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| Northrups, Hansens, Paines, Thelers |
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| If I cropped out Elder Paine's shoulder, I would not have all the lights on the second floor!
Thelers flew out the next morning, Dec. 20.
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Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Second Good-Bye
We had a second good-bye dinner with the Thelers, and hello to the Hansens. We went to Chilis in the Power Plant Mall (I have no idea why it has that name). The lights there, inside and outside, were amazing. I didn't get my camera out in time to take pictures of the palm trees with lights strung down each frond, but we did take some inside the restaurant and one out in the mall. No, your monitor is not distorting things, the Christmas color of choice in this mall was orange!
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Farewell Testimony Meeting
Two couples left us this week, the Thelers and the Jensens. We didn't know the Jensen's as well. They were the Self Reliance Center missionaries, and started their mission being headquartered over in Manila proper. A couple of months ago, a portion of our ward building at Buendia was remade into a new SRC, and they moved their operations over there, just across the parking lot from the office. From then on, we saw much more of them. The Thelers were in the office, he as Mission Financial Secretary and she as Mission Secretary.
Since we knew they would be going and not be replaced, our assignment changed to include their duties with ours. David is now Financial Secretary, and I am the Mission Secretary. We try to check apartments two days a week now, and work in the office the other three days, and go look at new apartments as needed.
Thelers took a few days to go up to the Banaue Rice Terraces, and returned Wednesday afternoon. that evening we had our formal farewell dinner for them and the Jensens at the Mission Home.
The remainder of the evening was spent in sharing testimonies, and how they had been strengthened by missions, lots of hugs and farewells.
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| Jensens, from Kansas City |
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| Thelers, from Draper, UT |
Since we knew they would be going and not be replaced, our assignment changed to include their duties with ours. David is now Financial Secretary, and I am the Mission Secretary. We try to check apartments two days a week now, and work in the office the other three days, and go look at new apartments as needed.
Thelers took a few days to go up to the Banaue Rice Terraces, and returned Wednesday afternoon. that evening we had our formal farewell dinner for them and the Jensens at the Mission Home.
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Tuesday, December 16
Tuesday, I got to go to Virlanie again. Sister Jamie Bohn was the person who started it, and she moved back to the states last summer. Then Sister Theler took it over, and their mission ended. So, now it's mine. On Tuesday, many people were celebrating Christmas holidays, so there were only two of us to go, The RS president, Micah Bremner, and me, but-she brought her six kids. It was really great. They and the children enjoyed each other and all went well. However, I need to remember some more kid songs, and to learn some in Tagalog. That's my new project. If any readers have suggestions, I welcome them!
Tuesday we also started walking around the roof deck, mostly because I'm
bored to death with the exercises we've been doing since we got here
(when we exercise, which is not nearly as often as we would like to.)
The internet is not reliable enough to get our exercise program we
subscribe to, so we just do the same. Anyway, it's really nice up on the
roof. At this season and time of day, anyway (December, 5:30 am) it is
beautifully cool (70s) and beautifully visual, with sunrise and the
river flowing through the city.
Saturday, December 20, 2014
Mondays our car is coded, meaning we can't drive between 7 am and 7 pm. Last Monday, we drove in at 6:30 because we knew we needed the car in the evening to attend a missionary farewell.
The Paines had also driven in because they had late evening plans, so when the office closed at 4:30, we all walked about half a block over to a little restaurant, La Creperie. We have a hard time with Whole Foods Plant Based eating in restaurants, but we, at least, are able to avoid meat. I had a delicious pumpkin soup, then a crepe with mushrooms (and cheese). David had mushroom soup and the same crepe. They were all delicious.
After dinner we walked over to the church for the missionary going away of a sweet sister, Parizia Albania, in the Makati 3rd Ward (a Tagalog-speaking ward). When we first arrived in Manila, she adopted us and translated for us, and greeted us very warmly every Sunday. Just last month she served as a part-time missionary to help us out as numbers came out uneven. (This happens as missionaries are very sick, or go home, or have been waiting for visas to other countries and they finally arrive.) Her mission call is to Australia, via the New Zealand Missionary Training Center, and she was very excited.
Third Ward has a monthly ward Family Home Evening, and they used this one as Paris's (her common name) farewell. We gathered in the cultural hall, and only 45 minutes late (this is the Philippines!) started with an "icebreaker" activity. We sang a little song in Tagalog but it was essentially nonsense words as we patted our thighs, shoulders, and head. Then while one leader was telling us which to do--"Bago" meant thighs, "BagoBago" meant shoulders, and something like "BagoTAY" meant head-- the other leader was doing the wrong actions. We got eliminated if we could not follow the correct words. It was pretty fun. (And we both were eliminated!)
