Don't Even Know Where To Begin.... -December 26, 2017

So we had transfers this week, I went from Tubao to Balaoan. That was about a two and a half hour bus ride. When I got off the bus there were no missionaries. I had no idea where I was, had no phone and was in a totally different place I had never been to before. I just sat with my bags trusting I wouldn't get mugged... haha but I didn't have any problems so success! Then on Wednesday, I started trying to get acquainted with my new area.  Thursday, I started throwing up to the point we decided to go to the hospital... The bus ride to the hospital was a nightmare and for ALL records I do feel bad for the bus conductor I may have thrown up on... I stayed in the hospital without any nurse or doctor telling me what I had till the day I was told we could leave. Turns out I had amebiasis- something an Elder in the mission almost died from a couple months ago. I found that out as my doctor apologized for not visiting for a long time since "may gift exchange kami sa bundok" or in other words they had a gift exchange in the mountain... That was a very different hospital experience to say the least haha. We got to leave on Christmas Eve though so we could be back in our area by Christmas day! 

Then I was able to have my first Skype call home! All the computer shops here were closed so that made it a little difficult to Skype but we found a member who offered to help us! I am so grateful for that member. I was able to see and talk to my family and it was WONDERFUL.  That Skype call was just what I needed! What a blessing Skype is in this world haha We had an hour and a half to talk and that was honestly the fastest hour and a half of my entire life! WAY FAST. That was so hard to press "close call". But I had so much fun talking to my family!

We had a Christmas Party at the church house too which was way fun! I was able to meet a lot of new people in the branch which was way cool! I now have a ton of little kids who are my best friends now so I am going to do just fine here in Balaoan! I love little kids so much!!! I got to pick up some new magic tricks for them though! 

Anyways, I love you all and I guess it's Christmas back home so Maligayang Pasko! Merry Christmas!!! Make it special with your families, that's the biggest present of all. Love them, cherish them, appreciate them. 

Love,

Elder Payne

On to area #2- December 18, 2017

Hey all! So I'm getting transferred on Tuesday so I've had to say goodbyes to everyone I love in Tubao! I have been so blessed to have been assigned there! The people there are so kind and have been so patient with me as I've been learning Tagalog! I have made some really strong friendships there that I will be grateful for forever! I can't believe I'm already leaving Tubao. It feels like I just showed up yesterday! 

So this week I tried something new... They have street food absolutely everywhere here and each place has the same thing... chicken feet, chicken heads, pig blood, and chicken intestines. Out of all of these wonderful options... I decided to try the chicken heads. It wasn't the worst experience of my life but I think that was the first and last time I would try that. haha Oh well, at least I can say I tried it! 

Nothing too crazy really happened this week, except there might be a ghost at my house... Ya, so there are a ton of stories of a ghost at my house, but I never believed them.  People say they hear random knocks and voices sometimes.  I thought everyone was just messing with me until two nights ago I woke up randomly at like 1:30 in the morning.  Right after I woke up, I heard 5 LOUD knocks from the back wall of our house (where people say they hear knocks).  I looked over at Elder Tumera and he was still in his bed right next to me.  It's only two of us at the house....  They were loud and definitely from inside the house!  Once I heard them, I dropped to my knees and started praying, then read my scriptures until I fell asleep at like 3 in the morning!  Right after I heard them, my first thoughts were "I believe, I believe".  Haha.  In the morning, we checked our attic and everything.  Nothing there.

 Besides that... I'm just working hard and trying to bring others to Christ by helping them receive the restored Gospel! I'm not going to lie, missions are crazy hard but the lessons I am learning everyday are pure gold! I find joy in the challenges and love being able to be apart of the lives of the people here in the Philippines!

Love you all, Take care this week! MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Light the World!!! 

Love,

Elder Payne

Unique ice cream flavors advertised on the side of a truck

Trying chicken heads sold by street vendors

Largest shell I've ever seen

Large spider

Christmas Conference!- December 11, 2017

This week was a blur! We had Christmas Conference on Thursday and Friday so we were busy at the beginning of the week trying to reach out to all of our investigators with two less days in the week! We tried to visit a family that lives across this river that normally has bamboo rafts to get us across. They even had rafts to get us across the first time but nobody was there when we wanted to come back... So we rolled up our pants and took off our socks and went for it! I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it... The water here is definitely WAY warmer than the water at home but it was still cooler than the rest of the world here! 

Then Christmas... Christmas conference was a blast! We had every missionary in our mission go and it was way fun to meet new missionaries and be around some of the friends I've made here! I also got to see my Trainer Elder Manarang which was way fun! I love that guy! And I got to see a fellow Logan Native representing in the Philippines so shout out to Elder M.! We watched The Cokeville Miracle as a mission and that movie is powerful! The whole story is just such a testimony builder! Then the Polynesians in our Mission put on a show, their culture is the coolest!!!!! I loved their songs, their dancing and everything! 

Well I love you all and wish the best for all of you! I wish you all a very happy holiday season! Try to do something for someone in need! The best thing to do when you are tired is taking on the challenge of helping someone who is more in need! (Credits to President Hinckley) haha very true though! Get lost in the CHRISTmas spirit!!! LOVE YOU!

Love,

Elder Payne 

This is my "batch" that arrived in Baguio at the same time as me.

Elder C. from Dubai that was in my first district

 Elder D. and I with two sisters that used to be in my district

Elder Manarang and I

Elder M. is from the same valley back home 

Elder T. and I

Elder Manarang and me again

Sister B. and I

Traveling in a nice jeepney with most of the elders in my zone

A Filipino man on a sleigh being pulled by a carabao- A Filipino Santa Claus? 

Carabao taking a bath

This is an area that we usually cross with a raft but the raft wasn't there so we walked across it.

Malapit na sa Christmas!- December 4, 2017

I honestly can't believe it's December already! I entered the MTC in June! Time flies when you are having fun! And working hard... haha I can't wait for Christmas! The best gift I am going to get is getting to facetime my family!!! I hear there is snow at home right now and I am a little jealous... I know I haven't even been gone for even 1 winter yet but It's easy to miss snow when It is this hot!!! haha

Not a lot has happened this week. A lot of people have been replanting rice and what not. It is way fun to see the world turn green again! We have a Christmas Conference this week that I am way excited for! I'll get to see my trainer again and everyone that was in my first district! I am way excited! We are going to get to go to Sevilla and play games, then we will have some devotionals and stuff. It'll be great! 

I got to bare my testimony at church yesterday. I might be transferring soon so I wanted to take the opportunity to thank those in the branch for welcoming me into the Philippines with such love and patience. There are a lot of people that I think I could have been much closer to if I could have spoken/understood Tagalog... but they were all so patient with me! I feel much more comfortable now with Tagalog, I'm still far from anywhere near fluent but I can take care of myself. After my testimony people were making comments about how much I've improved in Tagalog. It made me feel so good! I can't wait to continue to learn and improve! Maybe at my year mark I'll start learning Ilocano ;) haha

Love you all and wish you all a Happy Holiday Season!!! 

-Elder Payne 

A nativity