Mother's Day Skype 2018

Mother’s Day Call 7pm on 5/13/2018

9am in Tacloban on 5/14/2018

·    It took him and his companion 3 hours to get from Calubian to Tacloban.  They had to rent a trike because today is election day so no buses were running.  They left really early in the morning to get there in time to call us.

·    He looked healthy and so happy!  He smiled almost the entire time.  He gains and then loses weight, up 8 pounds, down 3.  He hasn’t been sick at all from the food or water.  And somehow he seems to be immune to the mosquitos.  He said they attacked him one night when he first got there, but haven’t bothered him since.

·    He said it’s so hot during the mornings and afternoons.  Then it rains in the late afternoons and evenings almost every day.

·    Has eaten about every part of the chicken.  He said chicken heart is actually pretty tasty.

·    Likes pancit (pronounced panseat), which is kind of like ramen noodles with vegetables and chicken.

·    Cooks a lot, mostly chicken and rice. Surra is whatever meat goes with your rice (chicken, steak, pork, etc,).  He loves rice and said he will probably eat it twice a day when he gets home.  He does eat much fish because it takes too long to prepare the cook.

·    They usually on get invited to eat with members a couple of times per cycle (6 weeks).  He was pretty jealous of his friends serving in the states that have dinner appointments every night.

·    They have a McDonald’s in Tacloban.  They do serve rice and chicken, but also Big Mac’s.  But he said he hasn’t had a Big Mac yet because they are so expensive - $5.  He said he can buy a full meal anywhere else for $1.50.  We told him we will add some money in his account so he can splurge and buy a Big Mac for him and his companion.

·    Bought shoes there for $8.  He said they are pretty nice and are waterproof.  The shoes he brought with him got destroyed when he rode the bike in Anibong for 6 months.

·    His companion, Elder Gomboc (pronounced Gumbooc) speaks pretty good English, but mostly Tagalog.  Wade said the people in his area will start to speak in Cebuano, but then change to Waray-Waray half way through the conversation.  It keeps him on his toes.  He is more comfortable speaking Waray-Waray, but can understand and speak both languages pretty well.

·    They have 7 baptisms planned for next month: JhonRex, Noel, the Balce family (including nanay/mom, and 3 children), another sister (can’t remember or spell her name)

·    The only air-conditioned rooms in the church are the bishop and clerk’s offices.

·    Filipinos love basketball.  There is a hoop on almost every corner.  They love the NBA.  He gets to play basketball on some pdays.  He thought they would be more into soccer, but they are not.  He is grateful for NBA updates so keep ‘em coming whoever is emailing them to him!

·    He washes his clothes with a scrub brush and a bucket.  He demonstrated it for us and he said he is getting pro at it.

·    We talked for 44 minutes and 50 seconds.  He said his mission president told them they need to be obedient and only talk for less than 45 minutes.  He even gave us a 5 minute warning. J  Our favorite part is when he said, “Obedience brings blessings, exact obedience brings miracles.”  He said every missionary that has been through the MTC should know that quote.  He is working on being exactly obedient and we are so proud of him!