Then we had a short lesson in Taglish, so we were able to understand most, and then were served a delicious meal by Paris's parents. We had been in town since 7 am, so at 8:30 we decided we needed to leave, so Paris bagged up some food and sent it home with us. It smelled heavenly. We love the people in this ward, and are sad that Jan. 1, the building schedule changes, and there will no longer be overlap between the two ward meetings. We will have to choose between attending the English-speaking ward and this one, and we both have assignments in the English ward, so it will probably win. To attend both would mean 7 hours at church, and I don't think we're up to that!
The Paines had also driven in because they had late evening plans, so when the office closed at 4:30, we all walked about half a block over to a little restaurant, La Creperie. We have a hard time with Whole Foods Plant Based eating in restaurants, but we, at least, are able to avoid meat. I had a delicious pumpkin soup, then a crepe with mushrooms (and cheese). David had mushroom soup and the same crepe. They were all delicious.
After dinner we walked over to the church for the missionary going away of a sweet sister, Parizia Albania, in the Makati 3rd Ward (a Tagalog-speaking ward). When we first arrived in Manila, she adopted us and translated for us, and greeted us very warmly every Sunday. Just last month she served as a part-time missionary to help us out as numbers came out uneven. (This happens as missionaries are very sick, or go home, or have been waiting for visas to other countries and they finally arrive.) Her mission call is to Australia, via the New Zealand Missionary Training Center, and she was very excited.
Third Ward has a monthly ward Family Home Evening, and they used this one as Paris's (her common name) farewell. We gathered in the cultural hall, and only 45 minutes late (this is the Philippines!) started with an "icebreaker" activity. We sang a little song in Tagalog but it was essentially nonsense words as we patted our thighs, shoulders, and head. Then while one leader was telling us which to do--"Bago" meant thighs, "BagoBago" meant shoulders, and something like "BagoTAY" meant head-- the other leader was doing the wrong actions. We got eliminated if we could not follow the correct words. It was pretty fun. (And we both were eliminated!)
Then we had a short lesson in Taglish, so we were able to understand most, and then were served a delicious meal by Paris's parents. We had been in town since 7 am, so at 8:30 we decided we needed to leave, so Paris bagged up some food and sent it home with us. It smelled heavenly. We love the people in this ward, and are sad that Jan. 1, the building schedule changes, and there will no longer be overlap between the two ward meetings. We will have to choose between attending the English-speaking ward and this one, and we both have assignments in the English ward, so it will probably win. To attend both would mean 7 hours at church, and I don't think we're up to that!
Sunday, December 14, 2014
A Very Meaningful Service Project
When I look out over the Makati skyline at night, and see all the beautiful skyscrapers lit up with outlines of various colored lights, or drive down Makati Avenue past the Greenbelt Mall with it's Prada store, and other very upscale, trendy stores, it is hard to remember that parts of the Philippines are living, positively, in the Middle Ages.
One aspect in which this was revealed to me was the prison system. There is no right to a speedy trial here; if one is accused, one enters prison to wait until the extremely backlogged court system gets to their case. Worse than this, though, is that a prisoner has exactly what he brings to prison with him, or what his family can provide for him. The only thing given to them by the government is a bowl of nasty mush once a day. No pillow, no bedding, no clean prison uniform, no toiletries, no more food.
So, for our ward service project last Saturday, we took action. A few weeks ago, a list was passed around in church, of things that would be useful for the 750 prisoners in the Makati Prison. Things like Pancit (similar to Ramen, only not a soup), laundry soap, bath soap, toothpaste, shampoo, protein drinks, bottled water, and chocolate crackers. On Saturday, these were laid out on tables in the gym, and the 70ish people there took plastic bags and just walked around the circuit, putting the allotted number of items into each bag, with a smaller bag for the scented toiletries, to prevent contamination of the food items. We tied them up, then double-bagged them. Later in the afternoon, the Relief Society presidency and up to 30 others delivered 750 bags to the prison, where the prisoners filed past and received their gifts with heartfelt thanks. This was one time when the Savior's admonition to do it unto the least of these my brethren became very clear.
