Picture A Day

Day 93 - Friday, September 30, 2016 A lot of time was spent in the car today as we traveled to San Jose for Zone Interviews.  The rice harvest is in full-force so I'll share a few shots that I was able to get today.  There is an excitement in the air when it is harvest time.     Strong heads, shoulders and backs are necessary.  Huge bags of rice are transported on heads then onto the trucks. A carabao gets a ride to a far away field.  It almost looks like a statue.   A caravan of carabao on their way to fill their carts.   They are a mighty animal that fascinates many.  

Day 92 - Thursday, September 29, 2016 Here are two pictures that say a little bit about the Philippines.  To me they both symbolize really good ideas.  Not so great execution.  The truck is a wonderful expression of gratitude but proper English it isn't.  With the motor, you want to stay dry but an umbrella in the wind makes the motor pretty unstable.  Nonetheless, it all works in the Philippines.   And we love it!  

Day 91 - Wednesday, September 28, 2016 Sister and Elder Pugh reside in Camiling.  They have many duties and responsibilities. One of the projects they have voluntarily undertaken is getting the Family History Center up and running. They have taken a room that was once in shambles, cleaned it up, asked for and received another computer, decorated the room with beautiful artwork and made it a place fit for sacred labor - Family History Work.  The members love coming to index and look for members of their families to do temple work. They sacrificed their own time and resources to make this facility available to Camiling members.  What a blessing they are to our mission and all who are around them.  There really are angels among us.  

Day 90 - Tuesday, September 27, 2016 We are getting ready to receive another senior couple in our mission!  To prepare for this, we need to purchase some necessary appliances.  A queen size mattress and box springs, bed frame, stove, refrigerator, clothes washer plus a mother and baby as passengers arrived today in Guimba.  It arrived on 2 trikes that had traveled over 40 kms one way.  They did this all for P300 which is the equivalent of $6.20.  Simply amazing!   Alright Elder and Sister Spung!  Hurry up and get here!  Your house is almost ready.

Day 89 - Monday, September 26, 2016 We were thrilled to be part of Family Week with our Cabanatuan Stake members.  President Clark and I left Baler to "race" over to Cabanatuan where we spoke a wonderful group of Stake leaders, members and investigators about the Area goals for the year.  Some of the highlights was the beautiful choir and the congregation when asked to sing, "I Am a Child of God" and "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus."  The heavens broke through with pounding rain and bolts of lightning at the most appropriate statements that were being made.  It was an evening to remember.  I love that the Philippines celebrates such an important group of people ---- FAMILY!

Day 88 - Sunday, September 25, 2016 This beautiful sister was Sister Altea then became Mrs DeGuzman.  In December her name will be nanay to a handsome little son.  I love watching our returned missionaries doing great things and becoming even better than they were while on the mission.  

Day 87 - Saturday, September 24, 2016 The Day Dawn is Breaking.... Now the Day is Over! Our weekend in beautiful Baler was spent interviewing and being with our missionaries.  It confirms to us that they are definitely our heroes!

Day 86 - Friday, September 23, 2016 Every Friday evening before General Conference, many of our Returned Missionaries meet.  There are mission reunions all over the world at conference time.  President and Sister Martino are sponsoring this year's Philippines Angeles Mission Reunion.  Last year we sent a video saying hello.  This year they will get a photo.  They will be our missionaries now and forever.  Tandaan mo, mahal kita!      

Day 85 - Thursday, September 22, 2016 Every few months we are reminded how much we appreciate being able to work on, receive reports and communicate with family with the help of the internet.  It seems like every 3 months, especially around General Conference, our internet provider has a difficult time keeping the connection live. I know there is an analogy in that one!  It may delay the daily picture but I promise to catch up!

Day 84 - Wednesday, September 21, 2016 We are on the road for the next two weeks with Zone Interviews.  During my training, I've included two role plays.  Bongabon Zone is filled will wonderful Elders but no Sisters.  It was a tender mercy for the Dansie's to join Bongabon interviews.  Sister Dansie did a great job role playing Nellie.  

