Pictures April 29, 2013

 A sweet family who are less active who we are teaching. They are so kind! 

Missionaries from my batch! (Meaning we all came together the same day)

a kind nanay in our ward who is also Less active. she has so much faith though. She walks to church which is so far away for her. We can' figure out what is holding her back from progressing and becoming completely reactive but we know that she has amazing faith! 

 We had "National Service Day" where we went with the stake to a hospital and cleaned it up. It was great! I love working with the members and getting to know them! They are so funny and so kind!

a bunch of us holding "Marie Time" ha ha it's some kind of cracker I think. I didn't actually try it, I just wanted a picture. 

"Marie Time!" It's probs delicious. 

This is Sister Joy and Nanay Puri who were putting their coal stuff in bags to sell so we helped them out! Our hands were black after! It was fun! they use this coal stuff (well actualy it's like burnt wood) that they sell and people will buy it to use to cook b/c gas for their stoves is too expensive so they put this stuff under their pots and pans to cook for their fires.

 an adorable baby who it was her first birthday! To celebrate... spaghetti and noodle stuff. :) spaghetti is like a delicacy here. okay not a delicacy but it is expensive so if you eat it, it's not very often. Interesting how spaghetti at home is the thing you eat if you are a poor college student.

Nakakapagpabagabag-say that 3 times fast

Kumusta family!

Fun fact on the subject. Nakakapagpabagabag means like, you're troubled/uneasy feeling sort of thing. But really it is just more fun to say that's why I put it as the subject. We were doing tongue twisters the other night, "She sells sea shells... fuzzy wuzzy was a bear...." etc. and that word is definantly a tongue twister ha ha. ONE word! When I was trying to say it I thought it was like 3 different words! False. it's one word. 

Thanks for your emails!!! LOVED them! 

Okay Darla, I can' believe you've never seen all the Harry Potter's before. Good work Father for fixing that. I'm glad to hear the weather is warming up and you are doing some spring cleaning. Ah spring, what a great season. Are there lots of mom's tulips in the front yard now? Holy cow I can't believe it is basically already May! Also, CONGRATULATIONS RYAN!!!! Good work on graduating from BYU! I'm glad it was a good, short and sweet ceremony and that you went to it. Savanna I still feel bad you never really got a graduation... BUT you graduated amid all that was going on and THAT was an accomplishment. good work! Not going to lie, I've always wanted to try Pizza Pie Cafe and have yet to do so. I've heard it is delicious and the dessert pizzas are the best. Dad seems to attest to that as well, raspberry dessert sounds delicious. 

Also, I'm SO happy you were going to have the missionaries over for dinner!! I had that written down of what I wanted to tel you this week! Have the missionaries over for dinner! I never realized how important working with members are. I vote you work with them. Darla you should listen to the message they have! I'm like 100% positive they will teach you the basics of what you already know, but I know they have so much more to teach you! and I know that you are already familiar with the basic, but the beautiful thing about the gospel is just that-it is all simply basic! I'm so glad you were going to have the missionaries over for diner! And mmmm. I love me some Hawaiian haystacks. However I'm not really craving them right now as we eat rice everyday. Ahh I'm sad you're not going to Jackson this year. I love that place! Even more so after living and working up there last summer. Ah man what an adventure, loved it! Will you maybe go for the weekend? If you go pllleeeease take pictures and send them to me! Especially of the Snake! Ahhh I love Jackson Hole. Jackson Hole, and Lake Powell-2 favorite places ever. The Philippines is getting up there though also. Ah when it is July that means Jr will be coming! When is the due date again? 27th of July? Whenever people ask about my family I always mention my future pamangking lalaki (nephew). 

Okay well this week has been fantastic! None of our investigators are really progressing which is really sad. They don't come to church, and in order to be baptized, they need to go to church consistently. I was suppossed to give a talk yesterday in church but at the last minute the Bishopric felt impressed to talk so they did. Ha ha they talked about and chastized about being on time for church. Ha ha I just sort of laughed and completely agreed with everything they were saying. Islander time... I just don't wear a watch anymore because when I do I just stress about how we are always late. If I don't know the time, I can't be stressed out about it. And it would be something we could work on as a companionship, but it's hard when it is all the Filipinos including those we teach. So as long as we are on time out the door in the morning, coming home at night, and to meetings, etc. I just don' worry about the rest because they don't. 

