The year began with the Philippine Area Presidency giving the Philippine Saints the 2013 Area Goals. The following photo's are a visual of the goals. We are excited to be a part of helping the saints in the implement the 2013 Area Goals.
On their way to help implement the 2013 Area Goals by visiting the less-active.
At first there were a few children playing but when we started handing out candy the word got out and a crowd of kids showed up for their candy.
Another sweet and humble family that we visited.
All kids love to have their picture taken and these kids were quick to line up for their picture.
Elder Fullmer thinks they are on their way to Kentucky Fried Chicken, but Sister Fullmer thinks it is momma hen taking the family for a stroll.
We are amazed with the capability of the people to carry most anything on their heads. Notice the flip flops, which they call slippers, that are worn by nearly everyone from road construction workers, to playing basketball.
While visiting a less active sister at the palengke, (market) Elder Fullmer was invited to try a raw singkamas (turnip). We bought some from her and they are much like a Jicama.
These sisters were delighted to pose for a picture after church in the Aringay Branch.
The beautiful bougainvillea plant grow in many yards and businesses and bloom year round. The blooms are either pink, white or purple.
These are the turnips we bought, they are similar to Jicama The jars are filled with the Mango homemade jam that Sister Fullmer learned to make using apple peelings and lemon juice. Pectin is not available here.
The Nipa hut across the road from us that has been rebuilt for use as an office by Dino, the contractor for this street of homes.
A farewell dinner for Sister Yousuf who was leaving the next day. The restaurant is a Chinese restaurant that we have come to enjoy. The sisters are so appreciative whether Sister Fullmer cooks or we take them out to dinner. It is a joy to be with them.
This vehicle is used to rice prepare the rice fields for planting and then the long apparatus behind the engine is attached and used for transporting people and most anything else.
This is a cactus plant with empty egg shells stuck on the ends. This is a very creative way they decorate this type of plants.
This beautiful yellow plant grows in many places. The name of the flower is Bell flower.
This is the Mangosteen fruit. Our neighbor, the attorney, who lives across the street from us brought the fruit and the candy, that is made from the fruit, to us when he went to Davao.
A Nipa hut being moved to a new location.
After visiting this sweet sister we asked if we could take a picture of her kitchen. Notice the wood above her head that she uses for firewood to cook with. There are very few who have ovens.
One of our Branch Primary President's leaving the La Union Medical Center with her newborn.
The next pictures are of the Maternity ward of the La Union Medical Center in Agoo.
Another view of the maternity ward in the medical center.
This sister came to the hospital and while using the bathroom (called a CR here)she had the baby in the bathroom. The mother was having problems with bleeding and the baby was undergoing tests to see if there was any head damage.
This women and her day old baby were in the hallway of the maternity ward.
The emergency entrance to the La Union Medical Center in Agoo.
Another beautiful South Pacific sunset taken from the balcony of our house.
A vendor on the entry road to our house selling hot breakfast food. We have been told not to eat from street vendors even though some of the food looks really good.
One of the more common small trucks in the Philippines. Notice the size difference from the truck that is approaching us head on.
This housing project is being built for the local police and the Philippine National Police. It is located a few miles north of our house.
A mountain view on the way to Baguio to do apartment checks.
In Baguio the mountain sides are covered with homes.
Even the little kids like to ride on the tricycles. This is very typical and we are always concerned for their children's safety but this is a way of life here.
Sister Fullmer teaching the Relief Society members how to make the material corsages. Even a young man and several young women came to the class and made the corsages. One of the young women made corsages for her shoes and wore the shoes to church on Sunday.
Another picture of the sisters in the group making the flower corsages.
The sisters learning how to make no-bake cookies. They were excited because so many homes do not have ovens.
Sister Gina and her husband went to a lot of trouble to fix lunch for the Agoo Zone missionaries. She had the sisters and the Fullmer's sit inside her home and the Elders on the outside.
This is the group who had lunch at Sister Gina's.
