Week One - Not in Manila!

Inbox

x

Ashley Mecham <ashley.mecham@myldsmail.net>	10:15 PM (19 hours ago)
to me, Amanda

Oh hey there, Pamilya.

You will be getting mail from my mission president in about three weeks with a letter that talks about how I got to Manila. I wrote it when I got to the mission home. It's not anything too great besides talking about how long I was on an airplane for....

BUT. Now to the good stuff. So I got to the mission home late at night on Tuesday (I think... those days are a blur to me now...) Five other Manila sisters and I slept there. The mission home is SO NICE. A/C and real hot showers and maids and it's beautiful and clean. But I am no longer there. Let me tell you about where I am. Long story.

So on Wednesday, all of our trainers and everyone came to the mission home for the meeting and so we could get our assignments. I met with President Stucki and he explained to me about the mission boundaries (because they're changing in July because of the Cavite Mission announcement which is half of the Manila mission). He pointed out the island to me on the left hand side (which I had heard rumors about at the MTC - apparently it's paradise, a real tourist destination.) "This is Palawan", he says. "If you get sent there, that means I have a lot of faith in you. There are only six sisters there now." So then to the meeting. Everyone is getting their trainers and their areas and I am confused because there aren't any trainers left by the time he gets to me... "Sister Mecham's trainer couldn't be here," he says, "Because she's still on Palawan." Uhhh.... Yep. Want to take a guess where I am right now????? WELCOME TO PALAWAN SISTER MECHAM. But listen, after the meeting, we're all taking pictures and chatting and I'm thinking I probably won't go to the island until tomorrow because I have to catch a plane to get there. Then one of the APs finds me and says, "Sister Mecham, do you have your bag ready?" "uhhhhh" "Oh, no one told you? You can only take 40 lbs in your bag to Palawan." So I'm thinking, yeah that's fine. That's just ten lbs less from each bag. But, he says, "No, ONE 40 lb. bag. No carry-on." My carry-on was easily 30 lbs. So, 130 lbs got condensed to 40 lbs in.... wait for it... 15 MINUTES. Because our plane was leaving in less than two hours. So, needless to say I had no idea what was actually in my bag by the time I got to Palawan. So many things got left behind. And I definitely forgot my scriptures and debit card at the mission home... so my trainer, Sister Hunt, has been paying for everything until the ZLs can get it to me. We only get mail here once a month - when the ZLs pick it up from the mission home at their meeting. Also, the office missionaries wanted me to tell you to make sure to send packages in the flat rate boxes and use USPS - that's the best way to get there here apparently. And fib a little on how much the things are worth... coming from a missionary... pasensiya.

So, THE CHILDREN HERE ARE SO CUTE. Seriously, I want to adopt every Pilipino child. All they say to me when they see me on the street is, "Amerikano po ba kayo?" "Matangkad." "Up here!" (high five) "Hey Momma!" "I love you."What's your name?" But they just shout the english out to me like they don't know what it means. Like, "What's your name!!!!!!" and then they run away laughing. It's great. 

So, we teach SO MANY LESSONS EVERY DAY. More than I could have ever imagined. Part of this might be because we rarely have real appointments with people. We just tao po our investigator's homes unannounced and they let us in to teach them. Okay, the people here speak so quietly. It's so hard for me to even hear what they are saying because I'm so deaf.

So my area is mostly the city of Palawan - Puerta Princessa 1st Branch. But it's so crazy, we'll be eating at a really nice, normal Chow King one minute, then just a tricycle ride away will be the poorest living conditions I have ever seen. One neighborhood is built over the water in the bay. Like, the only thing separating the people from the water is the thinnest layer of bamboo that you can see through. And it's so dirty, the people just throw their garbage and everything into the water. YUM. And there are roosters and pigs and dogs and cats and goats and cockroaches and lizards and rats everywhere. My first day it was so hard to focus in one lesson because there were lizards crawling on the ceiling and rats in the "kitchen" sink. So crazy, so awesome. One time we were teaching a lesson and a cockroach flew full speed in the doorway and smacked on of the kids in the face. But I was the only one who saw it. It was so funny. 

So one of our RCs is the Bungard family. They live in really poor conditions - one room hut, no furniture. But they are the happiest people. We taught them about tithing. Tatay doesn't have a job, but yesterday they paid their tithing anyway!!!!! It was so awesome. Ah, I love them. They have the two cutest children. So when we first got to their hut, the children were playing with fireworks, throwing them at each other and on trees and at dogs and at everything. I said, "I'm surprised the house hasn't lit on fire." So we're sitting on the floor teaching them, when all of a sudden we hear tons of screaming and Tatay runs out with a bucket of fire. Yeah, the house was on fire. Don't worry, you don't need to get out of a burning house here. Just wait inside until Tatay puts out the fire.

