Week 19--November 2-7, 2015

Tuesday, November 3, was Exit Day for 14 missionaries. They spend the day at the Mission Home doing several activities and have dinner before being taken to the hotel for flights home the next day.

Elders Manangan and Gonzalez are two of the skinniest exiting missionaries. We wonder how they stay so skinny the way they have loaded their plates.

Batch missionaries enjoying a final meal together before they all head to their various home countries of Pakistan, Canada, United States, Australia, Tonga, and various parts of the Philippines.

 They are all smiles.

President Bertin  scoops up the ice cream to go with the peanut butter cookies. The highlight of the day is the testimony meeting that is held after the dinner is completed.

Wednesday, November 4, saw the arrival of 28 new missionaries. The new missionaries are lined up ready to find out who their trainer will be. They are all nervous in anticipation!

With the arrival of these 28, one fourth of our missionaries have been in the field for six weeks or less.

The trainers are ready to take the trainees (new missionaries) under their wings and get them started at being a missionary.

 Sometimes the size difference can be amazing. Elder Sajulga will be well protected by Elder Synder.

 The new missionaries pose one last time as a group before heading into the field to share the Gospel.

The Primary children from the LaMesa Ward. They presented the Primary program on Sunday, November 8. The theme for this year's program was "I Know My Savior Loves Me."








Sunday, November 1, was "All Saints Day" in the Philippines. The missionaries had a 6 pm curfew because this is a big party day.

Our days are full and long. We never lack for something to do and we never leave before 6 PM or 7 PM arriving at 8:30 AM.

Tom was gone all day on Friday, November 6, getting a lease signed and looking at a new apartment. Being away from the office means he can't do any of the financial items that need his attention.

Saturday was the usual P-Day chores. We did take time out to go see the new James Bond movie, "Spectre," and dinner out. While we were attending the movie we paid to have the car washed in the parking lot of the mall. That is a common practice here. The cost was $3.89, and it looked wonderful when we came back.

Tom harvested the first three cucumbers on Saturday morning. They are very good and just the perfect size.