Week 8 ~ RIP My Hair, Manila Week 1 of 3

Hello friends and family! This week's email is going to be really long because a lot happened so if you don't have time you can just look at the photos. Also, I still have three weeks in Manila; I leave for the field on December 12th.

Alright here we go - 

Tuesday: Took the bus to the FrontRunner, then went to the Salt Lake Airport, waited for three hours, then flew from Salt Lake to San Francisco. After eating some food, flew from San Francisco to Manila. 

For those of you who have never been on a flight for 15 hours, it's very long. Especially when you can't fall asleep or watch movies so I looked at the flight map and listened to classical music for 15 hours. The food was not very good to be honest, but the filipinos on the flight were so nice. Let me tell you two things I've observed about the people here: They are soooooo nice and especially if you speak to them in Tagalog. They laugh, but not disrespectfully, our teacher explained to us. No matter how much I butcher things they always say my tagalog is better than somebody they are related to, usually it's their nieces. I don't think that's true at all. The second thing I've observed is they LOVE saying my last name they pronounce it like Spack-MAN

Wednesday: Flying All day

Thursday: Arrived in Manila and hopped in a van to a hotel. The most boring day ever. Sooooo jet lagged because of the 14 hour time difference. Roomed with Elder Buchmer who is going to Legazpi and fell asleep at 5:30pm.

Friday: Woke up at 4am and we were bussed to the Manila MTC. They literally cut off all my hair. My hair was missionary compliant before, yet it all got cut off so I got that buzz cut now.

Anyway, the rest of the days have been the same as always, to my teachers who were saying Manila is more focused on obedience with rules, you were correct. Also the food and housing is sooooo much better here than Provo. Our room is Me, Elder Lybbert, Elder Parsons and Elder Wars.

Spiritual Thought: 

Our purpose as members of the Church is to invite all others to come unto Christ, so they can become more like Him. To be able to do this, become a disciple of Christ. Study Him, apply his teachings and love Him. Trust in Christ and turn to Him with all your problems. He knows you and will help you with any problem you are facing - anxiety, depression, no hope. All these things Jesus Christ suffered for us so He can know and help you through them. All it takes is being humble enough to recognise you need to turn to Him for everything and not yourself. I know for a fact I couldn't do this Mission without Jesus Christ's help. 

Tagalog word of the week: Patay - Kill

PICTURES:

Gorgeous view of the city from my residence


My hair is all gone

 Dinner


 Lunch ay masarap 😋





Lunch


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