Balot! Sison Branch. Elder Provido.

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Hello!! It's been a crazy time here in the Philippines, and it still doesn't feel like this is real. I'm slowly adjusting to this weird lifestyle haha. So on Tuesday before we left, we had our last day at the MTC so I said bye to the Provo homies in my district, pretty sad. Anyway they served Balot in the cafeteria and at first I didn't want to try it, and then eventually I tried one and it really wasn't that bad. All the Filipinos get so hype when a white person was trying it. I then had a second one idk why?? Just avoided the beak. That night I woke up at like 2 feeling super sick, and then I went to the bathroom and threw up. It was a terrible night and I was worried because we had to wake up at 4:30 to leave for San Fernando which was a 5 hour bus ride. So in the morning on the ride to the bus I was chundying in the front seat of the van and the Filipino river wasn't even phased. Theres dogs and motorcycles everywhere. Just chaos. So on the bus ride I was super sick and kept puking. Eventually I got it all out and felt better before we arrived at the mission home.

When we got there we met the AP's, other elders and sisters and the the Mission President and his wife. Super nice and funny. We had orientation and then stayed the Assistant's house down the road. It was filthy, and they had a bunch of mattresses for us. There was like 20 Elders in house sleeping on the ground. So it was a mess.

The next day we got our trainers and areas. My Trainers name is Elder Provido, and he's a beauty from south Philippines. Our first area is the Sison branch, and we are the only Elders in our Area. It's the most south of the Baguio mission. Borders the Urdaneta mission. Elder Provido is hilarious and a really good trainer. I got super lucky, our house is pretty dope too, we even have a shower head. (doesn't really work)

We teach like 6 or 7 lesson a day. So we are super busy. It's hard to understand what's going on in our lessons but I can pull words so I know sort of what they are talking about in conversation. The people here are super friendly, and willing to listen to our lesson. They don't have very much but they offer us food, snacks, coke. It's awesome. Everyone stares at me in the streets. Yesterday some girls wanted a selfie hahaha. Our Branch President is like 25 and hes sick. Our church starts at 9 but none actually comes until 9:30.

A big thing I learned this week was to keep smiling. No matter what just keep your head up even when it gets hard. Theres a lot to be thankful for. I suck at Tagalog and no one can really understand me. But I try my best to stay happy. Elder Provido is really good at that. He loves to joke around and laugh. It's so different here so I'm slowly adjusting. Today we went to some Falls that were so tight. I wanted to swim so bad cause its so hot here. Reminded me of the Road to Hana in Maui. The internet is super bad here, and it's so hard to upload photos:( but i'll do my best. 

Miss you all :'/
Love
Elder Garry


some nice kids that wanted a pic with us


the trainer


first day in the field


Kids here are awesome

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