Kumusta,
So I am going to kind of go straight to my flight plans because I am so excited :) I am going to be leaving the MTC on Monday the 27th at 4:30 pm. My flight leaves Salt Lake at 8:11 and I will arrive in LA at about 9:15, I have a three hour layover where I will be able to call you family! If anyone wants to come over they are more than welcome to come to, its up to you, but speakerphone is good. I leave LA right after midnight for Hong Kong, and I will arrive there at about 7:30 am their time, which is like 3:30 in the afternoon for my family. I will be there for 2 hours until I leave for Manila, and it is a pretty short flight, about 2 hours, so at 7:30 pm your time family on the 28th I should be arriving in Manila, where I will get my assignment. I am hoping I get to go to Palawan, about 1/4 new missionaries will get sent to the other island. The only problem is I would have to buy my own ticket to fly there. The good news is it will cost about $10.
I am super excited to be leaving, I am sad to be leaving my MTC district, but this is where I am called. I will admit I know I am going to be lost for quite a while trying to understand people, but I have seen how the Lord has helped me with learning the language so far and I know he will continue to bless me as I continue to work hard.
I also made it into the MTC Christmas talent show, which is kind of exciting, there are a total of 16 spots. So I will be playing in front of 2000 people by myself.. I am nervous, I get nervous playing in front of like 4 people, so this will be an adventure. I have to go to a sound check on Christmas eve and the performance is on Christmas day. So wish me luck, cause it is not going to be easy for me. :)
I usually have time to read through at least some of my mail again before I come and write but this morning I did not have time to, so sorry if my thoughts are scattered, and I am super sorry if I do not respond to your letter now, I also dropped a bunch of them in the slushiness, so they are still all wet.
I got a few packages this past week and I am super happy, I love my family and I am excited to open my presents on Christmas, thank you :) I also got an apple pie from Grace and Rachel Chumley, it was devoured quite quickly, as soon as the Tongans laid eyes on it, there was no hope left, I did get two slices though :) Thank you so much for that. And thank you Krissy for sending some cupcakes, they did get a little bit mushed, but there were super delicious, thank you :) Everyone knows me as the tootsie roll missionary now, even people who do not know me, it is pretty exciting, I kind of gave up on the handshake technique, and throw them at people, my aim has gotten better, except for yesterday.. That was not a good tootsie roll throwing day. Do not worry though, I only throw them when it is appropriate to do so.
This week I think we have a total of 5 Devotionals, we had one yesterday we have one tomorrow, two on Christmas eve and one on Christmas, I think I might be leaving one out but I am not sure. I will have time to email before I leave on the 27th so I will update you on who spoke, and I will probably pick a favorite. I also appreciate the cards I got from Brother Adams and Sister Wilks. Also the Calverts sent me some pictures of missionaries out from the ward and an Ensign in Tagalog, the temple addition, so thank you so very much for that.
Wednesday might be the last day that I can get mail, I do not know, I will be here long enough on Monday that I think I will get written letters but the Dear Elders might be cutting it super close. So if you are going to write, Dear elders are the best if you do them like tonight, or sometime early tomorrow. I do not know what they do with them if I do not get them. I heard that they might actually just send them to the Philippines if they get here after I do, but I am not sure. I think it depends on the pouch mail... which I still am not sure exists for the Philippines I will have to find out someday. And I do not really know if my mission president will contact you when I get there. Or if you will have to wait till P-day to hear from me again.. So I promise I will be safe, do not worry about me :)
I would like to tell people that I can receive emails from anyone, but I can only respond to my family, I know it costs a bit of money and takes a lot of time, but I really would prefer mostly handwritten mail, because I usually do not have enough time to read all of my emails, and handwritten is just awesome anyways.
Well it is lunch time and my companion is being patient with me, so I am going to be nice to him and go eat, I love you family :) you are the bestest, I will be calling you around 9:30 probably :) your time, and I might call at some other times too, depends on how many quarters I can find. well, see ya later
Love you :)
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