(Cover picture is stickee rice with coconut desert on banana leaf served after a baptism in Kalikid)
Today's Update
We've had very little rain since the Typhoons passed over. Today its 92 degrees with 64% humidity creating a heat factor of 102. No showers predicted until next weekend. It's HOT! We have 4 plants on the balcony and 2 out in front of our gates. The ones in front of the gates gets intense afternoon sunshine and nearly died until we watered them. Imagine needing to water your plants in the tropics :)
It's Halloween day here which isn't getting much attention. All missionaries are on lock down at 6:00 pm for the night. Tomorrow is "The day of the dead" like memorial day but with vigor. Both days are a holiday so schools out and traffic is delightful. Everybody is hanging out at the malls with AirCon (Air conditioning) and loud music. Tomorrow the celebrations moves to the cemeteries with all day parties, food and fireworks. We'll swing by the largest cemetery and grab some photos for next blog.
Sister Dansie's Trike Got Busted
Sister Dansie was headed to SM Megamall on a trike last week with a nice young driver. They passed by an infrequent police checkpoint. The driver had no registration, no drivers license and the license plates belonged to someone else. "Are you in trouble" asked Sister Dansie. "Yes" was the answer. She paid him his P 20 for the ride and walked the last block to the Mall. The police were removing the license plate when she looked back but no handcuffs yet:)
Passports Are Finally Back
Missionaries arrive with a 90 day VISA and we applied for 2 year VISA the first day in Manila. (See blog) Immigration finally delivered it to Manila and Manila office sent to Tarlac for us. We need it to get our Filipino drivers licenses. Tarlac informed us early Tuesday that it arrived so we headed for Tarlac to pick them up. Manila headquarters keeps them safe in their vault during our mission. So we sent them back once we got our DL. With 21 missions and 160-200 missionaries per mission, that's about 3,500 passports to keep track of.
Tuesday was also the day that 18 missionaries were heading home after completing their missions. So we joined the farewell lunch and testimony meeting at the Mission home while we were there. It was sad to say goodbye to several new friends we have met but proud to know that they have unselfishly served the Lord for 2 years and heading home. After 2 years of dedicated focus and grueling schedule, they are fully ready to pursue their dreams. Here are some pics of them loading in vans for Manila. They stay overnight in Manila at the Microtel by the area office and then fly out Wednesday.
On our way back from Tarlac we detoured to Jaen to take a replacement fan and to hang some curtains that Sister Dansie made for the Sister's Apartment. By then it was dark. Sun sets around 5:15 and with no street lights, minimal house lights and many trikes not having working headlights dark is really dark for the drive back. Took about 40 minutes using the bypass around the main highway traffic. We try to minimize driving at night.
Drivers Licenses Finally
With our passports and 2 year VISA we were able to go to the Land Transportation Office and apply for a Drivers License. We had to wait for the 2 year VISA because you must have at least 1 year left on the VISA to get a drivers license. The process was very well organized as we went from station to station. Everyone was very kind to help the English speaking Americans. About 45 minutes later we had our official temporary permits. The department has a shortage of laminate to make permanent cards so they said to check back in 3 or 4 months to see if they have the materials to print the permanent version.
Thursday was transfer day again.
Every 6 weeks transfers occur. This time 18 missionaries completed their missions, 16 new arrived and many shifted areas to assume the roles left by the departing missionaries. Those companionships (remember missionaries always stay together as pairs 24/7) effected by the transfer arrive at the Cabanatuan Stake Center at 8:30 am to switch around. Those moving to the Tarlac side of the mission head to the bus terminal and go to Tarlac as a group. This time 15 were switching sides. The companion-less companions wait as a group at the Stake Center until their new companions arrive. They use the time to study and watch church movies. But this time something was wrong with the TV sound and so an impromptu sing along of church hymns spun up. This download may take a while but it's worth watching the movie. (Took an hour for us to upload on our great internet!)
The new senior couple, the Spungs who now live in Munoz joined us for the transfer and after we gave them the quickee tour of Cabanatuan and lunch at Greenwich Pizza.
Saturday Change of Plans
Saturday we received a phone call at 6:38 am from the Bongabon Zone Leaders. There was a last minute shuffle of a couple missionaries on Friday and could we help shuffle? So Elder Dansie make a quick trip to Apartment in Ward 1 to fix an issue then we headed to the bus terminal to pickup a missionary who was on the bus coming from Tarlac (Mission office)
We picked up the new Missionary at the bus terminal then drove to Palayan to meet his companion (who was with the Zone Leaders temporarily) and then deliver them both back to Kalikid. They had to prepare for a baptism saturday night at 6:00 pm.
When companionships are short elders or sisters, the stakes often provide a 17 year old young man to be a temporary companion for 6 weeks until the next transfer day rolls around. The new missionary just turned 18 and is waiting for his own mission call. He's spending the next 6 weeks in Kalikid as the temporary companion.
Then we returned to Palayan to a Baptism at 3:00 pm. This gentlemen is 78 years old and has been waiting to hear the Gospel all his life. His wife had a stroke and will be baptized in a couple weeks when she can get around better.
Since nothing starts on time, we missed visiting the Baptism on Bongabon at 4:00 pm but did make it back to the Kalikid baptism at 6:00 to enjoy the stickee rice desert after.
New Glasses
Sister Dansie couldn't resist the sale and got some new glasses, with frames and eye exam for P 1,400 (about $30.) If anyone needs new glasses, send over your prescription and we'll facetime from the store for you to pick out your frames!