This week we had our Trainers/Traninees meeting meaning all the new missionaries and their trainers came together for a "you've been here for 5 weeks how do you feel?" meeting. It was fun! There were only half of my batch there as the other half meet somewhere else due to distance. I got to see Sister Tauillil my MTC kasama! It was so fun! it was fun to see lots of missionaries from my batch and to see how they're doing after 5 weeks. Crazy we've been here 5 weeks now! 

The people we work with are so kind and I am so grateful for them. i can't really think of any sweet stories to tell from this week alhough it was a great week! Oh Savanna, remember our neighbor who plays One direction on his karoeke? the other day it was HSM and I toats thought of you. ha ha it was the song from number 2 when she is leaving in the get away van. Ha ha ha I just thought of you and it made me laugh. Reember when you were getting me ready for Prom and you insisted we listened to the prom song from HSM3? Ha ha good times. 

Okay I love you all so much! I'm sure I'll think of a million things I want to say as soon as this email is over but know that I love you and think about you! Love you!

The church is true! Christ loves us and He wants us to return to Him. Ah man our Savior is so kind to us, He know each of us individually, He knows how to help us,and  He knows how we feel. Our Heavenly Father knows us and knows what we need even before we ask. It is important for us to have a relationship with Him, He only wants what is best for us and He knows living the gospel of Jesus Christ will make us happy.

Mahal kita!!! 

-Sister Davidson :)

Pictures April 21, 2013

My chacos!!!

A ginormous spider in our room. Thankfully my kasama killed it. Ahhh it was nasty. it was right in the morning and it defiantly woke  me up

The outside of our house we live in. We have a really nice place! there is a mango tree right in front also! Also I don't know if you can see it but we do our laundry on the left side of our house and hang up all our clothes right there.

Our kitchen

where we sleep its like a big loft upstairs where all 4 of our beds are. can you recognize which one is mine? Also no sheets...WAY too hot for that

Marie's bed is the one with the bright green sheets.

The CR (also known as the bathroom) You use the bucket to flush. And you use the bucket and the little ladle thing for your shower. The bucket shower thing is not bad! and is actually very simple and great! We also have another shower room with a shower head that I actually use. While the bucket system is fantastic, I'm not very fast at it so I resort to using the other shower with the shower head.

Kumusta Ka!

(don't ask me what any of the subject lines mean. I just copy and paste them)
Here is Marie's latest email:

Kumustaaaa Pamilya!

Ah thank you for your emails!! LOVE IT! I was talking to an Elder who was in my batch with me the other day and we were saying how we love to hear how emails from our family are the best. We want to hear everthing that you are doing. Even if it the same thing ha ha we never realized how badly we wanted to hear just about everything you are doing. While living not on a mission, if we heard from you and what you were doing the reply wasn't as enthusiastic. I've learned how important you are to me! I just am so interested in what you are doing with your lives! I love you! 

Okay this week was great. And the days I didn't take my camera with me were the days I needed pictures, and the days I did take my camera I didn't take any pictures... Meaning.. the pictures are kind of lame this week sorry.

Anyway. This week the Lord opened my eyes to how privileged i am. Also how split our ward is as in the rich are rich and the poor are poor. I've heard that is the way it is in most of the Philippines. Last Monday we went to have an FHE in a very humble home. We teach the Sister fairly often but never her husband. she wanted us to come to her house for FHE when he was home so we could teach the family. We sat outside, then it started to rain SO MUCH! ha ha ha I loved it! So we went inside and 6 of us crammed in and sat on the floor in the space about the size of the rug under the kitchen table. So small. They don't have electricity so we had our lesson and played games by candlelight. Ha ha it was so much fun! it was so neat and so fun to watch the couple laugh at each other by playing silly kid games. It was so neat. there truly are many blessings in the little things in life. So many good things in the little things. It continued to rain so much! I was told that wasn't even a little of how much rain comes in the rainy season. When we left their home we walked through water half way up to my calf! it was so fun! And I am so grateful that it was dark because if I could have seen what was in the water I'm positive I would have been disgusted. Actually, yes it was nasty. Ha ha I have culture shock nearly every day and I'm so glad and happy that the Lord is blessing me with good heath! Ew I can't describe how many germs I am sure are everywhere. I've come to accept that I will stay as clean as I can and I will trust the Lord to take care of me that I won't get diseased. ha ha sooo many things that ha ha I can't describe. Oh well ha ha I just laugh and then pray. Anyway, after that FHE we went to another family in our ward to have dinner with them. We walk in to their home and it ginormous! On the dinner table there is food galore, a table cloth, fans, electricity, etc. SO grandeur. They let us wash our feet and legs and shoes in their shower before dinner and dinner was delicious. After the event I couldn't help but keep thinking about how different the two different living conditions are and how both are happy. Both families want their families to be centered in Jesus Christ. I was amazed, and humbled. 

