We have been busy training branch presidencies, relief society and primary presidencies and clerks for the various auxiliaries and visiting the less-active members. We are still learning some of the roads and hope soon to have a good idea where everything is in our mission. President and Sister Lindsay left on October 29th after completing their year and a half mission. We are saddened to see them go but know that their families are rejoicing at having them home again.
This trike is loaded with baskets for sale. They drive through the neighborhoods to sell these all multi-use baskets.
Many people utilize the ATM's here in the Philippines. This is a line waiting for their turn.
This is a typical pharmacy. The selection is limited and all items, even vitamins, are located behind a counter and you must ask for them.
This home under construction is in the area where we live. Homes are made of concrete. They do not use wood due to termites.
Some of the animals that are in our area. Goats are plentiful here even though they are quite expensive. They are raised to eat.
These caribou are in our neighborhood also. They are very plentiful and are used to work in the rice fields.
A school is located up the street from out home and the kids walk by twice a day on their way to and from school. All children have uniforms.
Another interesting way of getting around. Safety does not seem to matter much when you are riding the trikes.
A typical home in the Philippines
See the contrast with the previous picture. Some of the homes can be really nice for those who have money. These two homes could be in the same neighborhood and located next to each other.
The rice harvest is in full swing and these people are sacking up the rice that has been laying on the road all day during the hot sunny weather. The rice is first harvested then dried on any flat surface such as a roadside or a basketball court and then taken to the rice mills to remove the outer husks. When they see you taking a photo, they all wave as they love having their picture taken.
Another photo of the rice harvest.
A multi-use vehicle used in the fields and then converted for use on the road.
The chapel located in Umingan, Philippines
The rear entrance to one of the homes the Elder missionaries live in.
The front entrance to the home of the Elder Missionaries.
A home where we visited with the members.
Scene looking into one of the fields on our way to visit members.
The arch on the road to the town next to where we live. The date shows 1578-1978, the anniversary of the founding of the town.
The local hospital which is located in the town a few miles from where we live.
Many towns have tree houses like this one located in Damortis, Philippines.
Installing our much needed and anticipated air conditioning.
The Jollibee is a popular fast food chain in the Philippines. It is much like McDonald's, but in our opinion it is not as good.
This is the location of the much anticipated Philippines Urdaneta temple.
Eating after the events of the Philippines Family week. The bananas leaves are used as table clothes and as a plate.
The Sister Missionaries and us having dinner at Michael Kelly;s, an expat who has lived in the Philippines for many years. The food was a variety food and very good. She served us prawns that are like huge shrimp and very good.
A view of the South China Sea from the road between Damortis and San Fabian.
An Elementary school South of Damortis.
Dinner at the Fullmer's with the Sister Missionaries. Sister Cabrera is holding quail eggs which we all enjoyed. Sister Fernando and Sister Stapp also enjoyed the meal. We enjoyed a Family Home Evening with the Sister's where we shared our favorite scriptures and discussed the gospel and how much it means in our life.
This is a fruit called Rambutaan. When you cut it open there is a fruit inside that is like a peeled grape and is very sweet.
Elder Fullmer hanging out the laundry to dry. Sister Fullmer says he is an expert at doing this on every Preparation Day. We are fortunate to have a washing machine. The Elder and Sister missionaries do not have one. They either do it themselves by hand or pay someone to do it for them.
This is where we buy our bottled water. We pay 50 pesos which is about $1.25 for 10 gallons.
The Sister Missionaries and Sister Fullmer after a Zone meeting at Agoo. We love these sisters and enjoy their company on several occasions.
Rice drying at the basketball court below our house.
Harvesting rice. Taken on our way to see some members.
A member, who is a fish farmer, and his daughter. When a typhoon comes in it kills all his fish and he has to start over again.
The roosters here can not tell time. They crow at all hours of the day and night. It seems everyone has chickens and rooster so one of them is crowing all the time.
This is a home constructed of bamboo which is very strong.
In the country this is how they protect their roosters from the heat.
A close up of the rooster enjoying the shade from the bag that protects him from the sun.
Sister Gina suggested this Filipino restaurant that we took her to for lunch after visiting families all day. We thought the name of the restaurant was unusual because it says the Ice Tea Restaurant even though they do not serve iced tea.
This is the front of a members home the first part of October. They start celebrating Christmas very early here.
A family that we visited with. Sister Gina is in the Blue blouse. She loves missionary work and taking us to members homes. The members really love us reading scriptures and we encourage them to come back to church.
Grandma with her grandchildren.
The children bidding us goodbye.
One of the local police (Pulisya) cars.
Another photo of the rice drying on the basketball court below our house.
The entry into our housing area.
Coconut Heaven. They use a lot of coconut and coconut milk in their cooking and desserts. It is rather inexpensive.
Coconuts in the tree tops and the guava fruit covered with bags to protect against the insects.
The cadets of the security academy up the street from where we live.
The office Elders. Elder Nieman is Finance, Elder Mayes is an assistant to president Monahan, Elder Elix is the office recorder and Elder Tolman is an assistant to president Monahan. They were invaluable with their knowledge of computers and their help was greatly appreciated.
