Elder and Sister Whiting in the Philippines: The Weather Outside is Frightful!

Maligayang Pasko! While Utah was getting hit by snow, we were getting hit by torrential rain from another typhoon. As before, some of our missionaries were affected by floodwaters. But all are safe and well. The weather has cooled into the mid 80's and low 70's; as cool as it ever gets here. Humidity is still 80-90% though.

We had family home evening at the mission home Monday with an investigator family the sisters are teaching. There were about 25 people there, including the bishop of the ward and other ward members. The family will be baptized on December 26th.

Speaking of baptisms, we attended the baptism of the Navarro sisters on Saturday. They were baptized by their father, who was baptized himself just two weeks ago. He is now a priest in the Aaronic Priesthood. The one sister clapped her hands with excitement when she came up out of the water. As with the baptism two weeks ago, when it came time for them to bear their testimony, they were overcome with joy and could hardly speak. The language is still foreign, but the language of the Spirit is understood.

Many groups of people, mostly children and young adults, go around caroling this time of year. They sing Tagalog carols and beat plastic water jugs and shake water bottles full of rocks, it's really cute-- until they ask you for money. We have learned if you give them money, they come every night. We have to just ignore them now. Hopefully they will soon learn that this bank is now closed.

The mission Christmas Conference is this week. Much preparation goes into these conferences as we are finding out. In spite of the work of preparation, we look forward to celebrating Christmas with our wonderful missionaries. We hope to have fun and feel the spirit of the season as well.

We leave you with 3 Nephi 1:1-21, and hope you will read it along with Luke 2 this Christmas season. Verse 13 says: "Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world..."

Merry Christmas from the Philippines
Mahal Kita

Jeepney of the Week "God Speed" Notice the hot rod styling of this bad boy!

Look at the upper right tower. Is that the Angel Moroni?!

Apparently there are people who wakeboard in the Philippines. Who would have thought?

Junk shop--aka recycling center. The owners rummage though trash piles for carboard,
plastic, glass, anything worth a peso, and then sell them for a living.