So, the language is HARD. I can understand everything Sister Hunt (comp) says, but the native speakers are so hard to understand. I've found that there is a direct correlation between how many teeth people have and how well I can understand them.

Okay, so I'm running out of time. But I'm safe and happy and I love it here. 

LINDERD - if you're reading this: The shoes you gave me are

Safe Arrival

Inbox

x

Bonnie Stucki <bnstucki@gmail.com>	Feb 27 (2 days ago)
to driddle22, griddle22, paulaurie, me, valerie-marsha., rose, ramfrancis, Robert.n.perki., rsaperkins, sandradnielsen, Frednielsen, Diamse63, judy_diamse, mficiihoi, melficiihoi, CAP7316, coffeychr, coffeymc, Hawkins, Jrtago, flotago

Dear Parents,

We just want to inform you that your son/daughter has arrived safely to the Philippines Manila Mission.  They arrived at 10:30 pm last evening.  We greeted them at the airport and brought all the Sisters to the mission home for a good nights rest.  We still had going home missionaries at the mission home so we did not have room for the Elders so they had the privilege of staying in a hotel with many other missionaries that arrived to the Philippines.  It was the best all the missions could do since they arrived a day earlier than expected.  The Elders all arrived at the mission home this morning.  We had a full house with 26 new missionaries and their trainers.  President interviewed each of them and then we had a delicious hot lunch.  Following lunch we had an orientation meeting and they met their new companion and we did some training with them.  They have now departed to their assigned areas and were anxious to get engaged in the work.  It was great to see their enthusiasm to be a missionary and to serve among the wonderful Filipino people.  This is the very best mission in the whole world for your son or daughter.  It is truly a blessing to be instruments in the Lord's hands to invite souls unto HIm.

We are witnessing the hastening of the work here in the Philippines and the Philippines Manila Mission will be split this July when the Cavite Mission is formed.  We are excited with this news and know it is the Lord's will, but we are saddened that we will not have the opportunity to serve the full time with many of the new missionaries that have arrived.  Which ever mission they end up in, it will be where the Lord wants them to be.  We are so grateful to serve with your valiant son/daughter and will do our best to keep them safe and healthy.  We witness the Lord's hand in this work every day and know he is protecting his valiant army of missionaries.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any needs or concerns.  We will do our best to help your missionary serve with all off his/her heart, might, mind, and strength and Return With Honor!!!!

Horrah for Israel!!!!!

Sister Stucki

THE REAL FINAL EMAIL

Inbox

x

Ashley Mecham <ashley.mecham@myldsmail.net>	Feb 22 (3 days ago)
to me, Amanda

Sige, I swear this is the really last one. I got my last shot the other day, and they told me to have you call this number to pay for it. I hope that's okay. I think you can send it to the insurance to have them pay for it, but it's $100. Here's the number 801-422-8940. If payment isn't made within ten days, they'll be sending you a bill or something, fyi. I hope this is okay, I just didn't know how much money was left on my card and I didn't want to chance it. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. I LOVE YOU. Also, because I leave so early on Monday, can you send the things I need either today or tomorrow? If it's after that, I won't get it. Okay, thanks. LOVE YOU. I swear the next time you hear from me, I'll be in the 'ppines.

 

Love you,

 

Sister Mecham

THE REAL LAST ONE

Ashley Mecham <ashley.mecham@myldsmail.net>	Feb 21 (4 days ago)
to me, Amanda

Dear Pamilya,

 

This is the real last email from the MTC. My flight plans got changed so I wanted to let you know when I would actually be calling. Sige, so I leave here at 6:00 a.m. on Monday. Our flight leaves at 9:48 a.m., so I will be calling sometime between those two times. I won't be calling from L.A. because we have less than an hour layover. Then I go from TOKYO to MANILA. That's the final one, I promise. Love you, can't wait to talk to you all!

 

Ingat Pamilya ko! Mahal ko kayo.

 

-Sister Mecham

Last Email from the MTC!

Inbox

x

Ashley Mecham <ashley.mecham@myldsmail.net>	Feb 19 (6 days ago)
to me, Amanda

Dear Pamilya,

 

I GOT MY FLIGHT PLANS!! Okay, so I will be able to call on Monday the 25th either at the SLC airport between 2 30 and 3 30 or (most likely this one) in LA from 4 30 to 10 15 pm (california time). So be ready for that! Sorry it isnt more specific. Also, I will be calling the home phone unless you have objections to that. After the 6 hour layover in LA, I will be heading straight to HONG KONG then to MANILA.  I wont be getting mail on Monday most likely, so dont send me anything later in the week! Thanks!

