HO HO HO

HO HO HO Merry Christmas!!

Pasko na naman

Pasko na naman
O kay tulin ng araw
Paskong nagdaan
Tila ba kung kailan lang

Ngayon ay Pasko
Dapat pasalamatan
Ngayon ay Pasko
Tayo ay mag-awitan.


Pasko! Pasko!
Pasko na naman muli.
Tanging araw na ating pinakamimithi.
Pasko! Pasko!
Pasko na naman muli.
Ang pag-ibig naghahari!

How is everyone doing? I hope you are all full on Ham Turkey Chicken Beef Pork or whatever else you ate this Christmas! Candy canes, chocolate kisses, and the ever so great “Diet starts January 1!” Isnt Christmas just the best? Hahha

This week has been full of action and I will give a quick rundown! Last Monday, a new batch of missionaries from the MTC in Manila came up to start their service here in the Philippines Baguio Mission! We welcomed them at the office, got their bags and luggage and then we had a feast! Its always the best seeing new missionaries here for the first time because all of them are pretty dang nervous meaning they don’t eat as much as usual.. Which means that theres more for us! Woohoo!

One of the missionaries is from Australia, Elder Maurer. Because of the trainers working with other missionaries during the day, he hung with us and then went to work with us as well! We went to the plaza here in San Fernando where it was filled with people taking pictures by the Christmas trees and other attractions. We handed out pamphlets and helped Elder Maurer hand out pamphlets as well! I love working with new missionaries!  It was really cool seeing him use all of the things he had learned to say in a real life situation. I also met a man from Spain and asked "te hablas Espanol?" to which he replied "Claro." in the most disappointed face at my very dumb question hahah, I got about 3 out of his 10 sentences he said to me, spit out about 2 correct sentences to him, and then we just spoke English for the rest of the time hahha,

We had dinner at the Aquino Family! They are such an awesome family who loves missionaries! Their son Janru always worked with Elder Tavita and I before he went on his mission! On Tuesday we had some trainings for the new missionaries and then sent them on their way with their trainers! After all was done, we were able to get out to work for a while and met with the Pugal family! Their son Maurice was baptized over a month ago and his mom loves meeting with us. They are also way involved with their Church so we always talk about the things they are doing to gain a relationship with Christ and what we do as well. Its always a fun time there.




Thursday there was another Polynesian Cultural Activity in a town called Naguilian. I drove one car and Elder De Costa drove the other one down with the missionaries and all the music equipment! While the Branch in Naguilian performed and the Polynesian missionaries, i was handing out pamphlets and making sure all the music and tables etc was set up! It was super fun, super tiring, and very much worth it. There were alot of people curious about the dances (and some were scared from the Haka) hahahha but we met a lot of new people!

Got home around 10, and set up the Chapel for out MLC the next day! MLC was awesome. We reviewed what we had done in 2017 and made plans for 2018! I am going to miss the Baguio Mission so so much. I love all of the missionaries here and have learned so much from them. We watched part of a talk by John Bytheway (who served in the Baguio Mission!)

He talked about the basketball standard and that no matter what gym you're at, the hoop is 10ft high during a game. Meaning that no matter where you are, you have to adjust to that standard. You cant lower the rim. You have to change what you are doing to meet the standard. It was super good and relatable to the Gospel, missionary work, and life!




Saturday was baptism day! There were so many people throughout the mission who had planned their baptismal day for this Saturday, confirmation on the 24th and then Christmas as a member of Christ's Church on the 25th. That is what sister Evaline did as well! During the baptism, Elder Bin Salleh sang an amazing renditon of a primary song and Sister Evaline gave a great testimony. I love the Gospel and the power of the Atonement.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AGAIN! Thank you to all who have helped someone else who needed help this time of year. Be safe and whoever is snowboarding this week, shred the gnar.






Elder Pitt