The highlights for October was Sister Fullmer's birthday and the arrival of 32 new missionaries to the mission. It is always a pleasure to celebrate your companion's birthday and to welcome the new missionaries to the mission.
Sister Dinkle made this wonderful cake for Sister Fullmer's birthday. The Dinkel's also brought ice cream to add to the celebration.
Another photo of the Sister's and the birthday cake. This was a nice surprise for Sister Fullmer.
The Transfer Elders, Elder Dinkel and the Sister Training Leads enjoying the cake and ice cream.
This photo and the few that follow are of the seaside resort where we and the Dinkel's went for lunch to celebrate Sister Fullmer's birthday.
The food was good and the view was even better. This is nice and it was close to the office.
Filipino's net fishing near where we were having lunch.
The catch was small but we enjoyed watching them fish.
A group shot of the lunch which was very good.
The birthday girl and her missionary companion.
Leaving the resort area we paused to take another photo.
The rice harvest is in full swing and the fields are in various stages of the harvest.
The sunsets are still very lovely at this time of year.
The rice is spread out on any surface the farmers can find, even the road side. Once it is dried it is taken to the rice mill for further preparation. Drying this way saves the farmer the cost of commercial drying.
This view was taken looking out the back door of the Mission President's home in San Juan which is a few kilometers from the mission office. It is a very lovely home where President and Sister Balledos and their children live. Even though it is a busy time for the mission due to transfers, Sister Balledos fixed a lovely lunch for the Dinkels and us.
The beach at the Mission President's home.
The Nepa in the back yard of the Mission President's home.
Looking from the beach to the back of the Mission President's home.
More rice drying on the shoulder of the road. The road is the North South National Highway in Luzon.
The rice is spread out each morning and cleaned up each afternoon.
There are many sacks of rice being dried in the sun.
A lighter side of the mission. Elder Fullmer and Elder Fallejo stomping the boxes that the vitamins come in. Vitamins are given to any Elder or Sister who want them.
Sister Balledos and her family always prepares sandwiches for the arriving missionaries as they usually arrive hungry after the long bus ride from Manila. This group of arriving missionaries were on a bus that broke down for a couple of hours and they arrived much later than they were supposed to.
This group photo with President and Sister Balledos is of the missionaries who arrived on October 23rd.
Another lighter moment in the life of a missionary. The Assistant to the President is helping the Mission Recorder with his shave prior to the missionaries arrival.
Missionaries come in all sizes. The short elder is Elder Fallejo who is the Mission Financial Elder and the tall elder arrived with this transfer. He has a basketball scholarship but placed that on hold to serve the Lord in the mission field.
After the transfer meeting. where the new missionaries find out who their companion's are, and what area they will serve in, the jeepneys are loaded with luggage and mail for the different zones. This is always a fun time.
All missionaries are happy to be on their way to their new zone where they can begin serving the Lord.
The sisters always add a pleasant touch to any mission meeting or occasion.
Some baggage is heavy and may require assistance to get to the proper jeepney.
Sister Paduga requested this photo before she boarded the jeepney for her new area.
Children in the Philippines grow up riding motorcycles and have no fear of falling off. Some hold on tightly to their dad and others do not.
Wash day at the Fullmer's. Everything is hung inside to dry as the outside air is not the cleanest.
This little girl was determined to help her mother clean the street in front of our home.
The cleaning is complete so it is time to go home. They live on the same street as us.
The Aringay sisters at our home for dinner. They sang a song from EFY "I Know Who I Am" and then sang "Happy Birthday" to Sister Fullmer. Their voices are always so lovely.
Fun celebrating Sister De Jose's birthday. Sister De Jose is the 2nd from the right.
The highlight of the evening was having the Caba sister's at our home to celebrate Sister De Jose's birthday.
More sunsets for those of you who love the sunset pictures on our blog.
The sunsets are very spectacular here in the Philippines.
Since we have been in the Philippines we have witnessed together that the Lord begins and ends each day in beauty, silently setting forth breathtaking loveliness uniquely crafted for that day and beckoning us to be happy in Him.
