Thanksgiving, exchanges, Four baptisms and a talent show...

So this week i had my first, and quite possibly last, thanksgiving outside of the u.s. so of course! we had to make it awesome. we were on exchanges in malolos and there just so happens to be two other american sisters there, one filipina, and one pakistani! so we had quite the racial spread. 

started out our philippines thanksgiving with a lil balut!!! of course for all those that hadn't experienced it yet. aka 4 out of the six of us, including the filipina and the pakistani!!! so that was super entertaining to watch and not repeat for myself again. been there, done that. 

Then,  we got our american food on. mashed potatoes, fried chicken, corn on the cob, rolls (pan de sal) ..... and shanghai lumpia!! aight, it was just a baby celebration but beggars can't be choosers ;) and it was super fun! 

As was exchanges! beside the whole making my comp for the day cry.... don't worry about it. it's all good now... but let's just say exchanges is always a huge reminder of how lucky i have been on the mission!!! with companions and the language and my areas and everything. for reals. 

Umm other news.... we're having four baptisms on the 21st!! they moved the stake baptism to the 21st so we decided to just have them all sabay so the ward can really get behind them and support them. three of them had their interviews on sunday! which was great! except that only two of them are done being taught..... yeaaaaaah that was fun. she still passed though, she's that awesome. they are all suuuper amazing. and getting involved with the ward and it's so great to see! they were all referrals btw sooo introduce your friends to the missionaries... it's the way to go. 

Picture sent from Sister Noriega today:)

We're having a talent show for christmas conference! our district leader, elder qaqa (pronounced gangga, of course) is from fiji and is crazy funny and wants to be remembered always by everyone. so of course, he's planning a super awesome samoan slap dance routine thing for our zone.... we'll see if that ends of happening, but it will be sweet if it does! 

Tatay nick came to church!!!!! and we sat him next to a super madaldal recently returned missionary.... best thing ever. and he already has friends from when he used to come to church/when his wife who is a member was still living. so that was great! he's got this. and we met his apo and she was asking great questions about lots of stuff.... then went on for a lil bit about witchcraft.... we just kinda ignored that part and went back to the great questions about the gospel :)

ps. ruby, one of the people getting baptized on the 21st, is already reading from the Book of Mormon more than a lot of the members (lame on the members part) but she made herself a lil book mark and it has a quote on it from elder holland! "doubt your doubt before you doubt your faith" (that was elder holland, right?) so great! she made it herself! she's legit. we're stoked. she's working on getting a new job right now... no worries, it's at a bank that is closed on sundays!!! best thing ever!!! stoked. 

have a great week! don't let ruby put you to shame in your reading! ;)

-sister jones