November 5, 2014

Family,

Another crazy week. I'm half done with my training. The time is starting to fly by. I still don't know Tagalog but my understanding has increased like crazy. I love the people here and I love being a missionary. Mom thank you those Dear Elders. It's good to hear what everyone is doing. Here are some answers to some of your questions;

-Our apartment is nice (compared to other areas) but we don't have clean water, air conditioning, oven, microwave. I mostly make spaghetti every night. The elders that stay in my apartment call it the, "Strader Spaghetti Special." But most of the time Elder T and I do a good job getting dinner appointments.

-One of the many things that I didn't expect was what people do with there trash. They don't have garbage companies here so everyone just dumps there trash in there front yard and burns it. Like a huge trashy bon-fire. I thought with time I would get used to the smell but I was wrong. 

-I wash my clothes my hand and honestly I don't mind it. 

-Everything is SO cheap here.

-There are no stop signs and traffic lights and everyone drives on the wrong side of the road ALL the time. The way we get around if we're not walking we take a "trike." Which is motorcycle with a enclosed cab attached to the side. I kidd you not when I say they fit about in average of 8 Filipinos on these small trikes. 

-I play piano for the branch every Sunday and I'm starting a branch choir

Email me with any more questions! And tell me how everyone is doing!

Christmas/Birthday List:

-AA batteries (they are actually insanely expensive here)

-If you're going to send money send cash not through my debt card. Hide the money somewhere in the package. PUT PICTURES OF THE VIRGIN MARY ON THE PACKAGE. No one will steal something out of it if you do. A lot people are Catholic. 

-Honestly mostly money because I can get things here way cheaper. 

-Mom and Dad could you send some church DVDs? I really would like the Doctrine and Covenants one with Restoration video, The Stone cutter one, ect. And also the Bible videos, and the Testaments movie. I would love those for Christmas. And it's okay for us to watch it as long as it's produced by the Church. 

I hope everything is going well home! I'm loving it here! I love y'all!

Your Valiant Missionary,

Elder Strader