I'll go where you want me to go.

Sun, Jul 22, 2012

Salutations once again! You may be asking yourself, where is Sister Kelli King emailing us from today? Well, this email (including such desired information) comes to you in 3 parts.

Part 1: You're Sending Me Where???
On Tuesday morning last week the four sisters of Sagay all left via bus to go to Bacolod where we got our new companion assignments. My new companion is Sister Sabar, and she is from Pakistan. She is a previous companion of my trainer, Sister Rosina, plus we have many other mutual friends and acquaintances in the mission. Before her mission she didn't speak English or Ilonggo, and now she speaks both, and she's only been a missionary for 11 months. She's truly an inspiration. The two of us have both been sent to Inayauan (pronounced like 'in eye you want' without the t on the end). Inayauan is on the southern most Zone of the mission, the Sipalay Zone. They almost never send sister missionaries to the Sipalay Zone. In fact, I think they only ever did one time. But Sister Sabar and I are the first Sisters ever in Inayauan. It's about a 4 hour drive from Bacolod. If you look at the map. I am nearly has far as I can possibly get from my previous area, Sagay, which was in the northeastern corner of the island, without of course leaving my mission boundaries. We were soon told that the senior missionaries would drive us to our area the next day. So we had some time to kill. Which leads us to...                                                                                                                               

Part 2: Big Shoes for Big Feet
That afternoon, Sister Sabar and I went to the SM (it stands for Super Market, but it's actually a Shopping Mall) to buy some glasses for her, and to print pictures, and do various other errands. I also told her that I wanted to buy some new rubber shoes. The only pair of rubber shoes I own is my pair of dressy Crocs that we bought in America, but I soon realized that they were too narrow for my feet, and caused blisters. So, we set off on a grand adventure to buy shoes for Sister King. Why do I refer to this quest as an adventure? Because here in the Philippines, the largest size ladies shoe that shoes stores carry is a size 8. I'm a size 9 at least. More like a 9 wide. So, after we found nothing suitable at the SM, we went to another mall (under the guidance of a member Sister Sabar knew, whom we happened upon at the SM. This member accompanied us). Nothing again. Over the course of several hours, I think we visited every mall in Bacolod (at least four) and I think we visited at least half of the shoe stores in the city (and believe me, there are a lot), and there was still nothing! Don't worry, there's a happy ending to this story. At the last store we went to be found a pair of size nine dressy rubber shoes. HUZZAH!!! They fit and everything! And it's a good thing too because of...

Part 3: Over Mountain or Rice Field or Sea
Inayauan is beautiful. We're right on the coast (they call it baybay here) and the ocean is a gorgeous blue color. This city has beach resorts, and I understand why. It's beautiful. The resorts aren't anything fancy, I'm sure, but they exist! There are also zillions of rice fields, and mountains. There are also a lot more cattle and caribow here. I don't know the English word for caribow here. It's like a big cow. Water buffalo? In order to get to the homes of our investigators here we actually have to walk across a river... twice. Both ways. It's awesome. We also walked across a rice field which is easier said than done. Rice fields are  completely flooded with water with only thin bits of land for people to walk on. In some parts it was almost like walking on a balance beam. If you fall, you fall in mud. The area here is big, and the people are really spread out. It's a branch here only, not a ward. They don't even have a chapel, just a rented meeting house. Many of the people can't afford to go to church because it's far, and that's why they are inactive at church.

Part 4: Random Tidbits about the People
- People here in the Philippines don't know how to shake hands. My favorite is when people offer me a hand without an extended thumb. It's like shaking a sideways high five.

- Common speech impediments of the Filipinos: Bs are Vs and vise versa. Fs are Ps and vise versa. Many times when people are spelling, 'a' sounds like 'e' and vise versa. They solve this problem just like they do in America (C is in Charlie!) Here's a very Filipino thing. This is how they would explain the name Bella to you: "B as in Bacolod, E Eagle, double L, A Apple).

Okay, this has been fun. I'll write to you liwat (again) next week! I'm writing to you from a city called Kabankalan. Inayauan is so out there that they don't have a grocery store or bank, and the internet is really slow. So we come here.

Halong kamo (Take care)!!!
Sister Kelli King

I'm a filipina!!!!!

 Hello once again, my adoring fans, or should I say my friends and family! I hope you are all well!