 

Also, family, can you send me more socks? I need the little no show half ones to wear with my tracting shoes. I barely have enough.

 

So something that is weird about the MTC is I feel like I still haven[t left home. I see SO MANY PEOPLE that I know. All the time. I can[t even write them all down. (Also this keyboard types [ instead of apostrophes, so just ignore that...) Just walking to the temple this morning I passed three people I know and it was like six in the morning! Unbelievable.

 

ALSO JAMIE IS HERE AND I RUN INTO HER SO OFTEN AND IT IS THE HAPPIEST AND MOST JOYOUS THING OF MY WHOLE LIFE. That[s it. I stalked her on her first day and it worked because I found her while she was still being hosted. I[m a champion stalker apparently, because there were like 800 missionaries coming in that day. I think there are 3200 here right now. It is pure madness.

 

Oh oh oh HAPPY VALENTINES DAY, I GUESS. Mahal ko kayo. Valentines day is way better when you[re in the MTC. I got, like, 15 times the gifts that I[ve ever gotten. So thanks everyone. Also, I passed my one month mark on the 16th. Can you even believe that?? I feel like I just got here yesterday and also that I[ve been here for a year.

 

So sa Linggo I was chosen to give a talk in sacrament meeting (sa Tagalog). By chosen, I mean that everyone prepares a talk and they let you know who is speaking when they annouce it over the pulpit. So that was cool. Also, sa Sabado my district was like, {Let[s sing in church tomorrow{ and I was like, YOU HAVEN[T HEARD ME SING. So we did that and it was awkward.

 

Not much more to report.

Moving on to INVESTIGATORS.

1. We haven[t taught Artemio this week because he has been out of town. So there[s that.

2. Roya is still preparing for baptism and my teacher taught me how to ask Roya to put his phone away sa Tagalog so now I don[t have to say {Magput ang cellphone ninyo sa bulsa{ which doesn[t make any sense really, especially because {Magput{ is not a real word. But that[s it, he is progressing well and excited to get baptized.

3. Toni. Ohhhh Toni. He is the most terrifying. Sister Ram is so scared of him so I have to do all of the teaching when we teach him. He hasn[t been keeping commitments and I know it[s because of US and not becuase of HIM. We just have to do something differently. But this last time we taught him, Sister Ram actually said some real things and he sounds like he will really try to read the Book of Mormon. Mayroon po akong pananampalataya that he will do it. That is all.

 

Magandang buhay ko, pamilya. I love being a missionary more than anything else. It really brings me so much joy. Anyway, alam ko na totoo ang Simbahan ito. Pasensiya that this email is so short. I will be sending a package home this week with more things to tell you. BUT THIS IS THE LAST EMAIL FROM THE MTC. I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH AND I WOULDN[T BE HERE WITHOUT YOU.

Ashley Mecham <ashley.mecham@myldsmail.net>	10:31 AM (8 hours ago)
to me, Amanda

Kumusta Pamilya! Mahal ko kayo!

 

I´m going to try to get everything down, pero who knows if I´ll be able to. (Also, something is wrong with the keyboard I´m using, so if there are weird symbols it isn´t my fault...)

 

So this week has be so hard and so great. The language is seriously coming. Brother Langer challenged us to speak only Tagalog on Sunday and I totally did it. Then he challenged us again on Monday and I totally did it again. No challenge for today, but I´m still doing it. It helps so much. I actually told an Elder who was trying to talk to me in the lunch line that I couldn´t speak English (in Tagalog) and he looked so confused and I just walked away...Good stuff.

 

My dorm is overflowing with muddy buddies. Jamie sent me some a while back. You sent me two bags. Sister Diamond´s mother sent her a bag. So THANKS. haha, Muddy Buddy Heaven.

 

So since Brother Langer is the best Tagalog teacher in the MTC (not kidding), we got to be there while he was teaching the Philippino MTC teachers how to teach Tagalog via webcam. We got to talk to them for a while and it was so awesome speaking Tagalog to natives. Good stuff.

 

JAMIE VAWDREY GETS HERE TOMORROW (if you are reading this, Jamie, I´m sorry I didn´t write you this week. I didn´t think i was get to you in time. Plus I´ll see you tomorrow. I´ve never been more excited!!)

 

Also, dear family, why would you think I wouldn´t need tights (i can´´t type question marks for some reason) NOT OKAY! Jokelang, pero...talaga. My legs are ice blocks (Australian for popsicles). I will never forgive you for this. If you can´t tell, that is sarcasm. But still not okay. I still love you. But don´t send them anymore because I leave here on February 25th. Okay salamat.

