Week 12--September 13-19, 2015
We had a Senior Couple outing on Wednesday, September 16. We traveled to Philippines Ocean Park located in Manila. We had a fun day viewing the exhibits and enjoying the bird, sea lion, and Symphony of Lights shows.
They had an enclosed area of Brahminy Kites. They are a coastal raptor found in the Philippines.
Tom and the Brahminy Kite. I hope he doesn't end up with anything on his head.
After going through the aquarium, Garnalee visited the fish spa. The fish nibbled on her toes, ankles, and legs. She said it felt like someone was tickling her toes.
There was a large jellyfish exhibit. This is an example of the Moon Jellyfish.
Tom went Home Teaching on Sunday with Brother and Sister David. They visited several homes and he helped give a Priesthood blessing to a sister who was sick.
Each Monday we call all the kids. Sometimes we catch each one and other times we talk to only a few. At least we are able to leave a message, and they know we are thinking about them. Tom started creating a book vault to put valuables in. He will use it at the training next week when he teaches the incoming missionaries about budgeting. It was created because their have been several break-ins at missionary apartments lately. We are looking for a way to help them keep their money safe. President and Sister Bertin said their son used a book vault when he served in Mexico several years ago.
Each week the missionaries go to a computer shop to send and receive emails from family and to submit their weekly letter to President Bertin. The letter is submitted through the Missionary Portal. Sometimes due to problems at the computer shops the missionaries can't get into the Portal. So then they have to send the letter in an email to President Bertin. When that happens, President Bertin forwards the emails to the office and Garnalee has to place each letter in the missionary's electronic folder. Last week there was an unusually high number of letters that had to be individually placed in folders. She later found out there was a Google update that caused some of the problems. Some of the problems come when there are two computer shops side by side, and they share the same hub.
We are fully immersed in Ward activities. The last week in September is Family Week in the Philippines. The Stake is doing an activity on the last Saturday, and each Ward has been assigned to do a presentation based on a family song. Mimicking the Von Trapp, Elder Harrington blows a whistle while marching onto the stage with the "children." Our Ward's assigned song is "The Family is of God" but are adding other songs to create a musical. Practices have made for longer days.
Elder Biggs, the mission secretary, and Elder Campbell, the financial secretary, both leave the office next week. Elder Biggs is going home and Elder Campbell will go back to the field. Their responsibilities are being turned over to us. So much of the week was spent working closely with them making sure we know and can do all of the tasks.
Tom had to present the financial report at the monthly planning office meeting on Friday. He tried to get out of it, but Elder Campbell wanted him to do it as it will be his responsibility from now on.
We finally received the shipment of pills and test strips that Jen and Chad sent on August 14. We thought that they might have been lost. They were sitting at the Post Office and no one had sent a card notifying us that the package had arrived. After Jen checked with USPS and found out the package had arrived had the Manila Central Processing Center on August 26, we decided to ask about the box at the Post Office.
Finally P-Day (Preparation Day) arrived but it turned out to be as busy as any other day. We had laundry to do, apartment to clean, and go grocery shopping. Tom got a haircut ($1.02) and made late additions to mail runs for Caloocan and Valenzuela. We went to our musical practice. Tom revamped the financial presentation that the he will be giving on Wednesday and sent it President Bertin to put on his computer.
We had a Senior Couple outing on Wednesday, September 16. We traveled to Philippines Ocean Park located in Manila. We had a fun day viewing the exhibits and enjoying the bird, sea lion, and Symphony of Lights shows.
Tom went Home Teaching on Sunday with Brother and Sister David. They visited several homes and he helped give a Priesthood blessing to a sister who was sick.
Each Monday we call all the kids. Sometimes we catch each one and other times we talk to only a few. At least we are able to leave a message, and they know we are thinking about them. Tom started creating a book vault to put valuables in. He will use it at the training next week when he teaches the incoming missionaries about budgeting. It was created because their have been several break-ins at missionary apartments lately. We are looking for a way to help them keep their money safe. President and Sister Bertin said their son used a book vault when he served in Mexico several years ago.
Each week the missionaries go to a computer shop to send and receive emails from family and to submit their weekly letter to President Bertin. The letter is submitted through the Missionary Portal. Sometimes due to problems at the computer shops the missionaries can't get into the Portal. So then they have to send the letter in an email to President Bertin. When that happens, President Bertin forwards the emails to the office and Garnalee has to place each letter in the missionary's electronic folder. Last week there was an unusually high number of letters that had to be individually placed in folders. She later found out there was a Google update that caused some of the problems. Some of the problems come when there are two computer shops side by side, and they share the same hub.
We are fully immersed in Ward activities. The last week in September is Family Week in the Philippines. The Stake is doing an activity on the last Saturday, and each Ward has been assigned to do a presentation based on a family song. Mimicking the Von Trapp, Elder Harrington blows a whistle while marching onto the stage with the "children." Our Ward's assigned song is "The Family is of God" but are adding other songs to create a musical. Practices have made for longer days.
Elder Biggs, the mission secretary, and Elder Campbell, the financial secretary, both leave the office next week. Elder Biggs is going home and Elder Campbell will go back to the field. Their responsibilities are being turned over to us. So much of the week was spent working closely with them making sure we know and can do all of the tasks.
Tom had to present the financial report at the monthly planning office meeting on Friday. He tried to get out of it, but Elder Campbell wanted him to do it as it will be his responsibility from now on.
We finally received the shipment of pills and test strips that Jen and Chad sent on August 14. We thought that they might have been lost. They were sitting at the Post Office and no one had sent a card notifying us that the package had arrived. After Jen checked with USPS and found out the package had arrived had the Manila Central Processing Center on August 26, we decided to ask about the box at the Post Office.
Finally P-Day (Preparation Day) arrived but it turned out to be as busy as any other day. We had laundry to do, apartment to clean, and go grocery shopping. Tom got a haircut ($1.02) and made late additions to mail runs for Caloocan and Valenzuela. We went to our musical practice. Tom revamped the financial presentation that the he will be giving on Wednesday and sent it President Bertin to put on his computer.
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