Week 7

So I am in the Philippines! My first area is the Tabaco zone and I am in the Tobaco district as well. Just wow. This is soooo not what I expected. It is hott but not as bad as I thought it would be. And the people here are always complaining about the weather- you'd think they'd be used to it by now?! It's actually the rainy season so its not as hott as it will be later. But today like right now is the first time it has rained and its not even too bad. We carry around wash cloths to wipe sweat off us throughout the day- such as gross concept but you have to do it! Like yeah it is hot but I expected worse. I don't use any blankets when I sleep though and have to have the fan RIGHT on me. I heard there is a chance there will be a city wide black out for the next week (please pray it doesn't last a week) and I am wondering how I am going to sleep without a fan... The power outage is because the city isn't paying it's bills. Like what?! So yeah, all the other Americans in my district are always REALLY sweaty and I don't think I'm as bad. Maybe because I'm a little bit more used to humidity from New York? So the food here is okish. A lot of rice. I kind of just eat whatever is given to me- I haven't been a huge fan of anything yet but nothing has been like gross. I had Jollibee (it's their big fast food chain) and it was gross. They all loved it (the Filipinos). I really want like steak and potatoes and cord on the cob with chocolate cake from the moa. That is my dream food right now. Oh well. in 16 months. Oh and I miss like breakfast food- we just usually eat like left overs which is gross and like I just want like cereal! My companion is a native, her name is Sister Andrada. She speaks really good English which probably isn't a good thing because I am always just wanting her to explain to me in English what is going on- I need to learn Tagalog. Yeah basically I know NOTHING. And everyone laughs at me when I speak. But oh well. I had to talk in church yesterday and I'm like pretty sure the people couldn't understand a word I was saying. Because I speak terrible Tagalog and speak it with an American accent. Oh and yeah they speak Bicol here- I did not learn Bicol. That is a problem. But at this point I don't know Tagalog or Bicol so I don't know when they are talking what.  It is annoying because some phrases like good morning/evening are different. Basically I sit around most the day lost because I have no clue what is being spoken. And I can def tell that this is an Asian language. The bugs here are ehh. I haven't seen anything HUGE but we have an ant problem in our apartment which freaks me out. They are tiny though so I just flick them away. Oh the lizards! There are lizards just chilling. And they CREEP me out. A LOT. So yeah I get a bucket shower... The first pour of ice cold water is always a shock but since it is the only way to get clean I do it. I sweat and get gross so I need to wash myself. We have a toilet in our apartment-but not toilet paper. There are 4 of us in our apartment and I'm the only non-filipino. So yeah. It's different. Not a good different. Oh I rode on the pudjuk and tricey (idk if i spelled those right) but they are like  bike or motercycle things. They are really dangerous in my opinion but yeah. We ride pudjuks all over. They are so small and cramped. I rode on the back part of a motorcycle for the first time yesterday-scary. People drive crazy here. So I did laundry by hand for the first time earlier today- it made my arms REALLY tired. I am really desiring American life. The people are nice here. I always notice them staring at me because I am white which is funny. And when I speak like even a little Tagalog like "My name is" they are amazed. The little kids (and some adults!) have come up to me and called me pretty- its weird but sweet. So me and Sister Andrada are opening a new area in the district and so we don't really have any investigators or know anyone. So we have been doing a lot of street contacting and trying to find less actives. I really just want to start teaching people! But yeah it's really different here- I can't even explain it. I am amazed at how differently they live. We were in a jungle-y part the other day and like the houses were literally made out of straw. I could tip it over if I wasn't careful. It is sad to see. But also it that part like the views were so pretty. Yeah I don't really know what else to tell you all. It is just so different here and I am just constantly amazed. I can tell I am going to be a very different person at the end of this. And while even though this is hard I will keep working. I know once we start teaching people I'll be so much happier here. I can't wait to help these people!

