I will start out answering your questions, mom, because I don't actually know where to start.
How long was the drive to Sagay? Did you go by bus?
So the trip to Old Sagay (from Bacolod) was probably about two hours? It was just on a bus and so that was fun I guess. But we were actually only taken to (new) Sagay and then we had to take a tricycle (like a rickshaw) to our apartment. I felt SO stupid with my american white-boy luggage. Especially the bright blue color... That was fun. I will probably find a way to consolidate to two, eventually down to one suitcase if I can manage.
What is your apartment like?
My apartment is actually one of the "nicest" in the mission. It is quite a step down from anything in America. But we had our toilet fixed last week and now it FLUSHES! I went on exchanges with our District Leader last week, he was amazed that we had a flushing toilet AND a shower head/handle thingy. We are quite spoiled. He compared his bathroom to outer darkness.
Where is Elder Cruz from?
Elder Cruz was actually born in the Bago Zone of our mission, but he grew up in Manila. So he knew the basics of Hiligaynon before he came, but he didn't know the grammar or anything actually. He was actually assigned to a Cebuano zone for the first nine months of his mission. He got stuck in "Cebuano Mode" when he was transferred to a Hiligaynon area.
Do you make your own meals or buy from vendors?
About our meals, I usually don't eat very well unless we both decide to cook something. We are kind of just too lazy to make good food sometimes because we are so tired. But we have members make stuff for us now and again. One of our investigator families that we are baptizing in a few weeks actually feeds us a little something almost every time we go! They are very nice. Also, there is a cafe down the road that we go to sometimes. It's super cheap and they have great food. Yay!
I actually had an experience with the water the other day though. We aren't supposed to drink unfiltered water here. And there is a reason for that... which I did find out... They often have frozen bags of water at the "chungey's" (not sure how to spell that, that's what it sounds like in English though) which are little convenience store stands that people run. You pass at least thirty of them every day. But at the R family, they gave us some water that I saw was from one of those bags, and I had the impression not to drink it. (but I did). I didn't realize that it was an impression from the Spirit until after the appointment. But later that night, I realized how important it is to follow those promptings, no matter how small or simple they seem. My stomach was destroyed. I will leave it at that.
How much walking do you do, or do you ride on tricycle taxis?
We do a fair amount of walking I guess. We will take a tricycle if we are being lazy, or if it's raining. but we often go to farm areas that are on dirt trails, or to really poor parts. A lot of our investigators live in a close area to each other, and that helps a lot.
What are Sunday meetings like? Are the hymnbooks in English or Hiligaynon?
Sunday is fun! It's a little less reverent than at home though. They do the schedule reverse too. The church is the same, though, that's one thing that Elder Driggs and I were discussing in email. They do church the same way that we do in America, just in a different language. The church actually encourages the bishops to hold meetings in English. They want members to try and learn English because it can help them out in their life and in the church and its doctrine.
No, the hymn books are in English. In the MTC we had hymn books in Hiligaynon, not all the hymns, maybe like 50. But the translations are ridiculous. Our teacher thought they were weird. I think they might have Tagalog hymn books, but they probably just use English anyway. Most Tagalog speakers either speak English or understand it.
Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you that Elder McCleary and I were companions there (during brief stay at Manilla MTC)! It was a fun time being with him.
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| Manila American Cemetery & Memorial |
I have been able to start teaching better in the language, it's really exciting to see how it will come out if I just open my mouth. It is still frustrating not being able to communicate things though, but I really understand that it just takes time and patience. I look forward to when I can communicate what I know.
Lot's to talk about, so little time. Here are some pictures that I HOPE can give you a taste of what I am experiencing here. I realize that you will probably never understand what it's like here, no matter how much I tell you. But I will try my best!
Love,
Elder Welton
This is the R family. They are the best! Lorenz, far right, is super quick in learning and he can actually speak English a little bit. I think he's only like 14 or so.
This is a Carabao. I saw it yesterday. It's essentially our version of an Ox. It's a work animal. And it loves the mud.
Here is the baptism from the other week! (first week of mission). I baptized the taller sister.
This is the outside of our apartment. Lovely, isn't it?
This is a member, J. He is awesome. He was baptized two months ago and he is preparing for his mission. He is going to turn his papers in in December. He works with us like every day. What a good guy.
This is me eating dried fish at a members house.
I thought this was very pretty. They laughed at me because it's just a dirt road. Oh well.
