Sunday 6:00 am we left for President Roxas (city) then up to Manoling from there. Arrived at 8:50 for 9:00
Ward meetings. Beautiful place, beautiful church, beautiful people.
Pictures tell it all. There is a little hut that was the first meeting
house and the beautiful meeting house was built and dedicated since we
arrived here, sometime in the past year. It is harder to remember
exactly when because the weather is the same. I can't mark spring,
summer, winter, fall--it's warm and hot and dry or rainy. But it was
dedicated in the last year. The bishop asked Ray to speak about
self-reliance in sacrament meeting and he did a great job. We left them
all the materials we had left and they were thrilled. The facilitator
is the bishops wife and she had been dreaming about the books. A group,
the bishops wife and sister and some young men and two missionaries
accompanied us in the back of the pick up to the falls after the
meetings were finished. It was very fun. They were so desirous to go
with us. Fun. After we stopped at the bishops house and they gave us
all bananas. The bishop is in the process of building. His house
already has five bedrooms. Manoling is way at the top of the mountain
and nothing but bumpy dirt, gravel roads. They raise what they eat
because it is too far to any store. The bishop does have a chunguy,
picture, in front of his house--stand alone. Anyway, we took the
missionaries in the back all the way down to President Roxas where they
will stay the night with the elders there. They thought the ride was
fun. President Olivera saw us on the road and stopped to visit. He was
very happy that we visited Manoling. When we returned to Iloilo, we
took Cushings to the wharf and headed home 6:15.
Very rewarding weekend. Silently, I wish we could have been
transferred to Roxas so we could have been more helpful to Kalibo and
Roxas Stakes.
Monday yeah. Routine. 9:23
we went to the "drew" Cagape car wash. The truck was dirty after that
ride on the weekend. The granddaughter served us soup and bottled water
while we waited. It was so nice. 10:16 onto Jalandoni. 2:00
lunch at the MOOON restaurant--new to SM city. We had been waiting for
it to open because we had eaten at one in Bacolod with Elder and Sister
Green. We had onion rings, pumpkin soup and nachos supreme. They are
good for the Philippines--not a familiar American taste. 3:20 home. 6:30
Cordero's invited us with the sisters missionaries and an investigator
for dinner and a message that the sisters prepared. They had two pieces
of paper, crumpled each separately with a rock inside of one and then
requested three different people to blow them off the table. Of course,
the one blew easily. The one with a rock inside didn't blow at all.
Why? Because when we are not founded on the "rock of Jesus Christ", we
can easily be blown away by every wind of doctrine. Jesus Christ is our
anchor. I was asked to give the conclusion so that is always fun. I
love to bear testimony! Of Jesus Christ, the sure foundation and his
prophets and apostles in these latter days . We had prayer and dinner.
8:30 home. We gave the four sisters a ride home.
Tuesday 7:30
zone meeting. Elder Robertson and Elder Swanton are our zone leaders.
They are terrific! Elder Swanton is from Nibley. At the end of zone
meeting, they asked us to bear our farewell testimonies along with
Sister Crisanto, who leaves next week. It is always a blessing to bear
testimony. Then they said the closing song would be, Let us all Press
on. As we were looking up the song, they surprised us with singing, God
Be With You Til We Meet Again. Yep, I lost it and the Sister
missionary really lost it. We may never see some of these people
again. 😓. We love the missionaries, the people, the country, the
gospel of Jesus Christ. I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers
me. To have blessed me with this experience. Words can't express my
feelings. At 11:30
we packed who we could inside and outside and we all went to eat at
Pizza Hut, in the Robinson Mall, the zone leaders saved us a place at
their table--that was so nice. We enjoyed our time with them. 2:00
we went to Jalandoni, read our emails from our missionaries--so
thankful to be doing this at the same time as Elder Andrew John Robinson
and Sister Charity Robinson. 4:30 home. Read.
Wednesday
routine. Wash. Then to Arevalo to turn in our monthly vehicle report
and get information for next weeks career workshop for outgoing
missionaries--our last. We visited with Sister Aquino. Her health is
not good since she had thyroid cancer last year and after treatments.
She is swelling and bruising. But she is giving all she has to keep
working here in the mission. I left her with a bottle of "blue magic"
that we purchased from Sister Zabala in North Stake. Lunch at home.
Jalandoni next, Institute class: Selecting and Becoming an Eternal
Companion. Quotes: In true marriage there must be a union of minds as
well as of hearts. President Kimball: "...marriage within the church,
where husband and wife have common backgrounds, common ideals and
standards, common beliefs, hopes, and objectives...We recommend that
people marry those who are...of somewhat the same economic and social
and educational background". President N Eldon Tanner: I suggest people
ask themselves these questions: "What kind of mother or father do I
want my children to have? What kind of parent am I prepared to be? Am I
analyzing our similarities and differences in background, culture, and
intellect? Am I prepared to adjust to these differences? Do I realize
that such adjustments need to be made before marriage?" As you seek an
eternal companion, look for someone who is developing the essential
attributes that bring happiness: a deep love of the Lord and of His
commandments, a determination to live them, and willing to give of self
with a desire to have a family crowned with beautiful children...Neal A
Maxwell: "Obviously, family values mirror our personal priorities.
Given the gravity of current conditions, would parents be willing to
give up just one outside thing, giving that time and talent instead to
the family? Parents and grandparents, scrutinize your schedules and
priorities in order to ensure that life's prime relationships get more
prime time! Take especial care of your family." I loved the lesson and
especially enjoyed Ray's closing testimony of our marriage and
relationship. 5:30
we finished our walk around the Esplanade and headed home. Got to talk
with Jan Jones today in Queson City, Philippines. She was sick so she
had some time to visit.
Thursday routine. Ray ironed his four shirts and then we shopped for some groceries. Lunch. Jalandoni. 4:30 Esplanade. Home. We popped popcorn and watched "Facing the Giants." With God, nothing is impossible.
Friday routine then made cookies with the last batch of stuff from other
couples leaving. They are like a brownie, dark chocolate but not real
sweet, dipped in powdered sugar--still not sweet😜 but Ray likes them.
Jalandoni is next. Lunch. Back to Jalandoni and three missionaries for
"Called to Serve". Pictures follow.