Another family we visited this week had so little. The food they were cooking while we were there looked like flavored water. My kasama is so kind and teaches me so much, gave all the snacks she had to them and took the headband off her head and gave it to the sister. They have so little. We're planning on going over there to teach and bring lunch with us so they can eat while we teach. Being here in the Philippines with all the changes, culture shock, etc. is so eye opening to me. At home I was always looking for the next best thing for me. Thinking about what can I do for myself to get ahead. Here they worry about feeding their family-that's it. They want to provide for their family the basic needs of life. How selfish I have been and still am. I complain about waking up for 9am church, and here some people have to decide whether to eat for the day or go to church with the money it takes to travel to the church. My life back home is so easy and so good to me. The Lord has blessed me so much with giving me this opportunity to be here and see what really matters. The gospel, and my family. :) 

What else happened this week... We had CSP (community service project) at a park like an hour away as a zone. It was so fun! We just swept the park up and helped to make it look beautiful. It was fun just to do physical labor like that. Also... I GOT TO WEAR MY CHACOS!!! OH I was so happy! I took a picture. I love those things. Those Chacos have been in Jerusalem, AND the Philippines! Check it out! 

The people here really are so kind. They are so funny too. Ha ha I stick out so much because i'm white. (even though I am definantly tan). Even when we are in a trike people stare at me. It's funny. And now I can understand more Tagalog that I realize how many people say to my kasama, "does she speak Tagalog?" I am positive that has been happening this whole time and only now I realize it ha ha. Tagalog is slowly and surley coming along. I'm amazed how the Lord blesses me with learning Tagalog. Just one month ago I've come so far in the language! that is for sure not to say I have a long way to go before I get comfortable and am able to speak and understand it. 

Dad I'm excited for you to change schools! I'm glad you feel comfortable with the new change. too bad you can't ride your bike or walk... but let's be honest.. how many times did you walk or bike to school now ha ha? I still vote you bike to Lake Powell. I think you will love it and I think this is a once in a lifetime chance you have in front of you. i vote you take it ;) Darla i'm excited for you to buy baby toys for the house. I always feel bad when we have little kids come over and have a limited supply of toys for them. You'll be an awesome grandma, I can tell. And Dad you're going to be the greatest grandpa ever! Ha ha I wish I could see your face when you hold Jr. for the first time and when you see him for the first time. Ah I'm so excited for Jr! No joking, everytime I see a baby I think of my future nephew! Savanna and Ry I'm glad you are enjoying living at home close to family. i hope your talk went well! We have to talk this Sunday in church.It'll be grand. And my talk is going to be short I think as 1. my vocab in Tagalog is limited and 2. i'll probably be nervous and talk really fast. Oh well! 

I love you all sooooo much! soooooo much!! Thanks for everything you do for me! 

Oh! also if you want to send a package to me... could you send me some Tums? and Thank You cards? We have so many people to thank here and I feel so tacky giving a piece of lined paper to them. But don't feel a need to send anything immediately as I'm sure as time goes on I'll think of more things. Ha ha sorry... And don't feel obligated to send anything at all. There is probably an equivalent of tums here that I can find, and it's the thought that counts, not the tacky paper. So really, I'm fine :)

Oh one more thing! Ha ha the people here LOVE karaoke. Ha ha no joke. There is Karaoke everywhere. And the other day our neighbor was playing on full blast One Direction! "What Makes You Beautiful" was stuck in my head for like an hour. It was during personal study when the song came on and I just laughed out loud at how funny it was. Ha ha the people here love American songs. 

Also another funny thing they say is "yeaah boyy" ha ha trying to mimic American slang. 

Okay I love you!!!! 

-sister Davidson :) 

Pictures

Sister Frejas and myself with Brother Archie

Myself and Brother Archie

Enjoying the food accompanying the baptism. The ward here is seriously so great. They are so willing to serve and help us. They are so welcoming to new members. They are so kind in everything they do. Also our ward is very diverse. Meaning we have a lot of well off people, and a lot of not so well off people. It makes it hard sometimes for the not so well off to come because they are intimadated. 

This picture speaks for itself...It is hot!

Ha ha it was so funny how many of us were on and in that thing. Hey if we all fit we all go together. Much cheaper that way. Trikes are so expensive so we fit as many as we can! 

More stuffage in the trike

More stuffage in the trike

Stuffed in the trike ;) 

An adorable one week old puppy! They feed him rice. And he was adorable so I had to take a picture. Mostly because I thought many people at home would like it (ahem Darla and Dottie!)

