Meeting My New Mission President

The first day here we had like a huge group lesson and from that I can tell that most of the new people here are from Utah We had to teach a Japanese man that was Shinto. People talked about the Book of Mormon as being an addition to the bible He was like Bible?? Book of Mormon?? What is atonement? Who is Christ?  They didn’t know how to handle someone with no Christian background.

My companion is from Long Beach California and she is Tongan. She makes me feel like I am back in Hawaii! I am grateful for her. We are the Loudest District ever because of her and me and a few other Tongan Elders. I had to teach a guy in Tagalog 3 days in, It was Crazy! My Kasama is way better than me so she mostly spoke. But it was ok I got to say the prayer (used the book with all the words) in Tagalog. I said his name wrong, it is Lenard but I called him Leonardo because that sounded more exotic to me. Ha ha ha I felt bad but hopefully he will be happy I called him a ninja turtle!

So here is like college except I have to study after class instead of staying up all night to study. But I can’t stay up lights out at 10:30.

Saturday is my P-day it is cool because we get to sleep in an hour. I also get to go to the temple The temple is Great! Renting temple clothes is new and like the long pants for baptisms are like Capri’s on me and the dress is mid calf. I also get to take a nap yay naps.

This Sunday we got to meet my new mission President Rahlf. They gave up some Pilipino candy. They were awesome. They told us how they met each other and we told them the stories behind opening our mission calls. I told them that Dylan told me I would be going to a place with short brown people.

We got to go to the leadership meeting. After it we all talked about it. That was the first time I saw my Kasama cry. Usually she holds it in then I have to hold it in then we are in a horrible holding in contest. Ha ha ha.

Monday we got to teach Lenard again. It was unexpected because he just sent a teacher up to tell us he was ready to be taught. This lesson was soooo good man. We taught by the spirit we told him that we want him to be happy and told him that the church makes us happy. We also told him that God loves us so he gave us guides like the prophets and that he should pray about it. It was so much better. We talked like confident 5 year olds but it was such a answer to our prayers. Before we went in the teaching room we used almost all Tagalog that we knew (not a lot but enough to get it across).

Now I am just studying Tagalog sitting a freezing cold room and the Elders are all falling asleep.

First Letter from the MTC!

Dear Pamilia,

I am doing fine, the people here are great, they aren't like the people in Hawaii great (just because they are more focused and won't always say Hi to you.) It is crazy here there are so many people! the first day of class we stood there as the teacher talked in Taglish to us. Brother Poole dosn't say and full English scentences and has to pantomime the whole lesson. I understand him, but maybe that is just because I am so good at reading facal expressions.  

My Kasama (companion) is Manukalea (Manu-ka- Princess Leia) that is how you pronounce it. She is from Long Beach California, and her ethincity is Tongan. It is so fun! She is a jokester, pretty chill and happy like most Tongans but she is also down to earth. She is really good at Tagalog! 

Speaking of Hawaii, I have seen here Sister Bennet, the girl from Canada that was in Hawaii. she is going to Californa and speaking Spanish. She cut her hair to look like mine because she didn't want to deal with it and told me about how I was her insperation. I also saw Saron!! She told her companion how we kidnapped Cindy for her brirthday. It was fun seeing her! I also saw Drew Toolson, he was going to Peru that was fun to. I saw two other girls from Hawaii but I didn't hang out with them as much but I still remeber their faces. The one Girl Pole Vaulter from Davis Jen, was also here.

The rooms are pretty nice, they have three bunk beds when they are use to having only 2 but it is still bigger and Hawaii's Hale's.

We had a Training meeting the firstday and it was a bunch of new people in a room with an "investigator" and we all had to teach them. these "investigators" Where the best actors i have seen in a long while. They didn't break. You can tell that most of these people are from Utah and don't have much experince with non members. I say this because there was one "investigator" from Japan, and he only knew Shinto believes. EVERYONE started talking about Christ Like the dude knew what that was. He was like I only know Christmas and shopping. who is Christ? What is bible? and everyone gave confused lookes when he said Shinto. (Shinto is the old religion of Japan that focuses on how Each thing in Nature is a god and should be respected as such)

I also had to teach my first "investigator" in Tagalog with my Kasama. It was mostly her talking and me trying to find where we were at. I understand when people speak it. but man I cannot for the life of me get it to come out of my mouth. I have never had to lean a language before. and i can't just memorize words, because then end up just being that Words, so bareing my testimony in Tagalog is just memorized words. i need to learn enough that i can say what ever i want, to give those words meaning.

so The Language is hard, and The people are great, and i am doing fine

Love Katrina Perkins, sister perkins.