It's been a busy two weeks with a very involved and complicated transfer and all that accompanies it. We helped transport departing missionaries, taught the departure workshop, then helped orient the new batch of missionaries. Along with that was the added task of sending 9 India Visa Waiting Elders back to India, and receiving 5 new ones. Last week was spent doing all of the clerical work a transfer generates. Add in problems with our computers and it has been quite the two weeks. In addition to all of that, we have had over 70 baptisms the past two weeks! It is Sister Whiting's privilege to input the Baptism and Confirmation Records into the Church's system, and with that many baptisms, it takes a while. But what a wonderful task!
Friday, we took a P-Day weekend with Elder and Sister Pugh to the city of Baguio in the Cordillera Mountains 3 hours north of Tarlac to celebrate both of our anniversaries. Baguio is a mile high in altitude and is pleasantly cool--unlike the triple digit heat index we experience in Tarlac. We stayed at Camp John Hay, a former U.S. military retreat that with its rustic log and stucco hotel surrounded by pines looks like it could be in the mountains of the United States or Canada. Baguio is a city of 3 million built on the side of the mountains, the houses hanging from the cliffs. The roads are winding and steep, and no trikes are allowed.
We have shopped, hiked, birdwatched, and eaten. Since we rarely take a P-Day, the down time has been welcome. Today, we watched conference in the Baguio Stake Center with hundreds of Saints and missionaries. Tomorrow we go back to the heat of Tarlac, energized to continue our regular missionary duties.
We leave you with the words of our beloved prophet, Thomas S. Monson: "It has been said that the door of history turns on small hinges, and so do people's lives. The choices we make determine our destiny ... if we choose Christ, we will have made the correct choice."
Mahal Kita
Elder and Sister Whiting
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| Jeepney of the Week |
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| Gateway to the Province of Nueva Ecija. Mabuhay--Welcome! |
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| Selfie with departing missionaries, Sister Umaga of New Zealand and Sister Norman of Oregon |
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| Headed to Baguio in the Benguet Province |
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| Camp John Hay Hotel with Sister and Elder Pugh |
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| The Gardens at the Camp John Hay Hotel |
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| Baguio City, Population Three Million |
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| The Cordillera Mountains |
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| A hike through "Jurassic Park" |
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| Elder Whiting at the Camp John Hay Golf Course |
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| Elder and Sister Whiting at the Tam Awan Village |
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| Native Art at the Tam Awan Village |
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| Sister Pugh and Sister and Elder Whiting's First Jeepney Ride |
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