Saturday, February 20, 2016-Saturday, April , 2016

Saturday routine.  Ray ironed shirts. 9:00 on our way to the wharf to pick up Boiser for North stake Relief Society meeting at 10 am at LaPaz stake center focusing on self reliance.  Only 19 showed up at the leadership meeting plus us and Boiser.  They fed us a beautiful lunch.  Then we returned Boiser to the wharf.  He gave us a going away gift.  It is handmade wall hanging of a marriage event.  For him, we are all about a marriage that we all want to have...how Elder opens my door...like that.  He and Annie say they want to be like us when they get older.  Home.  Mandurriao Ward primary parents activity at 3:00.  I was assigned to speak to the parents about teaching children 4-11 about reverence.  It was fun, though not many came.  Hurried to adult session of North stake conference 4:30, with visiting authority, Elder Pajaro of the Seventy.  The stake choir is always astig (awesome).  Elder Pajaro called on Ray to tell how multi-generational ancestor members have affected him.  He discovered in college how he had gospel roots.  He was given an assignment in a class to research the family history or his ancestors.  It made him feel that he wasn't an outsider.  After conference we took a picture with Elder and Sister Pajaro.  We were invited for two dinner appointments, so that was fun.  Also, Elder Ramos, a past assistant, surprised us and introduced us to his fiancé.  She was the chorister for stake conference.  They will marry in Manila temple the first week of June.  Home 8:00 pm.
Sunday 8:00 Mandurriao Ward with 6 missionaries;  my name was mentioned in both talks but I don't know what was said.  It was embarrassing to have so many references.  9:30 rushed to LaPaz for Sunday session North stake:  President and Sister Pajaro with the new Cebu temple president and Sister Perez.  One of the best stake conferences.  After conference Sister Cagape invited the Pajaros, the Perez's, the Aquino's and us for a very nice dinner.  We got back to the apartment at 3:45.  What a delightful day!
Monday routine.  Washed clothes.  Brought the sisters with us to Arevalo for Sister Averion to take the English test.  It was different than our tests in the past. We gave them a ride to Robinson's Mall then to Jalandoni for us.  1:30 home for lunch, brought in the dry clothes, rested.  Filled the truck up with gas, washed the truck, shopped a bit, picked up some liquid vitamins for me, apartment, gave Ray a hair cut, Ray ironed shirts.
Tuesday routine.  District meeting. After we all went to Mang Inasal to eat.  Elder Bowen, our district leader from Salt Lake City, surprised us with a halo halo for Ray and I as a farewell sentiment.  Oh, he is so nice.  After, Ray and I went to Jalandoni.  Then at 6:00 to LaPaz where we were invited to dinner at President and Sister Tigulos.  Delicious.  Healthy.  She makes the best drinks.  They would be our best friends.  Home 9:00.
Wednesday  routine.  7:30  Arevalo all sisters conference.  Amos 3:3. "Can two walk together except they be agreed?"  Mosiah 18:21  UNITY: 1-obedience 2-inclusive 3-service.  After sisters conference at 3:00, we went straight to Jalandoni to teach our last Institute class "Serving one another".  Since it was our last, we wanted to play charades and pictionary with the lesson.  I think they enjoyed it.  At the end of class, President Insigne brought a treat for everyone:  a boiled white flour ball with meat sauce inside, siopao.  Quotes from lesson, "...sometimes we look for opportunities to serve others when those who have the greatest needs are within the walls of our own home."  Elder Ballard "To those of you who have served full time missions, please remember that you were released from your missions but not from the church...we expect you to look and act like one of His disciples.  Look the part.  Act the part.  Don't follow worldly trends and fashions...  The rules for happiness and success after your mission are pretty much the same as they were during your mission:  pray hard (study Christ's attributes), work hard (serve), and be obedient ( read the scriptures daily).  Marion G. Romney:  "...service is not something we endure on this earth so we can earn the right to live in the celestial kingdom.  Service is the very fiber of which an exalted life in the celestial kingdom is made.  Oh, the glorious day when (service) all come naturally because of the purity of our hearts."  In that day we will not need a commandment or a calling.  We will have experienced for ourselves the joy of unselfish, unassigned service.  For now we practice, like babies learning to walk, to talk, to eat.  Some take to it faster and easier but as we make it our lives, we will become as God is.  President Gordon B Hinckley:  "It is our responsibility divinely laid upon each of us to bear one another's burdens, to strengthen one another, to encourage one another, to lift one another, to look for the good in one another, and to emphasize that good."  What a great time in life it is when we have our children at home, when we can notice and express all the good we see in them.  It is so convenient then to teach, to share, to love.  And children can do so much for their parents at that time because they can notice and express appreciation for the food prepared and provided, the clean clothes, the house they live in, the rides they are given, the opportunities provided them for developing their skills, their talents, their habits, the blessing of family scriptures and family prayers.  As we develop in different areas, we have more to share and to develop each other.  Some of us get tall fast, some grow slower-- and the blessing is "pulling together", helping, lifting, encouraging one another--kind words, helping hands, looking outside ourselves.  Oh, I wish I had had the missionary experience sooner.  Henry B Eyring:  "Obedience always includes service to others.  Service in God's work allows us to feel a part of what He feels..."  Certainly parenting is 24/7 service.  This question was for me:  "Do I share some of my free productive time with my children..."  Service opens windows in your life instead of just mirrors that always just reflect yourself."  Conference '89. Elder Backman:  "This is your world, a beautiful world with unlimited opportunities to grow, to learn, to serve.  Make it a better world through your preparations now and the noble service you render as a token of the love you have for Heavenly Father and His Son."  I loved this lesson.  I can't go back but I'm determined to serve my family better from now on.
Thursday routine.  Plan. Prepare. Wash. Purchase water.  SM-pay phone bill. Sony (from Guimaras district presidency) was there and he helped us communicate for ending our phone service.  Now we know we have to go in to end it on Friday, March 4 or try to do it in Manila on Monday, March 7.  It was nice to have his help.  We also got some pesos, then went to Jalandoni, only to find that it is a holiday again, People Power.  We went to the Atrium for four grocery items.  Home for late lunch.  Took a rest.  Writing journals and history of our mission experience.  Walked the Esplanade.  Home 6:15.  Read. Worked on details, garments for Analisa, bookmarks, etc.
Friday routine.  Wash.  Found out a baptism of a family was cancelled--hoping it will go forward next Friday before we leave.  Everyone was so sad.  Paid power and water bill with Sorilla's.  Then to Jalandoni.  Working on arrangements for a taxi to Queson City from the airport.
Received our new missionary yearbook today!  Yea!  Baptism is back on.  President Aquino interviewed Brother Solimon and the family was baptized around 6:30.  He, his wife and twelve year old son.  Both elders baptized.  It was one of the best baptisms.  Elder Solimon just hugged Elder Crighton after the ordinance, buried his head and cried.  It was so touching.  They each bore testimony at the end.  It was great!  He has a big construction job as a boss man.  9:00 we are home after taking the San Miguel group and the elders from there back to San Miguel.
Love, Sister Robinson