May 16-May 22 2015

Saturday we picked up Boiser at Diversion 21 Hotel, drove to Jalandoni to leave our vehicle behind locked gates and took a taxi to Ortiz Wharf to board the Roro boat for Guimeras.  There was an hour or two wait in line for tickets because of the festival going on there.  We had no idea but because we are senior citizens, they told us to go to the front of the line.😃 We arrived around 8:00 am and Elder and Sister Cushings picked us all up and we went right to the Jordan Church to have a self reliance initiative devotional.  The District presidency was there, plus two branch presidents and some members.  Boiser presented and we both were blessed to testify.  A sister came up afterwards and gave me two bags of cashews.  She said she was so touched and inspired by my story and she gave me three hugs.  I had told about going to school and working three jobs, typing papers for other people's classes, reading to a blind girl, and being a part-time secretary but still being unable to make my housing and tuition payment, so I had to move.  But I stayed in school.  She was a sweetheart.  After the meeting, we all went to the Manggahan festival 2015 Mangoes.  There is a contest with who can eat the most mangoes in one sitting.  They are so superbly good...mm...  Then we went to lunch.  I had fixed us, Dad and I sandwiches because we don't like the food over there.  It is pretty rural and very country.  By the way, we didn't do the contest; we just bought a big bag of mangoes to last until we get back there in two weeks.  After lunch, we went to an organic farm and then home at 5:00 pm by way of the Roro boat, taxi, and our mission truck, and returning Boiser to Diversion 21.  We are worn out.
Sunday, May 17 we attended Mandurriao Ward.  The counselor was hoping we would attend.  He, Brother Salazar is now Bishop Salazar.  The past bishop was Sister Cagapes' son in law, Bishop Doricarion.  He was bishop for eight years.  We also knew one of the counselors, Brother Catapunan.  He is Sister Cozzens' brother.  So that was fun for us.  After sacrament meeting, we went into another room with the elders to teach Queeny and her 11 year old daughter, Braeky.  It went well.  Queeny cried during part of the discussion.  I think that is a good sign.  She has been really hard to catch for teaching, but this time she asked when we could teach her again and she wants us to come.  They have been in the states for about eight years, so they speak English.  They made an appointment for Tuesday.  Woohoo!  We went home and broke our fast.  Then we went to San Miguel group.  I led the singing, Ray gave a prayer.  There were four young investigators there; 8, 11, 13, and 14 year-old girls.  After we went to Jalandoni for an appointment, but they never showed up. Home at 5:30.  It is super hot.  We had popcorn and mangoes mm.....
Monday we picked up Sister Daroy for her English test along with her companion, Sister Servenzes.  Cushings tested another elder and afterwards, three zones were gathered at the Mission office to watch "Meet the Mormons".  There were two brown outs during the movie.  After the show, President Aquino provided some encouragement to obey the rules (hair cuts/ not too close on the sides, being dressed for study time, and keeping your shoes clean and polished).   Then we were all fed lunch.  I tasted my first banana catsup--it was great!  It has a spicy taste to it, so of course I like it.  We tested Elder Eenje after lunch.  After that we gave Cushings a ride to SM where they shopped, we bought drinks, and visited with other elders who were there.  They get one day a month to go to SM.  There will be an emergency transfer tomorrow.  South Zone leader has to go home for back surgery.  We took Cushings to the wharf with their three keyboards in hand and went to Jalandoni until 6:30.  We went home and discovered a phone in the back of the truck.  The sisters came by our bungalow about 7:15 looking for their phone.  They were so relieved to find it.  We fed them a mango and a glass of water and drove them to their next appointment.  To bed.
Tuesday was district meeting and then we met with Queeny and Braeky again.  I thought it went well; though the time just flew by, it lasted two hours, but was very productive.  It was 1:30 when we went home for lunch.  I hung out laundry and then we went to Jalandoni.  We stopped on our way home for water and then put the clothes away from the clothesline around 6:30.  The zone leaders stopped for a drink of water and a visit around 7:00 pm, Elder Watkins and Elder Fogavai.  It was just what we needed.
Wednesday we picked up the elders (4) at 6:40am for a community service project: painting at Bonafacio Elementary School, ten rooms inside and out and the whole face.  We came home about 10:00 am for Ray to shower.  I was already showered because they did not let the sisters do this project so I waited in the vehicle and read scriptures.  Then we went to Jalandoni.  Darlene, North stake specialist came in for help with her certificates but we couldn't help.  We came home at 3:00 to cook rice for the LaPuz graduation at 5:00.  At graduation they had samples of their businesses---jewelry, pizza triangles, peanuts, etc.  They had us come to the front to sample or try on their goods and pass out the certificates.  Home at 7:30 pm.
Thursday we went to the mission office; President wasn't there.  We went grocery shopping and then to Jalandoni.  I talked with Angela at 11 pm, poor girl. We went home for a late lunch and went out with the zone leaders, got punted 2x but we gave out 3 Books of Mormon.  We dropped them off at their next appointment and returned to Jalandoni.  Home at 6:30. We listened to Elder and Sister Bednar Face2Face.  It was inspiring.  Ray worked on his history.  At nights we are reading the Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt.  I am so enjoying that.
Friday we went to Mandurriao Plaza at 6:30 to pick up Julie Mendame and three young children to go to Goducate for Iloilo youth conference.  There was a presentation by four leaders; Julie was one, Butch was one, City Ward Bishop was one and another sister.  The topics:  You Can Be Anything (career exploration) 2Be Smart (effective study habits) 3Money Bootcamp (youth financial literacy) 4TechWise (wise use of technology). We were the summary round up for 20 minutes.  I gave my short poor story, but testified that following the Lord's Plan of Happiness really makes for temporal and spiritual success: pray and read scriptures every day, every day, every day, follow the living prophets,  serve missions, marry a covenant keeper in the temple and together teach your children to walk in light. And truth--hang onto the Church for dear life--you will be rich, Seek ye first the Kingdom of God--all else will follow.  Ray asked if they thought he could play a song that they could recognize with something he was holding in his fist?  I witnessed he could. He proceeded to tell the youth that we were witnesses of the truths they had been taught and then he played "We thank Thee O God for a Prophet" on his teeny harmonica.  They gave him a huge cheer!  We brought two men home and spent some time in the Center beginning this email, but we are at the wharf picking up  Boiser and Annie, his wife, to take them to the Fine Rock Hotel.  Halong, another busy week ahead, Sister Robinson III, Mom