Week 52--June 19-25, 2016

One year since we entered the MTC. The time has flown by and the next 6 months will go even more quickly.

Missionaries signing our Mission Banner similar to the Title of Liberty that Captain Moroni lifted in the Book of Mormon. The missionaries have been given the invitation to baptize weekly. The banner represents the commitment of each missionary to strive to achieve that goal.

Missionaries signing are Elder Montemor and Elder Domingo.

 More missionaries signing the banner.

Tom is known as the Cookie Elder. The missionaries in each apartment have been given the rent voucher and BIR to have signed by the landlord. If they return the paper work at their zone conference each missionary in the apartment is rewarded with a personal package of 3 Oreos. Elder Webb receives his package.

 Elder Leishman gives a thumbs up for his package. Elder Broadhead tried to get in on the action.

Elder Vukomanovic and Elder Gumban receive their cookies.

 More missionaries getting their cookies.

 Missionaries enjoying the lunch prepared by Sister Cherry.

 Aren't these sisters beautiful?

Elder Stratton, Elder Lake, Elder Frias, Elder _______, Sister Loyola, and Sister Brady all celebrated birthdays in July, August, or September.

 Friday evening we went to an outdoor restaurant called Funnside. We put pictures in an earlier blog of our tempura shrimp that we had there. We had the tempura shrimp again along with a grilled tilapia. As we left the restaurant Mother Nature was really putting on a show for us. The lightening was continuous and as impressive as any Fourth of July fireworks display. The lightening, that was mostly cloud to cloud, must have been far off because there was no attendant thunder.

This week was Father's Day weekend. It was good to reminiscence about our fathers as well as to talk to the kids who all wished Tom a Happy Father's Day. Sunday dinner was salmon, baked potato, broccoli, and salad.

On Monday morning we watched three quarters of the final game of the NBA Playoffs live before we headed to the office. We had intended to watch the last quarter when we got home from the office but Elder Broadhead spilled the beans and told us that the Cleveland Cavaliers had made NBA history by winning the title after coming back from being behind by 1-3.

More flu shots were given on Tuesday and Thursday along with us receiving ours on Tuesday.

Tom has committed to learn Tagalog so he is getting up each morning at 5 AM to study for 30 minutes.

We went to the see the new Independence Day movie on Saturday. Many of the same actors that were in the original movie 20 years ago. Hollywood really knows how to blow things up. A good movie.

Week 51--June 12-18, 2016

Tuesday found us heading to Meycauayan for District meeting. The route we took had these cows wandering down the four lane roadway.

 These cows have decided to camp on the road.

Zone Conferences started on Thursday. As part of Zone Conference we are giving flu shots to all of the missionaries. Elder Westenskow is filling out the paper work before he receives his shot.

Sister Broadhead administers the shot to him.

 President Bertin gets into the action by helping to give the shots.

There was lots of information to hand out to the missionaries. Garnalee is set-up ready to hand out the new Apartment Resource guides, monthly recording sheets, and markers for the new boards.

Sister Bertin helped by answering questions and applying band-aids.

 Elder Broadhead is ready with the spray bottles and the Permetherin to hand out. Our mission is one of the missions in which the sisters will be allowed to wear pants during Dengue fever season. The Permetherin is used to spray on their clothes to protect against mosquitoes.

 After shots it was time to check for letters from home.

Friday evening we had a farewell dinner for Elder and Sister Jones who are returning home on July 5 to Island Park. They will be greatly missed as they have worked diligently to build up the branch in Baliwag and work with the YSA to encourage them to go on missions and marry in the temple.

Saturday was a special day as we attended the wedding of Reylan David and Ciely Joaquin. Brother David is one of the counselors in the bishopric of the La Mesa ward. The David family with Elder Ardern who performed the sealing in the Manila Temple.

 The stage is set for the arrival of the bride and groom and the parents.

 Tables were set up for all of the guests to enjoy a wonderful dinner.

 The love birds and the wedding cake.

The happy couple enjoy their first dance.

These darling girls are the Primary class of Ciely. They performed the cutest dances at the beginning of the program.








Sunday, June 12, is Independence Day in the Phipippines. Which coincided with the end of the Spanish-American War on June 12, 1898. It doesn't compare with Independence Day celebrations in the US. No fireworks, no parades, only flags posted around the city.

