I never explained our original Blog page picture. The three couples other than ourselves are all serving similar missions like we are and we were in missionary training together. The two in the left of the picture (our right) were the Sarafine’s and the Gibson’s headed to different parts of Australia; the couple to our right are the Cary’s and they came to the very same mission we are serving in! They were assigned to go and help people in the San Carlos area on the island of Negros right next to Cebu Island. They are all GREAT couples, and we really enjoyed our time with them and really loved having another couple to come to the same area as us. We have become good friends already! The young woman in the middle of us all was our very favorite teacher at the MTC Sis Bramwell – an amazing young woman!!
This week I want to talk about the people of the Philippines. My father told me I would love the people and once again – he was soooo right! Before we came my Dad shared how much he enjoyed serving in the military in the Philippines in the 50s. He also warned me to NOT underestimate the people or to feel “sorry” for them because they don’t seem to have as much as we are accustomed to. Many don’t have a lot in terms the modern view of “wealth and many are still downright poor, but they are generally SO happy! Their kids smile and love to be spoken to. Even if they look serious on a Monday morning with a long commute via “hobble hobble” or "Jeepnee"….. they smile and greet you when you speak to them.
There is music EVERYWHERE and people sing constantly! You can be waiting to use their “comfort room” (bathroom) and you will hear people singing loudly in the stalls… almost every time I enter a bathroom. I was shopping in a warehouse-type store the other day and dripping because there was no air conditioning and it was almots 100 degrees outside. The lines were long, and I was tired and trying to have a good attitude about yet another long line to purchase something a missionary needed….. Suddenly, I heard singing belting out through the store. I looked around and couldn’t figure out where it was coming from. I finally located the source and NOT KIDDING; there was a guy singing his heart out with a Karaoke microphone in the refrigerator section of the store! At least once a week I see someone singing with a microphone in a store! I was in line for at least 30 minutes, and the guy in the refrigerator section sang the entire time! We stand in lines EVERYWHERE and it made everyone in the line happier. AND….. people talk to you when you stand in line. They always have a question, or a kind statement and their kids stare at the obviously-NOT Filipino or look at our missionary name badges and ask questions. The people are generally VERY kind but the thing I really noticed this week is they are kind to each other! They shake hands and greet one another! Their families are close and kind to one another. I saw one brother take his other brother something and they shook hands and genuinely thanked each other, and they were teenagers! I see something like that almost every day. I see it in churches; I see it in stores, I see it when I walk by a barber shop, and I see it when people are waiting in crosswalks... and even the frustrated street police are patient! I’ve seen a few grouchy people, but they are the exception and NOT the rule! Very refreshing and almost every day I see something that makes me want to try harder to be a better person, to talk softer, and be more grateful and smile more often.
I’ve also noticed that what is done for the people of this country is done by other Filipinos. They are proud of their country. They are proud of their heritage. They are proud that their country knows God and they are not ashamed to show or share that with others. If they are happy about something they share it, and that includes God and their beliefs! They pray IN PUBLIC! They share what they have and have a deep-seated culture of helping each other. If they have, even a little, they share what they have be it food, rides to church, or a song! They are kind and soft-spoken and their culture of courtesy is very old-fashioned. Although we are in a city of millions, you don’t see sloppy teenagers hanging around on street corners… they work where they can, and they work hard, and a 12-hour workday is the norm. Most of the people we have met have amazing stories of how they finished school despite many disadvantages or family poverty. They were inspired by their parents to stay in school, get fluent in English and then go to college. Death of parents is surprisingly common and many, many families lose one or both of their parents and then raise their siblings and make sure they go to college too! Many of these stories we hear from our very own missionaries, and I am humbled by how easy my life was/is compared to theirs. OK… I’m rambling and its late on Sunday night, but for some reason today I was very, very moved by how much I’ve learned from the Filipino people just in one month; I can’t wait to see what the rest of our mission brings!
Our AMAZING mission secretary snuck a picture through the office window of a meeting we were having with the Olayao's. What a wonderful couple who have been working for months volunteering many hours to help with the Cebu mission housing. We already love them and are amazed at what they have done before us coming here to keep things going.
Not a great picture but a good example of the "front door" of a typical apartment and Elder Pedrina enjoying a VERY rare Dr. Pepper on a very hot day! He is another young Filipino man that has one of those amazing family stories I referenced!
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