Week 7

PHILIPPINES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've made it everyone! Safe and sound. Monday morning we all got up, finished packing, and started to leave. We got on a bus, then a train, then another bus that took us to the airport. It was insane being out of the MTC. I felt like I had just got released from prison or something. Spending 40 days flew by. The flight to LA wasn't too bad mainly because I was asleep the whole time but one row ahead and to the right of me was someone watching ESPN and holy cow was it tempting to watch that puppy. I got myself at least a few times taking a quick peek but I just decided to take a nap rather than watch. I was pretty proud of myself. Waiting in LA for 7 hours was MISERABLE! The first 2 hours was fun because we were like some kids in a massive candy store and were roaming all around our terminal. But after those 2 hours, we were all just so bored. The plane arrived like an hour before boarding and 'oh my heavenly angel' was it a massive plane. There were 75 rows and there were 11 seats in each row. 3-5-3. It was so annoying because the TV's on the plane had like every movie ever but we couldn't watch anything. And then to add on that, every other passenger that isn't a missionary is watching a movie so we just all have the screens around us and we are trying our best to avoid looking but it was very tough. I slept for probably 10 of the 14 hours so that was fantastic. After getting off the plane and getting through security our escort told us to exchange our dollars for pesos, and that was very strange. And then we walked out of the airport...

The first i thing I noticed was the humidity. In the words of my oldest brother, who served in mexico, "the humidity hit me like a brick wall!" It's honestly just like walking in a sauna 24/7. The second thing I noticed is that all the cops here just carry either an AK-47 or a huge shotgun. It was kind of scary. When we got into the shuttles I instantly thought of that scene in Monsters inc. when Randall is chasing Sully and Mike in the the huge door facility thing and they are all jumping from doors to door and entering one door and then going out another door. Know what I'm talking about? Just imagine that, and then replace all the doors in that scene with cars, and multiply it by 10. That's what the driving is like here. Withing the first 5 seconds I was convinced we weren't making it to the MTC. I thought we were all going to die. Cars, jeepneys, motorcylces, buses, and bikes are all weaving back and forth. There are no rules here and everyone is constantly honking. I really can't even describe how insane it was. When we arrived at the MTC we had breakfast and then they let us all take a 3 hour nap which was super nice. But right after we got thrown back into classes. The whole day I was just amazed that I'm in actually in The Philippines now. We didn't have an evening class today because the MTC president let us all got to bed at 7:00 which was awesome!!!

Thursday: During breakfast, President Clark(MTC president) called Elder Malm and I out and told us that we are going to made the district leaders of District Jeremiah and District Job. Which is really cool I guess but now I got a ton more responsibilities and I'm still trying to figure out the basic responsibilities. So we'll see how this goes. The rest of the day was pretty basic but everytime I walk outside the humidity is just insane! The food here is amazing, way better than Provo. It tastes more fresh and more real and it's all different. Except for rice which we eat for every meal haha.

Anyways, we only have an hour to email so I gotta wrap this up but The Philippines is already amazing. Everyone I've met so far is so kind and so happy. Although I won't be able to communicate with anyone for a good 5 months, I'm excited to finally go out in the field and teach the greatest message on earth.

I love all and hope you are all doing maayo g'yud!!!

Love, Elder Kasden Grasse