This is Brother Gatchalian's trike. He is the husband of Sister Gina.
Visiting less-actives with Sister Gina. Each time is a unique experience.
Fishing on the South China Sea or as they like to call it here in the Philippines, the Philippine Sea.
We were on our way to visit a family that live on the seashore.
This poor, but humble family lives on the seashore and welcomed us into their home for our message and prayer.
On our way to visit another family on the seashore. The young sister has received her mission call and entered the Manila Mission Training Center on March 1, 2013.
Guess what we are having for dinner. These are sold along the road and we just had to have our picture taken with the chicken.
There are tow Nipa huts and 2 homes being built on our short street and this you man is making cinder blocks for their construction. Dina, the builder told Brother Fullmer that home make blocks saves him quite a bit of money and he is also able to sell any excess blocks.
This is the entrance to the Philippine Public Safety College located about 150 meters from our house.
This young man is clearing the trees and undergrowth from the hill. He uses the ropes to stabilize him when the footholds are not secure enough. The builder will either plant grass or drill and anchor cement that is sprayed on the hill to keep it the hill from sliding in during torrential rain storms.
This is the chapel in Mapandan where Elder Fullmer conducted clerk training for the District and the Branches in the District.
This photo is of an Iglesia Ni Cristo church. There are many of these churches in the Philippines.
The main street in Mangalden. Shops are along the main street. Sister Fullmer would have loved to been able to stop and shop but there is no place to park and Elder Fullmer was happy about that.
This photo was taken in the Aringay branch president's office of Kenerlyn De Castro getting ready to open her mission call. She will enter the MTC on April 26th. She is a young lady who we visited in her mothers home in the country. She wanted to go on a mission but her mother wanted her to stay home and work. After Sister Gina and Elder and Sister Fullmer bore testimony of the importance of missionary, read scriptures and said a closing pray the mother agreed her daughter could go on a mission. The young lady was overjoyed with her mothers decision to support her on a mission. On Kenerlyn's right is Sister Gina and on her left is President Mortensen, 1st counselor in the mission presidency, and on his left is President Flores the Aringay Branch President.
Photo taken outside the Aringay Chapel.
Kenerlyn with the Caba Sister missionaries. Left to right is Sister Stapp, Kenerlyn, and Sister Dacuno.
These two youngsters were ready to go home after church and began to push their dad's trike toward the gate of the church parking lot.
Taken outside the home of a family that hosted a Family Home Evening for their family and other families in the area.
This is the palm leaf covered outer building of the home where we held our Family Home Evening. Note the beautiful sunset in the background. It just couldn't get any better than this - having Family Home Evening on a beach in the Philippines with the waves breaking on shore, a beautiful sunset, and a family who was grateful the church had continued to visit them until they were ready to return to activity. He also stated that it has brought light back into his life.
A view looking into the interior of the outer building.
Some of the children really getting into a game we were playing. The games are simple and yet very fun for all ages. Lots of laughter and good fun.
The sister missionaries at the family home evening at the seashore. From left to right are Sister Fernando, Sister Lagrimas, Sister Stapp, and Sister Dacuno.
This little boy is the son of the family that hosted our Family Home Evening. He is deaf and mute but what a little charmer. Upon our arrival he took to Sister Fullmer and stayed by her side all night long. He had such a sweet spirit and a delightful smile. It took Elder Fullmer shaking his hand and wiggling his nose to get the youngster to smile for the picture even though he had been smiling a lot all night.
We look forward to meeting the new Mission President when he arrives in San Fernando. As of now, we are the only couple assigned to the new mission and will commute from our home to the San Fernando mission home for an undetermined time.
We have seen the Lord's hand in our life and in many others. We are so grateful to have the fullness of the Gospel and to bring that message and enlighten people's lives. We are grateful to have a living prophet and Apostles that receive revelation on how best to serve the people of the world. We see this in their inspiration to lower the age for missionary service and creating more missions.