Pamilya!

Family!!! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for your emails!

first before I forget...

I finally went to the source of knowledge behind the mail system here because I was getting so many different responses. The official address is:

Philippines Angeles Mission

F. Tañedo St. Brgy San Nicolas

Tarlac City, Tarlac 2300

Philippines

For mail, packages, etc... no problems! They are sent to the mission office address and I get them and am so happy! Also the DearElders work and it sends to the mission address! Dad I got your DearElder you sent awhile ago ha ha and I got a DearElder from Madi Quinn! :) :) :) ONLY use the normal mail system when sending packages. (i.e. flat rate boxes.) If you use FedEx, or some other company it costs me P1000+ to receive it and pick it up. If you use the regular mail system it is just fine. 

Ahh your letters made me laugh! Thank you so very much! Ha ha Dad you're not going to ride your bike to Lake Powell!? What happened?? Of course you need a driver, but Dad hasn't this been your dream for so very long? You have the chance right in front of you! Take it! Ha ha but you have your agency. :)

Where is Jordan Hills Elementary? That is exciting your old principle might hire you! Is it a Traditional or Year-Round school? Also, I can't believe the back yard flooded! That is soo kind of Fred to let you know! And you're getting ready for the condo renovation! Maybe it will be done by the time I come home? That will be cool! Will you send me pictures of the condo as it comes along? I can't believe there is still snow there. Snow? What even is that? It is soo hot here. I love it. Thanks for telling me it will be cold the next couple days so to appreciate the heat. I do like the heat, and it is hot. Ha ha I'll send a picture of the heat... We watched General Conference yesterday and it looked so cold! I didn't see any flowers outside the conference center, crazy!

This week was fantastic. Each day seriously gets better and better. And slowly I fall more and more in love with the Philippines. There are still some culture shocks for me ha ha but they're good.I don't even know where to start....

We had another baptism! Brother Archie got baptized on Friday! It was great and he was happy. He is married to a member, and she was inactive for a long time, then recently came back to the church. They have two adorable daughters and their whole family is working on reactivating themselves. Their house was the first house I went to when I got to the Philippines. Ha ha good memory. Deer in headlights look the whole time. Stunned as I couldn't pick up on one word they said. Trying to follow what my kasama was doing, bearing my testimony of what I thought the lesson was about, but more just "I know the church is true. I know Jesus Christ lives. Amen." Something something like that.

It was also General Conference on Saturday and SUnday. SOOO great. The Church's official language in the Philippines in English so Conference was in English. I wish so badly that they had a translator though. Many people understand English to an extent. However at Conference sometimes the speakers use elaborate language and they don't understand. Also, many people don't hardly know English at all. they feel intimidated to come to church where there is a lot of English and they feel like only rich people know English. It is hard for them to come when they don't feel comfortable and intimidated because of the language. At church church mostly it is all Tagalog. However for example we sing in English. So I wish the church would maybe have translators or use more Tagalog for more people to understand. Anyway, Conference was great. I learned so much. I felt so many good feelings. And now is the applying what I've learned part. It was so neat to me as I went into Conference trying to listen for things that could help our Invistagators and there were many times when someone would say something and i would think of a face and name who that could help! Wow the Lord knows His children! I pray that I will remember those things so that hopefully I can share what I've learned and felt with those we teach and they too can learn and feel the Spirit. I just love conference! 

We have a great investigator! Her name is Rysa and she is soo kind! She came to Conference!! That was the highlight! We were so happy she came! AND she stayed for both sessions on Sunday. She also came to Family Fun Night. Once a month the ward has a Family Fun Night, like the equivalent of a Ward Activity I guess) and it is just a night of games. She brought her family! We were thrilled!!! Ha ha we all rode one trike to get to the church. Ha ha we were packed. 10 people on one trike! I'll send a picture! In the picture ha ha one person got off the back to take the picture and all you can see of me is my "thumbs up" so you have to look closely. :) But we hope and pray that Sister Rysa and her family will be baptized. The gospel will bring them so much happiness.

Also this week we had interviews with President Martino. I asked if I could call home on Father's Day instead of Mother's Day! So I will call you in June instead of May. :) I'm excited! At the interview it was short and sweet, mostly just a check up I felt like. He asked some questions, gave some counsel, etc. It was great. We also had a lot of workshops while President was interviewing us individually. I learned a lot about comittments and following up. Following up on committments is just as important as extending them I think. And comittments are important because through committments we are inviting others to repent and come closer to Christ. It is hard to make changes in your life especially when you've been doing something for so long, but the committments are very inspired, important, and help people come to Christ. I love it.

