Day 274 - Friday, March 31, 2017 Tarlac Zone missionaries during the Zone Conference sing beautifully, "Search, Ponder & Pray."
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Day 271 - Tuesday, March 28, 2017 These sisters are assigned to proselyte at a university in Muñoz. With the help of a wonderful members all of the missionaries in the area, they provided information with great displays for every person who would accept their invitation. The CLSU open house had 6 different stations. It was a wonderful success. Hundreds of people stopped to see what the Mormons are all about.
Day 269 - Sunday, March 26, 2017 The Sabbath found us visit one of our favorite little branches, Dipaculao in Baler. Last December President Garino and his wife moved to Manila? Well he returned and was called as Branch President of Dipaculao again. It was a joyful reunion. The sisters in the branch sang today with their special necklaces they made during a Relief Society activity. They shared one with President and I to remember them. It was a great Sabbath in our distant "end of the row" portion of our mission heaven. #Hisday
Day 268 - Saturday, March 25, 2017 - 2nd After leaving Guimba we drove to Baler. We had interviews with these great missionaries. Since we took them into their dinner hour, we decided to treat them at the Costa Pacifica. Needless to say, they were quite delighted. After dinner we got a shot by the ocean but it was too dark to see the water behind. We were able to get them out early enough to make their reminder visits to get investigators to Church in the morning. We are grateful to be working alongside such wonderful servants!
Day 268 - Saturday, March 25, 2017 A Relief Society Birthday Celebration took place in the Guimba District. Sister Spung and I participated in this celebration. We both presented during the hour long opening of the event. The second half of the celebration included cultural dances, songs, food and entertainment. President Clark and I left early to get to Baler but we were grateful to have participated with these elect sisters.
Day 267 - Friday, March 24, 2017 During our upcoming Zone Conference, our missionaries will bring their 72-hour kits along. Each kit will be inspected and completely stocked. Our senior couples have spent hours leading this effort. Elder and Sister Richards did a dry run to see how long it would take to go through the kits. This included checking expiration dates and verifying all contents. The efforts of our senior couples will allow our missionaries to be prepared if needed.
Day 266 - Thursday, March 23, 2017 This guwapo little guy is one of the first children I met when I arrived in the Philippines. Josh was nearly 3 years younger at the time. Even thought I didn't see him for about 6 months at a time, he would run up and greet me with an adorable grin. Look at those eyes. They leak light! In January we had a District Conference in Josn's area. I had a pretty difficult time saying goodbye to him. He promised me that he would go on a mission when he was a few years old. Imagine my shock and awe when I walked into the hallway after interviews in Cabanatuan and heard a very familiar voice say, "Hi Sister Clark!" I knew at that moment why I had two extra cookies. They were for Josh and his dad. Having a Josh sighting made a great day even better!
Day 265 - Wednesday, March 22, 2017 We had our Zone Interviews in Camiling. This was a zone where we visited each of the houses. In the middle of our interviews, we stopped for some interviews with President Clark. This is a picture with two sisters that are going on missions. They were able to receive a temple recommend. The wiser (and a bit older) sister came for a temple recommend interview as well. This sister is armed with an umbrella for very good reason. The weather in the Philippines right now is HOT! Today was about 106 degrees real feel. This cute lady walks everywhere she goes. To walk to the church is over 2 km's. When she walked in she looked fresher than me. I had been in warm homes of our missionaries just sitting and looked like a drenched rat. This sister walked in after her walk and looked as fresh and cute as could be. The Branch President was here to make sure the tagalog and english team worked properly. President Clark is a pro at giving th
Day 264 - Tuesday, March 21, 2017 When we were called to serve, both President Clark and I had parents who were aging. Despite our inability to return home if anything happened to our parents, we were given the blessing of each of them to serve for three years in the Philippines. They didn't want us to be any place else at this time in our lives. President Clark's mother passed from this earthly life 6 months after we arrived in the Philippines. How we miss her. His father is now 95 and being cared for by wonderful siblings who are with him 24/7. My parents were pretty healthy when we left. That has changed quite significantly in the past six months. Every time we call, our parents tell us how grateful they are that we can be in the Philippines serving. We couldn't do what we do without the assistance of our siblings who are taking a huge roll in their health care. How grateful we are for our children, grandchildren and especially our siblings who have served
