February 2, 2014 we drove to Rosales to visit our friends President and Sister Mortensen of the Philippines Urdaneta mission. They live in a duplex and we were able to stay in the home next to them. We spent the evening with the Mortensen's and had a wonderful dinner. The next morning, February 3rd, we had a delicious breakfast prepared by the Mortensen's and then they took us to meet the driver who would take us to Manila. We arrived in Manila in the early afternoon and went to the Area Office to get our passports and exit visa's. We then went to the World War Two American Cemetery and then to our hotel.
On our way to Rosales we spotted this tricycle loaded with eggs.
Entering Manila. Not much traffic in the early afternoon.
In front of the Area Office with the Manila temple in the background.
The beautiful Manila temple.
The signs fascinated me. They are made of canvas and have the capability to be rolled up during severe wind or weather.
The entrance to the American Cemetery in Manila.
The grounds are impeccably kept.
The city of Manila in the background.
Another photo of the grounds with Manila in the background.
The next day, February 4th, Sister Lagrimes, who served in the Aringay area we served in and completed her mission last December, met us at the temple and we did a session. She lives a considerable distance from the temple and flew in on Monday and will stay with her brother in Manila. We were so pleased she made the trip to the temple even though it was a personal sacrifice for her. It made our visit to the temple a memorable experience.
A group photo in the lobby of the Philippines Missionary Training Center. We all loved the quote on the wall behind us.
This fort has a long history and is a great place to visit.
With some of the ceremonial guards at the Fort Santiago.
A statue of MacArthur.
Transportation that can be used to move around the grounds of the fort.
One of the oldest churches in Manila.
With some of the fictional characters on the grounds of the Mall of Asia.
Chinese New Year in the Mall of Asia.
This was a sign on the outside of the Mall of Asia but it sure was appropriate for the group of missionaries and returned missionaries.
The sun setting at Manila Bay. The boardwalk was packed with people who come to see the sunsets.
Our daughter Michelle and our granddaughter Allysa met us at the airport. We stayed with Michelle and her family for a couple of days before she took us to Logan. She spent the day after our arrival taking us to Temple Square and other places we needed to go to. It was fun being with her for a couple of days.
We were delighted to have family meet us at the airport. Our brothers Boyd in the background and Norris on the right with their wives Marsha standing next to Boyd and Wendy next to Norris. Also our daughter Michelle and our granddaughter Alyssa.
While we were looking for President and Sister Balledos's daughter, who is serving in the Temple Square Mission, we stopped at the tabernacle to take this photo.
This sign was hung on the hillside coming up to our home. The wind kept blowing it down. It was brought to us and we held it while this photo was taken on our deck.
The heart and the border of this sign for the front door contained the family names of everyone in our ward. We appreciated all the effort that went into welcoming us home.
On our way to Rosales we spotted this tricycle loaded with eggs.
Our friends, President and Sister Mortensen. He is the 1st counselor in the Urdaneta Mission Presidency and she is the mission secretary.
Entering Manila. Not much traffic in the early afternoon.
In front of the Area Office with the Manila temple in the background.
The beautiful Manila temple.
The signs fascinated me. They are made of canvas and have the capability to be rolled up during severe wind or weather.
The entrance to the American Cemetery in Manila.
The grounds are impeccably kept.
The city of Manila in the background.
Another photo of the grounds with Manila in the background.
The walls in the background list the names of those who gave their lives in the war.
The grounds are so beautiful and peaceful.
Late afternoon traffic in Manila.
The next day, February 4th, Sister Lagrimes, who served in the Aringay area we served in and completed her mission last December, met us at the temple and we did a session. She lives a considerable distance from the temple and flew in on Monday and will stay with her brother in Manila. We were so pleased she made the trip to the temple even though it was a personal sacrifice for her. It made our visit to the temple a memorable experience.
