December 30, 2010 - January 31, 2011

I cannot believe I have not blogged for a month, will try to be more timely from now on.

Let me start with New Years Eve, I was warned that the Filipino people love new years and celebrate with lots of fireworks. They can buy most any kind of fireworks and they do. I was standing in the apartment at midnight looking out windows that faces north and one that faces east at the same, the noise was deafening, I would have felt like I was in a war zone if it had not been so beautiful. They really do not follow any precautions and one of the guys here in the office neighbor's house burned down from firework fall out.

I really am becoming adjusted to the Philippines, all I used to see when I went out was all the garbage, they really do not have a system for collecting residents garbage, so you see it everywhere, even in plastic bags hanging from tree, fences, piled on the sidewalk or scattered everywhere. They do have street sweepers (men/women with broom and dustpan), so some areas are kept fairly clean. Anyway, I realized the other day that the garbage is still there but I don't notice it as much, to me that is adjustment to my surroundings.

I have been trying more of the Filipino food, still find most of it pretty bland and not great, however some is pretty good, however when we go out to eat I never know what to order because I do not understand what the names of the food are, so usually stick with American food if available. I do not eat rice and that is a wonder to everyone here, I am asked quite often what do you eat for carbohydrates? Bread is my answer, their bread here is very good, however kind of sweet tasting so I don't eat to much of it. I did make a meatloaf in the crock pot, it turned out okay but I put hamburger and pork together which I had never done before, and I really thought the pork taste was to strong, but Sister Clark really liked it.

I got a bite on the inner corner of my eyelid and woke up with mu eye almost sullen shut, but by evening it was better, I could see the bite but no idea what it was, possibly and ant, no side effects.

The children here are very respectful to older people. I have had a teenage boy at one of the chapels we were at, who didn't know, come over to me, take my hand and raised it to touch his forehead. This is a sign of giving respect, it was very touching, also young young girl, about 6 yrs old did the same thing. I love it!

I have not met a Filipino that doesn't have a good singing voice and as I have said before they love to sing. Most of the chapels only have pianos in the chapel, so all other meetings the music is sung without a piano. Who ever is asked to lead the music gets up and sings a few bars of the hymn, then says 1, 2, 3 sing and we all start singing while they conduct. It is marvelous to be part of their singing.

We have been doing a lot of traveling by car and by plane. I never tire of seeing the Philippines country side and the small Providences outside Manila. The hotels/motels we stay in are pretty basic, but clean and the beds are generally comfortable. The one we stayed in last weekend in Naga was beautiful, we took a tour of the town well actually the tour guide only wanted to show us to the catholic churches in Naga, he did ask if we were like nuns because our name tags said Sister, I really wasn't into seeing all the catholic churches there, so after seeing two of them, we had the driver drop us off at the mall, more my kind of tour.

We were in Angeles Mission weekend before last and after the mapping sessions we talked with a sister who was at the chapel. She has been a member for 2 1/2 yrs and joined while she was in Hong Kong working. She said their ward did not have anyone who could play the piano and she was trying to teach herself, Sister Clark told her about the program the church has for learning to play the piano, so I told her I would buy the materials at the distribution center and send it to her. That was a fun thing to do, I sent it by the church courier, hope it helps her and maybe she will be able to help others learn too.

I'm back to taking Tagalog classes again, it is much easier this time especially since I have decided, I just want to learn so I can understand Tagalog enough to know what is being said in Sacrament meeting, Sunday school class and Relief Society class. Everyone talks to us in English, sometimes with a deep accent but I am even getting better at knowing what is being said. Quite often when we are in meetings and the language turns to Tagalog, one of the Filipino people will speak up and say, English, speak English and the Tagalog quickly turns to English. The people are so accommodating and kind here, I just feel like hugging everyone of them.