Week 43--April 17-23, 2016

 This is what 150 cases of the Book of Mormon looks like. We were running low and so Garnalee decided to do a big order. Part of them are stacked in the storage room and the rest are against a wall in the office.

Sister De Leon and Sister Muller joined us for dinner on Sunday, April 17. They have been serving in the La Mesa with us for several months. Sister Muller was transferred  to the Valenzuela Zone and made a Sister Training Leader which means she will go on exchanges with other sister missionaries and work with them to become better missionaries. Sister De Leon was made a Trainer of a new missionary that will arrive on Wednesday.

Tuesday was Exit Day for 18 missionaries. We have really gotten to know this batch, and we will miss them.  Pictured are Elder Haeane, Elder Ang, Elder Rodriguez and Elder Aue. In the background is Elder Perkins who is the new Assistant to the President.

Garnalee and Sister Bertin loading their plates with Sister Cherry's Pancit and rice with gravy.  YUM, YUM!!

 Elder Pedroza, Elder Baylosis, Elder Semana, and Elder Blancaver from various areas in the Philippines.

Missionaries gather for the testimony meeting. In the front row are Elder Rosales, Elder Ramada, Elder Alejandro, Elder Valdazo, Elder Rodriguez. In the back row are Elder Harrington, Sister Broadhead, Elder Broadhead, Elder Heaton, and Elder Goodwin.

 Sister Bagay, Sister Mendoza, and Sister Gementiza smile big for the camera.

A quick picture with Elder Blancaver before he gets in the shuttle to the hotel.

 One last picture with Sister Talalima before she leaves. She was special to us as she served in the La Mesa Ward with us. She is from Tonga.

One last quick picture before they all depart.

All 18 missionaries gather for a final picture before departing for home. Front row: Elder Semana, Elder Ramada, Elder Blancaver, Elder Baylosis, Elder Pedroza. Second row: Sister Bachiller, Sister Mendoza, Sister Talalima, Sister Bagay, Sister Gementiza. Third row: Elder Rodriguez, Elder Rosales, Elder Haeane, Elder Ang, Elder Mabala, Elder Aue, Elder Valdoza, Elder Alejandro. Fourth row: Sister Bertin and President Bertin.

The new arrivals: front row (l to r): Elder Dingal, Elder Pelimiano, Elder Buque, Elder Agustin, and Elder Serrano. Second row: Sister Panzo, Sister Miñosa, Sister Cambe, Sister Sanchez, and Sister Mepania. Back row: Sister Bertin, President Bertin, Elder Rosero, Elder Pepito, Elder Burgos, Elder Peterson, and Elder Vukomanovic.





Along with the exit and arrival of missionaries it is also transfer day for missionaries. This makes for an extra busy week.

We were shocked when we received our electric bill this week. It had increased by 50% from the previous month.

We went to dinner on Friday with Elder and Sister Broadhead to celebrate her birthday. We went to Tri-Mo where we had been a couple of times previously. We had the beef sharwarma (warp) which is our favorite with a 2 liter bottle of orange soda. The bill was PHP280 which is $6. After dinner we went across the street to the local bakery for sugar donuts. They also had banana bread for $1.74 a loaf. We bought one and it was good as Garnalee's and we didn't have to heat up the apartment making our own.

Saturday was spent going to the Distribution Center by the Temple to buy mini scripture sets that are wanted by missionaries and then on to S&R for shopping where we spent $425. We went with the intention of purchasing enough vitamins, calcium, and fish oil, and Vitamin C to last us until the end of our mission.