Blossoms Abound

Elder Ramiro said these trees are called Sipres trees. We saw them all along Marcus highway going to Baguio. They are full of beautiful bright orange blossoms.

This is the first time I have ever seen them. I thought it was strange that in the hottest and driest part of the year there are trees like this just loaded with gorgeous blossoms.

More Road Danger Signs

This is a danger sign on Marcus Highway, notice the great big section missing on the right. This is the result of mudslides during the typhoon Peping last October. The signs are not lit up at night by reflectors or anything. You have no warning until you are right up on it. It's been this way since October, 2009.

Another road danger sign, more road gone from all the mudslides. This one is on Marcus Highway also. We have not driven up on Kennon road yet, Marcus is easier but longer to drive.

Happy Birthday!

We were in Baguio for mission business and stayed over night. We went to the Manor at Camp John Hay for dinner. The food is DELICIOUS and the atmosphere great! When we started to order Rick asked the waiter if he got a discount because it was his birthday, they said no. What a shocker!! We had a lovely meal and were sitting around just talking and the waiter brought out this cake. It really surprised AND embarrassed Rick. They had heard the reference he had made about his birthday . They came during the meal and asked Sis. Jensen something. She wrote something down on a paper and the lady left. She said later, she couldn't remember his first name so she just put brother on it. The waiters all gathered around and sang Happy Birthday to him! Of course, everyone in the restaurant was looking at him.

Here is the surprise piece of birthday cake! Chocolate--what's not to love?

They wrote the words it chocolate--I felt them, they were solid, not runny so it wasn't syrup or they put it in the frig to make it hard. I tasted it--it was yummy!

He's 66 years old and going strong! We never thought we would be celebrating it in the Philippines but what a memorable birthday.

Election Day in the Philippines

Every four years the Philippines has an election for the President. For months before the election we heard REALLY loud Jeepney's and cars go down our street advertising for a particular candidate! This went on for over 3 months. By the time election day came were excited--why you ask? That would mean the end of all the noisy vehicles going up and down our street from very early morning till late at night.
The most amazing thing to me was this sight at an election site. This is the trash that is generated at polling places. The towns have a National Day of Service shortly after the election to clean up this of kind of mess. I am puzzled why they don't have a garbage can there to discard the trash. The Philippines has no litter policy, but this was shocking to see so much trash in one place onthe main road.

We're Moving!

This is called a "kubo" it resembles a small hut, no windows or door, just an opening to let you go in or out.
I love these things--I just can't figure out how to get one in my suitcase! They are not very expensive here but in the states it would cost a fortune. Bamboo trees are plentiful here. Many of the Filipino people live is a "kubo". It is affordable and transportable as you can see.

They are built so that the openings on the sides allow for ventilation and a breeze if you are lucky. They seem to be fairly leak-proof, at least when they are new. They sell the leaves to re-roof them everywhere. That would look so cool in my back yard---until that is, it is covered with snow.

Crisanta Bautista's Baptism Day

This sweet sister is like a daughter to me. We connected right away. She was so very ready for the gospel. She would ask very profound questions and very eager to know our Savior and to feel his love for her. She was so sincere with everything she asked. We went with the elders her teaching appointments. She connected to Pres. Allred and I very quickly. She is like a daughter us me. She was hugging me one night and she asked Pres. Allred if she could hug him. He said missionaries aren't suppose to hug but he would at her baptism. She was always reminding him that he was going to hug her at her baptism. She would say remember President, you are going to hug me at my baptism. She requested that President Allred baptize her. He felt like the elders should do it but Elder St. Martin assured him they would have many opportunities to baptize. He accepted the invitation. She was so excited--you can see it in her face! She could hardly wait for her baptismal day.

This is Cris and Fernan her husband. She is expecting a baby in August. Her day had finally arrived. She was literally beaming!! After the baptismal service was over an older member of the branch said he had never seen a member of the mission presidency baptize someone a member of the church in all the years he has been in the church. Cris said some of the members made the comment to her they had never seen a senior couple have such a close relationship to a member before. She is so friendly and easy to love. How could you not?

Here we all are: Pres. Allred and I, Cris and Fernan and Elder Ramiro and St. Martin. April 24, 2010. It has been an amazing experience to be able to attend all her lessons (except the very first one) and to share our testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We shared experiences of how living the various principles they taught her have blessed our lives and draw us closer to our Savior and Heavenly Father.

PS: She did get her hug in private after coming out of the water.

More of San Rogue Dam

This is a gate that holds back the water.

This is where the water goes when the gate opens.

You can see all the brown to the left of us, that would normally be covered in water.

Urdanet Zone missionaries