As I practice and use Tagalog more and more each day I get better at it. Crazy how when you practice something and use and apply it, it becomes easier/better. I still have SO much to learn. I still struggle with Tagalog, and I am learning how to turn my struggles into learning opportunities. So badly I want to be able to understand people's feelings and understandings, and concerns. I pray that Tagalog will come for me more and more each day as I practice. Slowly and surly I have faith! :)

How is Jr. doing? How is the whole family living all under one roof? Oh, when does Ryan graduate? It is April... soon? Happy graduation Ryan! Ryan I've heard you're a good "go and doer" of whatever Savanna needs. Good work. What would you do if she said she wanted a Pony? 

I love you family!! Thanks for your kindness, love, and your service to me. I can't describe how much I love you! I miss you too! Oh I love you tons and tons and tons! And Dad thanks for your personal letter before your weekly letter. I love that you say just a little something to me. Thank you thank you thank you. I love YOU tons and tons! :)

-Sister Davidson 

Pictures:

1. There was a BEAUTIFUL lightening story! Holy cow it was amazing. My kasama and the one of the ward missionaries laughed and laughed at how amazed I was by it. I walked backwards so I could see it and they walked with me arm in arm forward and just laughed and took pictures. I can't describe the beauty! The clouds were lighted up from the back. And sometimes you could see the zig zag of the lightening. And it reoccured so often! Ligthening after lightening after lightening. So beautiful. And no thunder! It happens often here. But soo beautiful. So this picture is of me looking back and walking while they were walking forward and laughing.

2. two little rabbits that we thought were cute. W're not allowed to come into contact with animals (for a really good reason) so we just held the box.

3. The members who came to support Brother Archie and his baptism. His wife and one of their daughters is next to him in the middle. 

Oh random thing I remembered! When we got to the church. The water was so dirty in the font that we had to drain it all and then refill it. Which took a lot of time. I felt so bad that we didn't do it before hand but Filipino time is the same as most Islander time... which is very different from America. So no worries for them. Also something random. For 3 nights in a row we have had no water in our apt. Ooh it is rough. We just put a lot of water into waterbottles every morning so we can use them at night. We don't know why we're not getting water at night but it turns back on in the morning. Also. They have scheduled power-outages here to save electricity. Ah man... no electricty means no fans. Hot hot hot hot. Oh boy. I am so grateful for water and electricity and I now give thanks to Heavenly Father for those things daily in my prayers.

Pictures, Pictures, Pictures

eating Halo Halo for the first time (hopefully not the last) it's like ice/milk/fruit combination that is delicious 

the nice Filipino people I talked to the whole time on the flight from Hong Kong to Manila! They helped my Tagalog a lot and gave me my first realiztion of how little I know. 

crazy traffic. Except now it is normal to me, and is a great system!

a pretty garden kind of close to where we live!

Sister Tauilili (MTC companion) and I at the famous map

Sister Lizzy Matthews and I at the famous map. (Marie's roommate)

I was sooo excited to get on the plane for Hong Kong! It was so luxurious! and so nice! I love flying!

Trina and Brittany my MTC cafeteria friends

the freakin' big breakfast they gave us on the plane! for free! Well the price was probably included in the ticket

The maps from the plane 

Manila Temple (the Manila MTC is across from the temple and so we saw it when we picked up the 7 missionaries from the Manila MTC)

Me eating fish for the first time (from last week I told you about it)

FHE with the members playing a game

Visiting members in the ward

The members attending Brother Abcde's baptism-the members here are incredibly supportive and soo great at helping the missionaries. I'm amazed at how kind and how much time the members give us

Sister Frejas (my kasama (my companion) and me with Brother Abcde

Outside the church for Brother Abcde's baptism

We made it to China

The sunset....soooo pretty! The sun goes down so early here and the stars come out so early! It's like day light savings time in the winter where it gets dark so early. Only difference-it doesn't get cold. ALL the stars are out at like 7pm and the sky is sooo pretty to look up at. 

Family!

