The past couple weeks have been busy in a semi-normal way. Monday August 22, we picked up 8 pizza's from Shakey's in Cabanatuan at 10:30 am and delivered them to a zone party in San Jose at 11:57 am.. (There is a huge crossover of spanish names a a carryover from when the Spanish controlled the philippines a long time ago. City names, street names, even family names.)
That week was four combined zone meetings strategically located in geographical areas. We attended the meetings on Wednesday in San Jose and Friday in Cabanatuan. Both times enjoyed a Filoppino lunch catered by local catering.
The following week we attended a special zone leader/district leader training in Tarlac on Tuesday. The Mission president implemented some new programs. with the drive it ends up being a leave by 7:30 am and back at 6:30 pm. The zone leaders then put on separate zone training of the new materials on Thursday. Here are some pix of training, apartment inspections and other fun with the Missionaries.
Friday we went to Tarlac again for a senior missionary get together and training. We decided to let Google map us a shorter route via a "farm road." Never again do we trust google. It was about 20 kilometers of skinny overgrown trail that ran through the landfill, past squatter shacks, goats and more. The people in the fields looked at us in unbelief. The car needs a good buffing because of all the grasses and bushes that rubbed the doors. I suspect that is the first and only car that has traveled the road. Usually trikes, motorcycles and tractors.
After the Tarlac luncheon at the mission home, we all headed off to S&R in San Fernando. We went because it is a chance to drive for 45 minutes on a toll road and regain some feeling of driving on a real road again. S&R used to be Costco but sold to a local company. It was possible to buy real milk (instead of the reconstituted powdered milk) and other American styled stuff. Once we finished at S&R it was 45 minutes of toll road and 2 hours of traffic again to get back to our apartment.
In between all that, we completed more house inspections and helped find a new apartment for the Santa Rosa Elders. Our inspection in Santa Anna pointed out serious mold in their existing apartment and declared it unsafe.
After leaving another apartment inspection the road curved and we found ourselves in the middle of the public market. It took 15 minutes to get our car through the crates, carts and produce. This is typical driving in that you never know what to expect and when you find out, it's too late to do anything about it but wait.
When we were at North pacific mall, we stopped for a spa/pedicure haha. Cold water and no electrical to make the spa swirl. Good thing it was only $6.00!
Sunday (sep 4), we left at 7:15 am and drove to Gabaldon for Church at 9:00 am and met that wonderful branch. On the way back we stopped in Palayan and went home teaching with a couple of Brothers until 4:00. So it was another long day with alot of driving. Here's a bunch of photos just to look at. Sister Dansie is getting out of the car at the Gabaldon Branch who meets above the feed store. About 100 in attendance.
We're still struggling with Sister Dansie and BYU games. The first game was played at 10:30 AM PHP time Sunday. It's recorded on her Dish DVR but we don't have enough bandwidth in the evenings to get playback. She's hoping that she can get a good stream later tonight or Monday Morning. Please to not email her comments on the game until she's had a chance to view the recording :)
Until next time...
Mahal Ko Kayo
Elder and Sister Dansie