September 10, 2015: 

CONGRATS Sister Foote!

12 months in the Philippines!

"In case you all lost track, this week was my 1 year mark.  When the heck did that happen?  The time just flew.  My kabahays all woke up in the middle of the night to decorate our stairs and make me a mango float (a yum desert here) and write me cute notes that I kept finding in my desk, closet, taped to the inside of my umbrella.  I really didn't expect anything.  I was just gonna buy myself some ice cream but it was way sweet.  I felt way loved.  Now they all make jokes about how I'm trunky--not true.  But I did misplace my name tag that morning.  I found it, but they thought it was funny." 

These are the kabahays (I think it means companions) responsible for surprising Taylor on her one year "birthday" of her mission!  

My new home…Fairview 

August 2015

This week there was a "bagio" but it wasn't enough to keep us in the house!  We were out working and the rain & wind were way strong but we didn't really think much of it.  As we were heading home our kabahays texted us and told us to buy candles because the power was out (brownout)at our house.  So that night we went home and did our nightly planning by candle light.

Our "apartment" is actually a house.  It's pretty big actually.   Fairview is the most "city" area I've been assigned so far.  Every day we have to cross a skybridge over an 8 lane highway to get home from our area.

I went on exchanges this week with Sister McCarthy.  She is Samoan and from New Zealand.  It was a great day.  She has only been out on her mission a little longer than me.  It was a breath of fresh air to just go and learn from her and watch her work in her area.  This calling (Sister Training Leader) has been a HUGE blessing to me.  Its the best thing to be able to get to know the sisters and their stories and backgrounds and learn from them.  I learn more from them than they do from me. 

This week has been a great week again.  Full of teaching and walking in the rain.  The weather here is SUPER unpredictable.  But you do know one thing, you'll always be drenched..either in sweat or rain.  The work here is good.  We have a few investigators and contacts that show some potential.  

Transfer Day to Fairview

August 12, 2015

These are the elders in my new area.  Pretty funny, pretty typical elders!

Sister Wilson (my first Sister Training Leader) is going home!

Last Few Weeks in Malalos

August 2015

 

I got to take two more MTC exchangees out.  These two are actually both from California and went to BYU.  We were talking and they both had the same Book of Mormon teacher, which was a way cool connection because his class is part of the reason I'm here.

We went bowling again on P-day and another zone was there.  My new companion (Sister Malo Moa was there with her zone.  She is the one in the black and white striped shirt and glasses).  It was a good last P-day.

NANCY AND DOMINGO'S BAPTISM!

The baptism was amazing.  Domingo testified about the truthfulness of the gospel and how it gave him hope.  Before, he was told that he would never see his loves ones who had passed away again.  He left town to do some praying and soul searching.  While he was gone we started teaching his wife.  When he came back and heard the message of the gospel he realized we were an answer to his prayers.  I only heard this story when he shared it at the baptism.  It gave me chills.  The Spirit was way strong.

The Rains Came Down….

but, thankfully, the floods didn't come up just yet

JULY 2015

"…we got caught in the rain with no umbrellas on our way home from church."

"It's been a great week in the mission field even though it's been raining for like 14 days straight.  We actually don't mind because there's a nice breeze and the sun stays behind the clouds .  We also don't have to use our fans…which means lower electricity bills!  W00!"

A GOOD FEELING - July 2015

"Baptism of Sister Aissa.  She's adorable.  Sister Aissa is only 12 but has a way strong testimony and comes to all three hours of church by herself EVERY Sunday!  Her baptism went really well.  There was a great turnout from the ward and the Young Women sang for her.  It's such a good feeling to be a part of something like this for someone."

"This little boy is the cutest.  His birthday was Monday and he was SO EXCITED when we got there and that he had chocolate cake for his birthday.  Kids are pretty similar everywhere."

"My favorite part of Zone Conference is always the testimony meeting.  It's really amazing how fast and strong the spirit always comes when you get all those missionaries bearing short and simple testimony of the church, the Savior, the plan of Salvation…it's really hard not to get emotional.  We also had a lot of missionaries who this was their last conference who bore testimony, that's even harder not to get emotional (Sister Wilson's last Zone Conference).

Fourth of July

"This week has been a super good one!  On the fourth of July I wore red, white, and blue and got an apple pie and ice cream from McDonalds.  It was super festive."

"Today we had a temple P-day.  I love the temple.  The spirit is really just the same everywhere.  So is the gospel.  It's pretty darn cool."

"Today has been so fun.  Best p-day so far.  We went bowling as a district of all foreigners.  Way fun and kinda like a normal kid for about an hour.  Then we went and ate at this place called Zurk's here in the "super mall".  Really good burgers.  It tasted like AMERICA."

More American food.  Enjoying some Mac-n-cheese I got in a package my momma sent!

Happy Father's Day

June 21, 2015

I hope that all the fathers who read this have had a great Father's Day!  Especially my dad, Grandpa Foote and Grandpa Freestone and all my uncles.  You guys are all pretty cool.  I've gained a huge appreciation for fathers in general on my mission (strong father figures are few and far between here).

Last night, for Father's Day, one of the families in our ward invited us over for dinner.  If this had happened 9 months ago I would have starved.  Why?  It was all seafood.  Prawns, crab, tilapia, mussels, seaweed.  Everything. But you guys I ate it and actually kinda liked it.  Well the tilapia and mussels and seaweed with mango salsa stuff.  I still don't like crab or prawn but that's ok.  If you know me, then you know that this is a straight up mission miracle. #PicturesOrItDidn'tHappen

"My tongue has changed and this is the evidence.  Dad, this was on Father's Day.  I thought of you.  If nothing else makes you proud, I hope this does :)  Hahaha"

I love the mission.  It's going fast.  But I still love it.  Transfer week is next week so we will see what happens.  I think I'm staying in Camarin though…I hope I am.