Another wonderful week

Self reliance is keeping us fairly busy but it feels more like public relations.  Always missionaries coming and going, every six weeks and when they leave, we put them through a four hour career workshop about their strengths, resumes, interviews....and faith and trust in The Lord.  We have learned the important words:  pamahow(snacks), Salamet(thank you ), and halong (take care), mayong aga (good morning) mayong hapoon (good afternoon), mayong gab i(good evening). It's a new week so I need to learn another word:).
Sunday dad sang in the choir.  For Rachael, I didn't because I wasn't invited.  I like to think it is because they always need more men, but not women:). We ditched out the side door after conference so we could get to Roxas for another roll out of "My Path" .  Most chose "Starting and Growing My Business" as their path.  We were with Boiser.
We stayed over night at the Veronica Hotel.  It is very nice and they always remember us. In the morning we exercised, showered, ate breakfast, and rushed back to Iloilo, reading the scriptures out loud on our way.
We met Elder and Sister Sessions and Elder and Sister Taylor above the Atrium at a nice restaurant there.  Taylor's are back in the states now, in Colorado.  Both couples are member/leadership support missionaries.  We had an inspiring visit for several hours and then we needed to be at the Center to meet with Sister Cagape.
Tuesday am was zone conference.  We have new zone leaders, past ones are back in America.  In the afternoon we visited with our 91 year old sister and showed her pictures of our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and us when we were little and married.  Then we hurried off to Jalendoni(center) to teach the English class but no one showed up.
Wednesday, we went to SM and paid our power bill and finally got to make our Sunday call to Rachael. Kate and Dietrich played the piano for us...just a bit of Heaven transported through the air.
Thursday we were at the Center and read an article Charity recommended by Elder Bednar.  My favorite quote was: character is demonstrated by looking and reaching outward when the natural instinctive response is to be self absorbed and turn inward.  Char(Charity) act(do good)er....interesting break down...
We also re-listened to President Oaks area conference here.  It seems I learn by hearing over and over and over.
Thursday, our landlady introduced us to her cleaning lady so we had her come in and clean the bathroom, windows, and floors.  It was great!  We paid her 180 pesos.  High actually for here.  180 equals approx. $3.50. Then we left for Kalibo.  We arrived at the Hotel Marzon around 3:30 and just relaxed.  Traveling these roads in a pickup seems to really wear us out.
Friday we participated in a roll out in Kalibo. That is the introduction to the church initiative for self reliance for the Philippines.  We have a friend who thought we should be on a public relations mission.  I think that is just what we are doing.  We just go places, someone else does the work. It's like we represent the salt lake authorities to the people.  Kalibo is lush, lush, green everywhere and people come here to go to Baracay which is a really nice resort, we are told.  It is a 4 1/2 hour drive from Iloilo.  We hurried back to Iloilo after it was over and arrived around 9:30 pm. We stopped in Mambusao to eat with Boisers.  It was a good trip!  I love you all, Mother Teresa, Sister Robinson