Roasted Pig and My First Tricee Ride

Roasted Pig

The people in the Philippines are warm, friendly and they make us feel very welcomed here. It has been a busy week being trained for our new assignments and attending three all day zone conferences/ Christmas parties.  Elder Roberts is in charge of all the finances which is right up his alley and I am being trained as the mission secretary.  As I have been a stay at home mom most of my life, I am a little out of my comfort zone.  My nineteen-year-old trainer, a young Elder, is very proficient with computers and all technology.  He is a good teacher and very patient with me.  I have a few more days before he gets transferred.

We stuffed stocking for all of the Elders & Sisters. About two-thirds of the missionaries are Elders, the other third are Sisters.  Several of the mothers made the stockings and sent them to us.  The mission President's wife taught us a little dance to entertain them after their training and lunch.  Local people from the wards and branches catered the lunches each day.  President ordered a roasted pig as a special treat.  I loved the way the Elders and Sisters sang their Thank yous to the cook.

Dancing to "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-YfjvUHWIc&list=PLBvT4mkzsAPNfzeIPUtjM2l3t9943eaZp

We meet Elder Montague and Elder West from our home town.  The "Cook of Mormon" apron that Elder West is wearing was given to each missionary in their Christmas stocking. I found out that Elder West's grandpa and my dad were lifelong friends!  I pulled up Family Search and showed him a picture of his grandpa and my dad as teenagers. Small World!



Elder Roberts (yes it is was really hard to get use to calling him that) drove in the Philippines for the first time yesterday.  It took us about one hour to get to the Zone Conference in Santiago and two hours to get home in the rush hour traffic.  He did a great job driving and staying calm.  I was proud of him!

 Today I had my first ride in a tricycle.  Here they call them a "Tricee".  It cost twelve pesos to ride which is the equivalent of about twenty-five cents.  I rode side-saddle behind the driver and Elder Roberts rode in the sidecar with our laundry.

There is a huge mall right behind us and I don't have time to do much shopping.  Yes! - this is an adjustment for me.

We love being missionaries and are grateful for this opportunity to serve the Lord in the Beautiful Philippines!  "Totoo ang Simbahan"! (The Church is true) - Sister Roberts