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.
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.
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.
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.
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