A sneak peek of our new house (More to come)

Back in January of this year, we were traveling with a member of the area presidency and his wife who asked to see our apartment.  We laughed and didn’t really think he was serious until he stated again he would like to see our living arrangements.  He reminded us that he often visited missionary housing, so George dutifully drove up to our apartment and said, well there it is.  He then asked to see inside and we looked at each other and opened the gate and showed him the main floor which took him into the living room and kitchen area and a small bathroom on the main floor.  We started to leave, when he said he wanted to see upstairs.  So we went up the 14 steps and showed him our bedroom and bathroom.  We were then told, our housing was not acceptable for couple housing and we were asked to find a new place.  We appreciate them taking the time to look out for the needs of the missionaries (including us).

We found a lovely house owned by a Filipino couple who moved to the U.S., and they rented it to us through their niece, a wonderful woman nicknamed Zucen (pronounced Suzanne).  It is modern and in a very nice area.  It had been empty since their couple’s departure a year earlier, so much work had to be done to remove personal items, remove uninvited guests of the insect and gecko variety, and make sure everything worked.  It worked out very nicely so President and Sister Ferrin could move in for a little over a month while the Mission Home was renovated for the new mission president.

Loading up suff for our move

Fast forward to Tuesday, April 7, 2015: the Ferrin’s had moved out on Monday and we moved in!  Although we arrived with only four large suitcases in the Philippines, because we have acquired so much stuff to make life more comfortable including our bed, etc. it took three truck loads.  By the end of the day, everything was put away.

'Old' Apartment

'Old' Apartment

 

Missionaries moving into our 'old' apartment; Elders Agbuya, Adao, Esponilla, Busselberg, and 'Pinky'

Our former apartment became a home to four excited Elders who called a few times on Tuesday, to see if we had finished moving out yet so they could move in.  I think they liked the idea of having a spinner washer and an air conditioned bedroom (won’t last for long :-(.

Jeepneys parked at the Stake Center waiting to pickup youth

Youth at town square waiting for dance event

Flash mob dance :-)

On Thursday George received a text indicating the South Bacolod Stake was going to have a flash mob dance at the town square with over 200 youth.  They had been involved in a youth conference and as a service project they were cleaning up the very busy park.  President and Sister Ferrin joined us as we traveled to the town square in Bacolod.  Garbage is interesting here if you have a wrapper most people just drop it; garbage cans are hard to find here.

When we arrived the youth were sweeping and cleaning up the square

and then the music started.  The louder the better here for music and the entire group joined in a choreographed dance.  It was fun, and we were so proud of them; dancing with their Mormon helping hands vests on. 

Sister Ferrin and Karen with their flowers

You can’t go to the town square without buying flowers.  I decided to leave mine at work.  The next morning, there were ants everywhere.

Although General Conference was last week in the U.S., because of the time zone differences, Conference is replayed in the Philippines this weekend.  We have enjoyed a quiet few days watching and listening to General Conference!