Week 8: Philippines Is Awesome!

THE PHILIPPINES IS SO AWESOME.

I was at the Manila MTC for a bit for visa stuff and got to try balut there! An elder has the pictures, so Ill get them to yall later.
My area is Molo in Iloilo Iloilo Zone. It is so fun here. The baybay/beach is so fun to walk on cause you just say hi to everyone and tell them about the church. like: "Do you believe families can be together forever in the next life?" Of course it is all in Ilonggo. 

Here, it is crazy with roosters, ido (dogs) everywhere and I love it!!! My companion is filippino, Sister Yang-ed. She and I get along pretty well and she is so sweet. We are in an apartment together which is think is rather large! It has 2 upstairs rooms and a little kitchen and a cool living area and 2 tiny bathrooms. I guess I just had lower expectations so they can only be raised. Sister Yang-ed is always surprised by me haha. (Im her first american or kana in ilonggo companion). She thought I would be freaked out by the slums and all the trash on the beach, but those are my favorite places hahaha they make me so happy. Also cockroaches and the bugs dont scare me. I love the dogs everywhere and I love the people. She is always like "really??" especially when I ride the sikads (they are motorcycles connected to a cart fr people and it feels like riding on a motorcycle. Its my favorite.) 

I used to be a little worries and scared to talk to people on my first day, but now I just greet everyone that I pass. It never fails to turn their scowl/confused look when they look at a "kana" in a small province which is rare) into a smile. I love the people. They all work hard and are so kind.  I love teaching about the gospel to random strangers and I love teaching in lessons. Speaking Ilonggo is sometimes hard and I get confused when they are speaking super fast, but I am already improving and I have a little book that I write words I hear and get definitions of them. The people help me with the language and it has only been 4 days here. I love talking to the children. One time on a jeepney, I got to talk to a girl who was 8 on the 2nd day and we gave her a book of mormon (we give out ones in Tagalog) and after then, I have been talking to people more. 

One of my favorite lessons was with Yzza, a beautiful sweet 13 year old girl who is so smart. The spirit was so strong even though chickens were walking into the house and karaoke was in the background. A little girl in that neighborhood alreadyy is my best friend and she runs to hug me when she sees me. 

People are always impressed. But I am seriusly learning this language and going through these harder trials just because this gospel is so true and it brings true joy! Love yall. I gotta go, I dont have much time!

Love,
Sister Masters

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