September was a very good month for us and the mission. We were honored to have Elder Echo Hawk of the Seventy and Sister Echo Hawk tour our mission. They instructed us and gave us suggestions on how to make our mission better. They were very warm, friendly and personable. We really enjoyed their visit.
We went to dinner at a resort on the South China Sea with Elder and Sister Echo Hawk, the Dinkel's and the Mission President and two of the president's younger children.
It was fun to see the rain squalls developing on the horizon.
Fishing on the South China Sea
Sun beginning to set on the South China Sea.
This photo was taken at the catered lunch during the visit of Elder and Sister Echo Hawk. Left to right is the Fullmer's, Sister Gina who catered the luncheon, Sister Balledos, President Balledos and Brother Bernie who is the husband of Sister Gina.
The Echo Hawk's having lunch with some of the sister missionaries.
A few of the new Sister Missionaries with Sister Fullmer and Sister Balledos. Sister Balledos makes yummy sandwiches and desserts for the new missionaries.
Getting the baggage into the jeepney's to go to the zones the missionaries have been assigned to.
Sometimes loading the jeepney's can be a task due to the number of missionaries and the number of suitcases.
A jeepney loaded with furniture for a missionary apartment.
The mission pickup loaded to go to a missionary apartment.
Transporting chickens in San Fernando.
The children seem to grow up riding motorcycles. This youngster is holding on tight.
Rice fields are beautiful to see when they are filled with rice plants.
Another shot of a rice field.
A neck shave Filipino style.
Even the ears get a trim with the double edged razor blade. The barber is very adept at getting your neck and ears shaved without cutting you.
This lady was walking the streets in our little neighborhood selling fish.
A South Pacific sunset.
The sky is beautiful with the sunsets we are treated to on most nights.
This young elder is very excited to open his mission package. We were at his baptism a year ago and he has been anticipating his mission call for a few months. We are delighted that he has stayed so strong in the gospel.
The excitement of the moment was very emotional for this future missionary and he could not contain the tears of joy at receiving his mission call.
Delivering mission calls is one of the highlights that we have in the mission.
During the typhoon we got a lot of rain and this is the street behind our house.
The Aringay Sister Missionaries arriving for dinner. They got caught in a downpour and were very wet when they arrived at our house.
An after dinner photo with the Aringay Missionaries.
Elder Matthews was an Assistant to the President. He completed his mission and went home this transfer. Elder Matthews was a very dedicated and pleasant person to be associated with. He was very successful in each of his callings during his mission.
In the parking lot of the CSI grocery store. The security guards help you get your groceries into the car and if needed they also help you back out of parking spots. It will be quite an adjustment for us when we come home to shop without the superb service that the Filipino's give everyone.
This group photo is of the missionaries that arrived on September 11th.
We see this lady walking her goats almost every morning or evening when we are going to or from the mission office.
Almost all of the transportation have on their vehicle a reference to the Lord.
The Sister Missionaries who arrived on September 11th.
The Elders who arrived on September 11th.
Loading the jeepney's to take the missionaries to their assigned area.
The Sister Missionaries enjoying a lighter moment.
Tricycles in the market place at Caba.
The Primary children of Damortis after their primary sacrament presentation. This is the first branch that had the Tagalog hymn books and the we sang songs for today's meeting in Tagolog.
After the primary program the children in Damortis gave Sister Fullmer white roses.
The Dinkels and us went to the Urdaneta Mission home for Family Home Evening. We got to visit with our friends and meet two senior couples who have arrived in the Urdaneta mission after the mission split and we were assigned to the Baguio Mission in San Fernando. From left to right are the Dinkel's, the Fullmer's, the Mortensen's, President and Sister Monahan, the Franco's, the Stamps, the Bell's, and the Shamrell's.
The fields are so pretty when the rice is dark green.
Every available bit of ground is usually planted in rice.
We passed this park on our way to attend church in the Tubao Branch.
The Tubao primary sacrament presentation was September 22 and this is a photo of the children.
Everyone wants to have their picture taken and we always comply with their request and they always comply with our request for photo's.
The primary president is on the left with the baby. She is also the wife of the branch president. The couple on the right with the baby are a delightful couple. She is the Agoo District primary president and also the Young Women's president in her branch. He is the second councilor in the Agoo District presidency.
The rice drying on the side of the road is part of the early harvest for this year.
The sister missionaries from Caba had dinner with us on the night this photo was taken. It is always a delight to have the missionaries in our home as they always bring such a sweet spirit.
We thought this was an unusual sign.
A roadside vendor of barbecued chicken.
This road is the National Highway. The truck on the right is broke down and when this happens the vehicle stays where it stopped until repairs have been completed. This could take days or a week or more and traffic just has to go around the stalled vehicle.
This is a photo of the primary in the Agoo 3rd branch on the day they presented the primary presentation on September 29, 2013.
Agoo 3rd Branch primary children eating lunch after their sacrament meeting presentation.
This little girl was just a couple of months old when we first arrived in the Philippines. We are eating the Ponsit, Lumpia, and rice cakes they had for lunch after the primary presentation.
This charming little girl was very friendly and before church started she kept coming to talk with us.
Thought those of you who have been to the Philippines would enjoy a photo of the Baluts. For those who aren't familiar with Balut's it would take a long time to explain what a Balut is.
The reddish purple eggs are made that way by soaking them in salt for an undetermined time. They are called salted eggs. Next to the purple eggs are quail eggs.
The last sunset for September.
One of the few moons we have seen while here in the Philippines
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Elder Echo Hawk mentioned in his talk at one of our meetings that The Book of Mormon is the greatest resource to help us learn, progress, and become more Christ like. We are so thankful to have the Book of Mormon and the Bible for guidance and comfort in our lives.
