Road Trip.....

At our last post we mentioned that we were leaving town for the first time since we got here in August. This blog will be about our first outing in about four months. We were- and we still are- excited about our trip.

Oh but wait I am getting ahead of myself.

We headed to Vigan, which is about an hour and a half away. We went with the Kartchners who had church work in Vigan this weekend.

First stop is Paoay. This is St. Augustine Church in Paoay. This church was built with coral blocks and stucco-plastered bricks. 

It is a unique combination of Gothic, European Baroque and Southeast Asian elements.

Here was an interesting sign we came across on our way. We were so glad that we didn't have any animals to Quarantine!

We stopped to eat at a place that we think has the best empanadas in town. I also have a granddaughter who told me that we needed to start eating the food.

And this picture is for that very same granddaughter who told us to start eating the food. 

In case you didn't catch this sink in the last picture I want to make sure you (she) sees it close up.

Very inviting right?

The empanadas are worth the risk!

Okay I can't stand it, I must share so I will jump a head just a little. 

Vigan is a tourist town. 

It represents a fusion of cultural elements from the Philippines, China and Europe creating a city that is without equal in Asia. 

It is one of the few Hispanic towns left in Philippines.

And to add to the tourist attraction they have put in and expensive 

Dancing Fountain.

Please turn volume down for videos

                                         

                                        

The terrain on the way to Vigan

 Rice Fields

Checking into the Hotel. One hundred dollars a night and well worth every penny.

It's hard to believe you're in the Philippines.

They bring you a juice drink as you are checking in.

 Nice rooms with complimentary slippers, a sample of their deserts and bottled water. A nice bathroom as well that furnishes toothbrushes and lotions of every kind. These people want you to come back to Vigan.

They have a very nice restaurant with a complimentary breakfast and a little place next to it that sells the best smoothies around.

As soon as we got into town we went over and took a, "Calesas" ride 

around town so we could to see it at night.

 Look real close at the Tri-C in the back ground. They really fancy up the Tri-C's, Jeepneys and even their Calesas here in Vigan. They are much fancier than the ones in Laoag.

Gotta work that tourism. 

   On the other side of the Dancing Fountain there is a little water park for the kids (and grown-ups). Tonight that area was flashing the different province of the Philippines.

                                           

The streets of Vigan.

We heard about another great empanada place in Vigan.

Lots of Garlic

                                            

The day we were walking the streets of Vigan these teenagers asked us if they could survey us. They were such nice kids. The one in the orange shirt told us to go to see the Museum that was just down the street.

 We went to the museum and this lady told us that it was her grandson that sent us this way.

The hat on the far left is for the Filipinos to wear during a typhoon. They are to cover their whole body up during a typhoon.

She is pointing to the hat made out of a gourd.   

 This hat is made out of a coconut.

 All the hats.

Now that you have seen some of Vigan can you see why they might call it one of the

 "7 Wonders of the World"?

Sorry I just can't get enough of the fountain.

 And there you have it.....We are now leaving Vigan

Sights we saw as we left.... I love seeing mountains

We stopped and went to church. This church is right across the street from the chapel. Every Sunday I would want to count to see which church had the most cars in the parking lot.

This picture is to show you how spoiled we are. Back in Laoag we have aircon (air condition) in the church. Here they just have the big fans. We have a lot to be grateful for today. 
First we have the aircon every Sunday. Second they had bottle water for the sacrament and third we met an old friend here.      (See below)

Notice the piano player! She is a young girl who is learning to play. She played two of our Hymns using one hand. She did a very nice job with the songs. 

I just want to show you this. 

It is very common for the youth to give the prayers in Sacrament Meeting. This was the young sister who gave the closing prayer in Sacrament Meeting today.

I find it interesting. We have the youth working in the temples now so I wonder if they will start having them give prayer in church like they do here in the Philippines?

And here is our dear friend Elder Maroket. What a surprise for us all. We went to his class, Gospel Principles. 

When we got to church they asked Elder Kartncher to speak in Sacrament Meeting. At this time I would like to tell you why the Kartnchers went to Vigan. 

Brother Kartncher is helping the clerks in this area. 

The clerks have the tithing process pretty much going right. The problem they face now is that the branches will have like 900 people on the rolls of their branch and only 150 people coming to church. 

Brother Kartncher spent Saturday working with several clerks in cleaning up those records. They had to identify those that were dead, those that had moved and those that had gone back to the Catholic Church. He taught them how to clean up those records. They have much more to do but it was a start.

There is one ward and 5 branches in this area. When they teach these branches how to do all that is required of a ward they can then remove the branch status and make them a ward. With 5 wards we could have a stake here and you know if we get enough stakes in this area, we will then qualify for a temple.

Happy Days, the work goes on!

We are happy to be home even though the night we arrived home we had a 6.1 earthquake. I guess that is just the Philippines.

The new word for today (that Elder Denkers taught me) is

                    "Kawawa"  

                        (kuh-wah-wah)  It means Pitiful or Pathetic

So here is our Kawawa. The brand new missionaries coming in December will have to ride the long, long, long cold bus once again. Their flights are all booked for December, (for that many people that is).

The next Kawawa has to do with Elder Ballan. Do you remember him?

He is the Filipino Elder who loves only thin black ties. 

When he came on this mission his molars were too low to take out. Now he has four big molars that are giving him problems. 

Yesterday they flew him to Manila at 10:00 pm. He arrived after 11:00. He checked into a room and was up early. He had a dentist appointment at 4:00am. By 7:00 am he was done and they flew, YES flew him home at 12:30 pm.  It is a rough life.

One thing Sister Snyder pointed out is that for this Filipino Elder this saved his family a lot of money that they probably didn't have. Also he got a great dentist with the church involved. We are so grateful for that.

To end I just want to remind any of you that pay fast offering or into the missionary fund you are doing a great service. We are grateful each day for the help the church gives to these wonderful missionaries.

Love and miss you all, 

Love the Sister, Sisters