Ano? 1& 1/2 weeks already? (Feb. 16 '09)

This week has been spectacular! Elder Thorn and I are still getting to know our way around -- the cafeteria, that is. For the first time, I discovered the left-over bar, and ate way to much. I feel like I'm an explorer in a wonderful new land, like Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, bouncing around from place to place, stacking more and more and more entrees on my tray. Amazing. Speaking of chocalate, my district loves you, Grandma Swan! And pamilya ko, those cookies were great. It really brought back some awesome memories. I loved your package, and Maddy, Salamat (thanks) for your letter! And I just discovered Lindsay's letter in my Pilipinas bag. Yes, I'm still unpacking. The letters are hanging up above my desk.

And unpacking brings to mind an important question, one I forgot to ask last week. Mom -- where did you pack my wallet? I also can't find my first aid kit. I thought the wallet was supposed to be in the sewing kit, but. . . no luck. That's alright, I'm practicing my provident living on my $6 allowance.

Ummm, packages. It was great! You always know just what to send, Mom. Just a warning, we can't chew gum. It's bawal (forbidden/against the rules). We've learned a street-contacting kind of introduction of ourselves and our message, learned to ask questions about families/hobbies/religion, to pray, and bear testimony in Tagalog. It feels like a lot, but when the Tagalog starts flying . . .
For example, Elder Thorn and I had our first Teaching Appointment and language task on Thursday night. This is what it entailed: We met a man and talked to him for 10 minutes in Tagalog -- and tried to understand his answers to our questions. We found out later that we'd messed up a few things, asking him if he had a church-house rather than asking him if he had a religion. He was nice though, and surprised that it was our first week. After that, we taught hime the first lesson for 30 minutes. Frightening, huh? But we'd had lots of practice during the week. For me, it was the first real-feeling situation, and it was a much different experience. the room is meant to feel like a living room, with furniture and plants -- and a video camera in the tree in the corner so our instructor can tune in and watch us. I felt like for the first time, the spirit really guided the lesson for the most part. It was relatively smooth, and we didn't get into any deep doctrine -- something that is so hard to stay away from sometimes!
It was an amazing experience for me, because at the beginning of the week, Elder Thorn and I taught twice, and I really ate it both times. It was a hard lesson to learn -- that I just can't rely on my own knowledge of the gospel, I can't teach that way. I was really humbled. It's been a humble week. After study, and lots of prayer and thought, we are improving. Elder Thorn is a pleasure to teach with, he's confident and bold.
It's so fun to hear from you! Way to go, Rachel, I was so excited I had to tell part of my district that's here with me, and they were like -- what? Aquiesence? Or however you spell it. Yeah Sarah, I've got to go with Chris on this one -- Mom can't let you get away with grades like that. Mom? Are you letting her go skiing and stuff with those grades?!
Kit-a-kits for now, I think I'm catching up in this language game, rachel. I'll write about the Devotionals -- they're amazing.
Talk to you next week!
Loren