January 12, 2016
The Pied Piper of Pamplona
So, as the subject line suggests...
I feel like the pied piper.
Seriously
We had three consecutive days, where we went to three different areas. In each area it was like...
first we saw one young kid, then he saw us
then we had one kid following
then we saw two more, then they saw us
then we had three kids following
then we saw a group of five, then they saw us
then we had eight kids following.
And everywhere we go they follow
EVERYWHERE!
They tried to follow us into investigator homes!
And the whole time they are grabbing our hands, holding our arms, marveling at the fact that hair grows on our arms. Ohhh, that's the worst. First one kid notices, then he feels my arm, then he exclaims, then all the kids are feeling my arms because they are hairy.
But are they content with that?
No. They have to make sure it's real hair, so they start PULLING ON IT!
Ouch!
We go up to someone to start sharing a gospel message, just OYMing, it's called, but I can't focus, because these kids are noisy too!
And then we go into an investigator's house, and teach a lesson. So we think the kids are gone.
NOPE!
30 minutes later they are still sitting right out there waiting for us.
We of course talk to them as we are walking.
If Elder says we are going to McDonalds, they sing it everywhere we go!
"Pupunta tayo sa MacDo! Pupunta tayo sa MacDo!"
If Elder says we aren't American, but we are Filipino, they tell that to everyone we pass.
"Pilipino po tayo. Pilipino po tayo. Pilipino po tayo!"
They almost followed us right out of their area, their neighborhood!
Super fun.
We also did have some good Spiritual experiences. One was pretty cool:
We were out doing finding, or trying to find new people to teach, so we were choosing doors to knock on.
Elder told me that I should lead, so I just kind of freaked out and then chose a direction.
As we were passing a house, we both just stopped. We looked at the gate and said, why not?
We knocked on the Gate and immediately someone came out. He readily welcomed us in.
Afterward he told us that he had been sitting and thinking that it would be great if some nice people came to talk to him. Then he saw us outside, and said to himself that we looked like pretty nice people, so it would be great if we just happened to come to talk to him. But of course, he thought, that won't happen. Then he saw us stop and knock on his door. Though surprised, he was very happy to be able to talk to us. He seems to have a lot of potential, and our second visit is this week.
I'm also getting thinner. At least that is what everyone we meet says.
Of course, the culture here is such that getting thinner usually isn't congratulated. Usually people think you are sick or something, and they don't understand why you are getting so thin. Some people grab you by the shoulder and just laugh, because they know it's something Americans like, but they think it's silly. I've also been told that I looked cuter when I was fat. Why?
Because they said I looked like a cute, cuddly hamster...
I feel like the pied piper.
Seriously
We had three consecutive days, where we went to three different areas. In each area it was like...
first we saw one young kid, then he saw us
then we had one kid following
then we saw two more, then they saw us
then we had three kids following
then we saw a group of five, then they saw us
then we had eight kids following.
And everywhere we go they follow
EVERYWHERE!
They tried to follow us into investigator homes!
And the whole time they are grabbing our hands, holding our arms, marveling at the fact that hair grows on our arms. Ohhh, that's the worst. First one kid notices, then he feels my arm, then he exclaims, then all the kids are feeling my arms because they are hairy.
But are they content with that?
No. They have to make sure it's real hair, so they start PULLING ON IT!
Ouch!
We go up to someone to start sharing a gospel message, just OYMing, it's called, but I can't focus, because these kids are noisy too!
And then we go into an investigator's house, and teach a lesson. So we think the kids are gone.
NOPE!
30 minutes later they are still sitting right out there waiting for us.
We of course talk to them as we are walking.
If Elder says we are going to McDonalds, they sing it everywhere we go!
"Pupunta tayo sa MacDo! Pupunta tayo sa MacDo!"
If Elder says we aren't American, but we are Filipino, they tell that to everyone we pass.
"Pilipino po tayo. Pilipino po tayo. Pilipino po tayo!"
They almost followed us right out of their area, their neighborhood!
Super fun.
We also did have some good Spiritual experiences. One was pretty cool:
We were out doing finding, or trying to find new people to teach, so we were choosing doors to knock on.
Elder told me that I should lead, so I just kind of freaked out and then chose a direction.
As we were passing a house, we both just stopped. We looked at the gate and said, why not?
We knocked on the Gate and immediately someone came out. He readily welcomed us in.
Afterward he told us that he had been sitting and thinking that it would be great if some nice people came to talk to him. Then he saw us outside, and said to himself that we looked like pretty nice people, so it would be great if we just happened to come to talk to him. But of course, he thought, that won't happen. Then he saw us stop and knock on his door. Though surprised, he was very happy to be able to talk to us. He seems to have a lot of potential, and our second visit is this week.
I'm also getting thinner. At least that is what everyone we meet says.
Of course, the culture here is such that getting thinner usually isn't congratulated. Usually people think you are sick or something, and they don't understand why you are getting so thin. Some people grab you by the shoulder and just laugh, because they know it's something Americans like, but they think it's silly. I've also been told that I looked cuter when I was fat. Why?
Because they said I looked like a cute, cuddly hamster...
http://wfiles.brothersoft.com/f/fat-hamster_89745-1440x900.jpg
I may be getting hungrier however, so hopefully I'll even out and then maintain a healthy weight. I am happy, however, to be thinner. When you have to poke extra holes in your belt because it doesn't tighten as thin as you are... Your shirts get huge on you... your pants would fall off without a belt...
You start feeling better.
Finally, my companion will be changing this week. Elder McQuarrie is going to become a zone leader in the most rural part of our mission, southern Palawan, or as the area is called, Narra. I don't know who my companion will be, but I will remain here and lead the area with whomever it is. I'll find out tomorrow.
I brought my camera, but it's not showing up on the computer for some reason, so... no pictures...
And that's all
With Love,
Elder Streeter
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