Mum,
Good to hear that all is well. Life is good here in the Phillipines. We've had rain but nothing extreme. It was transfer announcements today and Elder Cortezano and I aren't going anywhere. Woohoo! That is great news, especially with Christmas just around the corner. I hope that my package is here. I should be able to pick it up tomorrow if it is. I am so excited! Hopefully it is there!
We are all good here and Christmas for us in the Philippines started in September. From September onwards, their have been lights, Christmas songs and a spirit of happiness. The spirit of Christmas is very much about Jesus Christ because this is a Christian country. A tradition here is where the kids do something called, "Mamasko" which is when they come to your house, sing a Christmas carol and then ask you for either food, money or a present. We had some kids come over to our place this morning and after they sang we gave them some bread snacks and canned food and they were so happy. It's so cool, but very different to how we do Christmas back home.
I hope Uncle Rana gets better. I will definitely pray and fast for him this week. Please give him my love when you see him again and tell him, "He's the man!"
It is so good to know that Cola is home because I think she needed family after her trip abroad. Mum, that is me after the Mission - come home, sleep for two weeks and chill at home with the family, then begin life. Close az now! I have got to set up an account for skype so that I can call you, so I will be sure to get that done. Woohoo! Excited na!
This week has been slow because we had our temple trip, then temple tour, then another meeting, then work on the other days. Oh man Mum, we got our bums kicked again yesterday. We went out at the normal time and went to work and we were out the whole day and taught two lessons. Sayung! I was watching a church DVD and one of the talks given said, "We can choose to humble ourselves or we can be compelled to be humble." I think from that talk, I realised that it is better to humble ones self then to let the Lord do it. But, either way humility is for our own good. I have learnt that being on a mission is a real privilege and I am learning heaps. I am still district leader this transfer, but they're splitting the Zone and I don't yet know which way I am going yet.
Elder Able is not transfering either so we're hopefully, going to be in the same Zone for another transfer. The tagalog language is coming along well and I'm learning a lot more. I have come to realize that the more you listen, the more you learn. I don't understand all of what the people are saying, but I am able to piece things together and figure it out for myself. It is a little hard when people talk about certain topics that I have no idea what they're going on about. I have been told that I'm fluent, but that I've still got a way to go. I keep telling myself that the work isn't easy but it definitely is worth it, and that is so true.
The schools are out now which means the streets are packed with little kids. I walked down this one street and all the kids started calling me, "Big Show!" He is a Wrestler. I just laugh because, seriously, I think I am the biggest person that most of these kids have ever seen. It's quite hilarious how the smallest things like my size, can light up their lives and I think, "Just imagine if they had the gospel?"
I've attached a few pictures for you that I think are cool. I'll also send some to other family members.
Mama, love you heaps and I hope you have a good week and I will see you on Christmas day.
Say thanks and Merry Christmas to the Grandparents for me and, "Paki-bigay ang aking pagmamahal sa pamilya natin!"
Maligayang pasko at mahal ko kayo.
Elder Chadderton
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