On Tuesday, June 14, we learned that Grace has a blood clot. She will need to have shots twice a day for the next six months.

On Thursday, June 16, we had the first session of Zone Conference. New Apartment Resource Guides have been created. To encourage the return of the old ones, the missionaries have been bribed with one of Sister Cherry's wonderful cookies. No guide--no cookie with lunch. There were 4 apartments who didn't bring their guide so 14 missionaries had to go without a cookie. Elder Broadhead and Elder Harrington each ate an extra cookie when they returned the pans from lunch.

Week 50--June 5-11, 2016

SJDM missionaries wait for the Zone Leaders to arrive with the key to open the gate so they can get in.








After last week's busy time, this week was quiet at the office and allowed us to catch up on the things that were put on hold last week.

The rainy season has started and that means booming thunder, We love the thunder but it shakes the whole apartment. It is unlike anything we have ever heard in the United States. Maybe it is becasue of our lower elevation or proximity to the ocean. It is definitely more fierce.

We finished reading the Book of Mormon for our couple scripture time and have started over again. We love the Book of Mormon.

On Saturday we visited National Bookstore to buy a 100 whiteboard markers for the missionaries for a new board they are getting to write down their upcoming baptisms. The store was packed with people buying school supplies. School starts here on Monday, June 13. The elementary age children go to school from 6 AM to noon.  So many of them leave home about 5:15 or 5:30 AM. We will have to investigate what the hours are for high school students.

Week 49--May 29-June 4, 2016

Transfers happened this week which makes a busy full week for us. We attended the Camarin Zone meetings on Monday to hear the transfer announcements. We had to be out the door by 6:45 AM to make it to the office before 7 AM because we code on Mondays. The nice thing about going in early is we get to leave at 2:30 because of coding.

Tuesday was exit day for 13 missionaries. We have grown to love these missionaries and will miss each of them.

Sister Strickland looks beautiful in a baro't saya which is the national costume of women in the Philippines. The sleeves were very stiff and high. She purchased this to wear home to New Zealand.

 A final parting picture with one of our favorite missionaries, Elder Suldan. He often mentioned how we were like parents to him.

Everyone is enjoying a final meal of Sister Cherry's wonderful cooking on Tuesday before going home tomorrow. Sister Cherry makes an awesome pancit. Seated around the table are Elder Gemida, Elder Pangan, Elder Roa, sister Misalucha, Sister Strickland, and Sister Teorabwati.

 Seated around the table are Elder Suldan, Elder Hartfield, Elder Salisbury, Elder Singayan, Elder Tiano, and Elder Tinasas.

 Elder Egbert poses with Elder Perkins who is one of the Assistants to the President.

 The whole exiting batch gather in the living room just before the testimony meeting begins. Each missionary is given the opportunity to share their testimony before departing. Left to right are: Sister Strickland, Sister Misalucha, Sister Teorabwati, Elder Salisbury, Elder Singayan, Elder Hartfield, Elder Roa, Elder Egbert, Eldr Tinasas, Elder Gemida, Elder Pangan, Elder Tiano, and Elder Suldan.

Early to the office Wednesday morning to greet the new batch of 13 missionaries. All are Filipino missionaries except two sisters, one from New Zealand and one from Vanuatu. Front row l to r: Elder Valdez, Elder Torres, Elder Mariano, Elder Balacas, Elder Laude. Middle row l to r: Sister Lata, Sister Collado, Sister Bertin, President Bertin, Sister Daniel, Sister Billy. Back row l to r: Elder Batilong, Elder Gatucao, Elder Sacay, Elder Dizon. 




Thursday arrived with Missionary Leadership Council meeting followed by training for new leadership positions. Tom had all of the rent checks, vouchers, and BIRs ready to distribute to the zone leaders who will give them to the missionaries who will give take them to the landlords and get the forms signed and returned to the office. Everyone in the apartment gets rewarded with an individual package of Oreo cookies when the signed documents are returned.

Tom always gets up early on Sunday morning to prepare his Sunday School lesson. He says if he prepares too far in advance he will forget what he wants to present. That's the excuse anyway.