The Long Awaited Week

We have been waiting and looking forward for so long to this week when family would come to the Philippines to see us. Finally they got here, Robin, Nicky, Todd and Lisa came.

We crammed as much as possible into those few short days. We started off with a horse drawn cart tour of the old Spanish fort in Manila

We visited the Bataan Death march camp at Capas

While at Capas there was a school there on a field trip with hundreds of students. They were more interested in us than they were in the memorial. They all wanted pictures with the Americans.

We also went to Nayon Philippino, a heritage park where they put on a show. Lucky Todd was chosen to learn the dance

Todd and Lisa brought nacho cheese and chili and we had a FHE with all the missionaries and served them nachos and chili dogs. That was a big hit.

We have a big house with plenty of room but not plenty of chairs but they don't care where they have to sit.

Our New Zealand Elders doing the hauka

It was a fun afternoon for all of us

The elders sharing a ride home!

Of course we had to experience a trike ride

We drove about 9 hours to see the famous terraced rice field in Baneau. It was a beautiful drive up a terrible winding road.

Nicky, Robin, Todd, and Lisa at a look out point along the way

President and Sister Javier agreed to accompany us as our driver and tour guides. It sure made for a more relaxing trip to have them with us. Such wonderful people.

The mountains were covered with terraced farming of all kinds

Just as we were reaching our destination the clouds moved in and covered our view of the rice terraces!

To add insult to injury we cut a tire in a rock and had to change it in the rain.

We spent the night at a hotel in Baguio and had a wonderful free breakfast there.
The next day we shopped and enjoyed Baguio. 

The last day we went to 100 islands park where we rented a boat and went out among the islands

And they swan and snorkeled

We had lunch on our own little private beach

It was a great week but went by all too fast and now we are alone again!

Cabanatuan

Before Elder and Sister Lutz went home, President Martino ask us to go spend a couple of days with them to become familiar with their area and the zones they do house checks in. As they drove around we met some of the members whom they have worked with and loved.

They live in the city of Cabanatuan which is flat and big rice fields but their area includes lots of mountainous areas

And also some ocean areas

While there we stopped to see the memorial of  Camp Pangatian where the WW11 prisoners of the Bataan march were held and eventually rescued

These two large stones are all that is left of the original camp

Wherever you go there are always some kids trying to help you and asking for money or candy. These two were so cute and were happy to have their picture taken.

Elder Moser in front of the monument

Two good friends sharing the moment.

Daily Activities

The father of one of our sweet families was killed in a motorcycle accident. After the funeral at the church they stopped at the company he worked for and had another short service.

Carrying the casket to the grave site.

They don't go to the church for the luncheon, they go to the home. People just took their plate and ate wherever they could. The two young ones in white shirts are Wilbur and Lorraine, his children and some of our favorites

Every transfer we have a FHE and lunch for all our zone missionaries.

We are up to 24 now but some were missing that day.

One of our great zone leaders Elder Continias

These men carry those 100 pound sacks of rice on their heads and then throw them up onto the trucks!

Me and LillyBeth scrubbing the tile in a bathroom trying to get it clean enough to move sisters into the house.

Lilly Beth has now earned enough pesos to turn her mission papers in.

Another 3 am bus ride to the temple with the district

We were on the bus with the SanClemente group. They are so good and we love them so much.

The district clerk Ronnie

The young adults toured the Manila MTC



We are not exactly Young adults but we were invited to speak to them.

At the end of the day we got to witness three families be sealed. Unfortunately this is the only one I got a picture of. That makes the 8 hours on a school bus all worth while.

Our missionaries acting out different scenes from the scriptures.

They were pretty inventive

Branch 4 had a farewell party for these two, Sister Naldoza on the left was being transferred after serving here for six months. The people really love her. Sister Juna was leaving home to serve her own mission.
Every day seems the same and yet every week holds many different and rewarding experiences.

Fabros Family at the temple

Gapultos Family temple sealing