Missionaries at work

Thursdays are service day and sometimes there is a project where the whole zone participates together

This week we went to a school to help them get ready for the start of the new school year

They swept the yard to clean up all the leaves and trash

Some did pruning and repairs. They really used Dads expertise on repairing some things

Some of us cleaned classrooms. The staff was very appreciative.

A couple of days later we were able to join in a baptism at Birbira with Elder Clark and Elder Servantia

And another one at Camiling 1st Branch with Sister Gala and Sister Tauiliili. We have such good missionaries here and they all are such hard workers.

Youth Activities

The youth here amaze us with their willingness and excitement to participate in activities. On May 25 they had a cultural activity where each branch did a skit from the stories of the Book of Mormon. They were wonderfully done with such simple costumes and scenery. The cultural hall was jam packed and I think every one of them participated.

After their Book of Mormon skits each branch did a talent performance as well. Unfortunately we took all video and this is the only still picture I have. But there was some really good performances

On May 28 about 175 kids from our district loaded on buses for their youth conference.

It was held at a resort about an hours drive from here. It was a really nice place

The kids are so respectful and well mannered

Of course it started off with games!

Each team had to dress a bride and groom with newspapers

They had to see which team could stack all the shoes from their team in a pile that wouldn't collapse

The resort served plenty of good food and of course like teenagers every where they loved it!

There was a dance scheduled for that night but we had to go home. These girls are at Dad's window begging him to stay.

Birbira Temple Trip

We got to go to the temple with the Birbira Branch. At 2am we loaded onto a bus like a school bus

After a 3 plus hour ride we arrived at the beautiful Manila Temple

There we were able to witness the sealing of this family

And this family

And also this couple. Sadly they had three children with them to be sealed to them and then found out their was a problem with paper work and the children were not able to be sealed! It was very sad. We talked to Brother and Sister Simon today and they are hoping to be able to go back next month and complete this sealing.

We had a large group that went but we were split into two groups for the sealings and I never did get a group picture of everyone before they had changed back into their street clothes.

Some of the sisters and President Pascual, he was the branch president for eleven years.

Day at the beach

Camiling 1st branch had a branch activity at the beach and ask us to come along. It was fun, our first time to see the ocean since coming here. It's not far but it is out of our mission area

President Fabros with his mother and some of the branch ladies

This sweet girl is a widow whose husband was only 25 and a bishop and died suddenly of a heart attack or something. She is amazing, all the things she does.

Just to prove we really were there!

We rode on these boats out to a small island that had an underwater cave

They cooked fish and oysters

This is not what I thought oysters looked like

Chopping at the shell to find the several oysters in each one

Fun members of the branch

Zone Lunch

It's been awhile since we had all the zone missionaries for dinner but we did it again a couple of weeks ago.

After the meal we made homemade ice cream in baggies.
 

Some of them really got into the shaking part!

Of course there can be no get together without some games

These guys seem to enjoy them

Birthday/ farewell cake

All too soon several of these will be transfered