tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21389601480528233702024-03-12T21:06:52.626-07:00Mills Missionserving in the Philippines Cauayan Mission April 2012 - March 2014Elder and Sister Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17345904527991190720noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138960148052823370.post-75870916400179364722013-07-04T06:40:00.002-07:002013-07-04T06:40:44.332-07:00TRANSFERRED!<div align="left" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We have been asked to
move into the apartment above the mission office. What a surprise turn of events. First Elder and Sister Gottfredson went home
a couple of months early for medical reasons.
It was sad to say goodbye again to dear friends. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-llk-tXCJCGM/UdV3i1kyKdI/AAAAAAAAAjk/EVEPio64oMM/s1024/more+pics+001+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-llk-tXCJCGM/UdV3i1kyKdI/AAAAAAAAAjk/EVEPio64oMM/s1024/more+pics+001+(Large).jpg" height="297" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elder and Sister Gottfredson on a remarkable bench carved out of one piece of wood.<br />We had one last trip to Banaue together with the Kiholms the week before they left.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We are down to 2 senior couples in our
mission now and hope we can get more. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">With all the new missions we may not see anyone new for a while.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> (We have an additional couple that are assigned under the Employment Resource Center, so they aren't technically in our mission but we enjoy their company.) </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Branch President and his wife</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Saying goodbye to our
branch in Gamu was so hard. We love
those people so very much and will see them infrequently now we are busy in a
new assignment as Housing coordinators.
They had a surprise party for us the Saturday before we left and many
sweet thankyou’s were expressed to us and many tears shed. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-emDcikW0mhM/Uc_Oa49vTQI/AAAAAAAAAhg/7-AwPRWIPRM/s1600/Gamu+friends+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-emDcikW0mhM/Uc_Oa49vTQI/AAAAAAAAAhg/7-AwPRWIPRM/s1600/Gamu+friends+001.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Young Men's president and his wife. Elder Mills has a close friendship with him</span>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Part of the Lapiton Family, baptized in Feb. 2013</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qqndsYFguaw/Uc_Ohhe6KqI/AAAAAAAAAhw/-rT38FNR1JU/s1600/Gamu+friends+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qqndsYFguaw/Uc_Ohhe6KqI/AAAAAAAAAhw/-rT38FNR1JU/s1600/Gamu+friends+006.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bucu family including their married daughter</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fOkvOCeuOAA/Uc_Oi9kmLsI/AAAAAAAAAh4/e3qaiAezXOM/s1600/Gamu+friends+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fOkvOCeuOAA/Uc_Oi9kmLsI/AAAAAAAAAh4/e3qaiAezXOM/s1600/Gamu+friends+005.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This sweet family went to the temple in March to be sealed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I taught piano lessons to Gazelle on my left</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tvIYvGKZoCU/Uc_Ok8xXqHI/AAAAAAAAAiA/H2HZ9T5HdJE/s1600/Gamu+friends+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tvIYvGKZoCU/Uc_Ok8xXqHI/AAAAAAAAAiA/H2HZ9T5HdJE/s1600/Gamu+friends+007.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Reactivated in the last 8 months, they went to the temple in May this year.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I-gdR0284Xs/Uc_OnVePnBI/AAAAAAAAAiI/_xppcg8E_60/s1600/Gamu+friends+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I-gdR0284Xs/Uc_OnVePnBI/AAAAAAAAAiI/_xppcg8E_60/s1600/Gamu+friends+008.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Ferrer Family, converts of a year.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This family (wife not here today) is being taught by the missionaries. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We read the Book of Mormon with them for over a month. The son</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">on the left is a member.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h3kJQJXZj8Y/Uc_Ov8rcqeI/AAAAAAAAAiY/-Vv2uFgPG4I/s1600/Gamu+friends+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h3kJQJXZj8Y/Uc_Ov8rcqeI/AAAAAAAAAiY/-Vv2uFgPG4I/s1600/Gamu+friends+015.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Brother and Sister Daggao, both returned missionaries.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Their son was born the same time as our last granddaughter.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSK-GyboVJc/Uc_O8dlXfKI/AAAAAAAAAig/TraE1sja3nE/s1600/Gamu+friends+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bSK-GyboVJc/Uc_O8dlXfKI/AAAAAAAAAig/TraE1sja3nE/s1600/Gamu+friends+024.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some of our precious young adults. The two on the left are waiting for their mission call.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--n58ufFHXyQ/Uc_RysxooFI/AAAAAAAAAiw/v3A-uBtn7To/s1600/Gamu+friends+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--n58ufFHXyQ/Uc_RysxooFI/AAAAAAAAAiw/v3A-uBtn7To/s1600/Gamu+friends+009.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Angie on my right was baptized in February this year. Her brother in law in front is a member of our new branch in Cauayan. We are reading now the Book of Mormon with his wife, Angie's sister!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our beloved Balisi family. They went to the temple in March.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He is the branch mission leader and a recently returned missionary.<br />She is a convert and has the fire of missionary work in her bones.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We also said farewell to members in other
