Monday, Elder Whiting met up with Elder Spung and the Zone Leaders in Guimba to look at housing for a companionship there. Have we mentioned how challenging it is to find adequate housing in this country? When we say adequate, we mean a safe, sound structure that is screened, doesn't leak or flood, has decent plumbing and water pressure, in a safe neighborhood within the missionaries' area. None of it is fancy, just very basic housing. We have been looking for some time in this area and thought we had a place, but the landlord wanted too much money for the necessary improvements, so we just keep looking.
The rest of the week Elder Whiting spent setting up his new computer and catching up on work. Friday, instead of going into the office, we inspected four missionary houses--which were of varying degrees of repair and cleanliness. Then we traveled to Clark to the big mall there searching for some needed office supplies. While there, we ate at Wendy's! We were looking forward to a Wendy's frosty, but it just didn't taste the same as back home. Whether it was the lack of ingredients found in the U.S. or a tweak in the recipe to appeal to the local taste buds we don't know, but it was disappointing. We finished the day with a shopping trip to S&R where we stocked up on Kirkland Chocolate Covered Almonds, which taste exactly like they do at home! We got our real California milk and other imported American products and left happy. We are glad for this little slice of America.
Yesterday morning, Sister Whiting went with Sister Clark and a member who is a seamstress to purchase fabric for a malong--a traditional Filipino fabric tube that can be used as a dress or turbin or bag or a hundred other things depending on how it is tied. The member guided us to a little shop down a narrow street full of little shops crammed with all sorts of items. Of course we got lots of stares as usual, but we are used to it now and just smile at everyone.
At about 11 pm one night last week, Sister Whiting noticed flashing lights outside the window. She peeked out to see a barangay police car parked and the power pole and lines across the street on fire. The wiring was burning and dropping flaming debris on the ground. The wiring for power, phone, and cable is a mess here. They never take down the old cable, just add new on top of it. We don't know how they know what is what. Back to the story. The police car left and the fire was still burning! Below the fire was the neighbor's car. Elder Whiting walked across the street and pounded on the door for at least 15 minutes, but no one ever came to the door, and the fire burned on. About 20 minutes after the barangay police left, the power company came with a boom truck (most of the time they just lean a ladder on the wires and climb up the ladder to service them.) They put the fire out, looked around a bit and left. That's the Filipino way. We assume they came back the next day and repaired things in the daylight. We never did see the neighbors.
We found an unused set of Christmas lights and some left behind missionary Christmas stockings, so Sister Whiting decorated our room for Christmas. We have been listening to Christmas music for a couple of weeks now. That is also the Filipino way! Today, Elder Whiting woke up not feeling well, so we only attended sacrament meeting. There's been a lot of flu going around the mission, but Sister Whiting thinks it was the jalapenos he had for dinner last night.
Yesterday, we got the notice that our replacements have accepted their call and will be here the first of February. Ironically, they are classmates of our brother-in-law Leon, and he and Sister Whiting's sister Marilynn know them very well. How small of a world is that? Now we shift gears a little and begin preparing for their arrival the first of February. We are grateful that we have a month to train them--we will need it! It's a strange feeling ...
We leave you with this scripture to ponder in the aftermath of the stunning election results, as we contemplate the future of our nation, and know it is our responsibility to keep America great:
"Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the god of the land, who is Jesus Christ ..." --Ether 2:12 (read verses 7-12)--
Mahal Kita
Elder and Sister Whiting
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| Jeepney of the Week. Horses are a common hood ornament. |
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| Maligayang Pasco! |
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| A typical jumble of power and phone lines. |
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| Bath time! The view outside Elder Whiting's office window. |
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| Guys Day Out |
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| A typical fresh street market known as Palangke |
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| Tarlac City Street |
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| A Grandmother (the word for grandmother is Lola) out for her morning walk. |
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