Week 39--March 20-26, 2016

We saw this trike transporting a wheel chair. It is the first wheel chair we have seen since being here.

This bus was involved in an accident shortly after we arrived last July. The accident happened close to where we go to church on Quirino Highway, a major artery in Quezon City. Four people were killed. The bus was towed to its present location where about a month later power lines fell onto the bus and it caught on fire. Nine months later the bus is still sitting on the side of the road blocking one lane of traffic.






We had Stake Conference on Sunday, March 20. After the sustaining of the officers it was noted that there are 41 missionaries serving from the San Jose Del Monte Stake. The speakers spoke on family history, self-reliance, encouraging the youth to go on a mission, and temple attendance.

This week is Holy Week. As we drove to church we saw many people carrying palm branches in remembrance of Christ's entrance into Jerusalem. On Maundy Thursday (day of the Last Supper) and Good Friday all commerce was suspended in the city. It was strange to drive by the two malls by us and the businesses along the roads and have them closed and dark, It was very different than at home.

Not only are the stores closed but traffic is almost non-existent on the roads. We decided to go to the Temple on Friday and it only took us 30 minutes to get there! It is usually a 1 1/2 to 2 hour drive. We arrived a 12:45 PM and wanted to do an endowment session, but we were told that the next available session was 6 PM. So we decided to do some sealings for members of Tom's family. We sealed  two couples and 17 children. It was a great day with friends in the temple.

This week has also been the first two sessions of Zone Conferences. Because of Holy Week President Bertin knew. The focus of zone conference was on the Plan of Salvation and the Atonement. Sister Bertin delivered a wonderful message on hope. The conference concluded with a testimony meeting. These young missionaries have such strong testimonies it is amazing.

Week 38--March 13-19, 2016

The Primary children wouldn't let Garnalee into the Primary room as they were preparing the chalk board with a big birthday card.

 We gathered for a group shot at the end of Primary. There favorite thing has come to be Garnalee leading the children in "Do As I'm doing."

On Wednesday, March 16, we traveled to Manila to stay overnight so all of the senior couples could travel to Corregidor Island on Thursday. Before we checked in at the hotel we went to a very authenticate Indian restaurant where the foods are very spicy. This is the lobby of the Manila Hotel where we spent the night. This historic hotel was built in 1912 and was not damaged during World War II. The hotel was $200 per night and the most spacious we have ever stayed in. The Breakfast Buffet was truly international with every kind of breakfast food imaginable.

Outside the Manila Hotel. Left to right--Sister and Elder Harrington, Sister and Elder Broadhead, Sister and President Bertin. We took a 1 1/2 hour ferry ride to Corregidor. Tom was especially interested as his Dad was stationed on Corregidor during World War II.

On Thursday, March 17, we spent the day on Corregidor Island which is an island at the entrance to Manila Bay and was one of four islands that formed the harbor defenses. During World War II, Corregidor played an important role during the invasion and liberation of the Philippines from Japanese forces. The Japanese had planned on conquering the Philippines in six weeks at the beginning of the war and moving on to conquer other areas. But due to the tenacity of the Americans and Philippines defending the island it took five months.  Japanese troops that were headed for Papua New Guinea were diverted to the Philippines thus allowing the Australians to defend Papua New Guinea and prevent the invasion of Australia.

Tom and Garnalee standing next to one of the surviving mortars on Corregidor.

 Malinta Tunnel is a tunnel complex built by the Army /corp of Engineers on the island of Corregidor. It was initially used as a bomb-proof storage and personnel bunker, but was later equipped as a 1000 bed hospital. Above the tunnel is 130 feet of solid rock.






The main tunnel, running east to west, is 831 feet long, 24 feet wide and 18 feet high. Branching off from this main shaft are 13 lateral tunnels on the north side and 11 lateral tunnels on the south side. Most of the lateral tunnels were destroyed during the heavy bombing that took place on the island.

Statue of an American solider helping a fellow wounded  Filipino soldier.

Remains of Mile-Long Barracks. It was the headquarters General Douglas MacArthur.  

 The group gathers in front of the statue of General Douglas MacArthur. Left to right-Sister and President Bertin, Sister and Elder Rogers, Sister and Elder Brady, Sister and Elder Broadhead, Sister and Elder Swift, Sister and Elder Harrington, and Sister and Elder Jones.

 Remains of the Ordinance Room where the mortars were repaired.

The remains of Battery Geary which was destroyed when an enemy shell hit the magazine pit.

 The Pacific War Memorial where the main structure is a rotunda with an open skylight in its dome that lets sunlight in during the day. Directly under the skylight is a circular altar which is lit by the sun during the week of May 6, the anniversary of the fall of Corregidor.  However since the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo the sun now lights the altar during the week of April 13. Straight through in the background is the Eternal Flame of Freedom.

The Eternal Flame of Freedom is built on the spot where General Douglas MacArthur opened the celebration of the recapture of Corregidor on March 2, 1945.

There were 10,000 Japanese soldiers defending Corregidor during the battles for the recapture of the island. When the Japanese finally surrendered there were only 42 survivors. The statement by our guide, "That nobody wins in war," is certainly true. Due to the valor and tenacity of the Filipino people, Corregidor is known as the Island of Valor, Peace, and International Understanding.

We came away with a new sense of respect for the Philippine people and the courage of their troops who fought valiantly along-side of the Americans against the Japanese.

We stopped at Outback Steak House for a wonderful dinner before heading back to Quezon City and the home.

