Carabao and working along the national highway today carrying a heavy load

Yesterday I watched for a short time the fence being built across the street.  They mix the mortar by hand, put it in a small bucket and carry one bucket at a time to the block guy who is building the fence.  It’s a slow, tedious process, but the nearly finished product looks good and they are such hard workers.

Block wall going up across the street

Trees planted by the owner of our house

Our neighbor Orlando told us that for this neighborhood, if you have purchased a lot but are not using it, others can use it.  The owner of our house planted many tropical trees and plants across the street.  Someone came and carefully dug up several of the small palms yesterday; they carried them off in their sikad (a bicycle with a side cab).  I guess they need them for their yard or someone else.   The truck we drive is parked on another empty lot across from the house; the owner cleared an area and put up a tent for the truck.  Unfortunately many of the neighborhood cats also like the tent.  Other neighbors have planted a variety of fruit trees on empty lots that are producing interesting fruits.

Our truck parked under a canopy

Beautiful countryside and looming dark clouds on the horizon

After Church, we parked along the ocean to enjoy the beautiful view

It is now May and the dry season has officially ended.  We did have a few dry months with only occasional rain.  Since May 1^st, we have had scattered rain showers every day.  Today we stopped in Victorias to visit a missionary.  A heavy rain came and even with two umbrellas, we were drenched!

Hey, nobody can see me--I'm hiding behind this ornament!

We have a couple of tokay geckos hanging around.  One lives by the front door.  We eye each other cautiously daily.  It is green with orange spots.  I love to hear their call. .  . too ko, too ko, too ko.  It starts out strong and slowly fades away.  When we first arrived in the Philippines, I thought I was hearing the neighbor’s alarm clock.

President Ferrin came over to the office a few days ago from a training meeting he was leading in the chapel with an urgent look on his face.  He said he received a call from a Branch President who said a returning missionary had been waiting at the airport for 4-hours waiting for someone to pick him up.  George rushed to the airport and picked up Elder Manalingan, an amazing young man who was returning from Ghana.  He had some wonderful stories of faith from his mission.  He served a great mission and was happy to be coming home and meet his mother and sister who were waiting by the chapel for him.  Apparently there was a miscommunication with the Ghana Mission, but the Elder took it in good stride.  President Ferrin released him and it was apparent he was happy to be with his loved ones.

Last night we attended a baptism as we often do.  I love the song we sang, “Families Can Be Together Forever” and it was so appropriate.  A couple of months ago an 11 year old girl was baptized and several weeks ago her dad was baptized.  Last night the dad baptized his wife and mother of the 11 year old girl.  The two older brothers also have baptism dates over the next few weeks.  The youngest daughter around 5 years old with a warm pink knitted hat on, was quite interested watching her mom be baptized.  Following the baptism, the newly baptized sister glowed as she shared her testimony.  George and I could feel of her spirit as she didn’t speak a word in English.

Today it was great to return to Old Sagay and attend Church.  It was great in that we traveled North and hadn’t for a while; it was good to see beautiful lush terrain and many of my favorite animals in the Philippines, the carabao.  The missionaries are solid in this area and the ward loves them.  We had a special treat seeing a former Bacolod sister missionary who was recently married in the Temple and is now living in Cadiz where her husband has a job as a teacher.

Fresh bananas going to market--there are many varieties here (we prefer the variety sold in the U.S. :-)

4th Time is a charm!  The 'ninja' worker runs a new overhead internet line that adds to the 'spaghetti' wiring already hanging over the street, but we're happy, we have internet :-)

Sunday, April 26, 2015 – it is our 42^nd wedding anniversary, where has the time gone?  We're still in love!  :-)

Today has been warm and humid along with a brownout that started early this morning at 7:30 am.  It is now 5:30 pm and still no electricity (we got power back after 6 pm).

Elder Winward showing the Philippine flag he had sewn inside the jacket of a new suit he had made

We spent some time talking with an Elder this week.  His batch had just left Wednesday morning to start the long journey home.  His parents had come the previous day and we were taking him to meet his parents.  Every now and then I feel I get a glimpse of how our Heavenly Father might see us.  I had a new found love and appreciation for this young man as he shared his love for a couple of challenging companions.  When I met his parents the next day, I told them I thought he was a saint.  They will spend a few days visiting his areas including going to a baptism, before returning to the U.S.