Following the service project, there was a baptism for three people into our ward. Two were women from the Philippines, and a man from Ghana. All three of their stories were spirit-filled and remarkable. The man from Ghana, Sam Owusu, has had a several-year journey to arrive the church.
Today we spoke in Church (Makati 4th Ward) for the first time here. I spoke on having a Christ-centered home, and David spoke on what think we of Christ--at Christmas-time, do we remember who He really is. we are mostly glad they are over, but they did seem to be well-received.
We stayed for the last two hours of Makati 3rd Ward, and I played the piano and David conducted in their Gospel Essentials class, then we went to Priesthood and Relief Society meetings. The members are so sweet and so strong in the gospel of Christ. We are humbled and grateful to know them.
One aspect in which this was revealed to me was the prison system. There is no right to a speedy trial here; if one is accused, one enters prison to wait until the extremely backlogged court system gets to their case. Worse than this, though, is that a prisoner has exactly what he brings to prison with him, or what his family can provide for him. The only thing given to them by the government is a bowl of nasty mush once a day. No pillow, no bedding, no clean prison uniform, no toiletries, no more food.
So, for our ward service project last Saturday, we took action. A few weeks ago, a list was passed around in church, of things that would be useful for the 750 prisoners in the Makati Prison. Things like Pancit (similar to Ramen, only not a soup), laundry soap, bath soap, toothpaste, shampoo, protein drinks, bottled water, and chocolate crackers. On Saturday, these were laid out on tables in the gym, and the 70ish people there took plastic bags and just walked around the circuit, putting the allotted number of items into each bag, with a smaller bag for the scented toiletries, to prevent contamination of the food items. We tied them up, then double-bagged them. Later in the afternoon, the Relief Society presidency and up to 30 others delivered 750 bags to the prison, where the prisoners filed past and received their gifts with heartfelt thanks. This was one time when the Savior's admonition to do it unto the least of these my brethren became very clear.
Following the service project, there was a baptism for three people into our ward. Two were women from the Philippines, and a man from Ghana. All three of their stories were spirit-filled and remarkable. The man from Ghana, Sam Owusu, has had a several-year journey to arrive the church.
Today we spoke in Church (Makati 4th Ward) for the first time here. I spoke on having a Christ-centered home, and David spoke on what think we of Christ--at Christmas-time, do we remember who He really is. we are mostly glad they are over, but they did seem to be well-received.
We stayed for the last two hours of Makati 3rd Ward, and I played the piano and David conducted in their Gospel Essentials class, then we went to Priesthood and Relief Society meetings. The members are so sweet and so strong in the gospel of Christ. We are humbled and grateful to know them.
Thanksgiving in the Philippines
Thanksgiving is a completely American holiday, which, it turns out, is somewhat hard to explain to Southeast Asians. Our Thanksgiving began as gratitude for a bounteous harvest, much needed to see the settlers through the coming harsh winter. Here in the tropics, gratitude for a timely and bounteous harvest is hard to explain, as there is no winter or non-growing season, and the harvest is pretty much always bounteous. The exception would be when a typhoon wipes everything out, but that is a different concept. So, explaining this uniquely American holiday to our Philippine and other Asian friends has been more difficult than you might expect!
We had two Thanksgivings. Our first was at the Mission Home (home of the Mission President). The other office couple, the one's whose places we are taking, were asked to stay there Thanksgiving week with the president's 15 year-old son while President and Sister Ostler were away up north at a mission presidents' seminar. Most of us worked on Thanksgiving morning here at the office, then gathered over at the mission home mid-afternoon. While the others were at the office, I stayed home and baked three pies: pumpkin, apple, and chess.
Everyone brought parts of the feast, and it was delicious. Stuffing is uncommon if not nonexistent here, so when Sister Lemmon, our mission nurse practitioner, had to escort an ill missionary back to Arizona, she stopped at Wal-mart during her twelve hours on the ground! We had a lovely dinner, and enjoyed our time together.
Second Thanksgiving was at the Area Offices by the Philippine Missionary Training Center and the temple. One of the couples serving in public relations arranged to have the event catered, and gave them her personal recipes. What we were served was reminiscent of Thanksgiving in some ways! But, again, we had a nice time. Dinner was preceded by a performance by some children from Bahay Kalinga, a home for street children, those who have parents who can't keep them right now as well as those who are orphans and abused children, ranging in age from one week to 30 years.
I posted a picture on Facebook, but now can't find it!
