Man a mission is crazy. Who knew mission life would be like this? Not I! It is a lot of prep and study time and learning. I am still a trainee so I am constantly learning a ton. It can be hard at times. I feel many, many times like a consumer. I have to actually look to see what I can produce or share or give that day. Its hard cause I feel like I am always searching for help in language or teaching. I know that I can give one thing for sure. I know I can smile big. I can help in any little things I see. I try and look for those. This week we had two baptisms. We have been working with both for a couple months and the one girl just turned 9 and we thought the bishop would have time to interview her but he didn't get to it. So we baptized her. Aljon is a 21 year old who is awesome! He always come to church all smiles and is very knowledgeable in the gospel now! Well, more than he was. It was cool because I got to baptize both of them. They have pretty long names so I was glad I remembered them- haha. It was so cool to see their big smiles! I felt bad cause the water was kind of cold and the young girl, Leanica, was shivering a lot when she got into the font. Super cool still and super spiritual.
We have a great ward mission leader in our ward who is good at English and helps missionary work a lot in our ward! He is the biggest blessing to the ward. So fun loving and goofy and awesome. I got to go on splits with him this week. Earlier in the day when I was studying, I was struggling, just feeling down, ya know. Anyways, I planned to take a nap after weekly planning cause we had time till we went out. I instead studied and prepared a small spiritual thought in Tagalog and I didn't know why cause I really wanted to take a nap. Anyways, I ended up teaching that thought to some members later that night and they said it was the perfect lesson for them. Super cool. The lord helped me out there and I most definitely felt his hand in that.
Also, the members always give us food. They will invite us to restaurants if they see us and there is one girl preparing for a mission here and she always gives us food whenever she sees us. There is a really good barbecue stand right next to the church that's so good. Its so smoky though, they use a fan to blow the smoke and smell away from the stand haha. I have done better at not stopping and getting bakery items so much this week too -haha. This new mall opened up in our area and its big and mostly empty still. There is a lot of food places- people eat on the bottom floors but there will be stores still moving in for the next months.
A little thing this week is I went on an exchange with the ZL and he had to cover his mouth and he was gagging when we walked past two rivers in our area. It was so so funny- haha. The rivers are very ripe but never have I covered my nose or anything. I have been blessed with a strong tolerance here because this area/ zone is hard because it is so busy and full of people and everyone is always doing something, but also its very dirty and in the real gut of the city and the small houses and dirty street. Also, the smells are crazy here. I am not complaining but I am letting you know that they are very very different hahaha- thats why the ZL was gagging- hahaha.
Missionary work isn't exactly what I expected, but I know its great and a great work. I love the people here and I love knowing I'm serving god and his children. No matter how hard it can be at times. Remember he helps us in our hard times and he is always with us when we are doing the right things. Continue doing the right things. Love, serve, smile, learn. Keep being amazing and another week in the grind. I am so thankful for my family. I really appreciate them out here. I miss them dearly, so dearly, but I know I am where I need to be. I love my father in heaven too and this gospel.
Elder McAllister
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