Saturday, February 27-Friday, March 4, 2016

Saturday routine.  In the scripture reading, OT...406. Saul loved the Lord when he was young and thought of himself as the least in the least of the Israelites but after he was king and began take credit for all things instead of recognizing God's hand in everything; he became proud and his heart was discomfited (troubled feelings).  Such sad stories.  It reminds me to be watchful of my own self, to not take glory but to recognize it is God.  Wash.  8:30 off to Arevalo to administer our last English test.  The sisters came, Sister Tabyocyoc took the test and at 10:30 we took them back to their apartment in Jaro.  SM for some fruits.  Apartment 11:45 fixed lunch, cleaned.  Took mail from past missionaries to Quenie and Brakie.  We did get in the house and eventually had a nice visit after we waited 20 minutes plus.  We reminded them to keep reading the Book of Mormon.  After we went to Jalandoni.  5:30 went to McDonald's and brought home a "Big and Tasty" and apple pies.  Just celebrating April's less than twelve hours arrival!
Sunday 5:00 am left for the airport to pick up April.  Returned to the apartment so she could shower after the long flights, ate breakfast, and visited until 7:55 when we loaded up 4 sisters plus 2 elders plus three of us to attend church at Mandurriao.  They had the three of us, yes, April, too, bear our testimonies.  President Insigne was there and commented on how usually parents who are wealthy pick up their children from his/her mission but here was our daughter, April,picking us, the parents up.  That is very special.  It was very fun comments.  He had seen us at the airport but we didn't see him.  President  Insigne was taking his son to the airport to attend BYU-Hawaii.  His son is an rm and has been counting the days to go to BYU-Hawaii.  Anyway, at church we introduced April to everyone we could, took lots of pictures, enjoyed hugs and expressions of love.  Then we went to the apartment for lunch.  Next to San Miguel for group church. A family of four investigators attended today, parents and two daughters.  They are great, should be a golden baptism, then Solvent family.  Brother Tigno spoke.  He has been inactive but returned two months ago and he and his wife plan on being sealed in November in the temple in Cebu.  His wife was in the business class and has a macaroon business.  Samples coming home😋.  We gave Sister Salvacion, Anne, and deacon brother rides home and then April took a rest, we ate popcorn😀.  We have a dinner appointment at Arquiolas at 7:00.  Couples should only go on missions if they really enjoy being loved.😉. We had a wonderful time at dinner and they had all the missionaries in our district there except the zone leaders.  It was a beautiful sit down dinner with a cake that had written on it, "We will miss you, Elder and Sister Robinson"
Monday routine.  Sister Cagape asked us to meet her at her sons' car wash at 9:00 in Pavia as she had some native gifts for us--a whole box.  Then she met us at the Promenade to feed us lunch.  What a good woman she is.  She has treated us like royalty.  She loves to take care of everyone.  With April, we showed her the SM, the Atrium, walked the beautiful Esplanade and went to Smallville 21 for a night of karaoke and food with friends--10:00 apartment.
Tuesday routine, zone meeting:  "Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less."  After zone meeting, we went to Tatoys to eat fish and vegetables and a halo halo,then to Ephrathath Farm.  We walked around the farm then Ray and April took the zip line (I had forgotten to bring along some pants).  So I took pictures.  We drove back before it was late and ate a little.  At 7:30 we went to DitS, Desserts in the Sky:  black and white cheesecake, banana Carmel cheesecake, berry white mousse.  Home 8:30.  Ray is trying to take care of some self reliance stuff for the San Miguel group.
Wednesday routine then to Jalandoni, taxi to wharf, pump boat to Guimaras, picture taking and Cushings picked us up.  They took us to the Family Hills, then to Seafdec (a fish hatchery in the ocean) that we took a boat ride out to and back, then we went to Raymen's to eat and everyone had a mango shake.  Back to the wharf to return in the pump boat, taxi ride to Jalandoni, checked mail and visited with some people, then to Healthy Kitchens where President and Sister Aquino and Jasmine were waiting to treat us to dinner.  It was Vietnamese healthy herb drinks and salad and some pasta.  It was so sweet of them to spend the time with us.  Picked up mini apples pies on the way to the apartment.  8:22
Thursday routine.  Washed eggs.  Stopped by Arevalo 9:00 to visit with President Aquino.  He thanked us for our service and said they will plan to visit us in 2017, September.  Onto San Jose over the mountains.  We showed April the Pinnacle Hotel and saw Sister Leah Pomel and bought a swirl cake from her.  She gave us donuts.  We took the cake and visited President and Sister Villavert.  Her father died on Friday.  We had lunch at Mang Inasal and had a buko shake.  Back home along the shore.  It was all so dry.  El Niño has made the country unrecognizable since we drove here last.  We watched a movie with April after we got home.
Friday routine.  Had the car washed.  Then went to SM for a salad at Iloilo Cafe.  Worked on packing then at 2:00 we headed to pick up Julianna, stake Relief Society secretary and Darlene Casas, president and stake self-reliance specialist and went to Dumangas for a boodle fight in Navas yard with both counsellors and a young man from the Ward.  We gave them all a ride back to the city and went home.  Finished packing and loading up, then Sister Cagape came by with more native souvenirs.  Where to put them?  Then we went to bed.  It's a short night.  An hour later we hear the missionaries and four ladies calling "tugboly".  They brought us four boxes of macaroons to take home as a goodbye.  They are all so good to us.  Pictures then they left and we returned to bed.
Saturday up at 3:30 and to the APs apartment to get them to drive us to the airport.  I had made breakfast the night before so we ate at the airport the delicious egg sandwiches, Guimaras mangos and juice.  Then about 5:00 am we were surprised that Security brought Erlyn, Elady, and Sister Cordero up to say goodbye to us.  These crazy fun friends!  I love these people.  A most painful goodbye Iloilo...  We are so thankful April came to pick us up.  We didn't know how much we needed help with the goodbye process.  She was just who we needed to stay above water.  Love Mom, Grandma, Teresa