We had two Thanksgivings. Our first was at the Mission Home (home of the Mission President). The other office couple, the one's whose places we are taking, were asked to stay there Thanksgiving week with the president's 15 year-old son while President and Sister Ostler were away up north at a mission presidents' seminar. Most of us worked on Thanksgiving morning here at the office, then gathered over at the mission home mid-afternoon. While the others were at the office, I stayed home and baked three pies: pumpkin, apple, and chess.
Everyone brought parts of the feast, and it was delicious. Stuffing is uncommon if not nonexistent here, so when Sister Lemmon, our mission nurse practitioner, had to escort an ill missionary back to Arizona, she stopped at Wal-mart during her twelve hours on the ground! We had a lovely dinner, and enjoyed our time together.
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| Elder Northrup, Sister Jensen, Elder Jensen (Perpetual Education Fund and Self-Reliance Center), Elder Lemmon (area attorney). We even found Ocean Spray cranberry sauce, in with the taco sauce and other Mexican food! |
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| Elder Theler making gravy, Jensens again, Sister Paine, and Elder Lemmon. |
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| Caleb Ostler, Northrups, Jensens, Elder Theler, Elder Lemmon, Sister Lemmon, Elder Paine and Sister Paine. Sister Theler took the picture. |
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| Waiting for dinner in the living room. Caleb had a very grandparenty Thanksgiving! |
Second Thanksgiving was at the Area Offices by the Philippine Missionary Training Center and the temple. One of the couples serving in public relations arranged to have the event catered, and gave them her personal recipes. What we were served was reminiscent of Thanksgiving in some ways! But, again, we had a nice time. Dinner was preceded by a performance by some children from Bahay Kalinga, a home for street children, those who have parents who can't keep them right now as well as those who are orphans and abused children, ranging in age from one week to 30 years.
I posted a picture on Facebook, but now can't find it!
Monday, December 8, 2014
Catching up!
Maybe I'm having a normal reaction to blogging, I don't know, but I seem to have less news and less time to detail it!
We had another transfer last week, and it seemed crazier than ever. We have missionaries coming and going off-schedule, which means they often need special transportation. One of these was a very favorite missionary of ours, Elder Wjendran, going home to his land of Sri Lanka to open it for missionary work. He is a perfectly wonderful young man, and we were really sorry to see him go. He actually went the afternoon of Going-Home Day, so we didn't get to enjoy all of the going-home activities with him.
Tuesday is going-home day, so we came in to the office, then went with the Thelers and all the returning missionaries to the temple. It is really fun to be in a temple session filled with people you know and love! Afterwards, Elder Wjendran had to leave, and the rest of us ate pizza in the gazebo at the back of the temple. Another trip to the American Manila Cemetery, and then over to the Mission Home for dinner and testimony meeting. We started with the temple at 10:00 instead of 1:00, hoping that the traffic wouldn't be so bad going back to the Mission Home from there, and our evening might be over before 10:00 pm. So, we were lucky--it was only 9:00 pm!
We had another transfer last week, and it seemed crazier than ever. We have missionaries coming and going off-schedule, which means they often need special transportation. One of these was a very favorite missionary of ours, Elder Wjendran, going home to his land of Sri Lanka to open it for missionary work. He is a perfectly wonderful young man, and we were really sorry to see him go. He actually went the afternoon of Going-Home Day, so we didn't get to enjoy all of the going-home activities with him.
Tuesday is going-home day, so we came in to the office, then went with the Thelers and all the returning missionaries to the temple. It is really fun to be in a temple session filled with people you know and love! Afterwards, Elder Wjendran had to leave, and the rest of us ate pizza in the gazebo at the back of the temple. Another trip to the American Manila Cemetery, and then over to the Mission Home for dinner and testimony meeting. We started with the temple at 10:00 instead of 1:00, hoping that the traffic wouldn't be so bad going back to the Mission Home from there, and our evening might be over before 10:00 pm. So, we were lucky--it was only 9:00 pm!
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| Elder Northrup, Elder Dennis (New Zealand), Elder Hart (California), Sister Northrup |
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| Sister Belardo (Philippines), Sister Teeteka (Kiribati), Sister Cava (Fiji), Sister Brockbank (Utah), Sister Chong-Nee (New Zealand), Northrups, Sister Wemhoner (Colorado), Sister Mafi (Tonga), Sister Cooper (Utah), Sister Bishop (Virginia), and Sister Larsen (Virginia) |
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| The missionaries singing their last "Called to Serve" in Tagalog. |
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