The couples in our mission and President and Sister Monahan. From left to right - the Franco's (2nd counselor to President Monahan), the Fullmer's, the Mortimer's, the Lindsays, the President and Sister Monahan, the Engels, and the Stamps.
This Carabau is enjoying his mud bath and getting cooled of at the same time.
The turkey we wished we could have for Thanksgiving. He lives in the yard some of the Elder missionaries.
The lady who washes the clothes for two of the Elders.
Elder Plania (goes home Dec 11th) and Elder Villacer (went home Oct 30th)who are the Zone Leaders for the Agoo Zone and they direct us to the location of the missionary apartments in the Agoo Zone. They were awesome Zone Leaders and we will miss them.
This orchid was growing in front of the Caba Sister missionaries home. They live about 20 minutes from us. Smaller orchid's grow wild in many yards.
This is the view from the Branch President's home in Tubao. He is a gifted wood carver and we will be purchasing some of his products before we come home.
The steps into the Tabao branch president's workshop.
This is the Tabao branch president's home with his children playing outside.
The home across the street from us. We can reserve it for anyone desiring to come to visit. Rent is cheap and as Bishop Parkinson pointed out there is no yard to mow.
The people do not have any fear of falling or the kids losing their balance even with large truck and buses zooming by.
These are prawns (shrimp) if you are inclined to buy from the many ladies who sell these beside the road.
Shopping in the market (palengke) place for our produce. We love these small banana's.
The trikes are also used to transport many items as seen here with a load of rice.
Rice Harvest
Harvesting the rice. The rice is placed into the machine to separate the rice from the stalks.
Another photo of the rice harvest.
Damortis is famous for it's dried fish and has the nickname of Damor fish. Along with dried fish, there are many many strings of garlic hanging from every store in the market along the road.
Selling dried fish in Damortis.
This is the flower shop in the mall in San Fernando where I bought Sister Fullmer's birthday flowers and we both got to enjoy the baby.
Surely someone must know where all these power lines lead to.
Another photo of the school children near our home. They go to school at 7:30am and go home at 11:30am then return to school at 1:00pm and are finished for the day at 4:30pm.
An elderly couple we visited with in their home. When we asked him to give a closing prayer, he gave a beautiful and long prayer.
Another family we visited with.
Driving from a visit to a members home. The road became a trail and we managed to scratch the right side of the SUV before reaching a better road.
Just in case, we scouted out an acceptable funeral home.
Our fire department in Aringay, Philippines.
Spraying Permatox to keep the bugs from overtaking us. You have to take everything out of all cabinets and spray everywhere. The spraying needs to be done about every six week or more frequently if you sight little creatures in the home.
The missionaries and us were invited to Sister Gina Gatchalian's home to celebrate her and her husbands 20th wedding anniversary. She is an excellent cook and has a catering business. There son is serving a mission in Pocatello, Idaho where our son and brother live.
The road past the sister missionaries home leads to the South China Seashore and we were able to capture this beautiful sunset.
Another beautiful sunset taken the same night.
The kids on the beach. They came running up to to just say hello and to see us taking movies and their picture. Some of the children here have never seen a white man and woman. They were delightful and performed for us.
A heavily armed policeman in San Fernando directing traffic.
The Tubao Primary children and teachers with Sister Fullmer after they gave the primary program.
The Agoo 3 branch primary children, their teachers, and the District President taken at the Agoo Chapel in Agoo, Philippines. The photo was taken after church on the day of the children's primary program.
The primary Agoo 2 Branch Primary president's family. The baby is two weeks old.
Enjoying the baby while mom and dad ate lunch.
Sister Fullmer with the babe and her older sister. Notice the necklaces the primary leaders made for the children and guests.
We were told that a cultural tradition is to have food after most events. This was a delicious meal.
The dessert is made of sticky rice and coconut milk and cocoa with coconut sprinkled on top. This is a favorite dessert in the Philippines and everyone wants a piece.
The green item is a new fruit we discovered. It is much like an orange and quite sweet. We bought some more quail eggs because the are cheap, 20 pesos for a dozen which is about $.50.
The Agoo 2 Branch Primary after they had put on their Primary program in Sacrament meeting.
Sister Fullmer has learned to tie up the curtains in one of the traditional ways of the Philippines. The orchid and poinsettia are her birthday flowers. The red pineapple is a typical Christmas decoration. We have this one hanging in our window because the Christmas season is celebrated from about September until the end of December.
We cannot believe the time is passing so fast. It has been three months since we said goodbye to family, and dear friends and entered the Missionary Training Center on August 6, 2012. We
have grown in the gospel and in our love for the Savior and his sacrifice for us. We have also grown to love the Filipino people. They have a kindness, gentleness and a pure love of Christ in their countenance. A kind word is always on their lips and a smile is forever on their faces. We close this blog with our testimony that Christ lives, that He is our Savior and the world's Savior and by Him, and through Him, we may all return to our Father in Heaven. We love our families and our dear friends and thank each of you for your love, support, and prayers for our success on this mission.
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