Day 83 - Tuesday, September 20, 2016 This fellow is outside in sweltering 90 degree heat.  He is about two feet from motorcycles, trikes, cars and trucks whizzing by.  His is an amazing feat of balance and exhaustion.  Maybe he has many small children at home and nights are long.

Day 82 - Monday, September 19, 2016 Today is this little sweetheart's birthday.  Teagan was our second grandchildren born while we were in the Philippines.  We met her in person while she was here for a week with her family.  Teagan is full of life and adventure.  Don't try to detour her from doing a difficult task, she will simply try it again with greater intensity.  Happy Birthday, sweet Teagan.   We sure love you!

Day 81 - Sunday, September 18, 2016 On this Sabbath Day, may we all work a little harder to do a little better that we all may have the faith to be October-blest!  #Hisday

Day 80 - Saturday, September 17, 2016 Not often do our schedules align to be able to enjoy dinner with the Whiting's. They do so much to keep our mission running in so many wonderful ways.  We even received a free cupcake for the occasion.  At the end of our meal, we were reminded how fragile life is. Just outside the door of the restaurant, there was an auto-pedestrian accident.  The man involved was the parking attendant at the restaurant.  As we saw him laying lifeless in the street and then taken away in an ambulance, the temporary nature of mortality was realized. 

Day 79 - Friday, September 16, 2016 As I recognized the beauty of the earth, I knew that my Heavenly Father loved me.                                                                                            ---- Elder Robert D. Hales

Day 78 - Thursday, September 15, 2016   20 Inspired Trainers + 20 Excited Trainees = A Perfect Match

Day 77 - Wednesday, September 14, 2016   They are finally here and they are awesome!!!!  ***20 new missionaries***

Day 76 - Tuesday, September 13, 2016 Before saying farewell to our departing batch, a tie exchange with Elder Southwick and President Clark takes place.  Looking good!

Day 75 - Monday, September 12, 2016   This is how our missionaries feel about serving the Lord faithfully.  They are armed with strength and testimony to continue their lives doing great things when they return home.  We will miss them!   (Sister Johnson is missing from this picture.  See returned home early for some family business.)

Day 74 - Sunday, September 11, 2016   This weekend President Clark presided at Guimba District Conference.  It was a wonderful two days of meetings.  The missionaries don't usually attend the Saturday evening meeting so seeing them on Sunday makes our hearts sing!  While President was in wrap up meetings, we took an opportunity to snap a few pictures of many of our missionaries in the Guimba Zone.  This is a double bonus to enjoy a conference to let all of the members know how much we love and appreciate our missionaries.  

Day 73 - Saturday, September 10, 2016 Another Mission Miracle!  Three months ago during a zone conference, President Clark took a mistep which left him with a broken metatarsal bone.  The doctors told us that is a difficult bone to heal.  The x-ray 6 weeks ago left us with an x-ray that the doctor reported, "the bone looks further apart then when it originally happened."  Our doctors told President Clark to have patience.  Yesterday President had another x-ray.  Our doctor said, "the healing has been remarkable!  It's not healed to the point of discarding the boot but the bone is looking great.  What this all means is 6 more weeks in the boot then a foot that's good as new.   We're grateful for another miracle in the mission and especially during October-blest.  

Day 72 - Friday, September 9, 2016 We have had a terrible cockroach infestation in our kitchen for awhile.  Luckily this isn't a product of that.  This is a fruit called rambutan.  The name is derived from "hair".  In Vietnam it is called chom chom, meaning messy hair because of the spines covering the fruit.   You peel this fruit and on the inside it some sweet, white fruit.  There is a pit inside of it.  It's actually not bad.  Since the mango aren't in season, we will branch out and be adventuresome.  

