President Peterson's Birthday

We celebrated the birthday of President Peterson with a delicious dinner at Arabella's restaurant in Liliw. Our office elders and assistants to the President joined us (they always are ready for a free meal). We like the fresh salads which are interestingly not easy to find here. They also make good Italian pasta here and wonderful desserts which we usually don't have room for (busog na...full now). There is one strange thing about the place, the ceilings are about 5'10" so I can not stand up straight, but sitting and stuffing my face.....no problem.

Earthy Milestones

Life in the mission is generally pretty routine. The things you do are pretty much the same except the people change which keeps things fun and interesting. Before you know it time has flown by. I looked around the place and found some indications that "hey we have indeed been here awhile."

We are starting on our second jar of good ole Skippy peanut butter....about six months.

Of course it wouldn't be PB&J without some jam. We (me) mostly jam the bagels. Honey for the peanut butter.

Two bottles of prescription meds, at 90 days each gets us to six months.

I am not sure why there were 3 empty soap boxes on the shelf.  I guess they just got set aside and forgotten in the out of the way closet. But before I tossed them along with the empty toothpaste and Old Spice stick, I snapped a quick flick. Don't worry we have replacement stock so we will still smell purtty.

In and Out Missionaries - August 2013

It has been difficult to stay on top of timely posts, but lest the important and fun ones including these pictures of the departing and arriving missionaries be left unrecorded, here is a late post. We have transfers on a six week cycle which includes the departure of missionaries who have completed their missions and the arrival of the brand new greenies ready to conquer the world.
Our outgoing missionaries arrive at the Mission Home on Sunday evening. They have some training and a FHE/testimony meeting on Monday. They leave for Manila on Tuesday morning, attend the temple and then are off on their trips home to anxious families.
The Provo MTC arriving missionaries fly into Manila on Tuesday evening. They join the Manila MTC missionaries early Wednesday morning for the 2 hour bus ride to the Mission Home. We have a short orientation, some snacks, and individual interviews with President Peterson. Thursday morning they have "transfer" meeting where they are paired up with their new companions. On one side of the chapel sit the new arrivals, and on the other side the new companion. None know ahead of time who will be with whom, so it's kind of fun. Then off they go dragging those big suitcases to their new areas, some shell shocked, some still jet lagged, some wishing they had packed less, but all ready to be missionaries.
Here are some pictures. Just a note, these arriving batches have been some of the largest in number.

August 12-15 Transfer

First the Departing Missionaries

Above are our departing missionaries.This batch was all Filippino missionaries except as noted in the listing. Front row kneeling from the left, Elder Delfin, Elder Sollano, Elder Silvosa, Elder Clark (California), Elder Pesamino (Samoa). Standing from the right, Elder Tagulao, Elder Orro, Elder Mendoza, Elder Meniano, Sister Nabus, Sister Snow (Canada), Sister Cayanan, Sis Francis (Pakistan), Sister Padua, Elder Natividad, Elder Rosario (tall in back) and Elder Guba.  President and Sister Peterson in the rear.

The long walk to the hiway for the bus, Sister Padua (left) and Sister Nabus. Elder Howes, office elder cheering them on.

Waiting for the bus with a load of suitcases. From the left, Sister Honey, oops Hansen, Sister Cayanan, Sister Snow, Sister Peterson, Sister Padua, Sister Nabus, and Sister Francis.

"So....where the heck is our ride",says Elder Rosario closest center facing, Elder Sollano next right facing and Elder Burton, AP, next also facing, and finally a local caught in the departure.

The Arrivals

This batch of 28 only included 2 Filipinos. So here we go with who is who. Front Center, President and Sister Peterson. From the left, Sisters, S. Smith (Utah), S. Hingano (Tonga), S. Macheke (South Africa). S. Brown (Utah), S. Kerr (Washington), up to S. Ebuen (Philippines between the two tall American Elders), down to S. Voipou (Samoa), up to S. Finau  (Tonga), S. Manu (Tonga), S. Feinga (Tonga) down to S. Moimoi (Tonga), S. Borg (Australia), S. To'a (Tonga), S. Burnham (Arizona), S. Reed ( Washington), and E. Gallen (Micronesia far right).  The Elders from the left, E. Maglasang (Philippines), E Kiafoto (New Zealand), E. Langi (Tonga), E. Shaw (Arizona), E. Kikel (Utah), E. Richards (Utah), E. Milligan (Utah), E. Adamson (Arizona), E. Perez (California), E. Hammer (Idaho), E. Parry (Utah), and E. Toro (Nevada).

