Christmas arrived and departed almost too fast for us. We love the season and our love for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has grown over the last 17 months. We love being part of his missionary force and have seen the gospel touch many lives. We hope all of you have safely celebrated the Christmas season and have reflected on our Savior who is the reason for the Christmas season.
Our December started with the incoming missionaries arriving on December 4th and transfers occurred on December 6th.
Our December started with the incoming missionaries arriving on December 4th and transfers occurred on December 6th.
These are the missionaries that arrived on December 4th from several different countries.
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Unloading the baggage for the incoming missionaries.
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The Sisters luggage is tagged with a pink ribbon and the Elders luggage is tagged with a blue ribbon.
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Five of the incoming Sister missionaries. The sister 2nd from the right is from Pocatello, Idaho.
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Four more sisters of the incoming missionaries.
Brother Duma on the right is on the Bauang High Council and the sister on the the right is his daughter and a returned missionary.
For those of you who love the South Pacific sunsets here are a few for your enjoyment.
Elder Olson was a wonderful Assistant to the President and is going home now that he has completed his mission. He was held in Manila for two weeks due to a new official in the Philippine INS enforcing a long neglected law which prevented the Church from getting the passports for returning missionaries.
Sister Lagrimas is going home also after completing her mission. She is a wonderful friend and we will miss her very much.
Enjoy the sunset.
The Primary and Priesthood Preview held at the Agoo chapel.
A performance by one of the branches in the Agoo District.
This group performance was good also.
The sister with us is the wife of the Agoo District President. She also went with us many times to visit less active members in the Agoo District.
This is the wife of the Aringay Branch President and his daughter Gabrielle.
These children gave a delightful presentation for their primary sacrament meeting program.
We have watched this little girl of the Aringay Branch president grow from a baby to a charming little girl who is also a handful of a child.
Enjoy.
Sister Fullmer and Judy returning from shopping in the Aringay market.
The trike is a very popular form of transportation in the Philippines.
Sister Fullmer and Judy returning from shopping in the Aringay market.
The trike is a very popular form of transportation in the Philippines.
The jeepney is also a popular form of transportation in the Philippines. We got this photo at a busy intersection on our way to work. Jeepney's are stuffed full of people and when the interior of the jeepney is full then they climb on the top.
Judy with the ever present batch of puppies. There have been several batches of pups since we have lived across the street from her. They are cute, however, they are also noisy.
Four of the Sister missionaries who had a Christmas dinner with us prior to our going to Baguio City for three days. We enjoy the opportunity to be with them.
This is a group shot of the sisters at our house for pre-Christmas dinner. One of the Filipino sisters had never eaten turkey before and she loved it. It was worth the $35 American for the small turkey.
They each received a small gift from us for Christmas.
Another shot of the sisters at our pre-Christmas dinner.
This is our Christmas Zone Conference and dinner.
The food was excellent as it always is when Sister Gina caters it.
Some of the sisters enjoying their dinner at the Christmas Zone Conference.
The Jackson's on the left are the Area doctor and his wife. The second couple from the right are the Ferrin's. The couple on the far right are the Dinkels.
Santa with President and Sister Balledos giving out Christmas gifts to everyone.
This is what is left of the two pigs that were part of the Christmas dinner catered by Sister Gina.
Each Zone put on a skit and this one depicted the birth of the Christ child.
This group of Elders put on a wonderful dance routine.
The couple on the left is President and Sister Ramos. He is the first counselor in the mission presidency and she is a counselor in the Agoo District Primary President.
Two photo's of the two pigs that were the main course for the Christmas Zone Conference dinner.
Two photo's of the two pigs that were the main course for the Christmas Zone Conference dinner.
The pigs were enjoyed by all of those attending the dinner.
Another South Pacific sunset.
The Bauang 2nd branch primary president with the primary after the sacrament meeting primary presentation. This branch was the last primary presentation for this year.
The leadership and teachers of the Bauang 2nd branch with Sister Fullmer.
The Bauang 2nd branch missionaries.
