Week 70--October 23-30, 2016

 This week's picture of the cucumbers. They have really grown in the last week.

One plant has two blossoms and a small cucumber.

Occasionally we will see children riding on a jeepney in what we would consider to be unsafe circumstances. If they aren't riding inside taking up a seat then they can ride for free.This young man was riding on the front fender of the jeepney. He jumped off because the jeepney continued on straight down Camarin Road. We turned at the intersection of Camarin Road and Maligaya, and later saw this young man jump onto the back end of another jeepney.

Tom and Garnalee have been asked to join other couples in the San Jose Del Monte Stake for a Couples Night. Part of the evening will be couples performing a dance. Our dance is to "Shake Body Dancer" by Magic Fire.

There is a lot of body shaking going on in the dance. The Stake Relief Society President is our instructor.

One of the interesting things here is how they carve pineapples. The pineapple husk is removed, and then the eyes are cut out by carving the pnieapple in a spiral cut. The stem is left on so the carver can turn the pineapple as it is carved.

 Sunday, October 30, was the Primary program. The children gathered for a group photo in the Primary room after.

The Stake Primary President was in attendance and she asked for a picture of the Primary Presidency. Pictured are Sister Duran, Sister Harrington, Sister Merry Jane Merciales, Sister Priscilla Villaester.

Tom gave one of his Family History hopscotch games to the Primary. It was an instant hit with the children. The problem was they all wanted to play it and there were only three markers. But they were very good at taking turns.We have decided to donate one to each of the wards in the San Jose Del Monte Stake.



Garnalee had the opportunity to share a couple of spiritual thoughts this week. She choose the thoughts from the book "The Continuous Atonement" by Brad Wilcox that she had just finished reading. One thought was about moving from being obedience to sacrifice to consecration and living a consecrated life. Hebrews 5:8-9 was a good scripture to go with the thought of the Savior having to learn obedience. The other thought was to the missionaries at a District meeting in Malolos and it was on learning to follow the rules and obedience. The restoration was not simply a restoration of rules but the reasons also. Alma 12:32 is a good scripture to go with that.

Tuesday the Bertins took us and the Broadheads to a buffet restaurant called "Dad's." Apparently buffets are very popular here.

Tom had the opportunity to give the spiritual thought in our weekly office meeting where this time we were covering the events for the upcoming month. He chose to focus on the importance of our Church hymns. Each selected hymn has been inspired and should be inspiring. So we should contemplate the message.

On Saturday we went to the movie and saw the new Tom Cruise movie "Jack Reacher." It was action packed and Tom said it was a guy flick. It was a good movie that was enjoyed by both. 

Week 69--October 17-22, 2016

Tom wants to keep a pictorial history of his cucumber plants. So each week we will take a new photo to show the progress of his plants. This photo was taken on October 22, 2016.

 It is cookie time for the returning of check vouchers and BIR forms. Elder Ricafort is all smiles as he receives his package.

 Oreo cookies are a great bribe to get the missionaries to return the forms. SJDM Zone and SJ North Zone were at Zone Interviews on Thursday. Elder Harrington expressed his gratitude to the two zones as all of their forms were returned. They all had ear to ear smiles as they received their cookies.

 Outdoor meat market. This is not USDA approved marketing. This is NOT where we buy our meat.

On Saturday, October 22, three 8-year olds were baptized in our Ward. Prince Randolf Villaester with his family. His father is the bishop of the Ward.

 Charlnick Dieparine with his family.

Darence Dunganun with his family. The only boy among four sisters. 






Each of the boys shared their testimony after the baptisms were completed.

We had a typhoon moving through the area on Sunday, October 17. When we arrived at the church we learned that we were under a Signal 2 warning and only Sacrament meeting would be held. There weren't many at church. As it turned out the storm passed past north of us, and we didn't receive much in the way of wind or rain.

We attended a District meeting in the Fairview Zone on Tuesday. Elder Antonio gave the lesson on weaknesses, and how they help us to be humble.

We had another typhoon move through the area on Thursday. This one was classified as a Super Typhoon.  Again we were blessed that it went across the north end of the island of Luzon. However, Elder and Sister Broadhead were in San Ildefonso, one of the northern most cities in our mission, moving elders, and they said that there was lots rain and wind. Garnalee saw several posts on Facebook from former missionaries who live in the area where the storm passed and they reported that it was the worst storm they had ever experienced.

