Elder Wolferts in Cavite: First Week in Manila

September 10, 2018

This week has gone by really fast! I like it better here in Manila than I did at the Provo MTC. Everyone here is super nice, especially all the Filipinos! The culture is awesome and the food is good for the most part. Except one night, they served us just a fried fish that hadn't been gutted or anything and it had it's head and skin and everything! This one elder was trying to get everyone to eat the fish head whole and he said it was really good, but we all knew it wasn't. Then he popped four fish heads in his mouth, and with a fake smile and a little bit of gag, he said, "see, it's good..." Then 30 seconds later he threw up! hahaha... so that was nice. I've eaten more rice this week than I've had in the last year! They give you a TON of rice with each meal!

I'm in a trio and both my companions are really cool! There's Elder Stewart, who is from a small town in Utah that I'd never heard of. He is really quiet, but super funny when you get to talk to him. Then there's Elder Astudillo from Chile, who apparently is the first person from Latin America to be called to the Philippines. If that's true then that's way cool! He is the funniest guy. He taught himself English a couple years ago and is super good at it!

The Manila temple is super pretty and majestic looking! I was able to do an endowment session and it was so cool! When people go there to do work in the temple, they have the men wear these cool white shirts that have designs on them, and you don't tuck in the shirts or wear any ties! We visited the temple later and I got to practice my Tagalog with some of the members there. It was a cool and humbling experience! They are such a happy people and love talking with Americans.

In one week I'll be done with my MTC experience! Crazy how fast it goes by! Can't wait to see the people of San Pablo!!