It has been awhile since I have taken the time to blog, will try and catch up.
I have loved going to the shopping malls here, they play Christmas carols and everyone sings along with them, I feel like I've heard a choir when I leave. The filipino people do love to sing and since they are a christian country they are very comfortable singing Christmas hymns anywhere.
The temple Christmas lights were turned on December 1st and is beautifully done. It does seem a little strange to see palm trees with lights on them. The manager scene is quite large and very realalistic.
My companion and I baked cookies for the people in our department, can't believe I didn't burn a one. There are 20 people that work in the Member Statics Records (MSR) so that was a lot of cookies, couldn't eat very many or would not have enough.
We were invited to the employee Christmas party, it was a catered affair in our cafeteria that was all decorated and festive. We heard from the Area President and PAO choir. MSR had a party also, the code word to get into the room was "eat", of course all filipino food, some very good some not so good, but I managed to leave feeling full.
Eva, the sister that was an interpeter for Scott when he was here on his mission, husband works in the MSR, I invited them to our apartment for dinner. They have four children. They do not own a car so a friend was going to give them a ride so I invited him and his family to dinner also. They have 3 children, so we had seven children ages 3 yrs to 14 yrs, it was great. I made spaghetti and meatballs using a filipino sweet spaghetti sauce, tasted good. The 3 year old didn't want to eat because we didn't have any rice. I got some games, crayons, etc to keep the kids busy and we all had a good visit. We used paper products, so no doing dishes.
I taught the branch Relief Society lesson a couple of weeks ago, it was on Gifts of the Spirit. I didn't know quite what to expect as the lessons are always given in Tagalog, and we know I don't speak nor understand it unless they use hand motions, sometimes I get it. I felt like the lesson went pretty well until the very end when the Relief Society president asked if people with the third eye had a gift of the spirit. I had no idea what the third eye was, so I said "would that be like when as a child I asked my mother how she always knew what I was doing, she said she had eyes in the back of her head?" She said the third eye was people who could see beyond the veil. I explained that if the Lord felt we had a need to see beyond the veil he could bless each of us to do that, it was not a gift of the spirit just a blessing from the Lord if he feels it is needed. I think some of the Catholic teachings get mixed in sometimes.
I had my first and possibly last experience riding a tricycle. I walked to the mall and had to many bags to carry back, so hired a tricycle, wow, what a ride! It was one of those moments where I said, "I can't believe it, I am in a tricycle riding down the street in the Philippines."
I have decided to see if I can drive here, my companion and I depend on others for rides, and it is uncomfortable to me, so I am going to get my drivers license and the motor vehicle department guys, here at the PAO will take me out to prove I can drive. Of course, I really don't know if I will be able to drive in this traffice, like I said before, it feels like driving in bumper cars, I may just freeze up, however if I do it just means I shouldn't drive, if I can do it, good for me. We'll get a car and watch out traffic, I'm on the road. I feel anxiety just thinking about it.
Starting the second week of January we will be having mapping meetings at least every other weekend and during the week as we can schedule them. We will be flying to Cebu again but most of the trips will be by vehicle. I really wish we could get this mapping done by the time Sister Clark leaves, but that is not her goal.
I hope you all had a Very Merry Christmas, this was a new experience for me. For the first time in my life I was completely away from family and friends, well I have made new friends here and they are great people. This is the first Christmas I can remember where my focus was totally on the Savior, some emotions rose in me that were very tender and heartfelt. As they say here, I am "much grateful" for the Saviors birth, love and sacrifice for each of us. I am so grateful for my family and their support, they truly are a comfort and satisfaction to me. I am also grateful for my good friends and their kindness.
Happy New Year!