 

Mom, you talked about Sister Riddle and about how similar we sound. Which is true and freaky. She went to my Elementary school and we saw each other the first week. She´s going to Manila and got here the same day as me. She is also 5´10´´ and has a lot of the same clothes as me. It´s pretty freaky. She´s a real gem, though.

 

So, Brother Long taught us about the History of the Philippines and how they got their independence and it is seriously so awesome.  You should study it. It also makes the great US of A look sheepish. PARA SA PILIPINAS.

 

I ran into Brother Johnson (I think that was his name...) from the Stake and he knows you (Mom and Dad). He serves in a Japanese branch presidency here. It was weird because I was forced to speak English to him.

 

Also, someone wrote me and told me the pictures aren´t working for the blog. Hindi ko alam, pero I just thought I would let you know.

 

So let me tell you about our investigators. We have three (which is crazy hard, especially because we are the only companionship in our district with that many...) They are all actors (our teachers) but i really is so real, teaching them.

1. Toni - I´ve told you about him before, I think. He is played by Brother Langer and is actually based off of himself because he is a convert. He is by far the hardest investigatore. We can rarely even get through one principle in a lesson each time because he just DRILLS us with questions and it is so hard to understand him and then try to answer his questions. Plus Sister Ram can never understand him so I have to translate for her which is super weird. She´s getting better at it, i think. She´s really good at the language, she just doesn´t listen very well. Anyway, Toni is mahirap to teach.

 

2. Artemio - ARTEMIO IS GOLDEN. He is such a gem. He is played by Brother Nicholes who isn´t actually one of my teachers. He is so great. He has five kids and is so interested in the gospel. He is reading the Book of Mormon and hopefully went to Church on Sunday, but we haven´t met with him since then. He is the best.

 

3. Roya - Roya is 17 years old and teaching him at the beginning was so hard. He just yawns the whole time and keeps pulling out his phone and I keep having to tell him to put it away. He is from a part member family and was only taking the lessons because his mom asked him to. Anyway, he went to church on Sunday for the first time in forever and yesterday he committed to be baptized on February 25th!! I was not expecting him to say yes, so when I extended the invitations I told him we were having a baptismal date on February 29th and if he would prepare to be baptized on that day. Then I realized that that day does no exist this year. Awkward. So I changed it for the day I leave. Good stuff, though. I am so pumped for him.

 

 

Well, that is about it. I love it here so much and am so so happy. Alam ko po na totoo and Simbahan ni Jesucristo!!! Masaya ako at mahal ko kayo.  I´m running out of time, but I´ll get to call you on the 25th at the airport! Mayroon po ako ang calling card ko, so I´m all set. I love you all SO MUCH and I and so grateful for everything you´ve done for me.

 

 

 

Mom - Sister Ram doesn´´t get to call home often. Only once within her first week because she is international and once at the airport. Also, we do get to go outside often and my legs freeze every time. Especially when going to the temple because we go at 6 40 am. Very cold. But please don´t send tights anymore. I was hoping to get them within my first week or so but now I only have two weeks left.

 

Austin - Daniel Cook decided to get baptised a while ago! February 25th is his date. However, he was not a real investigator (even though he was totally real to me...) He turned out to be one of our new teachers. Also, your new bag and wallet sound awesome. The shirt I got you was like $14 but I get the missionary discount so I don´´t remember how much it actually costed me... Also, asked about the other missionaries in my district. There are five of us going to Manilla, three going to San Pablo, one going to Loaog and one going to Baguio (no idea if I spelled those right..) There is also an entire district in my zone going to Loaog and another that just got here last week going to Naga. Good stuff.

 

Ryan & Dad - No letters!!!! (I can´t type question marks for some reason...)

 

Amanda - Sister Ram is from Fiji. I don´´t remember what other questions you asked besides SNACKS. I want tomato basil wheat thins. So badly. I don´t need any candy or anything because an Elder just left for the field and left us with an entire suitcase filled with candy. So mostly salty things. Wheat thins. I love you!! Also, don´t send tights. I leave here on February 25th and I don´t need them for the field. Thanks anyway!!! I love you!!!

Ashley Mecham <ashley.mecham@myldsmail.net>	5:03 PM (5 hours ago)
to me, adnama.larsen

1) The sisters of my district - the besssssssst
2) Most of the elders from my district
3) Check out that sky!!! Don't let if fool you. It's still freezing.

3 attachments — Download all attachments   View all images  

IMG_0097.JPG 3367K   View   Download

IMG_0101.JPG 3060K   View   Download