FIRST AREA IN THE PHILIPPINES

oh it is so nice to write you!!! your update about dans wedding cheered my discourged soul right up!!! what a joyous occasion. i noticed Siegried right away and couldn't belevie it. glad the cabin is operating smoothly and see that caleb is killing it. what a kid. 

those mission calls are blowing me away!!! i deffs thought like europe for tim and USA for sethicka. unbeleviable. theres a girl from calgs (actually taber) going to zambia. english speaking which is nice. ive honestly been vibing on someone getting a Cauayan call but Tacloban is ok to...joke lang!!!! wow africa, good luck seth. about Tacloban, the MTC prez oh philippines mission prez'd there and im pretty sure its the highest baptizing mission in the world. double check that tho. Cebuan (pronouinced say-buwano) is interesting as well. thats so rad to have a Philli friend even tho we speak differnt tounges. 

so about the philippines MTC. super interesting and very nice. its brand new. filipino to white ratio being 20:1. pretty high masigla. you should hear the hymns. so loud. litterly all the flipinos go 100% hymn singing. probably bc of their rich history in kareoke. high masigla and good eats. manilla temple is rad but it closed before i went it. (side note: right now this lil filipino kid is sitting righ beside me and will not stop staring) ah the MTC prez, President Trask probly gave the most painfull devotionals ever given to man kind. one was scheduled for 2.5 hours which went a half hour over, another for 1.5 hours again half hour over and a third being and hour and half. those were all in a row as well. huge respect to the guy tho, he turned one of the lowest baptizing missions in the world into one of the highest. but 6.5 hours of devos in 3 days is excessive. guess he had alot to say. ultimatly great guy. made me miss the PROVO MTC.

oh when i left provo there were 3 missionaries coming in the the tagalog program but serving canada edmonton!!! how exciting!!!! also there was a tree there that smelt like orange cremesicle so i miss that a bit. but ever since that MTC the fight w the natural man has become alot easier. also heard from my harvard buddy that the MTC is harder than harvard. oh and idk why but everyone in the MTC just thinks they can beat box and sing, super strange. 

when i was in the Phillippines MTC i had the oppurtunity to proselatye in Manilla. oh man mom it was insane. the slums were like nothing ive seen before. super small and dingy and awfull sanitation. tons of naked kids and really poor people. Sean Freiberg would lose his mind b/c i never saw a smile not missing teeth or white. super depressing. my companionss later said "if my mom saw where i was...." very cool tho. i stoped by bishops tiny house and helped his wife kill a chicken and taught that reacently converted family about the Book of Mormon. good times. 

dad youd love the Philippines. well actually caleb would. no driving laws what so ever and everyone is either in a bus (jeepney), cargo van or truck or a little 150, 125, or 50 cc scooter. and those scooters know how to cut traffic!!!! super terriffying to be in and also a thrill ride, would reccomend. also the funniest adds. my fav being "look up young man! -God" they never make sense. 

hi mom,

ok its been 6 days in the field and what a roller coaster, you should read my journal. so my first area is Dupax del sur, Nueva Vizcaya. my tatay (father) is Elder Briones from Laguna in the San Pablo mission here in the PHI. i should really call him my Nanay (mother) hes teaching me how to talk, how to wipe my butt (w my left), how to shower (w a bucket and scoop), how to hand wash my clothes, how to eat and he even cooks for me!!! he says he loves to and hes good at it. wont shut up about how much he loves rice. ive had some major ups and some major downs this far but im holding on and growing w much paitence and long suffering. alma 7:23. the sanitation in our apartment would destroy you mom but im not sick yet and could only imagine how much stronger my immune system is becoming!!! no running water really, all we have is a dripping faucet and we collect that water to shower and wash our hands w. haven't seen a white person in a while and i go to church in this 180 y/o couples shack. it really is the jungle. its nice out in the province tho. people have decent sized houses for the most part and they are either made of brick or bamboo walls w a tin roof. decent tho. 

everyone stares at me and calls me "harry styles" anyone who has seen your photo says you look like a movie star. apparently this is the hardest area in the mission and also the most beautiful. cant wait for you to see the photos. its insane pretty. the heats not a big deal. but our apartments super hot all the time. but if u have a fan on you you are fine. i dont complain or critizie but im super bad at comparing. how nice does the provo utah mission sound rn. i miss the suburbs and wards but i know im here for a reason and am hyped to serve this branch. 

the foods all good, no one understands me really, and i certanly dont understand them but im really learning and adgusting quickly so dont worry. im doing just fine. this is certaninly is a test tho. even though church is in a shack the branch is strong and there is a great community. this one lady Nanay Nori feeds the missionaries every wensday, friday and sunday and such big nice meals w candy!! shes pretty wealthy and the crew there is the best. she has seriously been such an answer to my prayers. idk if theres much more to say other then im really starting to figure out what everyone means by "hardest and best time of my life" im sending like 110 pictures or something so bear w me. 

work hard, pray hard,

elder kearl