branches in Burgos District we have become close to. We have shared some very sweet experiences in the homes of members with these beloved people – some of the best of our mission!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The day before we were
going to begin moving I got the flu – the achy painful joint kind. Elder Mills began packing up the pantry and
taking boxes of our things to the apartment in Cauayan by himself. I missed going to the airport to say goodbye to Gottfredson's. During the next 3 days I recovered enough with the aid of ibuprofen so that I could help and by Wednesday night June 12th we were moved. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">*(I know that seems ridiculous that it would take a couple days to move, but we expected we would live in Gamu for our whole mission and we had settled in. We also had to change it from a couple missionary apartment to a sister missionary apartment.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thursday we
cleaned the house in Gamu and the Elders helped moving the big stuff to get it ready
for the lucky sister missionaries that would move in there the following
week. (We had to disconnect the air con
– missionaries can’t afford that electric bill, and trade out the appliances
for the simpler ones young missionaries use. Our queen size bed was traded for
bunkbeds) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Saying goodbye to Ray and
Josie, our landlord/neighbors, and their daughter Jade was very sad also, and
we will miss their many kindnesses to us.
They will be so good to those sister missionaries! </span></div>
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Elder and Sister Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17345904527991190720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138960148052823370.post-50373092244477237562013-05-22T00:30:00.000-07:002013-05-22T00:30:07.127-07:00Some CELEBRATIONS<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">During March and April we had occasion to celebrate!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Angie had a birthday and in the tradition of the Philippines invited guests for a birthday lunch she prepared at the Lapiton home. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Angie with some fellow cooks</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some of the food: a deep fried mild pepper, some rice "cakes" rolled in coconut, mayonnaise sandwiches, pineapple upside down cake (I brought that). She also made a huge dish of pancit (a noodle dish).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We manage the CLS program in the mission (Companionship Language Study) which encourages Philippino missionaries to study English while their companion studies Tagalog. They have manuals to study grammar and pronunciation. They have modules to pass off. After they complete their 3 books of study they can take a test which gives them a rating and allows them to receive a certificate of proficiency. After a year of presenting, promoting, encouraging these 5 missionaries were the first to take their test. We were so proud of their excellent effort and wanted to celebrate their accomplishment. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Victorious Elder Valdez on the right</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Sister missionaries commonly dress<br />alike for special occasions.)<br />Sister Cajigal on left celebrating completing her test</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After district meeting on Sister Mills' birthday we had a surprise lunch. President and the Assistants happened to drop in that day:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Regina graduated from college and invited us to attend her graduation. She will be an elementary school teacher. She is putting in her papers for a mission any day now. After she receives her mission call, her family will go to the temple to be sealed. This is a great year for her family!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Elder Mills' birthday was celebrated at the mission home with a delicious dinner prepared by all. We were so excited by this beautiful fruit plate Sister Kiholm brought we forgot to take a picture of the birthday boy :) He loves fruit more than anything! Happy Birthday Elder Mills:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We were blessed to have a visit from Elder Brent Nielson of the Seventy. He will be the new Area President in July. He and his wife spoke to the missionaries in two different groups. This was the southern part of the mission. The Senior missionaries enjoyed a dinner with Elder and Sister Nielson afterwards at the mission home. Along with a wonderful meal we particularly appreciated the time to share insights and hear experiences and council from them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Elder and Sister Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17345904527991190720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138960148052823370.post-34795549563445059202013-05-21T21:46:00.001-07:002013-05-21T21:46:52.505-07:00Arrival of 23 new missionaries . . .