Caitlin's in the Mission Field Week 8
Kamusta kamo?!
I am finally in Bacolod! My first area is a little town called Binalbagan. My trainer is Sister Soriano and she's super sweet and very patient with me and my lack of Ilonggo and lack of understanding Filipino culture. She is very good at talking to everyone and inviting them to be baptized and I know I can learn much from her.
So quick update on the Manila MTC. They fed us so much food and it was all really good. I noticed that they gave us Americans bigger portions than the Filipinos so I had to ask for less food because I simply couldn't finish it all! We went proselyting in Quezon City for a few hours and although it was in Tagalog and I understood next to nothing it was an amazing experience! Sister Isaac, from Pakistan, was my temporary companion and she assured me she'd take care of me and I just had to bear testimony in English and she'd translate. We taught 3 lessons and I really felt the Spirit! Afterwards, we went to a McDonalds and got ice cream so naturally that completed a great day. On the day we took care of visa stuff we got to visit the American Filipino War Memorial and it was very beautiful. Also, the Elders caught a cockroach and named it Dog and he was our classroom pet for the 5 days we were in the Manila MTC. And naturally, we ate balut. We all tried to eat it, most of us finished it. It just tasted like chicken and a hard boiled egg, I did not appreciate the tiny bones in it. It just made the fact that I ate a baby duck real. It was super fun and I miss my district greatly but we are all serving where we need to serve.
We went to the Manila temple and it was so packed! We didn't have time for a session so we just did initiatories and there were so many going through for themselves and it was amazing the Spirit there! I got to go into the celestial room too and it was really powerful
Now that I am in the field let me answer the questions you'd probably ask me. No, I don't understand anything that's going on, but like the penguins of Madagascar I just "smile and wave" and it's all good. Yes, my shower consists of a bucket of water and a smaller bucket to dump water on yourself. Yes there is a toilet and to flush it you dump water from the shower bucket into the toilet. Yes it is very hot. No I haven't passed out but I am a little sick from adjusting to the climate and food. Everyone is very kind to me and the children especially love to follow me around and touch my skirt or my skin or my hair. I have been called Barbie but usually it's "puti guapa babaye" or pretty white girl. The members are very surprised when I say I'm from Oregon. They say that is uncommon, usually Americans are from California or Arizona.
In our orientation, President Barredo (who is always making us laugh) taught us about the vision of this mission. We are to be exactly obedient. Become PMG (Preach My Gospel) scholars. And baptize every week. Crazy right? So yesterday we had a baptism for Brother Mark James Valentino. He is 14 and it was a very small and simple baptism but the Spirit was present and I am still astonished at how many people desire to be baptized and join the church.
There's so much I wish I could talk about. I'm dying of mosquito bites. To get to a place called Nabuswang you ride a tiny canoe across a river. Karabaw are everywhere. But there is never enough time. However I want you all to know that if I didn't have a firm knowledge that this is the true church and that the gospel of Jesus Christ can help everyone, I would not still be here. It is very hard to adjust and be patient in learning this language. But I love my Savior and I know he will train me to teach these people. And that is why I will stay here and dedicate myself to His work. Everyday I try a little harder to be a little better and if I just do what I can, Christ will accept and help me.
Palangga ta kamo! Salamat sa inyo for your prayers! I have really needed and felt them this week!
Sister Bingham
I am finally in Bacolod! My first area is a little town called Binalbagan. My trainer is Sister Soriano and she's super sweet and very patient with me and my lack of Ilonggo and lack of understanding Filipino culture. She is very good at talking to everyone and inviting them to be baptized and I know I can learn much from her.
So quick update on the Manila MTC. They fed us so much food and it was all really good. I noticed that they gave us Americans bigger portions than the Filipinos so I had to ask for less food because I simply couldn't finish it all! We went proselyting in Quezon City for a few hours and although it was in Tagalog and I understood next to nothing it was an amazing experience! Sister Isaac, from Pakistan, was my temporary companion and she assured me she'd take care of me and I just had to bear testimony in English and she'd translate. We taught 3 lessons and I really felt the Spirit! Afterwards, we went to a McDonalds and got ice cream so naturally that completed a great day. On the day we took care of visa stuff we got to visit the American Filipino War Memorial and it was very beautiful. Also, the Elders caught a cockroach and named it Dog and he was our classroom pet for the 5 days we were in the Manila MTC. And naturally, we ate balut. We all tried to eat it, most of us finished it. It just tasted like chicken and a hard boiled egg, I did not appreciate the tiny bones in it. It just made the fact that I ate a baby duck real. It was super fun and I miss my district greatly but we are all serving where we need to serve.
We went to the Manila temple and it was so packed! We didn't have time for a session so we just did initiatories and there were so many going through for themselves and it was amazing the Spirit there! I got to go into the celestial room too and it was really powerful
Now that I am in the field let me answer the questions you'd probably ask me. No, I don't understand anything that's going on, but like the penguins of Madagascar I just "smile and wave" and it's all good. Yes, my shower consists of a bucket of water and a smaller bucket to dump water on yourself. Yes there is a toilet and to flush it you dump water from the shower bucket into the toilet. Yes it is very hot. No I haven't passed out but I am a little sick from adjusting to the climate and food. Everyone is very kind to me and the children especially love to follow me around and touch my skirt or my skin or my hair. I have been called Barbie but usually it's "puti guapa babaye" or pretty white girl. The members are very surprised when I say I'm from Oregon. They say that is uncommon, usually Americans are from California or Arizona.
In our orientation, President Barredo (who is always making us laugh) taught us about the vision of this mission. We are to be exactly obedient. Become PMG (Preach My Gospel) scholars. And baptize every week. Crazy right? So yesterday we had a baptism for Brother Mark James Valentino. He is 14 and it was a very small and simple baptism but the Spirit was present and I am still astonished at how many people desire to be baptized and join the church.
There's so much I wish I could talk about. I'm dying of mosquito bites. To get to a place called Nabuswang you ride a tiny canoe across a river. Karabaw are everywhere. But there is never enough time. However I want you all to know that if I didn't have a firm knowledge that this is the true church and that the gospel of Jesus Christ can help everyone, I would not still be here. It is very hard to adjust and be patient in learning this language. But I love my Savior and I know he will train me to teach these people. And that is why I will stay here and dedicate myself to His work. Everyday I try a little harder to be a little better and if I just do what I can, Christ will accept and help me.
Palangga ta kamo! Salamat sa inyo for your prayers! I have really needed and felt them this week!
Sister Bingham
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