Welcome to the Philippines!

Hello Everyone!

Sorry I don't have time to respond to pretty much anyone today... Family takes priority here! So I will include you all in this email for now. I will respond to you all individually with time! I promise.

I don't even know where to start with all of this... So much has happened in the last two or so weeks... I always forget that you guys have no idea what is happening to me here haha.

So the plane flight... WOW. That was the longest thing I have ever experienced in my life! We all thought we would be super productive on the flight there; boy were we wrong. The entire flight consisted of being half asleep and not knowing what day it was. The sun was up the whole way to Japan, which was about 12 hours, which was right after we had flown to Detroit for 4 hours. Then we hung out in the Japan airport for about an hour. When we left, the plane was a little delayed because of a typhoon that was about to pass over Taiwan. We were lucky to get out of there (that explains the diversion of our flight, dearest mother). I slept that ENTIRE flight. So I didn't even know that we took a weird path.

Flight route from Detroit to Japan

When we got to Manila, we took all of our bags down to the front and exchanged our money. Then we took a bus to the Manila MTC. We found out a few days later that we had actually LEFT an Elder that was coming in from New Zealand. So he went and bought a hotel room in Manila and then called the MTC the next day. Poor guy... Luckily he learned the basics of Tagalog in the MTC, so he knew a little bit of what they were saying.

Being in ANOTHER MTC was hard. We all wanted to get out there. The first full day we were there, they sent us out on splits to proselyte with the Manila and Quezon missionaries. The funny part is that NONE OF US SPEAK TAGALOG. It was a really good experience though, none of us had any idea what people were saying though, haha. 

The temple was closed while we were there, so that was kind of lame. We really didn't do much there. Everyone was getting over jet-lag while we were there, we were all falling asleep in class, so we usually got to go to bed early. That was way nice.

I kind of have to skip over a lot of the MTC experience there so I can get to my mission! I guess I will have to tell you bits and pieces over the next few weeks.

Now we get to Bacolod after another flight! We had to say goodbye to the Iloilo missionaries at the airport, I will miss them.

So we get to the airport and right when we get out of the plane, we walk down the hallway and see the missionaries we are replacing sitting behind glass windows. I waved to them. It was probably really sad for them to see us coming in to replace them.

After arrival at Bacolod airport with President and Sister Lopez

 

 Then we met President Lopez and went to the Mission Home. He and his wife are some of THE nicest people I have ever met. I can already tell how much they care for us. We had a little training, ate some food, and we were assigned to our areas.

Training at Mission Home

Sister Schimbeck and I both got sent to the same zone! I can't get rid of here I guess haha. I am in the most northern area in the mission, called Sagay. And I am in the Old Sagay ward area. The area is partly Cebuano-speaking, lucky me haha. We taught a lesson the other day where one sister was Cebuano. Luckily Elder Cruz knew Cebuano from back when our mission had two Cebuano zones. I am probably going to pick up some weird Hiligaynon here because they mix Cebuano concepts here. That's fun!

 Sagay Zone - upper right corner

Anyway, my trainer is AWESOME. He keeps telling me he isn't my trainer because he doesn't like it to seem like I am being trained. He said we are just normal companions and friends. Good outlook. He speaks English very well and we have fun together. Very laid-back.

My companion - Elder Cruz

So I got to baptize someone on Saturday for the Sisters in our area. That was way cool! I have never baptized someone before. Pretty neat. Also, we already have baptisms planned every week for the next month for sure! We have set dates in just the few days I have been here. The people here are so receptive to the gospel. They are so humble and willing to accept our invitation.

The kids here are my FAVORITE thing. They are so funny. All of them. And I can really only sort of talk to them. They are way better at speaking than I am.

Basically I don't understand anything right now... I guess I will figure out eventually!

Everything is going great! I will try and update you on more over the next few weeks! I could honestly go on forever, I just don't have enough time to tell you!

I should be on at around 8-10pm every Sunday night. Utah time, of course. So expect my emails around then!

Halong kamo!

Elder Welton

One of the many great quotes from the training at the mission home.