PIZZA!!

We treated the Mangaldan Elders to Pizza and we met the Sisters from Manaoag there so they joined us for a nice lunch. This was one our P-Day's.

Of course always a "wacky" pose! L-R: Wallentine, Sis. Allred, Cerillo, Roman, Elder Lato, Sangcap, Rabanes. Pres. Allred is the camera man.

Shakey's pizza card--buy one get one free sure comes in handy when you are around missionaries. They can't afford to buy pizza so it is a treat when they get to have it.

Jeepney's - Filipino Transportation

This is what a Jeepney looks like from the back, this is where they load and unload passengers, they hop on and off --sometimes without the Jeepney even coming to a complete stop!

If they run out of room in a Jeepney, people stand on the little platforms on the back. This form of transportation is for going from town to town or from one end of a big town to another. The elders told me they can ride to Dagupan from Mangaldan for 15 pesos, which is about 30 cents which is pretty good because it takes us almost 30 minutes to drive it, depending on traffic. Considering the price of gas which is about $4.25 a gallon, 30 cents is not a bad price, but of course you have no air conditioning. The sides of the Jeepney's have spaces for windows but there are no windows, it is too hot--they need to have the air moving--when it rains they have little pieces of plastic they lower to keep the rain out. They are a perfect design for the climate here. They do a lot of start and stopping so it takes longer than in a car to get where they are going.

King of the Road

Don't believe everything you see! Buses rule the road here, they don't move, slow down or yield the right of way for anything! They will pass even when there isn't room enough for them to get around the vehicle in front before the oncoming vehicle approaches. When they want in between you and another car, they just do the "Filipino wiggle", which is when they stick out their hand and wiggle it back and forth and move over--whether you are slowing down to let them in or not! If you don't slow down you will get clobbered! Many of the buses we see have lots of scrapes and dents in the sides of the bus because someone didn't move over or slow down quick enough to get missed. RULE OF THE ROAD--buses are the BIGGEST and they RULE!

Oabel's Baptism

Baptism day for the Oabel family and Mark, John's brother.

Here is John and Arlene and Kian Oabel and John's brother Mark who lives with them. They are a sweet family and we love getting to know them. They are going to be awesome members of the church. Kian is 4 and very shy--she isn't sure what to make of me yet.

Elder Tauialo, John, Arlene and Mark Oabel and Elder Rabanes and in front Kian Oabel.
This is their baptism day Jan. 2, 2010. Great way to begin a new year -- with a new life and perspective!

New Year's Day Zone Party 2010

We had a zone New Year's day party. We had sinigung soup (which I love), Sister Roman and Sis. Cerillo and Elder Natindim made the soup. They bought the food that looks like taquitos, we had rice and juice. I brought the chocolate chip cookies. In the kitchen you can see Sis. Roman and Elder Natindim. At the counter L-R: Elder Tauialo, Gumapad (with his back to us) and Elder Rabanes. Sitting, L-R; Elder Seva, Espinosa, Wallentine and Podzokowski.

Elder Podzokowski and Elder Polidario, Mangaldan 2 branch elders.

In the back: L-R: Sis. Cerillo, E. Tauialo, Sis. Roman, Elder Limnoan, Natindim and Rabanes. In front L-R Elder Espinosa, Wallentine and Podzokowski. While the guys were playing basketball outside some of us played Scrabble and I (Sis. Allred) beat the socks of all of the elders I was playing with (I showed them you don't mess with the older generation! He he he!) We played games in the cultural hall for a couple of hours. We had a curfew to be in our apartments by 6:00 p.m from Dec. 30 to Jan 2 . (Safety reasons--too much drinking and lots of fireworks going on all over the place--it is a dangerous time to be out and about) This was our SAFE way of ushering in the New Year--2010. We all enjoyed it very much.

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.