<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">March 27, 2013 </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">was an historic day for our mission as we welcomed 23 new missionaries to the Philippines Cauayan Mission. This was also the first batch to arrive on the plane instead of the overnight bus from Manila so they really looked bright eyed this morning!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sister Carlos greeting the first ones</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We had just an hour earlier said farewell to the departing missionaries. They were already checked in at the airport and actually watched through the glass partition as the new missionaries arrived.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is a wonderful feeling to finally arrive after all the preparation a missionary goes through. You can see the anticipation on their faces.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BIml1Jc5Hd0/UZw-I4lBfpI/AAAAAAAAAeA/LmBvUjquQ5k/s1600/missionaries+at+airport+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BIml1Jc5Hd0/UZw-I4lBfpI/AAAAAAAAAeA/LmBvUjquQ5k/s1600/missionaries+at+airport+003.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Also arriving on this plane was the family of Elder Wooden who served with us in Gamu for seven and a half months. His mission was complete and his family had come to see the places he had served and meet the people. I remember well the anticipation of finally seeing our sons and daughter again after 2 long years! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Wooden family including their 3 younger sons came to Gamu on Sunday. Brother and Sister Wooden spoke in Sacrament Meeting as well as Elder Wooden. Our branch was happy to see him again as he had been serving in Tuguegarao the last 3 months.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is a picture of the Lapiton family and Angie Pico at their baptism in February. These were precious people Elder Wooden and Elder Armoreda had found and taught the Gospel to. They were both transferred before the baptism took place, but President Carlos allowed them to come back to baptize them.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone in the branch wanted to be in the picture!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> After Church we invited the Wooden family and President and Sister Carlos over to our house for a little merienda (small meal). We wanted them to have a chance to get to know the Lapitons and Sister Angie and hear their testimonies. It was a very tender experience for them to hear these converts express their strong testimonies of the Gospel, and their gratitude to Elder Wooden whom they loved so much.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sister Lapiton is an amazing cook and was preparing fried bananas. Her helpers are Sister Angie in the black, Bonifacio (Angie's nephew), and Lordinette (a member of the Branch)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is hard to measure the amount of love felt here!</td></tr>
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Elder and Sister Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17345904527991190720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138960148052823370.post-8085869526081601522013-05-09T01:15:00.000-07:002013-05-21T20:33:18.383-07:00Baguio Training<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">President and Sister Carlos received special permission from the Area Presidency to take the Senior Missionaries in our mission to Baguio City for some RRT (rest, relaxation, and training). Within our mission boundary we don't have many sight seeing places so this was a special treat to go up to the mountains! We drove in three cars about 7 hours through winding mountain roads, a challenge to those with motion sickness issues. </span><br />
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As we drove we passed some of the vegetable gardens in this cooler climate. We always look for and enjoy the fresh produce from this area in our markets. Lettuces, green beans, cucumbers, broccoli, cabbage. . . Aren't these beautiful terraced gardens!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_-BSSLV5EgM/UX-gABr-42I/AAAAAAAAAZo/9h8W_IHkOMU/s1600/baguio+trip+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_-BSSLV5EgM/UX-gABr-42I/AAAAAAAAAZo/9h8W_IHkOMU/s1600/baguio+trip+028.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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Another spectacular view from the road. </div>
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When we arrived in Baguio City after about 6 hours we went immediately to check in at the hotel. We stayed at the Forest Lodge at Camp John Hay, a resort that was a U.S. army base after World War II. During the war the Japanese had their headquarters there. This area has always been a desirable, although somewhat remote location, because of the milder climate. Being high in the mountains it is pleasantly cool and not as humid (no need for air con). The hotel was surrounded by beautiful grounds with pine trees and plenty of places to enjoy walking.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dE1-_YW95Kk/UX-gQ24L3II/AAAAAAAAAZw/_5MXfFDELC4/s1600/Camp+John+Hay+forest+lodge+hotel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dE1-_YW95Kk/UX-gQ24L3II/AAAAAAAAAZw/_5MXfFDELC4/s1600/Camp+John+Hay+forest+lodge+hotel.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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During the four days we spent there we enjoyed seeing some of the local sites. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We visited the Easter Weaving School where you could watch the ladies weave their incredible traditional patterns. This was at the end of the day and their focus was amazing as they ignored us walking around and peering over their shoulders. We enjoyed getting a few souvenirs at their shop.</span></div>
