May 22-29

Happy birthday to Grandma Beckstead.  Did anyone have lemon custard ice cream?
Friday when we picked up Boiser and his wife, we took them to Fine Rock Hotel to check in the self-reliance committees from Roxas, Antique, and Kalibo so they can be to the meeting from 9am-4pm tomorrow.  We waited for them and then took them to their hotel, Diversion 21 for them to check in and we went over Boiser's new idea for self reliance and he brought us some "My Path" booklets so we can do more work again.  Then we met with some of the people who will attend the meeting tomorrow and had dinner at a hotel restaurant that was close to their hotel. Afterwards we took Boiser and Annie back to their hotel and we went home.
Saturday we picked up Boiser and wife again at 8:15 in the morning and went to Jalandoni for the luster meeting with both districts and four stakes of Iloilo Mission.  It is fun to see the leaders that we meet with every three months or so.  We know each other now.  The meeting lasted from 9:00 am-3:30pm with a lunch served by North stake new business lady.  She did a great job.  Lunch was eaten while the meeting continued.  There were reports by stakes who are being successful; encouragement and understanding were given.  Then organic farming was introduced for some to take on this enterprise. Home at 4:00, laid down for a few minutes and then a baptism is next.  Joshua Philip Alonte was baptized.  He is 18 years old.  I was privileged to speak.  The Spirit spoke through me.  It is so rewarding when that happens.  Afterward Sister Daroy hugged me and said she wanted to grow up to be like me.  She is so beautiful and sweet.  After the service, his aunt, Sister Cordero invited us to join them for dinner at the Sari Sari Chicken.  It tasted good.  It was so nice of them to have us.  The husband is a seaman.  He will be home for three months, then out to sea for nine months.  Home 8:30.
Sunday we attended Mandurriao Ward and Joshua was confirmed.  He's pretty lit by the Spirit.  We were able to attend all the meetings, ate lunch, and went to LaPaz for a meeting with North stake---130 were present.  Darlene went over the self reliance initiative; each area was discussed and questions answered.  I told about going to school, working three jobs: part-time secretary for housing, typing papers for other students, and reading to a blind girl.  Also about having two children, Ray dropping out and going back after he earned enough money to pay for tuition.  We had no financial help from the church or government or family. It took six years to finish the years of schooling but we did it the Lord's way.  (Sometimes these people think Americans are all rich and it is easy for us to get married and go to school.) The stake fed us afterward and President Suya asked us to speak for their next stake conference in September.  Home at 6:30.
Monday we purchased water, had the car washed, went to the Center and did FaceTime with Raymond and Julie. It has been four months since I hurt my shoulder in the temple and Raymond is my last hope before I decide to see a doctor and talk to Sister Aquino about it.  Raymond showed Ray what to do and it snapped so I'm hoping to have it begin healing now with Ray doing therapy on it 3 times a day.  We went to lunch at the Promenade---pumpkin soup to go and Greek salad...mmmm I feel good.  Back to the Center and home at 5:00 to bring in the laundry and Ray to iron shirts.  Then Cordero's invited us over for f.h.e. And Sariah's farewell party with the youth. Sariah's family were our first friends here.  He works for the government and they were sent to Madrid, Spain for six years.  Sariah stayed for this first nine months but she will join them now.  Sister Cordero served dinner and blueberry cheesecake.
Tuesday we went to district meeting but no key to the church again so we brought everyone to the bungalow for the meeting.  The lesson was on the Book of Mormon, the keystone to our religion.  After the meeting, we texted President Aquino and he was at Jalandoni so we made arrangements to meet him there.  We visited with him about apartment checks and our move to Sorillas' apartment.  There were PEF students at the Center and at lunch time we went home to eat and then returned to the Center and later watched Mandurriao play Arevalo in basketball.  Then we brought the young men home and Ray gave them a short lesson about holding to the rod and reaching the moon and needing course corrections to the moon but holding to the rod will take you to the tree of life which does not move while you travel.  I made a large pot of rice which they ate and then played bebo and they went home.  9:45
Wednesday we went to the Center at 9:00 am.  The Leganes business group was waiting for us.  They needed to register because they don't have Internet and they finished the last two classes.  All went to lunch and we met up with Elder and Sister Streng and two of their sister missionaries and had lunch with them at Kenny Rodgers.  It's ok/good.  Then we took the sisters to Arevalo and headed to Antique. After 2 1/2 hours, we arrived at the deserted couples house.  The landlord, his wife, sister, and father greeted us and visited with us about 45 minutes.  I am pretty sure they would like us to move in.  The zone leaders and sisters cleaned the house before we came.  It was very nice of them.  The sisters came over at 7:00 with two teenage investigators to watch "Meet the Mormons" on our computer.  Ray has a speaker that hooks up to it so it works well for a few people.  They left around 8:45 and we went to bed.
Thursday I had called ahead for 24 donuts and ordered from Sister Rodelia Palima, who was part of the PEF/ER group graduates and her schooling was pastries.  She delivered them with her brother at 7:45 plus a beautiful chocolate cake for us.  They were so nice to us.  Then we checked the zone leaders apartment and the sisters apartment, gave them each donuts and off to the rest of the apartments in Antique zone.  The apartments were all improved over last check.  Lucky for us we didn't go to Colosi.  The Strengs had checked that apartment because I did not order enough donuts.  Lucky Sister Palima had given us some extras.  There are 13 sets of missionaries in this zone.  We picked up four elders who will be new district leaders and took them back to the mission office after apartment checks, a 3 1/2 hour drive from Tibao.  Two were in the cab and two in the back but it was free so they were appreciative of the ride. They will have district leadership training tomorrow.  We stopped somewhere and ate lunch.  I had fries and a buko pan shake.  I would order that again.  It was great! ( coconut and tapioca flavor like). Oh well, not a good description but it was a pretty green color with caramel stripes on the inside of the glass.  It was 6:30 when we left them at the mission office.
Friday we spent the morning at the office.  At lunch time we met with Grace Villavert and had lunch at the Promenade.  We saw Sister Cagape on our way.  After we ate, she came to the Center to visit with us until 5:00 and headed back to Antique.  She served a mission in Los Angeles, California but is going to go live with Elder and Sister Sessions who were serving in Antique when we arrived here on our mission.  Her father is the District President.  Brother Sessions was his executive secretary. Grace will fly to Salt Lake and attend General Conference on Temple Square and then go home with Sessions' daughter to Nampa, Idaho.  After Grace left, two sisters came in to have their information scanned for their PEF application, which Ray did for them and then we came home.
Thought for the week:  always render more and better service than is expected of you, no matter what your task may be.
Ha long, Sister Robinson III, Mom, Grandma
PS. Congratulations to Emma, Jane, April and Mike for staying up with the scripture reading.  Monday we will be on page 1064!
If anyone else is still with us, let us know.  We love to brag to the missionaries.