Week 57--July 24-July 30, 2016

 Each day we drive by this row of squatters homes. They are very humble homes. The homes are only about 4 feet by 10 feet. On the backside is a fence that they are built next to. We see the women doing the laundry in a washing tub and the clothes hanging to dry.

A new sewer line in being installed. The sidewalk has been removed  and the trench dug right up to the door of the homes. We have seen little children running down along the edge of the trench that is maybe 2 feet wide from one home to another. We are amazed that they don't fall in.,

The entrance to the home is across wood planks that have been placed from the entrance to the street.

We received sad news on Tuesday of the passing of Brother Celso Mortos who is Young Men's President in the La Mesa Ward.  We had a huge storm with lots of rain and lightning.  The power line to his house had blown down. Brother Mortos who is an electrician had climbed a tree to try to reconnect the line. It was a perfect situation to be struck by lightning. He was wet, in a tree, and holding a power line that was lying on the ground.

He stood only about 5 feet tall. but he was a great basketball. player. All said that no one could beat him in a one-on-one game.

He was one of the first people we meet when we arrived at the La Mesa Ward. He always had a huge smile and a firm hand shake. We will miss him.

He was 40 years old, never married, and in the prime of his life.

Thursday was Sister Sanchez's 23rd birthday. We had arranged 2 1/2 weeks ago when Elder Harrington delivered Sister Sanchez and Sister Nabor to their new apartment and area that we would take them out for dinner on her birthday at the Shawarma place. Elder Harrington tried Sizzling Sisig, which is pulled pork in a sauce of grilled onions and other veggies with an egg on top, on the recommendation of Sister Sanchez. We told them that were our granddaughters for an hour. It was a delight to be in their company.

We attended the baptism of the Novaliches Stake on Saturday where 11 individuals were baptized. Everyone was on time for the 4 PM service to begin except a member of the Stake Presidency who was conducting. He arrived at 4:45 PM. On the bright side he gave an excellent talk. President Bertin also spoke and praised the candidates for their desire to be more Christ-like.



It was strange going to Church on Sunday and not singing "Come,Come Ye Saints" since it was July 24. The Pioneer Day Broadcast will be next week. Sunday afternoon we had the sister missionaries over for dinner (Chicken Enchiladas, Spanish Rice, Green Salad, and Brownies with Oreo Ice Cream).

On Monday evening for Family Home Evening we watched the Pioneer Day Broadcast which the King Singers from the UK. It was a very enjoyable performance.

On Saturday President and Sister Bertin took us and the Broadheads to dinner. It was a combined anniversary and thank you dinner. The anniversary was for completion of 1/2 of the Broadheads mission and 2/3 completion of our mission and President and Sister Bertin's mission. They were appreciative of all the hard work and long hours that the Broadheads and us put in. We were going to go to a new place at SM North. When we got to the turn off on Commonwealth to the mission home and saw the traffic backed up to Casa Milan everyone voted to go to Chilis in Fairview Terraces.

We received an email from Elder and Sister Jones who commented on being able to travel from Island Park to Idaho Falls, a distance of 84 miles, in 84 minutes. We are looking forward to that experience ourselves. 

Week 56--July 17-23, 2016

No pictures and not much happening this week. It is catch up week for Garnalee after transfers. Zone Interviews started which will mean long, grueling days for the Bertins. They have changed the schedule and are trying to give each missionary more time with President Bertin. Also the staggered schedule allows the missionaries to have more proselyting time on Zone Interview day. 

Tom felt successful this week with his budgeting envelope system that he gives to each missionary when they arrive in the mission as part of his finance presentation. One of the missionaries who was in the office on Thursday asked for a new set of envelopes as hers are tattered. He also had a one-on-one budget teaching session with a sister missionary who says one of her mission goals is to learn to budget money. Thus far on her mission, if she ran out of money she has contacted her family who sent her more money. Tom is her accountability partner for the next several days. She has to report how much she spent, on what, and did she record each purchase in her book. Learning to budget is one of the important skills that a missionary needs to learn while serving.  

Week 55--July 10-16, 2016

With missionaries arriving and departing and new leadership training is it has been a full week.

Baggage for 22 exiting missionaries on Tuesday, July 12,  is a lot.  

 As we arrive at the Mission Home all are asked to remove their shoes before coming in. Twenty-five pairs of shoes is a lot.

They are all smiles as they have a last meal together before heading home.  Left to Right: Sister Rantayo, Elder Garrity, Sister Magallanes, Sister Custodio, Sister Muller, Sister Bainrebu, Sister Abragan, Sister Pader, Sister Arao.

 This is a powerful group of missionaries that are going home. Many of them have been Zone Leaders, Sister Training Leaders, District Leaders, and Senior Missionaries. There is one who has been an Assistant to the President. Their leadership will be missed. Seated around the table are Sister Abragan, Sister Pader, Sister Arao, Sister Malo Moa, Elder Garrity.

 In the year that we have been in the mission we have really grown to love these missionaries. Pictured l to r are: Elder Westenskow, Elder Heaton, Elder Ford, Elder Pau'u, Elder Nelson, and Elder Flynn.

 Elder Tumale, Elder Premacio, and Elder Pongyan smile for the camera.

Elder Nelson, Elder Flynn, Elder Arcenas, Elder Westenskow, and Elder Heaton are all hungry elders.

The current APs, Elder Perkins and Elder Goodwin, with Elder Christensen. Yes, those of you from Blackfoot, this is the grandson of Newell and Launa Goodwin.

