Here we are again & apologies for missing last week. We had to travel again to work on apartments for the upcoming mission split just about every second of our day was scheduled! We were on the Island of Negros which was having water shortages AND serious brown/blackouts. After the lights went out 5-6 yimrd, I gave up on the blog last Sunday! We are super busy relocating young missionaries AND some “old” missionaries in time for the July 1st change & in the meantime. Additionally, we had a special mission tour with a General Area Seventy (someone assigned as a world-wide missionary or emissary of Jesus Christ see Luke10:1&17). Elder & Sister Choi from Korea and assigned to Southeast Asia. We spent a day with him and his wife and talked about many topics of interest to missionary aged people … which is just about everyone! He and his wife stood side by side many times during the day and taught together with object lessons, humorous and serious stories making us laugh and cry! They are wonderful, inspiring, and talked about “opening our mouths” to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Elder Choi gave a talk in the October 23 General Conference and here is the reference if you want to listen to it – VERY positive! Do You Want to Be Happy?(churchofjesuschrist.org)
With all those wonderful meetings, we also had our cyclical 6-week transfer AND found time work on apartment contracts and supply missionaries with things they need for their apartments. We even sprung two different missionaries from local hospitals! On “transfer call day” 200 missionaries call in for a zoom meeting and faithfully listen to what their next teaching assignment will be. Sometimes it means moving to another island. Often it just means a new companion (everyone serves in companionships of two missionaries; never alone) and a new apartment. It is fun to watch their reactions and then we all buckle up and help them move around the mission areas. That cycle also includes sending missionaries home after completing their 18-24 months mission (at their own expense for those that are not members of our church; they pay their own way to talk about our savior and share His good news and do community service for that entire period). They live in very humble circumstances and live right in the same neighborhoods with the people they serve AND…. learn to speak the local language. It’s impressive to see their dedication, growth, and work ethic. After all of that, new missionaries come from all over the world to replace those that left. This time we welcomed Filipinos, New Zealanders, & Samoans.
Today is Mother’s Day and I am wishing all of you mothers or wanna-be mothers, ESPECIALLY the mothers who are watching from Heaven AND… the mothers who are sacrificing right along with their sons and daughters as they share them with the world while serving missions. The day has been wonderful! I heard from all my children and multiple missionaries sent us sweet messages thanking us for being surrogate Moms while they are far away from home. We also went out with just a few other missionaries and enjoyed a lovely Mothers-day dinner.
BELOW: Bad hair day BUT... lovely Mother's Day meal. I am always trying new food to experience the culture of the Philippines. I haven't had the courage to try balut yet but...This is a common item here and I finally tried it ... chicken feet! Not one of my favorite new foods.
The weather is SUPER hot! All of us are dripping with sweat almost constantly and because of El Nino and the way they handle water here, the islands struggle with water supplies. Many homes go days without water because of dried up wells, bad water pumps etc. It is challenging for the regular young missionaries and many families that live here. We see beautiful cumulous clouds building .... but there hasn’t been any rain for weeks now and the predictions are that the heat will continue WITHOUT steady rain well into June. The locals tell us this is an exceptionally hot, dry summer and is challenging many with health issues. This is my first experience living in a tropical PARADISE, with gorgeous turquoise water all around and NO rain!! We are going to hang in there and help where we can and try to smile through it all.
A few fun pictures to finish off this entry. Another GREAT couple of weeks and we are often exhausted but happy doing the work we do and interacting with the AMAZING Filipino people!
BELOW 3 Pictures: these pictures are an example of something small villages do very commonly here. The first is a lane full of homemade umbrellas that look like jelly fish! The next couple are lanes made of flowers. What I LOVE about these decorations is that they are made out of recycled stuff... lots of plastic from soda bottles etc. They are very colorful and artistic, and I wish the photos captured that better. But it is VERY fun!
This next one BELOW: is a classic example of something we see every single day! I have even seen little tiny 3-4 year old children copying their parents and carrying items on their heads. It is pretty impressive, and I have seen some tiny people carry REALLY big things on their heads! This is one of those behaviors that surprised me when we got here.
Below is a quick picture of a farewell dinner for one of our VERY FAVORITE elders! I have to meet his Mamma someday! Elder Tyler Zayas. An amazing young man and a born leader. Around the table starting behind Elder Zayas are elders Ardon, and McLoughlin, Sis Teikabua (from Kiribati) Sis Wendy Beesley (our secretary), Roy and I, our Doctor Elder Heath and Sis Heath who belong in our family! Absolutely LOVE these folks!
BELOW: Elders Tyler Zayas (returning home early tomorrow) & Abiera and the lights of Cebu City behind them!
And OMG; some of our favorite elders posing with their bad-boy, Cool looks. From left to right Prince Brigham Espinoza (I call him Baby Bear & love, love, love him!), Elders Bago(Philippines) and Christofferson(US). Back row right to left: Elders Kenney (US), Wong(HI), Rorani(AUS), Hansen(US) & Tamayo(Philippines)
OK.. signing off. We love our work and the Philippines, but we also love and miss our friends, neighbors, home ward in Los Alamos, and of course our family !
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