A New Roommate

We've had geckos downstairs but not in the bedroom--until now.  But we don't mind them, as long as they don't run across our face while we're sleeping.  They are more afraid of us than we are of them.  We hear them more than we see them so it's all good.

Another busy week for us as we continue to learn our office duties.  We have our trainers for one more week then we are on our own!  Besides office duties, we had dinner Tuesday at the mission home where we met the Clark's neighbors, the Lacanlales.  They are both retired physicians who practiced in Los Angeles, California for 30 years.  He had a stroke at 55 and nearly died.  The stroke disabled him and he had to retire from his ObGyn practice and she retired from her anethesiology practice to care for him and they moved back home to the Philippines.  They are not members of the church, yet.

Friday night we helped President and Sister Clark host the bishops and stake presidency of the Santa Ignacias Stake. We are amazed at how young the leadership is here.  The stake president is 36 and many of the bishops are in their 20's.  They rented a jeepney to travel the 2 hours to the mission home--we don't even know if any of them own a car.  Even though they don't have much in the was of worldly possessions, they have strong testimonies and are working hard to build the Kingdom in their stake. They loved the big mission home and the nice meal and were taking picture after picture. President Clark is doing this for all 12 stakes within the mission boundaries as a get to know you/question and answer period/build relationships event between the mission and the stakes.  Some of the closer stakes, such as the Santa Ignacias Stake, will travel to the mission home for dinner, while we will travel to the stakes farther away.

It was a national holiday Friday and Saturday--National Family Week.  The Tarlac Stake, who we share facilities with, sponsored an all day event at the stake center.  We watched the festivities through the window of the mission office.  They had a lot of fun playing games and eating.  Filipinos love to play games.  Speaking of games, we took Saturday afternoon and evening as our P Day and had a nice evening playing games and socializing with the other two senior couples.  It was much needed.

Our young missionaries are working hard finding, baptizing, and rescuing.  We had 16 baptisms and 20 return to church in the mission last week.  The office elders found an entire family that they are preparing for baptism.  They are so excited about it.  The one elder, Elder Westover, goes home in a week, but is working hard to the end of his mission to prepare this family for baptism.

We leave you this week with this scripture borrowed from Aunt Marilynn:  D&C 128:22  "Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory!  Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad.  ..."

Mahal Kita!

Jeepney of the Week

Sunrise on our running route

Front L-R:  Elder and Sister Whiting, Mrs. Lacanlale, Sister Clark
Back L-R: Elder and Sister Weber, Elder and Sister Naegle,
Mr. Lacanlale, President Clark

When the young men play basketball on their outdoor court,
they put up and take down the rim.

Tarlac Stake activities for National Family Week

Games at the Family Week Activity.  We've played this game at a family party!

More games.  Filipinos love to play games!

The Tarlac First Ward Relief Society

There's a trike under those baskets!