Family!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for your emails!! Wow thank you thank you so much! I just laughed out loud so many times while reading them. And Dad to your putting the Ute mailbox in the ground with cement... oh boy. I'm glad you love the U. Ha ha Savanna and Ry keep the BYU spirit at home for me and don't let all the red influence jr. Also Ryan!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! NOTRE DAME!?! What??? That is soo cool! You'll do great! Wow Indiana. I've excited to come visit you! Ah man, that is so far away though. :( That's okay. Skype is fantastic. Savanna your baby bump is adorable! I wish I could feel Jr kick. Darla I'm jealous you got to feel him kick you. I'm also impressed that Jared finished the whole bathroom! AND that it looks great. And everyone had a great time at the Jeep Safari? Maybe not as much for Lance? But he fixed his bronco so good work Lance. And General Conference was good? I actually haven't watched it yet. With the time zone differences we will watch it this Saturday and Sunday. I'm excited. Too bad you didn't see me on TV. I guess I'll have to have my claim to fame some other way. Oh wait, I already meet Tyler Haws-twice. I'm good to go. Just kidding. :)

This week was so much better than last week. I live with another companionship and one of the other sisters (Sister Stone from Orem) reminded me to look for the tender mercies from the Lord. I did so and there are so  many things I have to be grateful for. There are so many tender mercies from Him if I remember to look I see them all around and feel His love for me, and for all His Filipino children. Wow the Lord is so kind to me, to all of us. For our investigators I pray that they will recognize the blessings from Him. I think if they are able to recognize the many blessings they will be more wiling to keep the commitments, and choose for themselves to accept His gospel. 

Speaking of investigators... we had a baptism this week! Brother Abcde (yes the first 5 letters of the alphabet is his name and you pronunce it Ab c de) was baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday! It was such a great experience for me. For him as well. It was so so so exciting! Also all of our investigators are so kind. Some keep commitments more than others and they are all so kind. We had a lot of lessons fall through this week and we had a lot of unexpected lessons which was awesome. One Sister in particular (Sister EvaMarie) is so kind and willing to listen and she is hesitant to make changes in her life. 

I think pictures speak louder than words so let me see if I can send some...

I hope all these pictures send through... Yes the Philippines is great. Being a missionary is great. Also hard. But more great. I love you soo soo much. And I'm sure as soon as I send this email I will remember 100 things that I was supposed to tell you. Oh well. The most important thing is I love you all so much, I miss you, and I love being here. And the church is true! :)

Mahal Kita!

Love, Sister Davidson

Also... 

I will get DearElders maybe once every other week as we live in the same city as the mission office which is nice. I get emails once a week. Nothing day to day. 

Packages are really expensive to send. If you know someone going to the Philippines.. ha ha that's the best way to send packages.

I can get a lot more stuff here in Tarlac than I thought (as in shampoo, soap, etc.)

Elections are going on right now and so trikes are going around with loud speakers on them. Ha ha one of the songs playing for one of the candidates is "Call Me Maybe." Or at least the Tagalog version of that. It made me think of home. Except I don't know if the candidate changed the words to fit her slogan or something like that because I couldn't translate any of the words. Except it's probably more likely that I don't speak Tagalog so that is the reason I can't understand the words. 

Also the Gift of Tongues is SO real. Yes Tagalog is.. hard. However the Lord has blessed me so much. Some lessons I am able to teach so smoothly. The words, phrases, questions, old vocabulary, come out that I can't describe how. Those are the lessons that I know the Spirit is the teacher not me. I am so so grateful for those lessons. I'm also grateful for the lessons when I struggle so much. I'm grateful because I recognize the difference and the different feeling between the two types of lessons. It makes me strive to learn how to teach by the Spirit ALWAYS. The lessons when I am able to feel the Spirit teach rather than teach myself are so much better in so many ways. 

Oh tell Uncle Jon that I heard that Tagalog song he had me listen to at his house that sounded so funny. It still sounds funny and I don't understand it, but they really do love it here and they all know all the words. I heard it and it reminded me of him ha ha.

Also, when is Ryan's birthday? Did I miss it? 

It is getting hotter here! :) Dad I'm grateful you had me grab an umbrella at Walmart before I came. I don't use it for the rain, but we use it everyday as a shade when we walk. Everybody walks around with umbrellas. 

Also I just love you all so much. :) Don't forget to choose the right, remember who you are, make right choices, return with honor, don't do anything Satan would want you to do, and all that goodness. I love you!  

Emailing Sister Davidson

There is a new rule that says Marie can now get emails from family AND friends.

If you wish to email her, her address is:
marie.davidson@myldsmail.net

Her mission address is:
Sister Marie Davidson

F. TAÑEDO STREET

BRGY. SAN NICOLAS

TARLAC CITY, TARLAC 2300

PHILIPPINES 

She'd love to hear from you! 

Philippines!!!

Kumusta pamilya!

I am in the Philippines! It was a long journey to get here, and now I am here and it is great. It is so great. I am so blessed. And I miss you and wish you could experience the Philippines with me! I vote we come to the Philippines after my mission. 