It was a very busy but blessing filled week. What a great way to spend retirement!

Week 68--October 10-16, 2016

 Tom's newest crop of cucumbers. They are looking really good. This picture was taken on October 15.

The inside of our apartment. It is small but adequate. We have been very comfortable while serving here in the Philippines. House cleaning is a snap.

The doorway to our apartment with a picture of Jesus on the door. All the passer byes can immediately tell where the missionaries live.

The hallway of our building. We live on the 5th level of a six level building. The lower level is the parking garage and the top level has a series of cages, one for each apartment, where the laundry is done.  The other levels are apartments.

We have a very nice elevator that allows passengers to view the floors as they pass by.









On Sunday, October 9, we watched three sessions of General Conference on our IPAD. We could have gone to the Stake Center but we opted to stay at home. Garnalee tried adobo for the first time. Adobo is a meat, soy sauce, and vinegar dish served over rice that is popular in the Philippines. In fact it is considered the national dish of the Philippines.



On Monday we attended the farewell dinner for Elder James and Sister Connie Rogers who go home to Arizona on October 28. Our senior couples are quickly dwindling. As MLS missionaries their responsibility was  to help the Bustos branch grow. They focused on home teaching. As was noted by Elder Schmutz senior couples go on mission after mission, and the Rogers are already talking about going again.







Saturday we went to see "Inferno" that is based on a Dan Brown novel and starred Tom Hanks. We enjoyed the movie. There were many twists and turns and unexpected plot lines.

Week 67--Oct 2-9, 2016

We had Sister Aldemita and Sister Lata for dinner on Sunday, October 2.  Sister Aldemita has excellent English. She credited it her watching cartoons as a child. Also her father worked as an English tutor when he was in college.

The October batch of exiting missionaries. The sisters are gathered on one end of the table. L to R: Sister Bell, Sister Alcaraz, Sister Casol-a, Sister Ukakala, Sister Merelos, and Sister Loyola.

The elders on the other end of the table. L to R: Elder Avila, Elder Costales, Elder Fernando, and Elder Arcayos.

We are going to miss Sister Bell. However, we will get to see her again when we go to California as she lives in Modesto.

Elder Perkins has been an Assistant to the President for six months and now is returning to the field for his last three months. We will miss him in the office. 

Arriving Batch on October 5. Front Row L to R: Elder Leonora, Elder Jamisola, Elder Tacon, Elder Cabalhug.
Row 2: Sister Agustin, Sister Solero, Sister Moril, and Sister Flores.
Row 3: Sister Bertin, Sister Barrie, Sister Iosua-Fiu, Sister Tanuvasa, Sister Va'atuitui, President Bertin.





Transfer week means long days, several 12 hour days, which makes a long week for us. We love the testimonies of the exiting missionaries and the excitement of the new arrivals.

On Saturday we were spiritually fed. President and Sister Bertin invited us to watch the Priesthood session of General Conference along with Elder Nielsen and Elder Narsico. Elder and Sister Broadhead didn't come as she is really sick. After Conference we did our usual chores of laundry, grocery shopping, and cleaning. After lunch we went to see "Deepwater Horizon." In the evening we watched the Saturday morning session of Conference.

Week 66--September 25-October 1, 2016

In the US a car pulls to the side of the road to change a flat tire, but in the Philippines a flat tire is changed where ever the tire happens to go flat. We came down the road and there was a jeepney stopped in our lane changing the tire.






Garnalee received a text message on Thursday, September 22, inviting her to speak in Sacrament meeting on Sunday on "Families Can Be Eternal." Sister Bertin had shared a great story from Elder Marvin J. Ashton about traveling on a train and the conductor coming to his car and asking, "What is your destination?" To which he replied, "I am going to Leicester." To which the conductor responded,  "We will be at your destination in 10 minutes." Elder Ashton stated that we often think we have arrived at our destination when certain events happen in our lives. However, each of those events, callings, etc. are only stations along the path to our ultimate destination. The story worked in perfectly with Garnalee's talk of our destination being exaltation with our families. The concept of destination was mentioned by someone in the rest of the lessons throughout the day. She felt like her talk had had an impact on the Ward members.