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We went to an area known for its warm springs. The resort we stopped at had multiple pools and was very inviting. Some of us even put suits on and enjoyed sitting in a warm pool. On our way there we traveled through a part of town where wood carvers had their shops. It was fun to walk up and down the hill and see the beautiful wares. </div>
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We did share training each morning and evening from a different couple missionary. These were very informative, enjoyable and uplifting sessions.<br />
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Some of us visited a museum, and a beautiful park. There was a huge mall also with some shopping for some and some American restaurants like Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut. mmm. . . food from home.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MDP35MKPkoE/UX-gazeBloI/AAAAAAAAAaA/AcTRzbfdpyc/s1600/Baguio+palenke.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MDP35MKPkoE/UX-gazeBloI/AAAAAAAAAaA/AcTRzbfdpyc/s1600/Baguio+palenke.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here are some of those fresh vegetables at Baguio's wonderful palengke (city market). It was amazing to see the incredible variety of produce. Also it was so enjoyable to walk through and shop as the temperature was so pleasant! Usually at our local palengke you want to go early for the best selection but also because it gets <u>so hot </u>under the tarps in there.</div>
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The last night we were there President had been saving a special surprise for us all including Sister Carlos. He kept telling us to save our appetite for the evening meal. We loaded into vans and were driven to a private home in a higher part of the city. Here we were treated to an 8 course meal prepared by Chef Vicky in her family home! She was trained in New York City at the French Culinary Arts School. President found and paid for this himself as a gift to us all. We were enchanted by the beautiful garden overlooking the city. </div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The view was just incredible! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">President Carlos just couldn't stop smiling. He is a wonderful cook himself and was so excited to share this incredible gourmet meal with us.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kYgrZST6YXQ/UX-trKS5rbI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/J7S9PRJVDKc/s1600/in+Chef+Vicky's+garden.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kYgrZST6YXQ/UX-trKS5rbI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/J7S9PRJVDKc/s1600/in+Chef+Vicky's+garden.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The home was built by Chef Vicky's father. She moved back to help care for her aging parents.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GHDeHa0f3xo/UX-q52yJxTI/AAAAAAAAAa4/nMWO-lXsPmA/s1600/Baguio+trip+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GHDeHa0f3xo/UX-q52yJxTI/AAAAAAAAAa4/nMWO-lXsPmA/s1600/Baguio+trip+012.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-spTo0SFMxZw/UX-grYJEjmI/AAAAAAAAAaI/n0t6HmMqMW8/s1600/Baguio+trip+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-spTo0SFMxZw/UX-grYJEjmI/AAAAAAAAAaI/n0t6HmMqMW8/s1600/Baguio+trip+014.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inside we prepared for some delectable treats! The atmosphere was amazing with the beautiful surroundings. There was wonderful music playing in the background adding to the ambiance of a perfect dining experience. At this large table you could hear and converse with everyone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We began with a variety of sweet and savory dips with bread and crackers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The first course arrived after we were seated at the table. It was the appetizer course and was a custard with carmelized onions and mushrooms baked in an egg shell.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second course was cream of three mushrooms soup served "cappuccino" style with a frothy foam on top</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was the third or intermezzo course. It was an amazing parmesan lollipop topped with a marshmallow rosemary sauce. So delicious!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 4th course was many people's favorite: seared salmon on asparagus with lemon, fried capers, and garnished with alfalfa sprouts and browned butter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fifth course was a pork ginger dumpling with cilantro in a soy ginger sauce. (All of these</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">courses were served on Chef Vicky's families' china.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After this course we took a break for about 20 minutes to stretch and visit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This home with its beautiful views and vaulted ceilings reminded us of our mountain home </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">so we felt a little homesick.