Texas though so I kinda like it. I just feel super bad for the elders
wearing black pants. Poor Elder Christensen was sweating like crazy! Anyway,
President Sperry let us shower and change and freshen up which felt super nice.
It was just like in the Hunger Games how they go to the really fancy capital
and eat a ton right before going into the arena. haha i felt like Katniss a
little bit. Then we ate pizza with some of the elders that have been here for
about a year and a half. They were really fun and nice and asked us how our
tagalog was. Compared to theirs, pretty much nonexistent. They were talking so
fast! So we ate pizza and then drove with them to the chapel where some of the
sisters were waiting for us.
The way people drive here is so insane! There are no traffic
rules and everyone cuts in front of everyone all the time, no right aways,
people jay-walking, everything! I just closed my eyes and tried to sleep but
sister winger was freaking out and kept gasping and screaming like, we're going
to die! Lol. We met up with the sisters and it's their p-day today which is the
only reason we get to email you! But they are all Filipino. Me and Sister
Winger are the only Americans. So we're in the internet cafe right now and I'm
sweating but I'm super happy that I got to email you!
The Philippines is overwhelming and scary and I feel so huge
cause everyone is small. But so far everyone has been really nice and I'm excited
to get better at Tagalog! The sisters that I'm with said that we'll probably go
teach some people tonight and I will need to bear my testimony and help with
the teaching a little bit. I'll do my best I guess! haha but that makes me
really nervous. All the signs are in english and the elders said that pretty
much everyone speaks taglish.
We had some filipino food on the plane that was
really good. there was like this bread thing covered in cheese that almost
tasted like a donut so that was good. Then for lunch they gave us a warm roll
filled with some kinda pork i think? That was okay...Tonight we're staying at
the mission home and tomorrow we find out who our new companion is. I'm really
excited! I honestly think I'll feel safer if I get a Filipino sister haha. I've
already seen a few scraggly dogs and cats and had a bunch of people ask me if
I'm half Filipino because of my last name :).
Mom-I feel like your grandkids are pretty much going to be the
luckiest grandkids in the whole world! Your trip to Utah and maybe CA sounds so
fun! I keep wanting to say, come see me while you''re at it! haha but i'm
across the world now! that's so weird. It's like surreal, like i'm in a movie
or something! haha I'm sure i'll get used to it!
Sorry we didn't get to talk longer on Mother's day, Mom, but I
want you to know that I am so grateful you joined the church and were so brave
to go on a mission. You are the person I think of when times get hard because I
know that if you could do it, I have a chance of being able to do it too. I
love you and I admire everything about you. You're the woman I hope to be
someday! Don't ever feel unappreciated cause I'm thinking about you and
thanking Heavenly Father for you every day! I love you!!
Love, Age
P.S. we get an hour for email every pday and it's only 10 pesos!
(whatever that means)
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