Allyson's Mission to the Philippines Baguio Mission: Phunky Things

My housemate, Sister J is home from the hospital but has been at home for the whole week. She had amoebiasis. I stayed home with her a few times. Sometimes I get really tired and I just think "dang, I wish I could just rest for a couple hours." So I was looking forward to staying with her. It wasn't fun though. Sooo boring! I was very antsy and ended up reading all of The Pearl of Great Price and cleaning the whole house. Then yesterday we were about to go out to proselyte and Sister J’s companion just flops on the table and sighs and looks like she's about to cry because she's stuck there. I said jokingly, “You can go work in my area with my companion and I’ll stay here." So she jumped on that and I stayed home yesterday. Sister J and I ended up just talking about the 2nd coming and the gathering of Israel and the establishment of Zion for about 6 hours. We’ve also started a no English policy. Pretty hard! I can say what I need, but I’m much better at telling stories in English.

This week I went with Sister C in her area while my companion stayed with Sister J. I was having culture shock all over again. Their area is so gross. I’m so thankful for my area. Their area is pretty much slums. I saw so many kids just pull down their pants and go to the bathroom right there in the path where people walk (#1 AND #2). Also, everyone in their area hangs skulls of animals (pig, caribou) by their door. Also sometimes they hang a slab of pig fat that just collects flies and smells awful. And the whole area is only stairs. I was gasping for air because of all the stairs and when I inhaled, air that reeked of sewage and piggeries just filled my lungs. So gross! I was relieved when finally I smelled some dried fish (which smells awful).

The food Sister J was given in the hospital was disgusting. I brought her some American jello. She loved it. I took my other thing of jello to an FHE with the Alcantara family. They loved it too. They were very surprised because they thought it was the Filipino version (which is flavorless and hard in my opinion).

Our investigators are doing ok. The H family is still progressing. We taught the D family a great lesson on Thursday. The lesson was on temples and family history work. Sister D was really interested, but she was still trying to hide it. She was very surprised that hope isn't lost for people who didn't hear the gospel and about how we can be together with our families and all that. It was a really good lesson. I was very happy with it. We just have to find a way to get her to read the Book of Mormon but she doesn't want to because she keeps telling us "I'm catholic." Also, Brother D got the Aaronic Priesthood yesterday.

We have an elder in our ward that just got done being an assistant to the president. He is whipping those elders (including the zone leaders) into shape. It's pretty funny to watch. He didn't approve of the backpacks two elders were using so he bought them new bags. Also, here's just a funny thing. It says in the missionary handbook to only fast for 24 hours. Two sisters I know didn't have time to close their fast because they had appointments and meetings. So they fasted for like 28 hours or something. They lived with a Sister Training Leader. When she found out she just said, "You two are so disobedient." haha, reminds me of that comment when that lady told that elder "Jesus is disappointed in your haircut."

I wish I would have studied the gospel more before my mission. Good thing I realize how important it is now! I keep seeing how important those little things are on my mission. When I get home I'm going to make myself continue to study the gospel and have family prayer and FHE and whatnot.

Love you and have a great week.