Week 6

Hi! This week FLEW by. I haven't even started packing... and I leave on monday! Hopefully I get to packing later today. I don't know what I even did this week. I learned a ton but hardly remember it. I got to skype and talk with a Filipino one night and teach him about the gospel. It was really hard- I could hardly understand him. It's going to be interesting in the Philippines. All my teachers here have told me a ton of stories about their missions and it makes me excited...and terrified. I had a melt down last night (friday) actually because I realized how much is going to change in this upcoming week. But I know it will be OK. I know that Heavenly Father only gives us challenges that we can endure. And if we let Him, He will help us in our trials. I trust my Heavenly Father and know that in 17 months I will be so sad to leave the Philippines. A year ago I never would think this is where I would be right now. But now I can't imagine being or doing anything else. I love my Heavenly Father and love that I am able to be a representative of Jesus Christ. The MTC was hard at first but now I am sad to leave. I know that's how the field is going to be as well. I'm sorry to have this be a short post but I can't really remember anything super interesting happening. Next time you all hear from me I will be in the Philippines! AHH! Mahal Kita- Sister Kendal Ianuzi

Letter Mailing Address:

Sister Kendal Marie Ianuzi

Philippines Legazpi Mission

Blk 8 Lot 2 & 3 Ridgeview Subdivision,

Boraguis, Legazpi City
Albay Philippines

Package Mailing Adderss:

Sister Kendal Ianuzi

Philippines Legazpi Mission
LDS Chapel Rizal Street,

Poblacion, Draga

Albay Philippines

So the situation with mail: I only will get my letters and packages every 6 weeks at transfers. Or that s what I've heard. But still send me stuff :) I love you! 

Week 5

This was such a fast week! There was something happening EVERYDAY. On Linggo (sunday) we said goodbye to the "older" districts in the zone. They left early on monday morning. Making my district the "oldest" in the zone. Meaning we should be the smartest with the language but I'm not sure if thats true. On Lunes (monday) it was July 1! The day the Legazpi mission opened! We celebrated as a district with Martinellies Sparkiling Cider. It was fun and silly. On Martes (tuesday) nothing really huge happened but they are always a good relaxing day. We have devotional on martes and heard from Brother Richardson of the General Sunday School Presidency. I learned so much of my purpose as a missionary and got even more excited to go serve in the Philippines. On Mierkoles (wednesday) we got newbies into the zone. 40 of them!!! That was unheard of. There has never been 40 new people in one week. Usually they get 20 at  time. The week I came in they only had us 10 though. They are all so great and have learned so much so fast. Me and Sister Carr have tatlo (three) of them in our room. On Huwebes (thursday) it was the 4th of July! We had a normal day up until the night and then they let all of us missionaries watch 17 miracles. I love that movie and appreciate the Pioneer Saints so much. I could not have done what they did. So many gave their life because they had such great faith to go to Utah and be near a temple. On Biyernes (friday) we got our flight plans as a district which was so fun. On now is it sabado (saturday) and it is P-day and so relaxing. Sadly, because the Provo Temple is closed for the month we don't get to go. But it is still a nice day.

 

The MTC is amazing. I have learned SO much in such little time. I amaze myself constantly with how well I know Tagalog (watch- 2 weeks from now I will being crying because knowing Tagalog will be useless in Legazpi where they acutally speak Bicolano). Me and Sister Carr have grown so close and I am sad to have to say goodbye to her in a week. But she will be such a great missionary in Urdaneta (spelling?). Luckily we get to fly to Manilla together but from there separate. We have done so well with teaching our "investigators" here in the MTC. I hope all my investigators in the Philippines desire the gospel as much as they do! I am so excited to go and it is always on my mind. I always love the people and haven't even met them. And I know after the initial adjustment to the heat and bugs and culture that I will love it.

 

To end I'll share a scripture that I loved this week. D&C 121:7-9. It is all about how you should have peace because you are NOT alone. And all of our trials will be only for a short time. Alam ko po na Diyos helps us in our trials. When we struggle He helps me and you. I love Heavenly Father and am grateful for this opportunity to serve Him and the people of the Philippines. Mahal Kita.

 

Sister Kendal Ianuzi