Tri-Zone Christmas Zone Conference

Mangaldan Zone -- Back row L-R: Elder Polidario, Espinosa, Gumapad, Podzokowski, Natindim, Clyde, Wallentine, and Rabanes. Sitting row-- L-R: Pres Allred, Sister Allred, Pres. Jensen, Sister Jensen and our two Sister missionaries, Sis. Roman and Cerillo. Floor L-R: AP Morales, Elder Angustia, Seva, AP Stone, Elder Limnoan Front and Center Elder Tauialo. December 23, 2009.

Lingayen Zone Back Row: L-R Nicerio, Baker, Morrell, Duncan 2 (can't tell), Elder Flanigan, Fullmer, Titensor, Burton, Cortez. Stand in front of back row: L-R: (?) Timkang, Villioga, Sipe Sitting L-R: Elders Anderson, Mundo, Sister Jensen, Pres. Jensen, (?) Villar, Front: (?) Jamboy, (?) AP Stone, Elder Kurczdyna, AP Morales.

Dagupan Zone Back row L-R: (?), River, Lopez, Pres. Jensen, Biltz, (?), Sitting L-R: (?), Sis. Garma, Sis. Boekwig, Tobias, Jover, Sis. Jensen, Broadhead, (?), (?) Lapana, Contejo, Montera Front L-R: Elder Barrientos, (can't see) AP Morales, Agoncillo, AP Stone in behind, Elder Laufiso, Francia, Quintana, Karlson.

Home Evening Filipino Style!

We had Home Evening at our house one Monday night and 23 people came. We fed them and had a short DVD presentation about the Savior's birth and then explained how Home Evening takes place in our home. We have an agenda, each family member takes part, even the little ones with singing prayer or whatever. We assign different children to give the lesson, prayers and sometimes assign them to provide refreshments, but most of the time that falls to Mom. John Oabel is the one in the USA shirt. Sis. Magno (pink/white striped shirt) is Pres. Magno's wife, Pres. Magno is on the left in front of the man with the red shirt. De Vera family in the far back waving and daughter in blue waving standing by her brother, way back by the door is Bro. Dennis Decano a member of the Branch Pres. and the man on far left in red is the other counselor Bro. Tasada. We had a great time! Our home was over-flowing but it was wonderful.

I think I disappointed them somewhat-there was no rice for dinner. They did eat the food and seemed to like it. It was a great time. Filipinos know how to have a good time, we had all the Branch Presidency and wives and a couple of new convert families, the De Vera family and the Oabel family.

This is Arlene Oabel and Kian (their daughter) and Mark her brother in law. They are the sweetest family and little Kian is so very cute. She is quiet shy but is getting better the more we see them. Her husband is the one in the first picture wearing the Jag USA shirt. The Oable's aren't scheduled for baptism until Jan. 2, 2010.

Awesome Mangaldan Zone

Our Zone Picture - Dec. 16, 2009
Back row L-R: Elder Rabanes, Limnoan, Gumapad, Podzokowski, Wallentine, Espinosa, Natindim, Sangcap Sitting: L-R: Sis. Cerillo, Roman, Allred, Pres. Allred, Elder Angustia
Front: L-R: Elder Lato, Seva, Cortez

We brought Pizza and Soda for a Zone Birthday celebration and Christmas Party! They polished off 6 party-size pizzas! We all enjoyed ourselves.

Trimming the Tree

The Elders had to sing for their supper "sort of speak". They put up the Christmas tree in the Mission Home after our Thanksgiving Feast.

Desserts and More Desserts

Desserts and more desserts--all wonderful and delicious! Yum!!

More wonderful things to enjoy. We were all stuffed. We enjoyed each others company and expressed gratitude for blessings we enjoy and especially the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives.

Let the Feast Begin!

Let the feast begin!!

Pres. & Sister Thomsen, Sister and Pres. Cabrito (Stake President in Baguio)and Elder Morales at the end.

At the far end is Elder Morales, Elder Miller, Titensor, Duncan, Stone, Pres. & Sister Jensen (sorry Sis. J. you got chopped off!) and me.
Let the feast begin!!

Elders Morales, Miller, Titensor, Duncan, Stone and Pres. Jensen. They all look very happy.

Ready - Eager - Hungry--Let's Feast!!

The table was filled with wonderful Thanksgiving foods. Elders, Morales, Miller, Stone, Titensor and Duncan. Elder Duncan had never experienced a Thanksgiving Feast and had been looking forward to this for weeks!

Thomsen's at Mines View

This is the office couple from Canada, Pres. & Sister Thomsen. This is at the lookout point at Mines View, which overlooks the mountainous terrain of Baguio.

Pres. & Sister Thomsen arrived in the mission a month before we did. We really enjoy their company. They have five daughters, all of which served missions and one went to the Philippines.

This is shot on the other side of the Mission Home wall where poinsettias are growing wild.

"Kitchen Beautiful" in the Mission Home!

Kitchen remodel complete! Totally awesome transformation!
They barely finished it in time for our belated Thanksgiving Feast on Dec. 2,, 2009.

This is the center island, they made great use of the big open space. Pres. & Sister Jensen designed it themselves. They had a hard time making the cabinet people understand what they wanted because this kind of cabinets are not found in the Philippines. Pres. Jensen printed pictures off the Internet and told them this is how he wanted the cabinets made!

The oven is twice as big as anything I have seen in the Philippines, which is nice, Bert, the cook for the Mission is always preparing delicious meals for the incoming and outgoing missionaries and also for Zone Leader Council.

They even got a remake of the pantry. Filipinos don't stock up on food like we do in the US. They don't have much if any cabinetry in their kitchens and usually go to the "palenke" (market) every day for what they need. Many don't even have a frig. When the Filipino missionaries see Sis. Jensen's pantry they just stare wide-eyed in amazement!