The pace has quickened.
The first 2 weeks out here went by slowly. Now things really seem to be moving. I am no longer culture-
shocked and am able to operate a little more naturally. Time is starting to fly by.
The work is progressing. Doors are opening and we are finding more people to teach.
Our relationships with ward members are strengthening as well. I testify of the effectiveness of working
with ward members to find and teach people. I encourage everyone out there to think about your
neighbors, fellow employees, etc. who may be interested. Even only a little. Work with the missionaries in
your ward. They will be so pleased...and it turns out that the Lord will be too. It's interesting how my
perspective has changed. Before, I didn't think much about the missionaries in my ward. I kind of thought
of them having their own, separate responsibilities and duties. Not true. Missionary work is every
member's work. We all have to work together. The church is one ridiculously well organized organization.
If we take advantage of everything that is already in place, we can work miracles. The missionaries and
members are one. The missionaries are excited to bring the happiness that you have in your life to your
friends. Hit 'em up!
We just contacted a referral of a member yesterday. His name is B. _____. He lives in one of
the "squatters" areas of "Solid" (named after the Solid Cement Co located in this area. *See attached
photo). You think that there are a ridiculous number of homes located in one residential area, and then
you step off the road, peek over the edge of the canyon and there are countless huts and cement squares
dotting the mountain side. It's jungle with boxes. We sit outside of brother B.'s home, Elder B. and I on
plastic chairs as he swings on his sliced-tire-hanging-bench. He is full of questions. We ask him at the
beginning if he has any questions for us about what he has previously heard about our religion. He asks
about baptism. He was raised in the Catholic church (along with everyone else here). We teach the
differences between our baptisms. Mayroon kami ng tamang karapatan, lulubog sa tubig at tamang idad
(Having proper authority, submersion in water and being the correct age). We also brought to light that
this was how Christ was baptized. It made sense to him. He seems pretty interested in listening to us. It is
nice sharing with people who have Catholic beliefs. The things we share don't seem too strange to them,
just slightly different. Slightly more correct hahaha joke-lang. He said we could come back again this
Wednesday. He is very busy with his job as a jeepney driver. He works works 16 hours a day at about
$1.00/hr. This is considered a decent wage.
A little bit about occupations here in Antipolo.
I would like to describe a couple different ways that people earn money.
*Fast food. Working at McDonald's brings in about 12 dollars a day. This is pretty good. You also have
the option of being either a massage-giver (includes head massage) or shoe-shiner. Complimentary for
all customers. This is one of the 3 times I have seen another white person who is not a missionary.
*Jeepney driver. About 16 dollars a day. Gruesome hours. You can also be a conductor who hangs onto
the back bumper and yells at every person they see. Today I had an interesting experience. We went into
the heart of Quezon City and our jeepney lined-up outside of a train station with around 30 other
jeepneys. I had never seen so many. Then came the passengers. All 30 conductors were up in
everyone's faces, yell and holding signs informing where their jeepney was headed. We were parked right
next to another jeepney with the same route. You can imagine how the competition went between the two
of them. It was a race to see who could pack their jeeps cheek-to-cheek first. We won.
*Tricycle driver. Too long to describe right now. Baka ibang araw.
*Computer shops. These are so popular. They love their computer games and facebook. Angry Birds is
wayyy too popular. It's out of control.
*Barbeque or pots of food on the side of the road.
*Tindahans. Too long to describe right now. Baka ibang araw.
*Approach jeepneys in traffic selling homemade rags and individually wrapped candies for 1 piso.
*Bakeries. Too long to describe right now. Baka ibang araw.
*Guard at a store or at a gate. Down-side: you often work the whole night long if at a gate. Plus-side: you
get to carry a 12-gauge shotgun. Every time we go grocery shopping we are intimidated before we enter.
Shoplifting doesn't happen much here. Not sure exactly why.
*There are many more but those are a few that stand out to me.
Mark A. is getting baptized this Saturday! He will be the first person I will ever baptize. We are very
excited for him. He has been meeting with the missionaries for a month now. I joined him on his 3rd
lesson. It has been an awesome opportunity to see him develop his faith in the gospel. He has been so
diligent in his progression. He has kept all of his commitments and is very enthusiastic about everything
that he has learned and felt. The mission has a temple tour outside of the Manila Temple every three
weeks. Mark came with us this past Saturday and really enjoyed it. The temple is beautiful. (*Photo)
That's all the time I have right now. I honestly could write for 2 days straight if I had the time.
This work is amazing. The reason it is so great is because the gospel is so great. I am so thankful for this
opportunity to serve. I am learning so much as I am sharing the truth. I am so thankful to have the
testimony that I have and am striving to strengthen it each day along with our investigators. The Lord is
guiding us through our efforts. I can see it.The Holy Ghost is a powerful companion.
I miss you all and hope all is well!
Much love,
Elder Stallings
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