Departing missionaries we've become so attached to!

Tuesday evening we met with the departing missionaries and made sure they arrived safely at their hosting apartment.  In our truck we had Sister Arviola and Sister Maningas (from the Philippines) and Sister Kumar from Fiji.  We laughed the entire way – good memories and talking about our miscommunications!  George and I wished we had somehow recorded the words of these faithful sisters.  One had given me a gift of a “native” dream catcher and that night I remembered my good dream of holding one of my new grandsons’.  I told her the next morning her kind gift had worked.

Missionaries enjoying ice cream at Mission Home departure fireside

Yes another six weeks have rolled around; a time for saying goodbyes and a time to welcome new missionaries to the Bacolod mission.  This transfer twenty missionaries left for a new chapter in their lives.  We were saying goodbye to the outgoing group and I noticed a line of missionaries walking towards us.  I wondered if these were missionaries returning home from their missions (we were aware of one returning).  But no, it was our new batch of ten missionaries.  They probably wondered where their welcoming group was.  It was all good!  The departing missionaries got to greet the new missionaries in person before leaving.

Elder Manu is a departing missionary from Tonga who has great faith--George traded ties with him

Later in the day we got to get to know the new missionaries a little better!  They were beat, after getting up at 2:00 am for an 8 O’Clock flight, but they have strong testimonies of Jesus Christ.  I hope they can remember the wonderful spirit we experienced in the days ahead when the going gets tougher.

Thursday we enjoyed one of our last lunch dates with President and Sister Deyro who will be leaving to serve in Urdaneta as Mission President.  We are thankful to know them.  I am in awe of Sister Deyro’s Christ like service she has given to the missionaries.  I have been using her less and less (we have a new contact) and she told me she missed my texts. . okay  just a few more!

 

Friendly children asking for money at a property we visited next to a resort

Today (Sunday, April 19) we traveled to a small branch in San Enrique, about an hour drive south of Bacolod.   Just a couple of days earlier we had greeted Sister Jonalyn Torino at the airport.  She returned from serving in the Salt Lake Temple Square mission.  (This was one of four trips we have made to the airport in the last few days).  We met Jonalyn over a year ago on the temple grounds.  I remember it was brisk day; and Sister Torino’s hands were cold; she only had a thin sweater on to keep her warm but she said she was okay.  I was drawn to her not only for her warm smile, but she was and is truly humble and thankful for her blessings.  We met with her and several other sisters over the next few days from the Bacolod Mission area before our time came to come to Bacolod.  We have kept in contact by e-mail.  After she was released, we watched her tearfully remove her badge.  I cried too.

Sister Torino's arrival in Bacolod

Today we were invited to speak with Sister Torino at Sacrament Meeting.  It was uncomfortably warm as there was a brown out (no electricity) and we are in the hot & dry season here with daily temps in the low to mid 90’s with ~70% humidity.  But in spite of the warm humid air there wasn’t one empty seat.  When I came to the pulpit to speak, someone sat in the chair I had been sitting in!  Sister Torino is the only active member in her family, but her family came today and said they plan on coming to Church every week.  I am sure they have seen a mighty change in their daughter.

Later we received a text from Elder Ehninger and Elder Demetillo who said some of the members had commented on the “super tall white couple” who had visited.   Elder Ehninger has been serving in this area for several months and it is apparent the people love him.  It is also wonderful to see how he has grown in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Earlier this week we were invited to a pristine setting near a resort

New house - living room

New house - dining table

New house - kitchen

New house - living room

New house - Bedroom

Trying to figure out washing machine

I think George and I were “compelled” to be humble in our last apartment.  When we arrived at the house, I barely used any warm water in the shower (the only faucet with warm water).  Every day I turn the water a little warmer. I am getting spoiled.  We have enjoyed walking here among the lush tropical setting.  There are houses being built in this subdivision; next to the new structures being built are hastily put together living quarters where the work crew live.  No worries about someone not showing up for work! 

Note: we are late posting because we have had no internet for 2-weeks now.  It takes time and patience to make things happen here :-).

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!