Traveling... was awesome. I really did love it. Also I loved being able to talk to you and wish that it could have been longer. It was hard for me because there were so many things I wanted to tell you but because we didn't have anytime I didn't know what to say with the time that I had. But I'm glad we were able to talk. Dad are you in Moab right now by the way? Ever since traveling my days have been messed up and I haven't a clue what time it is at home or what day it is. Anyway, traveling was great. We left the MTC at 6:30pm and got to the Mission home about 32 hours later. It was a looong time. Oh ya, the LAX airport was sooo big also! It was fun to be in the international portal thing and see all the different destinations in the world. The plane ride from LAX to Hong Kong was awesome! We were so lucky, a missionary and I sat in the same row and the person who was supposed to sit in between us never came, so we had the row to ourselves! We were on a 747 I think? It was a ginormous plane. They served us an amazing dinner (with Haggan Dans ice cream!) and for a snack Cup of Noodles (but the brand actually from China) and a delicious breakfast. Wow it was soo delicious. And the chairs were super comfortable and reclined. And there was a TV on the back of the seat in front of us and we didn't watch TV or anything, but there was a map of where we were on the flight, how much longer we had to go, etc. which was super fun to watch. Everything was in Chinese and English. I was blessed to sleep for a long time. And it was still tiring. It was fun to look at the map and see we were above Japan and then to look down and see all the lights from the city. On the flight we sat in front of 2 people from Mexico and one from the Philippines and they were so funny! We talked to them a lot and it was great. Then we got to Hong Kong! (By the way I took some pictures and due to poor planning I failed to bring my card reader and therefore and unable to send pictures this week. I'm so sorry!) Hong Kong was cool. All through flying we never had a layover for more than like 45 min before we started boarding. So I was in Hong Kong for a couple of hours if you count the time when we landed to when we took off. It was fun. Ha ha I didn't actually see much. The airport was right on the coast so I saw ocean, and the city kind of off in the distance. But it was cloudy or smoggy, I'm not sure which, and it was cool to realize that we were in Hong Kong freaking China. It was awesome. Then on the flight to Manila I sat next to 2 Filipinos. One older lady and one younger one. The whole time they taught me Tagalog and were funny to talk to. Also on that flight we had a delicious lunch. Man, Cathay Airlines is the way to go. Granted that is all I've ever flown, but it was sweet service. The two ladies I sat next to were so sweet and it got me excited for the Philippines. 

Manila! We landed, got out luggage, went out, and all 23 of us had no clue what to do next. Ha ha I was so happy that I was not the Travel Leader. I just stayed in the back of the group, laughed at everything, soaked in the fact that I was actually in Manila and had no clue what was being said around me, it was pretty hot, and I was finally there. I couldn't stop smiling I was so excited! We found our ride that took us to the Manila MTC to pick up the other missionaries there and then we headed out to the mission home. Ha ha everything was so... Filipino I guess. Ha ha I am so blessed that I don't really feel like I have had culture shock. Everything seems normal to me, a little different, but everything seems normal. Yesterday I saw a little girl squat down and pee right there where we were eating, and I thought to myself, "okay that's kind of gross... oh well." Jared was right about that movie with the part filmed in the Philippines. It was like that. The driving felt crazy when I first got here but now it is normal to me. To me it seems like the driving, is just drive. I haven't really picked up on organized patterns although i'm sure there are some, but it seems like if you are trying to get somewhere, just get there. Ha ha it's funny. 

At the Manila MTC (right next to the beautiful Manila temple!) and picked up I think 7 missionaries from that MTC. Then all 30 of us (biggest number the mission has ever received) and headed to the mission home. By the way the mission home address HAS changed. The Tarlac City one I sent you is correct. And I learned that that is actually the mission office address which is where all the mail is sent. 

F. TAÑEDO STREET

BRGY. SAN NICOLAS

TARLAC CITY, TARLAC 2300

PHILIPPINES 

I hope that that is the same address I sent you earlier... 

So ya, we went to the beautiful mission home after a looong drive, and we met President and Sister Martino. They are very kind to us. We had a lot of orientation, ate dinner, and went to bed. Then in the morning, more orientation, breakfast, then went to have more orientation, meet our new kasama and then head out to our new areas. 

