Slow and easy

Things seem to be going along slow and easy for now and we are happy for that. 

We had a couple of hectic weeks before this. 

First Elder Shmutz from the Philippines Area Presidency came to do a "Zone Tour". He was so knowledgeable and such an amazing speaker. 

We always have 2 Zone Conferences since we cover such a large area. It's an 8 hour drive or more from one end to the other end of the mission.
               
                    This pictures shows missionaries from the first conference.

Sister Snyder and I with our friend Ruth....

The following week we had our missionaries that were leaving come into the mission home for their farewell.

Our heart breaks as we say good-bye to some of these wonderful missionaries.

Then our new ones come in. There was great excitement with this batch of missionaries. We could feel the spirit that they brought with them. 

The two elders in the back and on the right are from New Zealand and we could hardly keep them contained. They wanted so bad to go to work even after riding a bus all night to get here.

Another highlight of our week was when our wonderful Elder Maraket came back to visit and brought us some "Krispy Kream" donuts from Manila.

We now can hug this Brother and we took full advantage of this! He got to meet the other Senior Sister and then had a hard time saying good-bye to all his grandmas. We promised to visit him in the states when we get home. (He's going to school there.)

So the next highlight was awesome! This couple has been working with the elders and say they are ready to be baptized. First, they needed to get married. This week we held a wedding for them. 

(A different problem is the divorced couples)
We have told you about this problem before. It is almost impossible to get a divorce even if you have lots of money. They just keep the paperwork going and going on. I hate to say it but couples who are separated and now lives with someone else are kind of encouraged to live together because in 5 years of cohabitation the church will recognize them as married and let them be baptized. They won't be able to attend the temple but they can be baptized.

This couple has six children. The mother has always wanted a nice wedding and they didn't have the money to do it. In our ward we have a family leaving back to the states so we combined the wedding ceremony and the families farewell together and had a wonderful celebration. (Her wedding celebration) 

The talks before the wedding ceremony.

This is now a family! 

This Saturday we will be baptizing some of them and then we pray they will become an eternal family one day.

And this is our good friends that are moving back to Utah. She was the Primary President and he held stake jobs. They truly will be missed by us all.

So this is a Stake Baptism and we had 14 baptisms. 

Here are four of the family members now able to be baptized.

So on and about the 4th of July, some of the Elders held another barbecue here using the president's grill. After the prayer, they sang our National Anthem, New Zealand's, Canadas and the Philippines National Anthem to celebrate the 4th of July. 

It's spring cleaning time here in the Mission Office or should we say the President's home.

So the elders caught the bug to clean. They couldn't wait to show me what they were doing in their office. They knew I would be so happy! We are going to have a BIG fire here tonight.

I guess I have failed to introduce you to our new Office Elder. He is the one on the left. His name is Elder Higginbotham. He will be replacing Elder Prusse that is next to him.

Next cycle we lose Elder Powell. We are so sad because he is such a great cook. Today he made cinnamon rolls.

Okay, so here we go on the other adventure!

Being a Senior Missionary is the Best!

We have a couple of young single adults in our ward that say as soon as their husbands pass away (and no they aren't even married) that they want to go on a Senior Mission. They want to take their phones, ipads and computes as well as go swimming.

First stop is where they make the salt so the Senior Sisters can see it.

Sister Snyder looking for a new career.

And of course, Sister Snyder had to buy a little bit of salt on the way home.

We MUST stop at our favorite restaurant on the way. It has the best German and Filipino Food.

On the way, we stopped so the Senior Sisters could do a couple of house checks.

This is one of the Sisters who live here. 

Sister Baker in her bedroom.

Sleeping area.

Kitchen and cooking area.

 Drinking water.

Of course, there is our handyman Steve fixing things that need fixing.

Then on to the elder's apartment.

 Steve is our "McGuyver".

This elder made his own desk and study area.

 Sister "D" is so proud of these elders. They have made a GREAT improvement since the last time the Seniors Sisters visited their apartment.

This is our McGuyver's (Steve's)work. He took a plastic bottle and made this door gadget.

This is the Sister's house. Don't you just love those chairs?

Back yard and mean, mean dogs.

We spent the weekend at Hanna's Resort!

Good Food!

 Beautiful and Restful!

And we're off to see the sights.....

This is our anorexic Filipino Indian that Sister Snyder fell in love with.

A group of young adults playing games. The person must go from one end to the other end blindfolded and not step on a cup of sand.

This is OUR "Buda". Thinking of you Jeremy! 

(He used to have a little Buda in his car.)

These are our, "Where's Waldo" pictures? Can you find the three Sisters and Steve?

How about this one? Can you find Steve?

So it is off to do some swimming and snorkeling.

Steve and I snorkeled while the others swam in this beautiful water.

We actually came to Hanna to go on the zip line but it was being worked on. We plan to come another day for that.

We then settled to ride the Banana Boat instead.

That Steve is a crack up!

And we made it back alive!

This was no thanks to Steve who had the drivers dump us in the water on our last ride.

Don't you just LOVE being a Senior Missionary?

Do you remember these? Decoration using the Mountain Dew bottles and this time water bottles to make a fence.

Boys sewing their nets so they can go back out and fish.

 An interesting flower on this tree.

There is no flower yet.

Wait for it!

And this is the flower!

Another interesting tree.

Our night time view! 

"National Geographic!"

So in our travels, we stop for a snack. The pop bottles are glass so no one gives you a bottle of pop.      

Don't you just love Sister Robinson's bag of Coke?

Okay, so Steve tells us to get suited up because we are going to hike to the waterfalls and then swim.

So we are off to the waterfalls.

Jamie this is such a cute, "Little Black Sambo" picture. Don't you think?

Okay, so Steve said WE would swim!

But No One told me how cold it would be!

We may be the same age but I can take on Sister "D" if she tries to help me in the  @#$%$#  water!

It's so blasted COLD!

 Okay, and where in the heck is Steve?

It's time to head back.

On the way back we see mushrooms.

 A taxi service we could have used on the long trek up here.

 The farmer's homes and families.

The farmer's children swinging from the tree and landing in the soft sand pile.

And we find another wonderful snack on the way back, 

"Sweet toasted chewy rice balls".

That's the end of our outing. Even though it has rained a lot lately we were lucky enough not to have rain on our trip. Since the rain we often hear the sound of Bullfrogs.

So we will leave you with the sweet sound of the Bullfrogs.

Love from the Sister, Sisters