It was a fine Christmas week. As usual... it included doing lots of finding new people as well.
Tuesday -
On Christmas Eve we attended the branch Christmas party. It was from 8:00 until lunchtime. It included food and performances by different groups of members. It was a fun way to change up the typical schedule a little bit.
Once the party was coming to an end the other missionaries from our district came over from Bangui and had a little bit of the food and then we all had a very quick district council. After our 20 minute district council meeting we went out and did some caroling. It was very enjoyable. While caroling we gave out Books of Mormon wrapped in Christmas wrapping and handed them out. It was very unexpected to those we were caroling to. Caroling here in the Philippines is a little different because people carol just so people will give them money. Usually the people hang around the house singing (often without much effort) until somebody gives them money to make them go away. So, when we actually attempted to sing nicely and gave them a present they were very surprised. Many of them kept trying to give us money but we refused. It was fun.
Later that night as we were headed home some Seventh Day Adventists called us over and gave us spaghetti as they were preparing their powerpoint to show to some people in the neighborhood. While we were there, the 21 year old American Adventist that we see sometimes around here in Pagudpud showed up. We talked to him and he was really cool. His name is Jared and he's from Auburn, Washington and is here for 8 months on a 'medical mission' where he basically works as a nurse at the Seventh Day Adventist hospital here. He also made a funny comment about how even though he doesn't eat pork it's impossible to get away from here in the Philippines, so he's ate it a couple times but he's not concerned because he doesn't believe it's a "matter of salvation."
We stayed for a bit and listened to the presentation which was about nothing other than why the Sabbath day should be Saturday. I guess that's the doctrine they care about most.
Wednesday -
On Christmas day we just continued with regular work. We did lots of finding and talked to 22 new people. Surprisingly no one was doing anything for Christmas at all. Most people will still just working in the rice fields like normal. When we asked them why they didn't really have much of an answer. A couple people did say that they were just waiting to celebrate for Bagong Taon (New Year) rather than both Christmas and New Years because it's too expensive.
Thursday -
We called our families in the morning for Christmas which was fun. After that we did more finding of course.
Friday -
We did our weekly planning in the morning and did more finding the rest of the day. During our finding we ran into a 70+ year old Filipino man that actually has lived in America since he was 21. He was nice to talk to and spoke better English than Tagalog. He also used to be in the military and worked for the Department of Veteran Affairs. He was impressed with our Tagalog but was hesitant to care about what we were saying. He seemed kind of annoyed that we "Mormons" were trying to "force [our] religion on [him]." His response was probably more typical of what I imagine missionaries in the United States experience regularly.
Later we met this other weird guy that kept insisting that me and Elder Powell should marry Filipinas. He also told us that we should be married by now since we're both 20 and that since we abstain from dating and things as missionaries we're sinning and not following the commandment to "multiply and replenish the earth." We asked him what age he was married at and he said "30 but I've repented now." It was super funny. I kept trying to turn the conversation to something else concerning the gospel but he always brought it back to the marriage thing. He even told us that we should marry someone that's 'ka-religion' or part of our religion. Finally, I just stood up and said "Sige. Hanapin namin ang mga asawa ngayon. Bye." Which basically means "okay we'll go find ourselves some wives right now." And then we left and it was funny and ended our long conversation.
After that we then ran into a muslim family. That was interesting.. And despite that it was an interesting experience I can't say they seemed very interested.
Saturday -
More finding.
Sunday -
We had church. Luckily both the speakers showed up this time. After that, we did more finding.
Pictures -
A couple pictures of a Christmas Eve sunset, and then my companion in a Baymax hat. I forgot to take pictures again.
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