My first kasama is Sister Frejas from the Philippines! I am her last companion and I hope so badly that she will not have any regrets with me as her last companion. She is so good to me. She speaks English very well which I am sooo thankful for! She is very kind, she loves me a lot, and she wants to train me so that I can be a future leader. She treats me quite literally like her child. We live in a really nice apartment in a really pretty place. Our area is Tarlac 3rd ward which is the biggest area in our zone. We spend a lot of money on transportation because it is such a large area. The members here are so very kind. Also so very involved in missionary work. it is soo neat. The people we are teaching are very kind. Bless her heart my kasama does basically all the teaching. Tagalog... I don't know anything. It has been overwhelming that I can't communicate with the people we teach. But I love it when I am able to feel the Spirit regardless that I have no clue what is being said. I am so grateful that I can pray and share my testimony in Tagalog. That has been about all I have to contribute at this point. Which is helping me learn patience. I want to know Tagalog right now and that is not happening. It is hard and that is all that needs to be said about that. :) 

The people are so very kind here. They are so easy to walk up and talk to. I am so thankful that I love talking to random people and I consider it a talent the Lord has given me. When we're riding a trike, the driver always lets me practice talking to him. Then my kasama will clear up basically everything I have said after I've finished. A lot of people look at us and when I'm talking they stare intently, I think because the way I speak is so funny. Ha ha I really have no clue how to communicate in Tagalog. Regardless the people are so kind and I am so blessed. 

We have 2 hours of internet use here. And they have the works here as in i can open word documents, pictures, etc... so please write me!  At the MTC physical letters and dearelders were the best. Here I think emails are best. Also, a new rule they added to the White Handbook. We can email family AND friends now! You can tell people if they want to write me they can email! Will you please tell Makenzie that especially? I want to hear about her wedding. Like I don't know how you will tell her, but if you could that would be great, ha ha thanks. I would tell her but I can't remember her email address.

How was the Jeep Safari? How was Easter!? My kasama didn't know what Easter was really. Here they (the other church) celebrated Holy Week. Which was actually an interesting week to arrive for us. There were many many people walking and parading in the streets singing with loud microphones, carrying crosses and whipping or hitting their backs until they bled all over. Good Friday especially. But how was Easter? What did you do? Grandma's house? How is Jr.? How goes preparing for grad school? How are Dallon and Jared? How is Genie? How is getting ready for 6th graders? How goes the 3rd grade Opera? Did you get the video I sent you from Sister Martino? Oh man I feel so bad, I was still so tired, and they took pictures of us that night for them to use all throughout our mission... good thing we can only get better looking from there. Yuck it was bad. And when I sent the video I was so tired so I probably seemed very unenthusiastic, my apologies. 

Anyway, I love you so so much! Thank you for your love and support. The Philippines is great. The people are great. My kasama is great. The atmosphere is great. Different, and great. The culture is great. Different, and still great. 

Thanks for all you do for me. I love you!

-Sister Davidson :)

P.S. Some other things I remembered last minute... Although there are a million things I actually want to say but have forgotten.

P-Days are Mondays.

Rice is an every meal type of thing. Yesterday I ate some type of fish that I don't know, muscles, and something else I'm not sure what it was and I ate it all with my fingers. My kasama taught me how as I never knew there was a technique to it. Ha ha the food was Filipino. I remind myself that I only have to eat it while I'm on my mission so I only have to like it for that much time. Then once I get home I don't ever have to like it again if I don't want to. Ha ha I'm praying that I acquire a love for the food. I'm too shy and don't know if it is rude to not eat, so I eat whatever my kasama puts on my plate and pray that I won't get sick. :) Ha ha I'll be fine. It'll be grand. I like rice so I've found that if I don't love a type of food, just put enough rice in the same bite and swallow as quickly as possible. Then it is fine! I think I'll grow to love the food, with time. That is my goal with my mission, and I guess it is a good life long goal as well... to love everything. Love everything so much that it will be hard when it is over. For example, I want to love my area so much that I never want to leave it. Or love my kasama so much that I never want to leave her. Or love the food so much that I will miss it terribly. I want to be able to look back at things and be sad to leave, but more so I want to look back and be so happy and grateful for the experience that I had. 

There are sooo many chickens, roosters, dogs, and cats here! They are everywhere! There is an LDS short movie about faith that Jared told me about that describes the Philippines perfectly. I watched it and he was right. It's a short 2 min movie about faith or something like that where the girl didn't have enough money to buy her food and pay to get to church but she had faith and through a miracle from the Lord she had enough money. Check it out. 

Also, I'm a giant here. In about a third of the Trikes I have to duck my head. Also to get in and out of many doorways I have to duck. I look over most everybody. I can't imagine what it would be like if I were actually tall! 

It is hot but really it is not as bad as I anticipated. I am loving the weather. 

I love you!