Friday December 25- Friday January 1, 2016

Friday finishing up from last week.  Ray bought two chickens at a street vendor which we have purchased before and fed two sets of sisters ... no two elders and sent leftovers to two other elders.  Went to the Center.  8:30 home.  Bed.
Saturday December 26 6:30 am went to the center for our missionary calls with Sister Robinson IV and Elder Robinson from Chile.  Though connections are never good in the Philippines, the "hangouts" are very satisfying.  9:30 we returned to the apartment to exercise, shower, 1/3 cup fruit and off to gas station to pick up Darlene, to go to Navas for lunch (pictures), picked up four missionaries on our way.  We had "boodle fight" meaning we ate with our hands off of banana leaves.  This is done with family and friends to create more unity.  It is a bonding tradition used for Grandma's birthday or gathering of friends.  You put your food on the leaves in front of you and eat one thing at a time with your fingers.  There is a technique to it.  2:38 after dropping three others off at different locations, we headed to Leganes 2 Ward Christmas party.  We love this Ward.  It is so inclusive and fun--Bishop Demetrio and his wife, President and Sister Jane Suya, President Timmy and Malou Tigulo.  Malou could be my best friend if I lived here.   We will miss these people.  They took a movie of us dancing.  7:50 home.
Sunday attended sacrament meeting in Mandurriao, then San Miguel group, then back to Mandurriao for choir practice, lunch at apartment, then to Arevalo
With four elders and four sisters, our entire district, for Iloilo Stake Christmas devotional.  At the end during President Insigne's remarks, he called us up to bear testimony because as a stake, we will not be meeting again before we leave.  It was a stomach ache.  I will miss these people and we do not want to begin our goodbyes 2 1/2 months out.  We really had stomach aches going back to our apartment.😓. I want to retain what we have learned and experienced and give to others the treatment we have been given here.  We love these people and hope to meet again and find that we are all still steadfast in the faith of Jesus Christ.
Monday 6:07 went to Molo church to pick up Butch and Michelle, then to Jalandoni to park truck, flag down a taxi to take us to the wharf, "Super Cat" to Bacolod.  It was quite rough waters.  Arrived in Bacolod 9:00.  Boiser picked us all up and we went to the mission office where Sister Cagape met us.  While there we met some young missionaries.  Then up to the mountain to Campuastokan Highland Resort.  We ate lunch there, took pictures, walked all around.  Then down to "Calea" for cake for Butch's birthday.  He treated us all for his 29th birthday.  So we all chose our favorite piece.  I had berry cheesecake--it was the smallest but the best.  Then to Bacolod Business Inn for our nights stay.  We took a rest until 4:30 and then onto the "Ruins".  The Americans and Filipinos burned it so it could not be used by the Japanese for a garrison during the war in 1942.  Then we went to "Chicken Deli" to eat.  8:30 back to hotel.
Tuesday 8:30 our driver picked us up (Boiser).  We went to Mambukal Resort:  meaning boiling.  It is at the foot of an active volcanoe and hot water comes out at different places making a warm springs sulphur spa.  There are many little hot pools around along the paths to soak your feet in.  At 1:40 we headed back to the City to go to the wharf but stopped first to eat at a little "House of Chicken".  Served with calamansi, vinegar, oil, and soy sauce.  Butch said he was going home "clucking" from so much chicken.  We waited at the wharf for the Fast Cat to Iloilo.  Many pictures will tell the story.  Our group was Erwin Boiser, our self reliance manager, Darlene Casas, North stake relief society president and self reliance stake specialist and volunteer, Butch Balsomo, volunteer, 2nd counselor in Molo 1st Ward, public affairs specialist, and Michele, his wife is a Ward facilitator for PEF.  Sister Cagape also joined us the first day.  Boat ride 3:40, arrived 5:30, taxi ride to Jalandoni, checked emails, foundation message from the mission office needing help in the morning.  Yeah!  Home.  7:00 started wash.  Ate popcorn.  Preparations for tomorrow.
Wednesday back to routine.  Load of wash.  We left for the airport to pick up new missionaries.  8:30 arrived 9:30:  9 darling sisters came in, 1 from Hawaii, the rest Filipino; 3 elders:  1 American, 1 Filipino, 1 Malaysian.  On to the mission home.  Then to the Center for an hour, stopped at SM to shop but it was crazzzy!  So we didn't shop.  We got a gelato and went to the apartment, ate lunch, back to Jalandoni, got the truck washed, shopped at Robinson's for 3 items.  Then our beautiful walk on the Esplanade.  Apartment.  Snack.  Brought in clothes.  Made artichoke dip, fried French bread thin slices in olive oil, made cranberry jello...all for our New Years' Eve adventure with the Cushings.  Bed 9:00.
Thursday 6:15 took 2 sisters, 2 elders to Arevalo with luggage early for their mission training; returned to the apartment for routine; 9:15 2 more sisters and 2 more elders with luggage to Arevalo for transfers.  10:00 meeting.  After meeting, we took 2 elders with luggage to San Miguel, 2 elders with luggage to Mandurriao and four sister's luggage and the Cushings couple.  The elders unloaded the luggage to go to the sisters apartment by us.  We were really jammed in.  After leaving the luggage and missionaries, the Cushings and us went to McDonald's on our way to New Years' Eve celebration at the Ephrathah organic farm and resort.  The owners' son gave us a personal tour, we went swimming, ate dinner, played games, and at 11:45 our personal fireworks began by the resort family just on the other side of the pool.  Ray was a little concerned as they were very close but it was delightful.  Bed.  In the morning, we started the new year with exercising, swimming, two long zip line rides over the farm which is 7 hectares, then showered, dressed and headed back to Iloilo.  What a way to start the year.  The four of us ate at the new Iloilo Cafe in the Mall.  I had salad that was delicious, only about my tenth salad in sixteen months.  We separated from Cushings and shopped at the SM store, 2:15 to the apartment, 5:00 to the Esplanade for my favorite walk, to the apartment, snack, relax, ...What a beginning!  I love you satanan (you all), Sister Robinson III, Grandma, Mom