It feels like forever since I last got to email, but it has definitely been a whirlwind of a past couple of weeks here... literally.
We finally got the power back 2-3 days ago and let me tell you, I don't think I have ever appreciated light, cold water, or electric fans so much! Because we've had literally no light at night, we have been working in the morning and doing all our studies by candle light at night, which is not nearly as cool as I thought it would be. We have been living like they did in the "olden days"...I wouldn't recommend it! ;) Anyways, we have power again now, so all is well!
So the Typhoon... for one, it was pretty bad so the Lagonoy sisters ended up evacuating to our apartment over Christmas. That was definitely a party! There were 8 of us, but only 5 mattresses (one of which is covered in rat poop so no one really wants to sleep on it) and I was sleeping closest to the window! Scary!
The room across the "hall" started flooding during the storm when one of the windows got ripped open so we had to go outside to close it. While we were out there, I saw roofs and all other types of things flying through the air... it was kind of freaky.
Anyways, it has been a fun couple of weeks since then. I have finally hand-washed my laundry... in the dark, bought some raid and killed all the cockroaches in the back room. That was scary. I sprayed it in the crack in the wall and a ton of cockroaches started running out. I couldn't even count them all! One even landed on my shoulder. So gross! After that was all said and done, I counted about 15 cockroaches lying dead all over the floor, not including the ones that got away or died behind the pipes. Let me just say, the experience was so scary, I had trouble sleeping that night.
So, the service. Since the typhoon we have had a couple of service projects because there were a lot of houses that got damaged or destroyed in the typhoon. Most of the people who's homes got destroyed were living in ipa-huts and are super poor. So they don't have the materials or money to rebuild.
It has been really hard because there is not really much we can do about their money problems. But we have been doing our best with what we can, starting with a couple service projects!
The one that stood out the most to me was our service project for an old Nanai and her family. Their entire house was completely caved in during the storm but they have nowhere else to live so they are living in the rubble.
When we went over, we begged Nanai to let us help her and her family. Like most Filipinos though, she was really stubborn at first, telling us that she could manage. But finally, we convinced her to let us come over the next day and help clean up some of the rubble.
Unfortunately, when we woke up the next day, it was pouring rain outside. My first thought was "Oh no, we won't be able to do the service project!" But after texting the Elders in our district, we decided to go anyways. So on the way, me, Sister Villa, 2 of the elders, and 2 members from our ward picked up some breakfast for the family and all hopped on a tricey to head over.
When we got there, Nanai didn't want us to help because it was pouring rain, but we insisted because we were already wet. So because Nanai didn't have enough cleaning supplies for all of us, I spent the next 2 hours on hands and knees in the mud cleaning up rubble and sweeping away trash and debris with my hands.
By the end, we were all soaked and covered in mud,
Additionally, while we were there I got to catch one of their ducks
and hold a giant spider that I found! It was in the mud while I was cleaning and climbed onto my hand. I was surprised when it didn't bite me and I realized that it actually seemed pretty nice, so I ended up giving it to the kids to play with.
Speaking of spiders, I was writing in my journal (by candle-light) a couple of nights ago...
...when I looked down to see a massive spider on my floor! Seeing it, I took immediate precautionary actions by proceeding to stand on my chair and start screaming for my roommates to come and kill it. Sister Baylosis came up and hit it really hard with a shoe (which did nothing) so then it ran and hid behind my desk. We couldn't find it after that so we all went about our night until I looked over to see it sitting on Sister Villa's desk.
After that, I spent the next hour chasing it around and hitting it with various shoes, but the spider refused to die. Finally, I gave up and doused it with raid, which was really effective. I should have just done that at first!
Besides that, it had been a good couple of weeks here in the Philippines. The Filipinos are all shocked when they see me cleaning (because they are all convinced that all Americans have maids), the kids laugh at me when I talk to them (they are so cute!) and I got to try lechon! Which is basically where they just take the whole pig and roast it over a fire. It is so delicious! Way better than a thanks-giving turkey in my opinion.
With all of these crazy experiences, I wondered for the first time if I can do this: a mission.
It has honestly been pretty tough hand-washing laundry in the dark, living with no power or internet, and helplessly watching the Filipinos here struggle so much! But as I have done my best to just smile through the hardships and to be as helpful as I can, I have found that I am happier than ever here in the Philippines. Of course I still miss my family, and was SO SOOOO happy to be fortunate enough to call them on Christmas (before we lost cell service) but more and more I am coming to learn that life is really just what you choose to make of it.
I could choose to feel sad and sorry for myself but what good would that do? So I will continue to work hard, do my best, pray, and smile through it all because I know that in the end, everything will all work out. After all, seeing the struggles of some of the people here, I think I have it pretty good :)
If you have time, I would really suggest watching this video. It is awesome!
Have a great week to you all!
-Sincerely, Sister Matheny
I can't tell if you're on a mission or an episode of Fear Factor, lol! I'm so glad to hear you made it through the storm. I'm in awe of your positive attitude through all of this, but then again I know the Lord sends his "angels round about you, to bear you up." My heart breaks for the Filipinos who lost so much during the storm. I'm feeling very blessed right now.
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