Transfer 3/25/15, Then Manila 3/27/15, Then Tanza 3/28/15.

Transfers happen every 6 weeks. March 25 was transfer day for us. A lot of what we do is to prepare for the transfer. Missionaries are moving around, missionaries are going home because their mission is over and new missionaries are arriving at the mission. So getting everyone where they need to go when they need to be there with what they need to have when they get there is a big part of what we all do. I did not get many photos transfer day. Too much going on. It is a very busy day for everyone. 

Our new missionaries with President and Sister Tye. All are from the Philippines except one.

The missionaries are always glad to see each other. When they do get together they sort of forget about taking care of business in the excitement of it all. Some times things get left behind, like suitcases. It all works out in the end. Next transfer, May 6th. Already working on it.

Friday, March 27th, Sister Petersen and I went to the Manila Temple, the Manila MTC, and the LDS Distrbution Cencer in Manila. We needed to take care of some business at each place.

More photos of the Temple area.

This is a beautiful Temple. And right now, it is our Temple.

This last photo was taken from the MTC Manila area. It is also where the Area Offices are located as well as the LDS Distrabution center.

We met some of the missionaries who were staying here at the MTC. One little Sister was from Las Vegas, maybe Ryan's Stake. I did not write her name down. I was sure I would remember it. We also met two very impressive Elders, one from Austraila and the other from New Zealand. Can not remember their names either. I have been told that I have something wrong with my memory, but I do not remember what it was.

Tomorrow, Sunday March 29th we, along with two other Senior Missionary couples,  will be doing a fireside for the members of the two branches that neet in this building. We came here today to help prepare for this fireside. I am excited to do this.

The following are some photos of some people from this area. 

Washing cloths by hand. From the amount of cloths hanging in her yard, I think this woman does this washing to earn money. We were told that she spends many hours doing this.  I respect this people for their work ethics. 

The young missionaries also wash their cloths this way, by hand. Us older missionaries have washing machines. Very greatful for that.

I thing I might get one of these "washing machines" shone in the photo for each of my granddaughters. Just thinking.

Some of the local missionaries.

Sometimes in the morning we can smell smoke. I know the farmers burn the fields. This Could be what we are smelling. Or, it could be burning trash.

Watering by hand. We are in the dry season. There has not been much rain since we arived in the Philippines. That will change soon, or so I am told. The people work very hard to earn a living. Again, I respect them for this. 

Two of our families sent a photo of their family along with a testimony. These were attached to the front of books that will be handed out in the fireside. Thank you for doing this.

Love you guys.

Naic District Conference held 3-15-15

Today was Stake Concerence for the Bacoor Stake. We live in this stake and were recruited to sing in the choir for the Saturday evening session. It was a wonderful conferance. The leadership in the stake is really good, and it is full of really strong Members.

Last week we traveled to Naic to attend a the Naic District Conference. We are going to start visiting the branches in our mission more, so this was a chance to be with them all.

There are 5 Stakes and 1 District in our mission. For those who do not know, a District is a geographical area like a Stake is. However, a Districe is not yet strong enought to be a Stake. The Mission President is also the District President. He has two councilors in the District Presidency who will help him run the District. There are no wards in a District, only branches. A branch is usually a smaller version of a Ward, although it appears that some of the branches in the Naic District are big, and possibly ready to be wards. The Church has some criteria for a District to become a Stake. I will not go into that here, but it is my opinion that the Naic District is getting close.

The Area President, who is also a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, was in attendance. His name is Elder Arden (hope I spelled that right). He is from New Zealand and has a really cool New Zealand acent.

From all I can tell, he has chalanged the District Leadership to become a Stake by next year. This is going to be fun to watch. When the Cavite Mission was organized about a year and a half ago, there were two districts in the mission. One of those has already become a Stake. 

There are 8 branches in the Naic District.

Sister Petersen and I gave ourselves plenty of time to get to The Naic chapel. You never know about traffic in the Philippines. We got there 45 minutes early. The building was almost full. And this is not a small building. President Tye got up and asked all the missionaries who were not there with someone to come to the front to make room for others. So we were setting on the stand. We could see all the people. The Priesthood were setting up chairs throuout the entire meeting. There were chairs everywhere there  was room for chairs. The building was full to say the least.

