July 7/18/2015 through July 24. Happy Birthday, Andrew! And Sarah!

Saturday morning we picked up Franco and Ryan at the Hotel and drove to LaPaz for a PEF orientation from 9-12. North Stake served us lunch and then Boiser discussed technical/vocational pursuits.  We took Romel Palimony home with us to eat dinner and to meet Kate Sorillas.  Yes, I am matchmaking.  They both liked what they saw.  He asked for her phone number and they are texting.  He texted her about an hour later but she didn't see it until 3 1/2 hours later after she was visiting with us.  She was giddy excited when she saw it.  We went back to LaPaz to pick up Ryan and Franco and take them to the airport at 4:00.  It was a crazy afternoon, drive, drive, drive.  It was fun to visit with all of these people.  We talked to Franco about Jan and her sister, Diana's mission.  He will be their boss.  He is very excited to have them working in his office.  Ryan will be part of the same staff in Quezon City, Philippines PEF, right across from the Manila temple, and next to the Manila MTC.
Sunday we took a tricycle to the wharf from Jalandoni.  He tried to charge us P200.  Ray said, " the taxi is only P80."  "OK P100". We went to Palero wharf, Ortiz is closed.  We arrived at Jordan, Guimaras about 7:30 am.  Cushings picked us up and drove us to a crazy market where she wanted to invite a man to My Path.  Then we went to Nueva Valencia branch and attended all the meetings.  Cushings brought us lunch to eat there and then we administered My Path for 15 people in the branch.  Returned home in reverse: boat, taxi, truck at Jalandoni.  It is really tiring the early morning trip, My Path...but the people are rewarding.
Monday our readings are about Paul today.  His faith, confidence, and trust in the Lord--he was willing to suffer, to testify, all things.  His weakness became his strength.  Once he knew Jesus Christ, he was willing to do all things.  It is such a tender account of forgiveness and being valiant in our own testimonies of Jesus Christ--fearing no one but God.  Once he was converted, he never lost his focus.  We washed, hung out our clothes, went to the Center; Sister Gison (Meryl's mother) brought us a bag of huge avocados from their yard.  They will be attending her wedding Saturday at the Manilla Temple.  Sister Nina came in with questions.  Then Cushings came and we took them to our apartment for lunch.  We went to withdraw some money at SM and Cushings stayed there to shop.  We went to St Paul's hospital room 8407 Spice to visit Quennie.  She is 39 and she was having fever and chills and bleeding.  She has been in the hospital for a week now.  She had two transfusions.  Tomorrow she will have surgery.  She hopes to get out by Wednesday.  She was baptized just eight days ago.  It was 6:30 when we left the hospital.  We went to Sorillas for family home evening with all ten missionaries in our district at 7:30 and they served us all dinner.
Tuesday we went to district meeting, there are ten of us now, two new sisters. One sister is from Hyde Park and knows some Saunders.  Her name is Sister Miggin.  There was a great spirit there--the lesson was Revelation through Prayer.  I have had so many answered this way.  We went home and packed and after we had started our drive to Kalibo, we remembered all that we forgot.  Anyway, after four hours we arrived in Kalibo at Elder and Sister Strengs "palace".  It was so fun to visit.  She fixed a great pot of chili and I had brought chips, guacamole, cheese, sour cream, and humus--it was a great combo for not planning together.
Wednesday Strengs fixed us eggs, hash browns, shrimp, and mangos for breakfast plus taho (soy yogurt with native sugar syrup).  Greens arrived and we loaded up after they took a look at Strengs "palace"  and headed to Caticlan where we boarded the pump boat to Boracay.  We had an appetizer and dessert and went swimming.  Then showered and dressed to go to the beach for dinner.  They had put up a big barrier on the beach from July-October because of winds so it was not so wonderful as last time in November.  Dinner was yucky for me but then the others shopped for pearls and Ray and I bought gelato--mango, pistachio, mm....  We caught the shuttle back to the hotel.  All are tired.
Thursday I did my stomach exercises only.  We all had a delicious buffet breakfast and walked along the beach and in the ocean, the men swam in the ocean, lots of fish to see.  I visited with some guests at the hotel about "Mormons"--my eight children.  One lady said she just started reading the Bible and she is sorry she had her tubes tied.  Now she thinks it is wrong because the Bible says to multiply and replenish the earth.  But she thinks God will forgive her because she didn't know.  She hadn't read the Bible then. Anyway, we swam in the top pool and then got ready and went into town for a mango shake and shopping.  We came back on the shuttle and played Rummicube, the six of us.  It was fun.  We went to dinner at Terraza and then went to bed.
Friday we went to that wonderful breakfast buffet again, then swam in a cool pool, played Rummicube on the pool deck, packed our bags, and checked out of the hotel and went for lunch at the Terraza.  I had already eaten the other half of my dinner from the night before so I ordered a scoop of mango ice cream--it tasted like refrigerator, old and icy; Ray finished it.  Then we took the tricycle to the wharf, got on the boat, fifteen minutes later, another tricycle to the car park 2 1/2 hour drive to Kalibo from Catican to the Strengs house.  We played Rummicube with Strengs and Greens.  We all stayed the night at Strengs house.  We had dinner at the Caffe Latte...chocolate milk shake...mm. Back at Strengs we watched "The Testaments" movie and Bed.  It's been another great week.  Sister Robinson