Another shot of the Bauang 2nd branch primary leadership with Elder Fullmer and the 1st counselor in the Bauang 2nd branch presidency.
Dinner in Baguio City on December 23rd. The mission president is on my right, then his son, son-in-law, youngest daughter, his oldest daughter who will have the president's first grand child in May, then Sister Balledos, Sister Fullmer and the Dinkels.
The interior of the SM mall in Baguio City decorated for Christmas.
Our friend and neighbor Judy has a green thumb and always has flowers growing. This photo shows the poinsettia's she has planted and they turn red every December.
Our friend and neighbor Judy has a green thumb and always has flowers growing. This photo shows the poinsettia's she has planted and they turn red every December.
The market in Baguio City. It is huge and you can find almost anything there.
This is the meat area of the Baguio Market.
A photo of one of the buildings in the Baguio market.
Sister Fullmer shopping in the Baguio City market.
President and Sister Monahan on the left of us and on the right is our friends the Mortensons. He is the first counselor in the Urdaneta Mission presidency.
The lobby of the hotel where we stay had a lovely Christmas tree decorated in white.
The exterior of the hotel where we stayed.
Outside of the hotel La Monet where we and the Dinkels, the Baguio Mission President, his wife and children and the couple missionaries from Urdaneta and President and Sister Monahan of the Urdaneta Mission stayed for the nights of December 23rd and 24th.
This unique manger scene was on the outside of the hotel we stayed in.
A fruit and vegetable stand on the way home from Baguio. We usually stop to buy some fresh produce from them.
This is the meat area of the Baguio Market.
A photo of one of the buildings in the Baguio market.
Sister Fullmer shopping in the Baguio City market.
President and Sister Monahan on the left of us and on the right is our friends the Mortensons. He is the first counselor in the Urdaneta Mission presidency.
The lobby of the hotel where we stay had a lovely Christmas tree decorated in white.
The exterior of the hotel where we stayed.
Outside of the hotel La Monet where we and the Dinkels, the Baguio Mission President, his wife and children and the couple missionaries from Urdaneta and President and Sister Monahan of the Urdaneta Mission stayed for the nights of December 23rd and 24th.
This unique manger scene was on the outside of the hotel we stayed in.
A fruit and vegetable stand on the way home from Baguio. We usually stop to buy some fresh produce from them.
We couldn't resist taking this photo of the baby eating a bread stick. Her mother is the owner of one of the fruit and vegetable stands in the previous photo.
This is the Aringay neighborhood Christmas party for the children. It was held on the basketball court by our home. The kids had a lot of fun but the music was loud and went on for 5 hours so we were glad to see it end at about 8:30pm. The picture was taken from our veranda.
This little girl made sure her puppy did not get in the way of the festivities and did not get hit by a motorcycle or car.
You always ask for more sunsets, so here is two more to close out the year.
Beautiful and always great to look at.
These are the lei's we have been given during our mission in the Philippines. We loved getting them and loved the members who made sure we always got one when we went to special programs in the District or the branches. The larger ones at the bottom of the photo are made with dried silk worms.
Sister De Jose on the left and Sister Chan on the right sang a beautiful duet "If the Savior Stood Beside Me". They sang after the Aringay, Bauang and Caba sisters had lunch at our house. Their voices were like angels.
Anxious to eat the soup that Sister Fullmer made and Elder Fullmer is about to serve.
We so enjoy the sister coming to our home.
Everybody enjoying being together and the fine meal that Sister Fullmer prepared.
A pause in eating for another group picture.
It will be hard to say goodbye to all these sweet and wonderful sisters that live close to us.
As we close out the year 2013, we want everyone to know that the gospel is true no matter what part of the world you are in, and we hope our testimony of Jesus Christ will help us to be a better mother, father, wife, husband, sister, brother and friend. Because of our testimonies, we try to live as God intends for us to--with integrity, honesty, love, patience, and compassion, treating others as children of God and extending service when needed. By us trying to live a Christ like life, we hope that others will want to learn about Him.
Have a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