Day 262 - Sunday, March 19, 2017 President Clark and I enjoyed a beautiful Sabbath day in Dingalan Bay. Some would say that this little Branch is at the end of the row. The ocean is just a few kilometers from the doors of this building. We were truly filled with the Spirit as we sat in sacrament meeting with this little band of saints. As I stood to share my testimony, I felt an overwhelming love for the beauties of the earth that we traveled through this early morning and the wonderful people that in that meeting. Oh how I love the Filipino people and the gospel of Jesus Christ! President Pronto has been the Branch President of Dingalan Bay for some time now. I loved watching as he read all of the important information that needed to be conveyed during the meeting from his agenda book. What a history there would be combing through the pages of that book. We love President and Sister Pronto. Below are some of the sights as we traveled through this beautiful land
Day 261 - Saturday, March 18, 2017 Today there was a CCM - Coordinating Council Meeting at the office. This consists of all Stake and District Presidents and Elder Babida, our Area Seventy. Today the task was to discuss the new process of obtaining Church buildings. The FM department had 6 people who presented the information. It is always good to see our Stake and District Presidents. Philippines Angeles Mission Presidency: President Tabelisma (2nd Counselor), President Clark, President Cruz (1st Counselor) Without these wonderful counselors, President Clark could not complete all of the important tasks that go on in a mission. There are no words to express our gratitude!
Day 260 - Friday, March 17, 2017 Today during our Paniqui interviews, I saw a sweet and most tender gesture when I asked these two Elders about their Book of Mormon. They both removed the books from their bag revealing a cloth wrapping to protect the books. The Book of Mormon is a priceless book that they do not wish to tarnish. They recognize the treasure that the Book of Mormon is. After each missionary shares a scripture from the Book of Mormon with me, I give them a small, shiny heart. I tell them it represents two things....I love the scripture they shared and I love them. I share a heart with the missionaries once or twice a year. They love collecting their little remembrance of our conversation and love.
Day 259 - Thursday, March 16, 2017 Today we had interviews in the Santa Ignacia Zone. Each week we take one day to visit each house in one appointed zone. The rest of the interviews are done at the church buildings. The zone we visited today was a "bukid" area (farming). The following pictures are a very familiar site as we travel about. Walking down a path with various animals is never a surprise. Laundry hangs everywhere. Our missionaries clean up nicely when they find out that we are visiting. I always ask if their house always looks like this or if they cleaned especially for us. A large grin is generally the answer. Love our missionaries!
Day 258 - Wednesday, March 15, 2017 Today we had interviews in Guimba. As we drove , the fields of rice are being harvested everywhere! This allows us to see my favorite animal here in the Philippines, the carabao. The carabao is like the water buffalo. It is the Philippines national animal. It symbolizes strength, power, efficiency, perseverance and most of all, hard-work. It’s more than just a farmer’s helper in the field. It is the alternative to a tractor, never complains and is always at the “mercy” of its master. It is often referred to “beast of burden” and is also the “filipino’s best friend.” I am fascinated by this gentle giant of the road. Once when we had a typhoon, we heard of two farmers who lost their lives. They went to help their carabao get to high ground and in the process lost their own lives while their carabao were spared. They are a very beloved animal and I can definitely see why.
Day 255 - Sunday, March 12, 2017 As the sun sets on this beautiful Sabbath day, I am reminded of this quote by Elder Quentin L. Cook, "Keeping the Sabbath Day holy is a refuge from the storms of this life." We had a beautiful Stake Conference in Angeles Stake. The music sung by different ward choirs throughout the meeting was inspiring. The talks reminded us to have gratitude and grow our wards, how we can better ourselves through going to the temple, serving others, studying always the Book of Mormon, having gospel sharing homes, continuing to grow and do better today than yesterday. Just the boost we all needed to have a great week ahead. It was nice to meet Elder Ferdinand Pangan an Area Seventy. The Priesthood meeting was held at 8 a.m. Everyone comes together so that means the sisters are able to enjoy the company of one another. MANY photos are taken. It was wonderful meeting with the Angeles saints today!