I knew I was missing one....

I guess I didn't go through my emails quite thoroughly.  

January 19

"A:one more! (serious, you see people hanging off the sides, sitting on top)

Hello for Agoo!  My very first area of the best 18 months of my life!!! 

The trip to get here was a wild one.  stepping off the plane to Manila was like stepping into a swimming room!  holy smokes.  We were all commenting on how hot it was.  Then the only smart person in our group said. "You say it's so hot, guess what!?!?  It's in the middle of the night."  HAHAHAHA  it was, 4 30 AM.  But the weather really isn't THAT bad.  I just let myself sweat, walang worries!  

The pres. and his wife are truly SO amazing!  I feel so blessed they are my mission president+mission mom.  We did a day of "training" which was really just a bunch of games, that included Proselyting, shopping, cooking, washing clothes, and playing in the sand on the beach!  

That night we all ate on the beach, in the moonlight of the full moon, with the filipino summer air, the waves crashing, and we got to eat THE MOST FANTASTIC MEAL WITH OUR HANDS!!!!!  It truly was the coolest thing.  It was shanghi rolls, with pansit, and of course RICE!  after we were done the pres let us go on the beach one more time to see the ocean at night, he is for real way rad!  

The next day (oh we were staying at the SYL's house during this time period) We met our mga Kasama!  Mine is sister Rea, she is from Australia, has the same style as me, and is also 19!  I think we will have a good time!  But something even cooler,  Sister Wright, and Sister Otia are in my same house!! what are the odds?!  Joke lang, odds don't happen in the mission!  We already have a good time!  

The driving here is hilarious!  We either take jeepney's trykes, or we walk.  Look up pictures of these!  They are way rad! What I love about the Philippines, which is everything, but to be specific, Is people here.  They do what they want.  They just drive around slow people, and dart out in intersections, they stare at you and say "hello ma'am, what is your name."  (I am going to be so shocked when I come back home and males won't cat call me, and ask for my number every 100 feet.) They sing kareoke all night, then the next morning at 5 45 they are up working!!!  Very hard working people!  

I understand when some people speak, but mostly they just talk to me, then laugh like crazy at my broken response! I gave my testimony and introduction about myself Sunday.  They laughed for my first sentence to my last! HAHA It was hilarious.  But they really do appreciate that we try.  I say like 3 Tagalog words and they say "Magaling po ka sa Tagalog."  which is " You are great at Tagalog"  

Everyone here is so sweet, the members are SOO willing to help, they like ask US if they can help!  We have people lined us for the next 4 days to teach with us!  

I thought that the food here would be fresh, but since everything is fresh..... They fry EVERYTHING!  ha, and meat is for every meal.  I haven't gotten sick yet, but then again..... our apt has only had bread and milk since I got here!  Today we are going to buy out the whole palenke (market) 

I woke up the day after I got here, walked to the outside sink to brush my teeth, looked at the beautiful everything and thought "I wished I lived here."  That is how I feel every day!  I have never been so excited to be doing anything!  I wish you could all come see what I mean!  

I love you, I love my Savior, I love the Philippines! 

till next time

-Sister Nott"

First Post...

Welcome to Anna's mission blog!!  This is Mary, Anna's sister, and I will be updating this blog with letters, pictures, and stories of Anna's mission.  First, I need to apologize for lack of creativity on this site.  I will get around to decorating it, but the posts should be the most important....right?

Sister Nott went into the Provo MTC on December 4.  Let me tell you this, having your sister leave for a year and a half is HARD.  Don't worry, this blog won't be about how much I miss her, and how you should feel bad for me.  I just want you all to know how wonderful a sister she is, and what a fantastic missionary she has already been.

Here are her first and second emails from the Philippines.

January 15
"Family and beloved friends.  

I have 10 minutes to speed write you to say that I'M HERE IN BAGUIO!!!!  The plane ride was very very very very very long.  the bus ride was very very very very very very long.  so after about 30 something hours, and skipping Tuesday completely.  We made it!  I will write you in more details Monday.  Listen, I want to apologize for the lack of phone calls Monday.... I had very little time, and my phone card didn't work.  I am sorry that you all probably woke up early, and stayed by your phone all day!  But please know my love for you!  

