I have been
assigned to TayTay 1st ward, it is so gorgeous when you get away from
the main roads! I have to cover my face on the main roads because there
is so much smog and it's just gross and I don't really like breathing
that in hahaha
My companion is Sister
Faasavalu, she is from Hawaii and is absolutely amazing, I love her!
She has been here for about 14 months and I pray that she will stay with
me throughout all my 12 weeks training!
Our
house is pretty nice, it's just my companion and I that live there but
two other sisters live in the next apartment. There are ants everywhere
and some cockroaches that we have had to end up killing. I killed
one in the MTC which was fun, there is a video on the Dropbox website
that I will send the link.
The food here is
really good! I love the Lumpia, it is my favorite. The ward
missionaries in our ward are almost all teenagers and they got me to eat
balut on my first day out i!! Thought I was going to throw up a few
times but I got it down :) THE MANGOS AND BANANAS HERE ARE TO DIE
FOR!!! I cannot wait to bring you guys back here to eat all the yummy
food. It is delicious!
The work here is
really progressing, we have had I think about 8 people set a baptism
date which is awesome and we are so excited! The hardest part is not
knowing the language and wanting to talk to them so badly, but the
language is starting to come and I can kind of follow the conversation
now. The problem in this area though is that so many people will agree
to baptism but then won't go to church...kind of a big problem haha
They are really strong catholics and this week is holy week so that's
also another problem we have run into, but people are still willing to
talk to us especially when they see my bright red face and want to take
me in and offer me water. Haha
I can't even
begin to tell you how many stares I get a day, how many little kids come
up to me to touch my skin and how many guys say "Hello beautiful.."
That part is a little creepy, but the rest is great! The kids are the
cutest, they always call me Elsa and point at their Elsa shirts! I love
them.
Bishop's family has really taken Sister
Faasavalu and I into their family. Two of their kids always come out
and teach with us and they feed us as well. Dad, bishop really reminds
me of you-sarcastic, loving, and funny! And the mom is always taking
care of us and goes shopping with us. The stuff here is so cheap,
dresses for $4! In the pic at the temple I am wearing a new dress I
got. It's nice to have the grocery store and things around here, but
also have the gorgeous areas that are green with lots of mango trees and
coconut trees, best of both worlds :)
The
people here are just the best! Humble, happy, caring, loving, and very
family oriented. I see how little these people have and how happy they
are. I'm excited to be able to serve these people for the next 16
months :) I know it will be the hardest thing I have ever done, but the
most rewarding. Tell everyone I love them back home and feel of their
love, prayers, and support. Also, sorry to everyone who I could not
email back, when I logged on I had 45 emails....I love you all!!
love from the Philippines, Sister Latham
Remember: CTR-Choose the Rice, Cook the Rice :)
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