Last week I told you that it was rainy, right? Well this week has been HOT. Hot, and really humid too. What has added to the fun is that the other week one of the 3 functioning electric fans in our house died of old age, and this week, another one of the fans has been completely on the fritz making weird noises, and not working right, and just bring terror wherever it goes. The noise of the malfunction fan is so loud that it wakes us up in the middle of the night. Indi maayo (Not good)!

The most exciting news of the week is our baptism on Saturday! It went quite well. We are also teaching the woman's grandchildren, and they will be baptized next month a well. We also got a referral last night that has great potential. Sister Rondina will have to attend to them without me. Why?

BECAUSE I'M BEING TRANSFERRED! The APs (assistant to the president) called last night and said that Sister Palai and I are both being transferred! We need to be in Bacolod by tomorrow morning at 8 with all of our possessions. I don't know where I'm going. I don't know who my new companion will me. I don't know what language I'll be speaking. Some of the areas in the mission are Cebuano speaking instead of Ilonggo. Isn't this so fun? I've spent much of today packing. This is my first in-mission transfer, I'm nervous! Naw, I'm excited. I keep imagining that they're going to assign me with one of the other American sisters. Won't THAT be fun? We'll be tall and white together! Next week you'll know! Tomorrow I'll know! Wish me luck!

Here's a fun conversation for you from this week. And get this, it happened entirely in Ilonggo.
Random guy along the street: Hey, here comes the beautiful Americana!
Me: Thank you, but I'm a filipina!
Random guy: You're a filipina?
Me: Yes!

'Pinae ko ya!' is how you say I'm a filipina. I'm so glad Sister Rondina taught me that one.

As for the one-eared cat, I haven't seen it in over a month. My guess is that the one-eared cat has moved on to a better place... namely kitty heaven, or perhaps someone else's yard. The one-eared cat has been replaced by another much more vocal and a lot less shy cat, whom we just call "MewMew." MewMew is white, and meows a lot. The one-eared cat would run away whenever we got close. MewMew is a beggar, and delights when we come outside to dispose of our food remnants. One night I was sitting in the kitchen when I felt the familiar feeling of a cat rubbing against my leg. My thought process was thus: Huh, what's that on my leg. Oh it's a cat. Wait. We don't have a cat! Then I screamed out loud, because I was confused, and there was a cat (MewMew) who had just walked into the house! That's what we get for leaving the door open I guess.

Love,
Sister Kelli King

The rains came down & the floods came up

 Mon, Jul 9, 2012

Epistle from the Philippines 11: The rains came down & the floods came up.

Alohamora! Let's start with the questions mom asked me:

How has life been in Sagay this week? Great. Rainy. It rained every single day last week, which isn't typical. I think there's a typhoon. I heard there was. Anyway, the work progresses, and I'm still alive and well.

Have you met the new [Mission] Prez[ident]? No, I haven't. President Lopez got delayed at the MTC for a week because he was sick, and I think he and Sister Lopez have only just arrived in the Philippines within the last few days. But they are here, and I'm sure I'll meet them this week.

 Are you living in a new and not so leaky place? No, not yet. But we got the people to lower the rent, and they signed the contract! We'll be set to move into the new house on August 1st. Well, the missionaries who are in Sagay will. I may or may not be here, depending on transfers.

Yeah, so like I said, life has been good! We have a baptism coming up on Saturday. The Sister is truly elect.

It sounds like everyone had a great 4th of July! I spent the day proselyting and teaching people the gospel and stuff.

This week namely on July 4, I thought about America a lot. I sang all the patriotic songs I could think of all day. When I was getting ready for bed I thought, my family is probably waking up and going to the 4th of July parade right now! The next day before lunch, I thought, my family is watching the fireworks! I was only slightly sad that I couldn't be there. Being in the Philippines has heightened my appreciation and patriotism for my own country. Not that I don't like it here. I do. But I also really love America.

Independence Day in the Philippines was in June 12. The people celebrated by doing... nothing. They had no school or work that day, but that was about it. I had fun describing to my companion and housemates that in America the 4th of July is awesome, complete with barbeques, parades, wearing red, white and blue, and of course FIREWORKS. Here, nothing.

