Letter from Sister Hall!

After many hours of traveling we made it to the Philippines. The 15 hour flight wasn't too bad, I slept nearly the entire time. How lovely. And the last hour on that flight we were moved to first class, like the laying down first class. It was lovely. From Hong Kong to Manila I sat next to a lady by myself and talked with her, a good mix of Tagalog and English. Confidence booster. The moment I stepped off the plane into the Philippines I was already dripping in sweat. Well it is what it is. I will literally be sweating for the next 17 months straight. I was even lucky enough to be rejected into the country because of visa stuff, thus I went to a different man and he let me in. But I was stressed for a moment that I wouldn't even be allowed out of the airport. We dropped by the Manila MTC and picked up the local new missionaries then headed to the mission home for the night. Our last night together. It was bitter sweet. The next day we headed to the mission office and were assigned to our new companions and our new areas. My companion is Sister Gaor. She is a few years older than me and quite a few inches shorter. She is relatively nice. Though she speaks some English, there is still a big language barrier. And on top of that there is an even bigger cultural barrier. She isn't very good at remembering to tell me how to do things or what is going on. She has just assumed that I know how everything works, which has been kinda frustrating. Because I am obviously a newbie at everything here. But I'm sure to figure it all out eventually.

My mission president is really great. He was so nice the entire time we were at his house. When we left the MTC we were told over and over to make a great impression on our president. Success. He liked me so much, I was impromptu called up during our meeting the next day with everyone to speak. Lovely. He even told me at one point that I might become a trainer in 12 weeks, literally right when I am done being trained. Umm..we'll see about that.

Tagalog. Some hours I feel good about it, most I don't. I miss about 99.9% of what is being said around me. Hopefully I'll be able to figure it out soon. I am alright with religious topics, but other than that it is a lost cause. I can't really hold any kind of conversation, unless I am baring my testimony. So coming here I expected to be in an area out in the middle of no where. A small rural town. Jokelong. I was assigned to one of the biggest cities in my mission. Not at all what I expected. But it has been fun trying to adjust. The second day here I had to travel to a Stake youth conference and teach a big group of youth. That was just great. But all of the little girls loved me nonetheless and kept telling me that I was beautiful. Well thanks. I am not sure if I'll be able to figure out pictures. But every day we ride all over the city in jeep's and tricycles. It is an adventure for sure. We have some great investigators right now. A few families with little kids. One little boy, Timothy. He is a sweetheart. One man who is 50+ and was a preacher, he has been investigating for two years. I really enjoyed talking with him because I can use a bit of English and he still understands. He really wants to know the truth with a surety.

Six years later and I am no longer a vegetarian. Sad, sad day. But alas. I literally would probably be dead of starvation. So I suppose I am just going to have to take a temporary break from it. And in 17 months I'll be one again. The food here is also not what I expected. My MTC teachers got me really excited for it, but so far I have not liked it at all. I ate cheese ice cream the other day. It tasted how it sounds. Granted we haven't eaten much here. So it might get better. We tend to skip most meals because we're too busy working, so I haven't really had dinner yet. But I think we have a few dinner appointments this week! Yay. 

In my apartment we have two other sisters. It is two stories. First story is a little entry with the kitchen and a bathroom. The two bedrooms upstairs. We even have a little 10by10 cement walled yard. We shower with a bucket. And we have to constantly have a fan on us so that we don't die from heat. Even while we sleep we keep our fans on. One night there was a big thunderstorm and we had a brown out (they don't call it a black out here) and the power went out. That means no fans. It was impossible to sleep at that point. But who needs sleep anyways.

Oh no pictures sorry. Just found out they don't have a card reader.

Scattered thoughts.

Every night when we come home at about 9 we try to daily plan. But I literally am exhausted by that time. I have fallen asleep while planning. Everything that I write at night is all over the place. It's kinda funny to look at in the morning.

We have OYM's here. Which just means open your mouth. Basically just talk to everyone. So I OYM's this man the other day and ended up getting his address and cell to return and teach him. I was pretty stoked about it. He has lived in the middle east and just seemed really smart. But my comp didn't really think that he was a good potential investigator. So we'll see if she lets us visit him.

At church yesterday I spoke in sacrament meeting. It went well enough. I think the ward feels kinda bad for me and my lack of being able to speak. But they were all really nice. My bishop and his family are SO great. They spent most of the day trying to help me learn Tagalog. And they found out it is my birthday tomorrow and were so excited. And were trying to make all of these plans. There is a ward party Wednesday, and they have decided that they are going to also make it a birthday celebration for me! I am really glad to be in their ward. During relief society, although I had no idea what was going on, at one point the primary came in and sang to their moms and as a result of being there they gave me a delicious little marshmallowy, cakey, fruity thing. I don't even know how to describe it. Except that it was the best thing I have eaten up to this point.

Despite the fact that this email has a lot of whines in it and a lot of negatives. Just know that I am obviously in a different place, very different. And I am trying to adjust. I really do love being here, it is just a bit hard right now. I know that I am supposed to be in the Philippines and I look forward to every day and being able to improve my abilities as a missionary.

Happy mothers day!

Mahal ko kayo,

Sister Hall