Elder Alexander L. Shill

Sorry everyone I wasn't able to get an email out last week. I've been a little busy, over the two weeks I finished the MTC, watched conference, made it to my mission, met my trainer and began actual mission work as well as bore my testimony in a Filipino church.  I would share what I liked about conference but I honestly can't remember because it was two weeks ago now so ya.  The trainer that I was assigned to is named Elder Peterson, he is a chill guy from Nibley/Providence area believe it or not. Also in our house with us is Elder Blazer, another guy from Utah, and the one that I couldn't believe was Elder Thatcher Phelps (from my home ward). We have three boys from Cache Valley in this house and one from Draper. CRAZY. Anyway this week was a bit wild. I learned that my Tagalog is chopped and I literally have no idea how to talk to people. We would go house to house and Elder Peterson is just able to like ask them questions and then flow into a message it's amazin...

Kumusta po (hello, how are you doing) everyone? Sorry for wala (no) email last week, I was busy and really just didn't feel like writing one by the time that I was able to, so I'll cover what happened in this email. I've had the chance to try some crazy foods while I've been here. Its kinda wild but I've been enjoying it. I've eaten everything from chicken feet to some mango jello cream stuff. I can also say with full confidence that I have tried literally almost every part of the chicken aside from the head and it all tastes the exact same, the only thing that is different is the texture. So you might be a little curious about the title. Basically, the rolls here are the best thing I have ever had (sorry Bella they might top your bread.) These things are amazing. I'm averaging about 16 of them a day and if they served them at breakfast, I would probably be averaging 24 because they are so heavenly-- I don't know what they are putting into those things. ...

Welp, we made it, sorry I'm sending this email at such a weird time and date. Everything is kinda shifting around because of the travel days and prep days. Break break though, I am one of very few white people (I've decided we will be called vanillas, hence the name) at the Manila MTC which is high-key wild and just ate this fish thing for dinner that probably would have made my sister Elena lose her appetite for approximately 5 days and 11 hours, so that was a blast.  The travel was just spectacular, coming in with a total of 17 hours of fly time and a 7 hour layover. It helped me to realize that its hard to be happy without the sun. Both physically and spiritually, kinda a fun, idk what to call it, maybe a tangent, who knows. Basically though, we left San Fran airport approximately two hours after it got dark and then we were chasing the sun the sun the whole time. Unfortunately, airplanes are not fast enough to catch up to cosmic fire balls. Therefore, I went about 17 hours ...

 

This week has been quite a fever dream. It started off with Elder HoChing and I receiving another kasama (companion). His name was Elder McMurtey and his first name was Golden which was kinda cool. The reason why I say was is because broski got moved out to another companionship the day after he was put with us, so that was depressing cause he was lit. Aside from that, this week has just felt like a really long day with some quick naps in between. Tagalog: We did an English fast yesterday as a district which was just such a blast as none of us can formulate corrected sentences, but we did in fact try. Tagalog is just a blast-- it still feels like I'm trying to get my mouth around an entire watermelon while I'm speaking but I am learning, I think. Word of the week is Pinagkakaabalahan which essentially means "keeps busy," as in what keeps you busy. So we are learning and crying internally over the day to day words that I will be using just to schedule appointments. On ...

Welcome to the MTC where everyday feels like a week and the weeks blend together like your dreams do. This week felt exactly like the previous... more accurately, it felt like it was the previous.  Some of the highlights that I can remember: I jammed my thumb twice, and one of my roommate's dad mailed him a microwave.  On top of this, I am now in a trio with Elder Ho Ching and a new elder named Elder McMurkley. He seems super cool, he just joined today though so we'll se how it goes. He broke his had so he couldn't leave for the Manila MTC with his district so he is a couple weeks ahead and will be a huge asset for our Tagalog.  Other than that, it was a pretty uneventful week. My kind mother sent me caffeine so my brain doesn't physically hurt when trying to focus on Tagalog.  On another note, I met the lady who wrote the primary song The Miracle which was cool. She seemed like someone I would run into after sacrament meeting when in a hurry, kinda just gave those v...

This week was very mentally straining as we began full immersion, so our 7 hours of classes were fully in Tagalog and, wow. Let me tell ya-- I feel like I'm casting spells-- welcome to fricken' Hogwarts cause this language is wak.  Aside from that this week went pretty well. I gave a blessing to one of the sisters in my district for her stomach ulcer which was a cool experience.  She's starting to get better which is even more awesome on top of that.  Everyone is getting excited for the mission field. One of my roommate's is Nathan McAllister for those who know him which is so chill. Two of our current roommates are moving out, so the four of us will have some more space, that will be nice. The most revelatory experience this week was when I was reading in Ether chapter 3 when the brother of Jared asks God to touch the stones to provide them with light in the vessels. "Therefore touch these stones, and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness... that we m...

 This has been the most overstimulating and long week of my life.  I showed up to the MTC on Wednesday at about 1:30. I was then shown to my room and began what would feel like 3 weeks of schooling and training in about 4 days.  Within my first 2 days I was called as district leader which was an assignment that I felt very underqualified and unprepared for. In my 5 days as district leader I have learned and felt so much. One thing that was nice about this is that I really couldn't miss you guys very much just because I didn't have time, instead I was talking others through their home sickness and fears and worries. It really kind of just hit me today that I miss all of you but I'm grateful to be here and to serve the Lord. Thought for the other Elders: the only other people with the title of Elder are the apostles and prophet and those were the people who walked and worked with Jesus when he was on this earth. We will have the opportunity to literally walk with Jesus even...

  Alex is set apart as a missionary and starts his 10 days of home MTC.

 Alex received his call to serve in the Philippines Baguio Mission speaking Tagalog, starting on Monday August 11, 2025.