 This darling little sister is of Filipino heritage from the United States. She is a real tease and we really love Sister Custodio.
                                                                                 

We had the opportunity to serve with each of these sisters at different time in the La Mesa Ward. We are going to miss Sister Pader (Philippines), Sister Magallanes (Australia), and Sister Muller (Kiribati). Each is from a different country but they each have a strong testimony and a love of the Lord. 

 Exiting Batch on July 12. Front row l to r: Elder Pau'u, Elder Premacio, Elder Tumale, Elder Garrity,Elder Ford, elder Pongyan. Middle row: Sister Custodio, Sister Magallanes, Sister Bainrebu, Sister Noriega, Sister Rantayo, Sister Pader, Sister Arao, Sister Abragan, Sister Muller, Sister Malo Moa. Back row: Elder Arcensas, Elder Westenskow, elder Nelson, President Bertin, Sister Bertin, Elder Christensen, Elder Heaton, Elder Flynn.

Arrival Batch for July 13 is an unusual batch with more sisters than elders in the batch. Front row l to r: Sister Near, Sister Totiana, Sister Nabor, Sister Galarroza, Sister De Guzman, Sister Gonzaga. Middle row: President Bertin, Sister Bertin, Sister Cayanes, Sister LeFevre, Sister Sheets, Sister Aranda, Sister Oñate. Back row: Elder Malit, Elder Zobrist, Elder Harper, Elder Frandsen, Elder Fish, Elder Howard.

It was Temple day for the La Mesa Ward on Saturday, July 16. We got up at 4 AM to drive to the Temple. We arrived at the Temple at
6:06 AM.  Cards are issued upon arrival for a session. Ours was the 9:30 AM session.

The brethren gather outside the Temple for a group photo (l to r): Brother Amorsolo, Elder Harringon, Elder Sabado, Bishop Villaester, a brother we don't know the name of, Brother Pelipel, Brother Martinez, and Brother Mortos.

 The Inglesia ni Christo Church has a large presence in the Philippines. Their churches are huge. Does this building remind you of another building you are familiar with?

Week 54--July 3-July 9, 2016

July 3rd was a landmark day in the Quezon City North Mission. There were seven stakes, one district, 57 wards and branches, and 206 missionaries all fasting to increase the number of convert baptisms in the mission.

Our Fourth of July was much different than what it would have been at home. NO parade and No fireworks. However, Garnalee did make potato salad, baked beans, hamburgers (not grilled though), and watermelon. At least our meal was similar to what we have had on the Fourth at home.

Five week training happened for the newest batch of missionaries that arrived five weeks ago (June 1). They spent the morning reviewing and sharing experiences of successful missionary work. They were then treated to one of Sister Cherry's wonderful meals before heading back to their assigned areas.

 The elders gathered at the tables in the living room.

 While the sisters gathered around the dining room table.

We had the opportunity to help Elder and Sister Broadhead at a Family History event in the San Bartolome Ward where they serve on Saturday, July 9.

We thought the members were going to bring lap tops and we would help the members set up Family Search accounts. There 40 people in attendance with only three bringing computers. Fortunately, they had a supply of the My Family:Stories That Bring Us Together booklets.

We introduced the concept that it is the stories that turn our hearts to our ancestors. We then passed out the booklets and encouraged the members to gather stories in their booklets, and then later enter the stories into Family Tree with the help of the Ward Family History consultant.

Everyone immediately started filling out his or her booklet and there was a lot of laughter and sharing of stories as they worked on the booklets.

Elder Harrington is answering a question asked by one of the Young Women.




Tom is making a book safe out of a defective Book of Mormon. We had several boxes arrive in which the covers were attached upside down. He is going to give it to one of the new missionaries that arrive on July 13. In order to receive it he or she must keep a budget for a month. A looming problem may be that all 17 arriving missionaries will keep a budget, and he will have to make one for each of them. Living within a budget is something that will be useful throughout their whole life.

We had the outer edge of a typhoon pass by on its way to Taiwan. We had rain all day on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. It was heavy at times.

Week 53--June 26-July 2, 2016

Sister Hulme and Sister Lata pose for a picture before returning to work after dinner at our apartment on Sunday, June 26. We had lasagna, garlic bread, broccoli with carrots, and lava cake with ice cream. Sister Hulme has a waist of about 18 inches but she sure  enjoyed the lasagna.  

 Sister Malo Moa and Sister Asif sign the mission banner at their Zone Conference on June 28.

The missionaries love Zone Conference. Not only are they spiritually fed but they also get to be physically fed and enjoy Sister Cherry's great cooking. It is amazing how much food the missionaries can eat.

 The sister always get to go first in line.

The "Elder Cookie" is at work again delivering the Oreos to the missionaries who brought back the rent vouchers. It is amazing how effective a little treat can be.

 A bigger group of birthdays with this zone on Tuesday than last weeks group.

 Sister Pader with us before she goes home in a few weeks. She was in our Ward for six months and we grew to love her.

 Sister Pader with her companion Sister Yaqoob, who is from Pakistan, with us. Sister Yaqoob always looks for a big hug from Sister Harrington whenever she sees her.

 Our picture in front of the mission banner. The "one" stands for the importance of each person that is taught, one baptism per week, and the importance of the Temple.

 The current group of mission zone leaders and sister training leaders. Many of in this group go home in the July or August transfers.

A baby chicken that has been prepared to eat.

Elder Nelson is all smiles as he prepares to eat his delicacy. Not on Garnalee's menu.









On Saturday, our P-day, we went to the new Tarzan movie. Believably realistic in the special effects.

Received sad news this week that Garnalee's brother, Roy who is 90 years old, had fallen twice and broke his back in two places. The doctor's did a procedure where they put "cement" in the broken places but he is in a lot of pain. He can't stand on his own. He has been moved to an extended care facility. He is in our prayers.