We are not to take pitchers in the Chaple, but I wished I could have. I was looking out over a sea of people with black hair and beautiful brown faces. And the light in their eyes. It was wonderful. These are wonderful people. It makes my heart glad. The future of the Church is bright in the Philippines. 

Some photos of people leaving the Conference. Notice the different modes of transportation. 

Naic building

Going home

I thought these two kids were just setting on top until they were ready to leave. No!

All the way home.

Americans can learn some valuable lessons from the Philippines. All of our regulations do not make us near as happy as these folk are. 

Mission Tour 3-17-2015

Last week, March 10, 11 & 12' we had an member of the First Quorum of he Seventy come and tour our mission for three days. His name is Elder Echo Hawk. Yes, Elder Echo Hawk. He is of American Indian blood, the Pawnee tribe. What's a interesting man. He joined the church as a teenager. He also played football at BYU. He taught law at BYU, and was also asked to head an agency for the federal government. He showed us some photos of himself and his family. As a young man he looked like an American Indian, very dark skinned with black hair. He told us he had become lighter as he got older. He really could pass for a white man. Those who know of the promise will know what happened here.

He is also part of the Area Presidency over the Philippines, which includes the 21 missions here.

Elder Echo Hawk is the one on the left. He is standing by his wife, who is also a convert. The other couple is Elder and Sister Tye, our Mission President.

There were two Missionary meetings during this tour, half of the missionaries one day and the other half the next day. Sister Petersen and I were at both because of things we were doing to help. Sister Petersen took photos at both. I helped where I could. Elder Echo Hawk asked me to play prelude music with one of my flutes on the second day. Fun, but a little frightening. 

Day one. The camera was on a timer. That is why Sister Petersen is in the photo. I actually got to see her run.

Day two. I love all of these young missionaries.

Elder Echo Hawk told us that he was working in the missionary committee in Salt Lake City when the missionary age change happened. He knew the announcement was going to be made, but he could not say anything to anyone including his wife. He said that the committee was working fast and hard to prepare for the change. Our mission is a result of this change. He gave these numbers. There were 2019 missionaries in the Philippines in October, 2012 when the age change was announced. As of January 1, 2015, there were 4793 missionaries. Big increase. At that time, there were 1805 Philipino missionaries working in the Philippines. As of January 1, 2015, there were 3223 Philipino missionaries, and they are wonderful people. I really love this people. I did the math and 67% of the missionaries working in the Philippines are Philipno. And not all of the Philipinos stay in the Philippines. I was looking at the missionary roster for one of the Stskes here. Some were assigned to other areas of the world. One was even in the Las Vegas Mission. One last number that I remember, Elder Holand has projected that by 2019 there will be 100,000 missionaries serving for the Lord. Hope I remember all of this correctly.

Some other photos of this mission tour.

D

Going into the meeting. Taking the opportunity to shake hands with Elder Echo Hawk.

Mission Home 3/13/2015

We have been here almost 2 months and have not had a chance to see the mission home yet. We got that chance today. The mission homes around the world are usually very nice, and this one is no exception. We also got yo spend some time with our Mission President't wife. She is a remarkable woman. We really like her. She gave us the tour. Here are some of the pictured I took while there.

More everyday life 3-7-2015

I say a lot about traffic here. It is a big part of our daily life. Traffic in Las Vegas is boring. So organized. Nothing to spike your adrinalin, like seeing cars coming at you in all the lanes on the road. White lines are for decoration only, and the government does not put up stop signs. It would be a total waste of tax payers dollars. 

This is one of my favorites.....

I do not take many pictures while we drive because it is hard to do so from the fetal position. 

This is a "Fish Spa". There are lots of them here. People actually put their feet in fish tanks filled with fish, baby Paranna I think, and let them gnaw the goobers of their feet.

Who in their right mind would do this?

It feels like little electrical shocks. Do not think this will happen again.

This is our office...

It was the old church house. Woüld be way, way to small now.

We were invited out to a member's house to eat. Our first, and hopefully not our last. What a great experience. This people is really a great people.

Helping teach an English class. The people really want to learn English. It means a better job for them