I get nostalgic about really weird things. For example, the movie I am most looking forward to watching when I get back is Scrooge. Yes, it's a Christmas movie. Yes I think about it, and sing it to myself frequently. I am aware that Christmas is nearly 6 months away, but that doesn't change a thing. I've also contemplated Albert Finney. Is he English or American? I've seen him play both, and I can't tell. He's like Cary Grant in that he talks the way he talks, neither here nor there. Dad, please let me know.

Missionary work is hard, let me tell you. If we do not have the Holy Ghost with us, then it is impossible to teach an effective lesson. From our studies in the Preach My Gospel Manual, we learn that listening to the people you teach and listening to the spirit is crucial. I often find this very hard on account of the fact that I don't understand everything that people say. Slowly I am understanding. I definitely understand better than that I speak the local language (Ilonggo, or Hiligaynon) but it takes constant effort. Comprehension is particularly difficult when 1) The room is noisy and/or they have a quiet voice and 2) when they talk FAST. People talk really fast sometimes, and it is really frustrating sometimes. But the people are generally nice. Especially to me since I'm the big white one.

My greatest joys in the mission come from seeing people make righteous decisions. A few weeks ago we started teaching a man who has been inactive in the church for a few years, and he has a drinking problem. Well, soon after we started visiting them he stopping drinking, and he's been coming back to church. This is the sort of thing I like.

Everyday I tell people that God has a plan for them. It's amazing for me to see that God has a plan for me too. For example, I sincerely feel like I am exactly where I am supposed to be right now. Everything in my life has lead me here. I have more than one purpose here too, more than one role. I know for a fact that everything happens for a reason. Even the mishaps. Everything that has ever happened has made me who I am here, right now. And I am affecting others too. This is all part of the plan. I'm glad I'm in Sagay. I'm glad I'm a missionary. I'm glad I have my companion, my housemates, my ward, my family, my friends, my everything! It all fits.

On another note, I ate chicken intestine this week. Yum.

Ta ta, Love you! I love your emails, but maybe keep them short? I only have an hour of computer time! Love you !!!!!

Sister Kelli King

Don't go eating my heart.

This email will be filled with a lot of random thoughts from me. Little or no organization.

One of our tasks for the past few weeks has been trying to find a new house to live in here in Sagay. The one we live in is fine, but it could be better. There was a serious leak in the water pipe which racked up our water bill to devilishly bad amounts, among other things. So we're moving. We found a great new place, and we (and the financial office elder) have been negotiating price, etc. I think the house will be ready for us by the end of the month. I don't know if I'll be here then. Transfers are in 2 weeks. Should I stay or should I go? It's up to Mission President Lopez, and the Lord. I haven't met the new mission president yet, but I'm sure I will soon! Rumor has it, he'll be making surprise stop-bys to the missionaries this week. I wish Pres. and Sister Tobias the best. They served a good mission.

I know it's weird to say, but the moon disappeared again this month. After it was full, I didn't see the moon again until after it had already waned, and was waxing again. Twilight Zone?

Today we visited with a brother in the ward who has an extensive bonsai tree collection. I love baby trees! They are very cool.

This week we bought more chicken liver. When we were eating the chicken though, I looked closer I realized that we purchased more organs than just liver. I definitely ate lung and also... heart. Chicken hearts are small, like the size of a quail egg. It tasted kind of like all the other chicken organs (not particularly good to my taste), but hey, at least I can say that I've eaten heart.

Adorable moment of the week:
We were visited a family in the Ward. When we arrived, the little four-year-old girl was listening to the Celine Dion hit "Power of Love." Not only was we listening to it, but she was singing along. This little girl does not speak English. So it was incredibly enjoyable to listen to her cute little out-of-tune voice (sort of) sing "'Cause I'm your laaaaaaaaaaddyyyyyyy, and you are my maaaaaaaaaannnn!!!!" I loved it.

English phrase to contemplate: "I stick out like a sore thumb."
It wasn't until recently that I realized that this phrase doesn't refer to the fact that a sore thumb is noticable, but from the fact that when a person has a sore thumb, they stick it out. Ohhhhhhh! It's a "make like a tree and leaf" joke! I never knew!

Halong kamo! (That means take care! Well, literally it means "take care, you (plural)".

Mahal kita! (Tagalog for "I love you!" Dad was subtly hinting.)
Palangga ta ka! (Illongo for "I love you!" No one asked. I'm offering it freely.)

Love,
Sister Kelli King