My first area and companion

OK where do i start? Well I think Sister Anderson has told you about us saying goodbye and leaving each other and photos and all. 

But I'll start from where its easy because the computers here are so super slow. 

Hopefully I can put photos in OK, Well the flight over was very long. When we stopped in Japan, we bumped into the first ever missionary that served in the Philippines which was a choice experience.

He was going over to help with the typhoon!!,

When we arrived in Manila. We walked outside the airport and the HEAT HIT ME SO BAD!! 

Its so hot here!! So we stayed in a hotel for like an hour then needed to catch our plane to Bacolod in three hours.  I said goodbye to my companion and district hoping Tacloban would open back up!!! We flew to Bacolod where our president greeted us which was cool! He's a very on to it man a so super nice, He said kia ora to me!! We went to the mission home and had our opening orientation then he called me into his office for an interview.  He said my companion was Elder Burnett an American, who is a good missionary with the language and everything!!! Then he said Im in the Bukid area, which is mountains!! 

He said their turning this area into a stake and he sends only good missionaries there.

I then met my companion, hes super cool and on to it, Im grateful for him and show it in my prayers everyday!!! So then we caught a 4 hour bus drive to a place called STOP Alginado!!! its called this because there's this big stop area for cars and stuff. Sorry im trying to write fast. 

Anyways, first day I get a sore stomach, spewing up, sore throat, fever and everything for 3 days!! it was a killer first three days!!

Its so humid and sticky here. Then we went to our flat and ohhh my family!! Hahaha the worst place i have ever seen in my life. It's known as one of the worst flats in the mission!! 
So my first experience here wasnt the best family!!  When I felt a little better we went out and taught less actives. I can see what Jeremy meant by his love for the people . They are so nice and giving and they have barely anything. The little kids, some the same age as Pepe, they always laugh at me when Im trying to speak the language but I enjoy it!! At the same time Ive never seen so many people stare at me when I walk through the streets and in the mountains,lol!

So Im picking the language up here and there. A 13 year old Phillipino called Dantley Brabatadada was getting baptized the and we arrived  and we went to his house and gave him a lesson and this was the first time i met him and he wanted me to baptize him!! 

At first i thought he was joking at first, but he wanted me to, so I had been here 3 days and I had my first ever baptism!! it was so special to be able to do that for him!! 
Ive gained a good relationship with the boys around my age, they like me and help me with the language!!  The older ladies I think like me too and they laugh about the way I speak. Then the next day I had to bear my testimony in Cebuano!! It was a little scary at first but i thought i did well!

They thought that my language was so good that they thought this is my second transfer which was really nice of them!!! I loove it here - you don't have to worry!! 

Im doing fine with my fan on me every night - the whole night! Haha its my favourite thing!!  I love you Sister Anderson and I miss you like crazy!! I  look at our leaving photos everyday:):)

I would say the whole culture shock really hit me at first, but Im good now!! My companioins real, real protective of me!! It was a good wee.

I love you, and I'll write next week:) love you mum and awa thanks for that inspiring message, tell my nieces  I love them and my future ones. Love you MUM!!!! AND DAD AND ATA and I hope Ata has a  good time in the states:):)

Elder Anderson:)

PS  Please tell everyone that I appreciate their letters so much. I love them all, but don't have time with the computer to write to everyone.