My mission President and his wife seem AMAZING!!!  They wanted me to thank you (mom and dad) for letting us come to Baguio! what dolls right?  They have a blog it's http://baguiophilippinesmission.blogspot.com and a Facebook account under www.facebook.com/anthonyjohn.balledos

They will be posting pictures, and keeping you lovelies updated!  

I am more excited then ever, The Philippines is the most beautiful place I have ever laid eyes on.  It is humid, and hot beyond all get out.  But if we all have big hair, and are sweating cups a day.  Then it's fine by me.  

missionaries that sweat together, stay together in the work!  

I just thought of that.  impressed?  

Love you all

Sorry again for the phone calls!!!  especially to Mary!  I love you sister, I loved our short conversation together!  all we need is 4 minutes to laugh and cry together!!   

I love you all!

-Sister Anna Nott "

Post from January 27

"So.... our Bahay (house) is for real haunted.  We have heard, and seen some pretty crazy stuff.... Nothing to worry about.  Me and Sister Rea have a separate apt. then the other 4 sisters, and MOST of the crazy stuff has happened in ours.  We had our very nice, and willing Zone Leaders dedicate our house.  However, we have gotten permission and have taken all 6 of our mattresses into one room to sleep every night, it is a party.  We just all pray we don't have to use the CR at night! HA!  We think the mumu (ghost) is just a lost soul that wants to hear the gospel, so we take pitty on him! Since it is probably a boy, we will try to refer him to the Elders, because we can't teach the opposite gender.  Ha!  

Also, I have had the craziest food while being here.  While working with some members we bought BBQ on the side of the road.  The BBQ here is quite.... different.... Ha!  I had a cube(that's right a CUBE, it is solid for some terrifying reason) of pigs blood, chicken intestines, and chicken feet.... They didn't taste that bad.  But thinking about eating the blood brought me grief a few dozen times throughout the rest of the day!  They have good food as well though.  Mary, look up these recipes: fish balls (they taste like pastry) egg pie, and fried banana!!!! holy smokes, fried bananas are my new favorite food!  

So this week has been another confusing one.  They don't have addresses here.  They all just live in certain areas, so to find people you have to ask another human where they live.  They will go "doong", and point with their lips one direction.  You go that direction, and you ask again, and again.  until someone points right to their house.  It's crazy!  Lessons, are decent language wise.  Church terms are the only ones I understand.... even then.... I don't understand.... HA!  I can contribute a little, but they can't understand my accent.  My Zone leader says that you have 3 levels of accents.  The normal American, the harder country accents, then.  On a whole separate level, you have Sister Nott's accent.  hahahahaha.  it is too true.  I was in a lesson trying to say 'after'  which in Tagalog is pagkatapos, but I was pronouncing it pagtapos.  So the family thought I was say octopus.... these stories go on, and on, and on..... Ha.  So lessons when I talk turn into a good old time, everyone laughing, pointing at me, and patting each other on the back.  It is for real the best!  

We have a family of four that had a baptismal date before transfers, the mom and the 2 kids are going to be baptized Feb. 8 (Happy Birthday to Mary!!!!!!) but the dad hasn't come to church enough times.  They have to come to church for 4 consecutive weeks in order to be baptized.  He had only come twice.  We were so nervous to tell the family, but let me tell you.  It went awesome!  They are so ready to be baptized, you walk into the house and you just feel the power!  I am excited for what is to come with them!  

We are trying to focus more on less active members.  The active attendance rate is crazy low.  It has been fun to go visit the less actives, but it gets disappointing when they commit to come to church and they don't.  I guess I will get a lot of disappointment these 18 months!  

I have a good time here washing my clothes in a bucket, and showering with cold water, It is like a camping trip, only wearing a skirt!  Ha, you, and your clothes get clean.... enough!!!  It is hard work, but I am having a blast!  thank you for your love, and support back in good ol' Utah!  Lots of love!!!!  

_sister Nott"

These are the children that "jump on us" as Anna writes. 

Again, I apologize for the lack of color in this blog... I will get to it.