Breakfast in the Mission Home on Wednesday morning. It's a little packed with these bigger batches.

Signs of the Times

As we venture out into the mission, we often see interesting road signs and other signs. We appreciate the differences of cultures and language translation, but that said sometimes the signs strike one in a humorous way.President Peterson told us he saw a sign "Live Goat Meat For Sale".......We haven't seen that one yet, but if we do, we will check it out to see how that is packaged! Here are a few of the pictures of signs we have seen. We will probably have a sequel.

 This is a sign at a small everything store. Ramleigh & Wacky evidently run the establishment, but note the "Sari Sari Store". This is the nomenclature for the type of store...pronounced Sorry, Sorry. Now that wouldn't sound too good for a store back home.

These two signs are at the two driveways into a Shell gas station. A little different way to say IN/OUT. It really doesn't matter because no one follows them.

A warning for speed bumps in the road.

Yup..just like they taught me in grade school.

this sign was in a neighborhood we drove through. I am not sure if it is directed at autos or overactive local buglers.

When we saw this sign on a school wall, we both looked at each other and asked "are there other schools that are child something else?"  We would definitely send our kids here.

The Aliens have landed.....and they taste good!

The planet Rambu was recently located by interrogating the invading aliens therefrom. It was learned that the aliens call themselves Rambutans (ram-boo-tawns). They come in droves from the end of July to mid September. The hairy little fellas taste quite good, but often cover themselves with ants for protection. Below is a captive about to be made into a tasty snack. 

  The red spiny looking skin is quite pliable and has the texture of an orange. You just push your thumb into it and peel it back, exposing the white eyeball looking fruit inside.

 The fruit pops right out.

 Here are several Rambutons ready for eating. they are sweet, texture kind of like a grape, they have a large pit. The flavor is distinct, mild but tasty. You know it is very difficult to describe a new taste.

Some carcasses.

In and Out Missionaries

This post is about our transfer week of July 1-4 which started with the batch of 6 departing missionaries arriving at the mission home Sunday evening July 1. They are a great group of missionaries. They received some training on Monday, a FHE and Tuesday they were off to Manila to attend the temple, and then to the hotel for the night before their Wednesday departures via plane or bus. l-r Elder Garnica (Philippines), Sister Pajarin (Philippines), Sister Sagaysay (Philippines), Elder Tamale (Tonga), President & Sister Peterson, Elder Johnson (Idaho US), Elder Yost (Virginia US)

 This is Elder Yost with us. He was our first office Elder and saved our bacon on many occasions. I really admired his desire to be obedient. He was very kind and patient with us old ones.

 Here they are boarding the bus for Manila. E. Johnson waving, E. Tamale after a final hug from Sister Peterson

Here is the incoming batch of 28 (1 was delayed and not in the photo) I would name them all but there are so many. They were a great group. 17 Sisters and 11 Elders. Origins include the California, Utah, Washington, Utah, Idaho, Tonga, Samoa, New Zealand, Kirabati, and Philippines.

 Below: the sisters are having a quick Relief Society meeting to discuss how they are going to take over the mission! joke-lang.  It's just before breakfast in the Mission home.

 Above: Loading up the jeepney with sisters headed for the hotel. First time for most of them. Below: Ready to roll. The foreign missionaries were really worn out and out of synch since this is their first day after the long flight from the US. The time difference from SLC is +14 hours.

We drove these two sisters, Sister Basa (left) and her brand new companion Sister Hellewell to their new apartment in Tayabas. They had so much luggage, we barely got it and them into the car. It was a fun 2 hour drive with them. We only got lost a little.

4th of July....no Snap, Crackle or Pop

 Our hamburger feast l-r E. Howes, E. Pasqua, S Peterson, Pres Peterson, me, E. Burton; Below E. Burton and his double bacon pineapple burger...mmmmm

Things are different in the Philippines, Episode 4 - Well we just pretty much work away every day being busy with many good things. This is good because you don't get bogged down with missing family, home and the good ol' USA. But, today is the 4th of July and there aren't any fireworks! and seeing fake ones on the internet just is not quite the same. We grilled some burgers with the missionaries and the Petersons and had potato salad and other good stuff. That was fun....but no booms, flashes, or colored sparklies in the sky. Really missed home today. You can see our fireworks in the pictures below.................................................yea, that's just what we saw...nuttin' !