Anong carne ba yan?

Well, this week, I officially became a Filipino. I have gotten pretty used to sitting down to a dinner and just eating everything that is in front of me. I really haven't had a lot of food that I really didn't like. The meals are almost all the same. There is rice, and then some kind of meat or vegetable that goes on top. Sometimes the texture is pretty bad, but you just add more rice and put it down. That is kind of how it goes.

But, this last week, I sat down and I looked at the meal. It looked like any other meal that I had eaten. So, I ate. It was really good. Then, as I was finishing, I asked, "Anong carne ba yan?" which means 'what kind of meat is that?." They asked me if I really wanted to know... and then I knew that it was something different. They told me that it was DOG. It is actually kind of illegal to cook dog. But they said, it is only illegal if you get caught. I guess that lots of people cook dogs because it is not really enforced. So, that was wild. 

One of the coolest experiences this week, was while we were talking to an investigator at her little tindihan. Another dude came up to us and I started talking to him. I asked him if he knew any missionaries and he told me that he used to be a member. Before I could say anything else, he asked me if we could go to his house and teach his family. We went over the next day and taught his wife and 6 kids. It was super cool. It will be hard to get them to go to church, because they live super far away and they are super poor. But, they are super interested, so hopefully they will start progressing.

I learned a lot this week about where true happiness comes from. We went to a house that was no bigger than 10 ft by 10 ft. I could take 2 steps and completely cross the house. In the house, there are 4 kids and a mom and a dad. They have a little tiny broken down table that they eat at, and usually, the kids sleep under it. Their bathroom is nothing more than a little lean-to made of bamboo just outside of their house. All that being said, they are some of the happiest people that I have ever met. Our material wealth really doesn't determine how happy we are, even though that is how a lot of people think. 

The Christmas season is an awesome time to "turn outward" and look for those that we can serve. We can focus on the life of Christ and learn to live as he lived. Learn to serve like he served. 

I love the Christmas season. I love you all and wish you all the best.  

Love Elder Thomas

-I can't send pictures because the internet is really slow. More to come next week :)