President Bertin has assigned Elder Leishman to come in each Tuesday with Elder Campbell so he can learn the responsibilities of the financial secretary. That will be a huge benefit to the couple who replaces us in January. It seems early to think about that but he won't be able to come in every Tuesday and the training can go slowly.

Tom and Elder Broadhead have spent a lot of time looking at apartments. The missionaries spend a lot of time traveling from their apartment to their proselyting areas. The plan is to move each companionship into their assigned areas.

One thing we discovered on Saturday is that if we go shopping earlier in the day we don't spend near as much time standing in line waiting to check out.

We enjoyed a really good movie on Saturday titled "Miracles from Heaven." We highly recommend it to everyone. Our faith my be tested but Heavenly Father is always there to see us through the trials in our lives.

Week 37--March 6-12, 2016

Exit day for 15 missionaries was on Tuesday, March 8. Exiting missionaries are Elder Mabbala, Elder Delicano, Elder Suldan (not exiting yet), Elder Davuke, Elder Hilario, Elder Ubias, Elder Gabertan, and Elder Jones in the background.

 Exiting sister missionaries--Sister Foote, Sister Canite, Sister Gison, Sister Huni, Sister Qumivutia, Sister Ajek, Sister Rosales, and Sister Pullicar.

Dessert on Exit Day is Mango Float. It is a frozen dessert made with, of course, mangos, graham crackers, and sweetened condensed milk. Yummy! We will miss this when we return home.

Since Exit Day was on Tom's birthday, and Elder Heaton's birthday was the day before, and Garnalee's birthday was coming up, Sister Bertin bought Kung Fu Panda Krispy Creme donuts for the three of us. She put a candle in each one for us to blow out.

Elder Suldan was one of the Assistants to the President who is going back out to the field. He sent us the sweetest text, "Dear Elder and Sister Harrington, This is E. Suldan. Happy birthday Elder Harrington. Thank you for all your sacrifices and love to all of us. I have looked up to you as my father! You have great dedication to the work. You are one of the best couples I have ever meet. I admire you to Sister Harrington. I really learned a lot from you. You teach me how to work in unity! Your humility is the unique attribute I have seen. Thank you for being my family for three months in the office and I hope it will continue. I will always pray for you. WE LOVE YOU. Signing off! E. SULDAN"

 Saturday, March 12, the San Jose Del Monte Stake Relief Society hosted a Relief Society Anniversary Party. The theme was "Faith in Every Footstep" and Alma 37:6: "...by small and simple things are great things brought to pass."
Each Ward dressed in pioneer clothes. Garnalee is pictured with some of the other sisters from the La Mesa Ward adorned in their pioneer hats.

 Each Ward was asked to honor the oldest pioneer member in their Ward. This beautiful sister from the La Mesa Ward joined the Church in 1979. She has nine children.

 Each Ward was assigned to do a skit, a fashion show, or an interpretative dance. The La Mesa Ward did a dance.

The La Mesa sisters gather for a group shot adorned with their aprons and hats.

Tom and Garnalee are joined on Saturday for a dinner out to celebrate her birthday by Elder and Sister Broadhead and President and Sister Bertin. We tried out a local Mexican Restaurant called La Poca Loca. It was recommended by some of the missionaries who live in the Lagro area. Not like El Mirador at home!






We spent several hours on Monday, March 7, getting the rent checks and tax forms in envelopes ready to be distributed on Thursday at MLC.  We celebrated Tom's birthday that evening at Chili's with a wonderful dinner and free Molten Lava Cake topped with ice cream (Tom had received an email with a coupon for free lava cake and no purchase was necessary).

Exit Day is followed on Wednesday with Arrival Day for 16 missionaries and Transfer Day for some of the In-field missionaries. Exit and Arrival Days always mean a busy week. We have gotten up earlier for three days in a row and late days at the office are catching up with us.

Week 36--February 28-March 5, 2016

 The mission employs two people. One is Michael takes care of cleaning the office and keeping the grounds at the mission home looking spectacular.

The other is loving referred to by all as "Sister Cherry." She bakes, cooks, and cleans at the mission home. She prepares all of the meals for the mission conferences.

Garnalee sat between these two beautiful girls in Primary, and we decided we needed a picture for memories. Here is picture number one.

A few more joined us and several more pictures were taken with the IPAD. It brought back memories of Hong Kong of when a camera was pulled soon there would be a whole group wanting to get in the picture. This is one of Garnalee's favorites with Enos's head on her shoulder.

Here is the last picture that was taken. I (Garnalee) get the opportunity of spending each week in Primary with these beautiful children. Unfortunately I (Garnalee) still don't know the names of all of them. Thanks to Maureen for holding the IPAD and taking the pictures.









Tom has been working all week on rent checks and tax forms for the second quarter. Garnalee's jobs have pretty well fallen into a pattern of doing baptism records, referrals, mail runs, missionary communications, etc. The big job this week was getting travel set up for a missionary who is going home early for health reasons. A missionary can't just get on a plane and go home. We have to wait for an exit clearance to be approved before a plane ticket can be purchased and that usually takes a week.

In order for Tom to call someone in the US he has to get up early, not really. However he did need to make a call to a landlord who is living in Texas. He woke up at 2 AM, so he decided to get up and made the call. It was noon in Texas.

It has been another busy week in Disneyland where the main attraction is Bumper cars. President Bertin had just got his car back from the last crash. He was going through Forest Hills which has very narrow streets. He came around a corner where there a jeepney and a trike. He moved over as far as he could and stopped to allow the jeepney to move on. The jeepney driver took his foot off the brake and rolled backward swiping the side of President Bertin's car. He now has a three foot long scrape on the driver's side of the car.