Day 71 - Thursday, September 8, 2016 We have lived here for over two years.  I've been wanting to go to the Capiz Factory since I arrived.  Today was the day!  The Spanish first used Capiz shells which are translucent, to make windows during the Sixteenth Century.  Capiz shells are harvested from the tropical waters of the South China Seas surrounding the Philippine Islands.  Each piece has been individually handcrafted by Filipino craftsman which makes each one unique. I have seen Capiz all over the Philippines and love it.  Seeing how each piece is individually cut and put together was even more amazing to me.  Sister Whiting and I had a hard time pulling ourselves away.  The workers were making many Christmas items to take to the Hong Kong Show next week.  We were able to snatch a few things and order more in the process.  This could be a very dangerous find!  We made sure missionary work was done in the process.  The owner told us a story about seeing our missionaries whi

Day 70 - Wednesday, September 7, 2016 Today was a triple delight!  We went around doing a little Zone Conference catch-up.  We ran out of time on during our first day of Zone Conferences held for the Camiling, Paniqui and Santa Ignacia Zones.  A very inspiring talk was not presented because of time restraints.  Who wouldn't love these wonderful smiles! #wherethefinestserve                                        Paniqui Zone                             Santa Ignacia Zone   Camiling Zone

Day 69 - Tuesday, September 6, 2016 This morning while on my walk/run, I saw this beautiful butterfly in the road.  It was barely moving.  The span of the wings was as large as my open hand.  Interestingly, I went home to research it and learn more about this species of butterfly.   I found that it's not a butterfly, it's an Atlas moth.  One of the largest moths in the world.  It reminds me of the scripture in Matthew 6:20-21 - Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt....For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.  This is a good reminder to keep our hearts and minds focused on the important things of this life.

Day 68 - Monday, September 5, 2016 In our area of the Philippines, the most popular form of transportation is the trike (tricycle).  Trikes are built with a sidecar affixed to an imported motorcycle.  Many people will run a business from their trike. One is just being a taxi service getting people from place to place. Another example is the basket trike above.  I haven't been able to get a picture that does a basket trike justice.  Sister Whiting took the one above and I just love it.  While I was in Cebu for the MP Seminar, we went to a little shop where I found my very own carabao driven basket vehicle.  I love this so much that I have it sitting on our dining room table.  I can't imagine the time that was taken to weave those tiny baskets but I'm sure glad that someone did.      

Day 67 - Sunday, September 4, 2016 The other day, President Clark and I went to a missionary's apartment in Guimba.  We were driving down a narrow dirt road looking for a place to turn around.  As we rounded the corner, we saw a long and narrow livery where cows laid their weary bodies.   It is the beginning of the Christmas season in the Philippines.  We heard and sang Christmas hymns today at church.  My thoughts went to this livery and I wondered how different the livery was so many, many years ago.  Not only cows but sheep and donkeys possibly hovered over the sweet little Christ child who was born in their territory.  "And she brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger." This sweet and somewhat smelly scene that we found as we traveled home from Guimba, is a gentle early season reminder of that night long, long ago when the Son of God was born, even Jesus.  It is Him whom we strive to be like.  It is Hi

Day 66 - Saturday, September 3, 2016 Still shopping at Jollibee.  Despite last Saturday's french fry fiasco, we placed another order today to feed the Priesthood leaders at our second training meeting in Camiling.  All was delivered on time with a complete order.  Thank you, Jollibee.  

Day 65 - Friday, September 2, 2016 Every mission dreams of having angels that assist the missionaries.  These angels can come in the form of senior couples!  When seniors heed the call to serve, leave their homes and families for 12, 18 or 24 months, they bless the lives of hundreds!  That is what these wonderful senior couples do in the Angeles Mission.  We are blessed right now with three senior couples, Pugh's, Whiting's & Dansie's.  Next month we will eagerly receive another, the Spung's.  Our young missionaries learn from and love these seniors who are very able to help them one on one. Yesterday President Clark and I had a wonderful morning with the seniors.  Sister Lopez prepared a most delicious lunch.  Later most of us, sans President Clark, drove to San Fernando to S&R.  Finding simple pleasures like real milk was a great way to end the day!    

Day 64 - Thursday, September 1, 2016   Today is the day many of our holiday loving friends get so excited for.  It's time to celebrate Christmas!  Holiday music EVERYWHERE.  Filipino's start buying and putting Christmas decorations on their own homes or in the office.  Don't worry, the mission home doesn't put their decorations up until October!  I'm still not sure what to do to keep jumping frogs out of our garland at the front door.  Many homes will forego lights inside to be able to string lights up outside and turn them on to celebrate Christmas.  It's a joyful 1/3 of the year.