Garnalee also had the opportunity to teach Sharing Time on Sunday. The theme for the month of September is "The Gospel Will Be Preached to All the World." Garnalee's lesson was on preparing to go on a mission. One of the ways to prepare to go on a mission is to start saving now. She labeled envelopes with "Missionary Fund" and placed a peso in each envelope to give to the Primary children. A peso is worth only 2 cents and she could have put more in each envelope, but she wanted to get across the idea that saving happens a peso at a time.

Before we came on this mission Tom had the idea of a family history oriented hopscotch and hand painted one on muslin. Here in the Philippines printing on tarpaulin is very popular, so Tom had it redone and printed on tarpaulin. Yet to be determined is the size of each square, so he ordered five hopscotches with 12-inch squares, 14-inch squares, and 18-inch squares. A set of the three sizes will be sent to Chad for field testing. Hopefully, Holly will also agree to field test it with the grand-kids.






















On Saturday we went to see "Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children." Garnalee enjoyed the movie more than Tom

The high light of the financial side of Tom's mission this week was getting back deposits on two apartments. It seems the Filipinos view a deposit as their money, and they don't need to give it back.

Week 65--September 18-24, 2016

The flowers at the mission home are beautiful.

 The orchids grow from baskets that are attached to the tree.

The roots wrap around the tree and get moisture from the air. 

 The roots of the palm tree lifts the whole tree out of the ground as it grows.

 One of the fruits that in season right now. This is a rambutan. It has spines on the outside. It is peeled like an orange. The fruit inside is translucent with a pit. The fruit is very juicy and  tasty.






Our Senior Activity on Wednesday, September 21, was to visit Malacañan Palace Presidential Museum and Library. It was originally built as summer home for a wealthy Spanish merchant in 1750. It was sold in 1802 to the Manila governor for P1000. It was later sold to the Spanish colonial government. The palace has survived fires, earthquakes, typhoons, and World War II.

The couples gather for a group photo. Left to right: Elder and Sister Rogers, Elder and Sister Swift, Elder and Sister Harrington, President and Sister Bertin, Elder and Sister Broadhead, and Elder and Sister Bremner.  

 Our guide telling about the famous balcony where Ferdinand Marcos made his last public appearance before being exiled to Hawaii.

 We pose for a photo on the same balcony.

 The wood carvings in the palace were beautiful. This carving was above a doorway. The ceiling was amazing.

Chess set displayed in what was once the ballroom. Today it is the Presidental Palace Walkway.

 Hand carved table.

Colonial style arches on the marble walkway.

 Inlaid floors were neatly crafted.

We are all ready to dive into the pizza to end our day.











We had Stake Conference on Saturday and Sunday, September 17-18, with one of the Philippines Area Seventy, Elder Tobias. He spoke on Saturday about Ward Councils and  changing from Philippine culture to Church culture. Sunday he spoke about patterns of righteousness. As an introduction he told the story of Juan de la Cruz. Seems Juan de la Cruz, a Filipino, spent some time in Paris, France. Juan didn't speak a lick of French, so on his first morning, when he opened his window, his neighbor said, "Bon Jour." Juan presumed that Bon Jour meant Ano ang pangalan mo? (What's your name?) So he replied, "Juan de la Cruz." After several days of this routine of responding "Juan de la Cruz" he decided he would ask his neighbor what his name was, so the next morning when he opened the window, Juan spoke first and said, "Bon Jour." His neighbor replied, "Juan de la Cruz."Some of our patterns are not based on truth. After the conference we attended a funeral for a sister who lived in our Ward.

The last of the Zone Conferences happened this week. Garnalee and Tom went in to listen to Sister Bertin's talk on Diligence. Just as Garnalee sat down, she received a text that she was going to speak in church on Sunday and her topic was "Families Can Be Eternal." Sister Bertin shared a story from Elder Marvin J. Ashton about riding on a train and the conductor asking, "What is your destination?" and responding to Elder Ashton's answer with, "We will be at your destination in 10 minutes?" We many times think we have arrived at our destination when in reality we have just reached a station along the road to our destination. The story fit in perfectly with the talk Garnalee prepared for Sunday.

Saturday evening we went to see the remake of "Magnificent 7." Denzel Washington stars in the Western. There was some excellent acting in the movie and we enjoyed it.