We have been in the Philippines on July 12th last year. It was in the middle of the rainy season, but I do not remember having as much rain last year as we have had this year. It rains every day multiple times. On Wednesday a group of sister missionaries begged me for a ride home (as they often do). This time seemed a little more legitimate because it looked as though rain was imminent. On the way to their apartment, as often happens on these little excursions, we took a detour so that they could get something to eat. The rain started just about the time they left the truck to go into the restaurant. My job was to circle around the block a time or two until they came out. The rain came in "sheets"...I am sure we have all heard this expression. However, this was legitimate. I have never experienced rain like this. I was traveling slow 20-25kph with the wipers on as fast as they would go and I still could not see through the windshield or any of the windows. The rather large buildings (20 stories tall and less than 100ft away) looked like they might look if you were looking at them under water in a pool. It rained more than 5 inches in one hour. All of the streets were flooded with many vehicles stopped because they could not see or failure because of the flooding. Very fun!
Also, next month will be the start of the "Ber" months. This is SeptemBER, Octo monBER, NovemBER, DecemBER. They really do call them the Ber months and it is the beginning of the Christmas holiday season. Yes, it starts here in September and is in full swing for 4 months and into January. They also do not get all of the Christmas decorations taken down until well into May!
It is not clear if Nina mentioned in the blog last week that we sent 23 missionaries home this week on transfer week and only 6 came to replace them. Now that we have been here a while, every missionary we send home (whether to the States, Philippines or the Islands) we know them much better and have relationships with them. This makes it all that much harder to let them go. Several have maintained communications with us since returning home. One of my favorite up to now, Elder Sayson from Luzon, just messaged earlier in the week to say he is finally engaged! I just fell in love with this Elder. He worked in the office for several months as the finance secretary. He is less than 5ft tall and his future wife is even shorter! (see photo below).
Since the mission split and with the last transfer that reduces our number of missionaries to around 120. It was 220 when we arrived last year. Even though there are fewer missionaries the fact that the mission now extends from all the absolute north of the Cebu island to the absolute south makes it a huge traveling issue with8 it taking as much as 8 hours to drive. It may have been mentioned that the area we are currently assigned to (but have not yet moved to) is at the absolute north of the island. We are excited about our new assignment to work there we just need to find the right place to live.
Yesterday we took a senior couple to the airport at 4:00A. They are headed home because his mother died. He is the oldest and the rest of his family seems semi-functional. He is afraid if he does not return to manage things that he will regret not going when he has to clean up the mess made by others. The Webbs were supposed to go home just before Thanksgiving. After we dropped them off, we tried to go back to sleep but were awakened again by the bed shaking. It always starts off with, "are you shaking the bed." And then, "stop shaking the bed!" Then you realize you are experiencing the outer rings of an earthquake. As typical this one was again centered just off the coast of Mandaue.
This mission has been one of the most enriching experiences of my life. Not an easy experience but fun and rewarding. However, it remains to be seen if we will serve another foreign mission. This has been very hard on Nina. Please do not misunderstand, she has enjoyed every moment as well. It is just the things she is missing at home that causes pause.
Our mission president and his wife have 3 dogs all named after cars; Porche and Cooper are still at their home in Luzon. This is Dodge (pronounced Duj) with his winning vault.
A bunch of office Elders at dinner with us at the Prestigio. We really do not have this many missionaries in the office some of them are headed home.
This is Elder Harvey (left), Sister Carillo, and Elder Hale (6'-8") at orientation since Elder Hale just came out this week.
This is Elder and Sister Webb at the airport at 4:30A yesterday on their way home.
This is the Labangon Sisters we took dinner to eating Nina's pasta and brownies.
This is Elder Sayson and his bride to be. One of my favorite Elders of all time. If his wedding is in April as planned...we plan to attend in Luzon somewhere.
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