Maligayang Pasko, or Merry Christmas!

Maligayang Pasko, or Merry Christmas! 

This week was a superb week! I am getting better at Tagalog and am able to talk to the people more and more every day. Elder Eleazar got emergency transferred this week which was upsetting. We had gotten closer than I would have ever thought. Now it is just Elder Buque and myself. We have a jolly good time every day though. He is one of the most Christ-like people that I know and I hope to be as good of a missionary as him. 

Zone Christmas Conference was an absolute blast as well. We had a lot of inspiring words from our mission president that really motivated me to work harder every day. Then we had a huge feast, games, and a talent show. I am getting close with these missionaries already, especially the ones in my zone. Some Elders from Tonga did the Hakka which was so amazing! I am told myself that I am visiting Tonga after the mission. Every Tongan that I meet I instantly love. Our talent was singing a Filipino Christmas song and dancing!

The Ward Christmas party was a hoot and a half! Tons of food (again), Filipino Karaoke, and talents. I guess the baby shark song (the one we would always do in Student Government) is super huge here. The entire ward got such a kick out of me going all out dancing to the song.

Christmas Eve: MORE FOOD! All the members were so nice to the missionaries! They want us to be very fed. And trust me and I am being well fed. We had Three large meals the size of a Thanksgiving meal in the time span of 5 hours. I could barely walk. At first Christmas Eve was a little difficult for me because I am not around my family like all the previous Christmas's. At night we had to go back to our apartment at 6 pm because it can get dangerous with all the partying. Elder Buque was talking to his family so I just went in our backyard and climbed our wall. I laid up on the wall and looked at the stars. I listened to the dozens of Filipinos singing on their Karaoke machines. I saw firecrackers going off and children laughing. I saw the joy that my companion had speaking to his family. At that very moment I really felt the love of God. Christmas is a special time of year because so many people come together and think about Christ. I am so grateful to have a savior that knows me more than I could ever comprehend. I know that Christ understands my joys and pains and wants me to have complete joy. Christmas time is truly a magical time of year.

Christmas! Filipinos really love Christmas season. We started off the day by going to a zone activity. It was so much fun! Though I made the mistake of playing basketball with some members before we started our activity and I was very, very, VERY sweaty. If you know me, you know that I sweat a lot in Colorado and Utah. You can image how much I sweat when it is humid and the blaring sun is shining directly on your face. Our first activity was musical chairs and it was slightly embarrassing because each time I sat down on the seat I would leave a little sweat mark.. haha! Anways we played tons of games and ate food. Then we had a lunch appointment with a recent convert where we ate MORE FOOOOOOOOOOOOOD! Yeah, I won't need to eat for a couple weeks. The food here is amazing. My new favorite food is Bicol Express. It is the perfect blend of spicy and sweet and I can't help myself but to pig out on it. 

Some other cool facts of the week:

-New record of amount of people on a tricycle (which would fit 2-3 Americans): 9 PEOPLE! Yeah slightly dangerous

-I finally got to fulfill my dream of riding on the outside of the jeepney

- People here eat EVERY part of the animal. Every part....

I hope you all have a fantabulous Christmas where ever you are! Spend this time getting closer to family, friends, and Christ. Spread your light around the world by serving others everyday.

-Elder Cadayong