Saturday, July 11-Friday, July 17 2015

I made noodles with white sauce and vegetables and rice with Cajun jumbalaya adapted for celebration dinner for Quennie and Brakie after their baptism in our little apartment.  Quennie requested Ray to baptize her and Elder Watkins baptized Brakie.  They said they felt different after.  It was the best attended baptism since we have been here with about 36 people attending.  They were so happy to be baptized.  Quennie had been in two churches, Catholic and Seventh day Adventist but through her reading of the Bible, she knew they did not have the elements of the true Church of Jesus Christ because there is no apostles and prophets.  During one of the lessons when she wasn't sure about baptism yet, she commented that she had this thought, " I have found the prophets and apostles, what is the delay?"  That was exciting!  They speak perfect English because they lived in Ohio and California for some years.  They are Filipino though.
Ray confirmed Quennie on Sunday and Elder Fogavai confirmed Brakie.  We attended Gospel Principles with Quennie and then Relief Society.  After church, we participated in a second round of "My Path" in Mandurriao Ward.  Twenty four attended.  Quennie also attended.  After that we hurried to LaPaz to North stake for a meeting with the sisters in the stake and all eleven Bishops/branch presidents with Boiser as the guest speaker.   It was a late night after we took Boiser back to the wharf.
Monday we went to the mission office to do a retest for a missionary going home because the test hadn't worked well.  While we were there two missionaries we hadn't known about also needed testing.  Each test takes about 1 1/2 hours with the practice, so it was pretty much most of the day but we were happy they didn't get missed.  Monday night we had family home evening at Queenies with her little boys and Brakie.  The elders gave the lesson and we played "father, may I?"  I remember how much our children loved to play that game and it was a hit here.  Queenie had prepared a nice dinner for us afterward and  we brought salted caramel corn for dessert.
Tuesday we had career workshop at Jalandoni by ourselves, meaning we were the only teachers which was a surprise.  But Ray did a great job and I think it was helpful as the missionaries go forward with their lives, getting jobs.
Wednesday I cooked some and then we took a ride up the middle of the island looking for an organic farm but after an hour and a half, we turned back, not being able to find it.  Then we went and had the truck washed, did shopping while we waited and then had lunch and went to the Center.
Thursday we took Elder Watkins to transfers and stayed for the meeting then gathered up our two new sisters luggage from Arevalo and the transfer Elders luggage and took them all to their apartments.  Sister Aquino is having surgery today in Manilla, having her nodules removed.  They do not wait for biopsy here because it takes too long.  They just removed the nodules.
Friday we cut each other's hair.  Last time I went to the hair place here, I came out looking like a boy.  So I decided what we do is better than that.  I will start growing my hair out some so I can get a great hair cut at Dressing Your  Truth when we get home.  That was Rays favorite cut.  I'm looking forward to that.  I also made muffins this morning.  It is my staple to eat.  I make it with wheat flour and oatmeal flour that I make and bananas, pineapple, carrots etc.  I added cocoa to them this time just for a change.
We came to the Center, not realizing it is some kind of holiday so we will probably go back home until we go to the airport to pick up Franco from Manilla.  He will be doing a PEF fireside from 9-3 tomorrow.  Also there is no internet at the Center today.  The physical facilities people are working on it, or were yesterday and like I said, today is a holiday, Ramadan, a Muslim holiday that they all shut down for, school, etc.  love, Sister Robinson III, Mom, Gmom