Dearest family and friends,
I am officially in the mission field!!!! We flew to Laoag on Wednesday
morning from Manila. It is absolutely gorgeous here!!!! It is tons of
farm, ricefield, beaches, palm trees, etc. It is like being in a old
spanish philippines. It is actually hotter here than in Manila. Maynila
feels like a swim pool, here it feels like a slightly damp summer in
Idaho :) haha soo.... Our mission president and wife are great, they are
so funny and easy to connect with. Our president is a jokester but he
is also very strict when it comes to rules which is good.
So the night I got there, we had an orientation and then we all got sealed envelopes with our area and companion in it. We all opened them together, it was like Christmas!!! haha :) I am assigned to work with Sister Jolo, she is so super sweet! She is a Filipina which is so super helpful in our lessons. She is good at English too, it's amazing and such a blessing. She is always so positive, patient and encouraging. We were assigned to Laoag City Ward 3! So we are in the city-city. It is still not a city though haha.
So the night I got there, we had an orientation and then we all got sealed envelopes with our area and companion in it. We all opened them together, it was like Christmas!!! haha :) I am assigned to work with Sister Jolo, she is so super sweet! She is a Filipina which is so super helpful in our lessons. She is good at English too, it's amazing and such a blessing. She is always so positive, patient and encouraging. We were assigned to Laoag City Ward 3! So we are in the city-city. It is still not a city though haha.
The main method of transportation here is the
tricycle. I know what you're thinking! But it's not actually a kid bike.
It is basically a motorcycle with a side car, kind of like the one from
Aristocats haha :) Men drive them all day every day. and if you want a
ride you flag them down. Usually a ride is like 20 filipino pesos. Also
they have horsedrawn carts!!! it's so fantastic. Some people have cars
but that is just because we're in the city.
Our
apartment is wonderful, the missionaries call it the mansion apartment,
haha. 2 other sisters live with us, Sister Malubago and Sister Anderson.
They are so nice and fun :)
Because Sister Jolo and I
have pink-washed this area, which means we're both new to it, we have
had to get to know all the members and area. It is fun though, because
everyone we teach, we know well. We have 3 investigators with baptismal
dates, Mikaela, Faith and Ronald. Mikaela and Faith are 9 years old and
very sweet girls. Ronald is almost ready, but he still has a problem with smoking. We
have challenged him to start quitting by smoking only 1 cigarette a
day.
3 of our investigators came to church yesterday! It
was such a glorious feeling! I just wanted to dance and shout!! :) haha
it is just so joyful to see them making the right choices to come closer
to Heavenly Father.
Our ward is wonderful, they are so
kind and willing to help us :) Our ward speaks a mix of Tagalog,
Ilokano, and English. I have picked up only the most basic-est words in
Ilokano, so sometimes I don't know what they are saying but pshh oh well
:) Ilokano is a language spoken almost only in the northern
Philippines, and almost every word has a "k" in it! :) haha but its
great!!!
Saturday
we tracted to a different part of our area that is more rural with more
bukid (field). It was a little shocking to see the poverty and humble
circumstances there. But the people smile, they work, they continue. The
Filipinos are so strong. They can bounce back like no other, and smile
even when things are not good. I have really been thinking about my
blessings lately.
I haven't tried any super weird foods as of yet,but today I
tried this deliciously weird dessert today called halo-halo, which
literally means mix-mix. It has ice creamade of purple yams, jello
chunks, colored other gelatin chunks, cheese, ice, coconut, beans,
bananas, sweetened condensed milk, and more. It is delicious but it
kinda looks weird! :) They eat lots of chicken and rice, and yummy
mixtures that go on rice called ulam. Also, everything is sweet here,
the meat, the bread, the vegetables, they just put sugar in everything!
haha I might not lose too much weight here :)
Hmmmm what else to say! It's been so busy and good! The people are
so friendly, just random people on the street say "Hello sister!" they
all know who we are :) I get stared at alot because I'm white, and it was
so funny, the bishops 4 year old daughter keeps asking what is all over
my face (freckles:) It feels so good to have a ward to call your own,
an area to call your own. I am very happy here, learning so much and
experiencing so much. Please write questions if you have any :)
I have really felt the strength of the Savior. Though I am weak
and simple, God has called me to be part of His work. He believes in me
and put me here for reasons that I might not be able to understand now,
but He knows all. The same is true with you all. God put you in the
places you are for His reasons. There are people all around you that you
can help. Simple smiles, hello's, and conversation can go a long way.
But sharing the message of Jesus Christ and His Gospel can go for
eternity.
I know these things are true. I know the Gospel is true, and
that it can help the poorest of the poor and the richest of the rich.
God loves all cultures and nations, we are all brothers and sisters. We
should love God and each other with all our hearts.
Thank you so much for your support and prayers, I love you all and
I love this work I get to be a part of!! I challenge you all this week
to pray for experiences to share God's love each day, and then follow
the feelings and impressions you get. Miracles can happen, and the by
miracles, my mission president says, it means the changing of people's
hearts.
Okay, till next week!!!!
Pag-ibig!
Sister Andelin
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