Sister Fuensalida, and Sister Cabrera are also returned missionaries who served in the Aringay area that we served in and they also sacrificed to be with us and Sister Lagrimas for the day. We were glad to get this picture at the temple before going to lunch at the Philippines Missionary Training Center.
Sister Fernando, 2nd from the left, served in the Aringay area with us and was also able to join us for lunch at the Missionary Training Center
At the Philippines Missionary Training Center.
A group photo in the lobby of the Philippines Missionary Training Center. We all loved the quote on the wall behind us.
The grounds of the Missionary Training Center are beautiful.
Manila Bay in the background and the carriages are a favorite method of transportation.
The Embassy of the United Stated in Manila.
Sister Dacuno, another returned missionary who served in the area where we lived, was able to join us for the day on Tuesday. This old trolley car is in Fort Santiago in Manila. As you can tell, we are having so much fun being with the returned missionaries.
Some of the weaponry used to defend the fort.
This fort has a long history and is a great place to visit.
With some of the ceremonial guards at the Fort Santiago.
One of the dungeons that the Japanese used to house the prisoners.
An arch at Fort Santiago.
A statue of MacArthur.
Transportation that can be used to move around the grounds of the fort.
One of the oldest churches in Manila.
This is the choir seats in the old church.
Outside of the Mall of Asia. The mall is just under a mile long and has three levels.
With some of the fictional characters on the grounds of the Mall of Asia.
We were able to get our picture with Spiderman.
The interior of the Mall of Asia.
Chinese New Year in the Mall of Asia.
The decorations were very beautiful.
We loved having the returned missionaries be with us for the entire day and evening.
This was a sign on the outside of the Mall of Asia but it sure was appropriate for the group of missionaries and returned missionaries.
Sadly it was time to bid the returned missionaries farewell. This is the entrance to the hotel we stayed in while in Manila. The emotions for all six of us were at the surface and we shed tears of joy at being able to spend the day together and also tears that we would be going our separate ways. We all are glad to have the gospel in our lives as we know we will see each other again someday.
The sun setting at Manila Bay. The boardwalk was packed with people who come to see the sunsets.
This sunset on Manila Bay is the last sunset of our stay in the Philippines.
After a long flight that took us from Manila to Tokyo, then to Seattle and then on to Salt Lake City, we finally arrive in Utah.
Our daughter Michelle and our granddaughter Allysa met us at the airport. We stayed with Michelle and her family for a couple of days before she took us to Logan. She spent the day after our arrival taking us to Temple Square and other places we needed to go to. It was fun being with her for a couple of days.
We were delighted to have family meet us at the airport. Our brothers Boyd in the background and Norris on the right with their wives Marsha standing next to Boyd and Wendy next to Norris. Also our daughter Michelle and our granddaughter Alyssa.
While we were looking for President and Sister Balledos's daughter, who is serving in the Temple Square Mission, we stopped at the tabernacle to take this photo.
We were able to locate Sister Balledos and her companion at the North Visitors Center and gave her the bag of gifts her parents had sent to her. She told us she is doing fine and is only a little cold. She is a lovely young lady and she is happy and glad to be serving the Lord on Temple Square.
This sign was hung on the hillside coming up to our home. The wind kept blowing it down. It was brought to us and we held it while this photo was taken on our deck.
The heart and the border of this sign for the front door contained the family names of everyone in our ward. We appreciated all the effort that went into welcoming us home.
Our neighbors', the Butterfields decorated the interior of our house with streamers, etc.
The Butterfield children made many signs and taped them to mirrors and doors in our home.
It was snowing when we arrived home on February 5, 2014.
We are so happy we had the opportunity to serve our mission in the Philippines Baguio mission and to serve with President and Sister Monahan and when the mission split to serve with President and Sister Balledos' and the great missionaries that serve in that mission. It is nice to be home among family and friends but we miss our mission, the members of the branches, the Sister and Elder missionaries and the couple missionaries. The gospel is true and is the same no matter what part of the world you serve in. We love the Lord and were grateful we had his love and guidance in our mission responsibilities.