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back to the table we enjoyed the main course, #6. It was beef tenderloin in the style of Shepherd's Pie. This was delicious beef from the U.S. which we never can </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">get so was a special treat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 7th course is European tradition - a salad. It is supposed to help with digestion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The delightful finale was creme brulee with fresh Baguio strawberries and cream</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ATyvcV44xzw/UX-uYoMBxmI/AAAAAAAAAcY/V53SMIUvmCU/s1600/course+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ATyvcV44xzw/UX-uYoMBxmI/AAAAAAAAAcY/V53SMIUvmCU/s1600/course+8.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What an amazing evening we will all remember! Not what we expected we would experience while serving a mission in the Philippines. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you President and Sister Carlos for your generous and thoughtful gift. And thank you</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chef Vicky for an incredible experience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mFwTPfWwlyE/UX-1Y99ti2I/AAAAAAAAAcw/lPqKHQ_CAyc/s1600/Baguio+trip+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mFwTPfWwlyE/UX-1Y99ti2I/AAAAAAAAAcw/lPqKHQ_CAyc/s1600/Baguio+trip+024.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />Elder and Sister Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17345904527991190720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138960148052823370.post-47663669042113148552013-02-28T18:44:00.001-08:002013-02-28T18:44:48.764-08:00"I hope they call me on a mission . . . <h3>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. . .when I have grown a foot or two"</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Most of you know these are exciting times for missionary service! With the announcement last October of changes in the ages of young men and young women desiring to serve a mission we all knew there would be a tsunami effect in the mission field. We are seeing that wave coming now. In the past year there have been about 50,000 full time missionaries serving throughout the world. By the end of 2013 it is anticipated to increase to 95,000!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We are beginning to see 18 and 19 year old elders and sisters entering the Cauayan Mission now with more coming. We have only 7 missionaries going home next transfer day and 23 are coming! The Church announced the new mission presidents who have been called to begin serving in July. 58 new missions were created throughout the world! The Philippines will have 4 new missions in addition to the 17 already here. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We are getting a new mission president and his companion in a few months.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">President George R. and Sister Lori Rahlf</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They are from Cincinnati, Ohio and are the parents of 5 sons. Their youngest son will be serving his mission in Europe while they are serving here. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">". . . I hope by then I will be ready, to preach and teach and work as missionaries do."</span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have been observing while we have been here in the mission field how some missionaries adapt well and how some struggle before hitting their stride. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These are some of my observations for my grandchildren: </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g9U-TFUIG28/UTAPwz-TduI/AAAAAAAAAY4/aQ1jmuvZy-I/s1600/Christ+the+light+of+the+world+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g9U-TFUIG28/UTAPwz-TduI/AAAAAAAAAY4/aQ1jmuvZy-I/s1600/Christ+the+light+of+the+world+001.jpg" height="320" width="256" /></a></div>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Get to know the Savior. He is our partner. This is His work. </span></li>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Learn to work hard!</span></li>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Be physically fit!</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Missionaries
walk all day.</span></li>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Learn to cook.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Basic cooking
skills and the ability to adapt a recipe can come in handy if you want to eat.</span></li>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Be willing to try a lot of new things. Enjoy different people,
different food, different places.</span></li>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Be comfortable camping.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Often
you will be living in very different circumstances than you have at home.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">If you are comfortable adapting, this will
not be a hard change to make.</span></li>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Learn how to get to know new people. What questions can I ask to get to know them?</span></li>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Serve your family.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Serve your
friends.</span></li>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Love to obey your parents.</span></li>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Learn how to wash, iron, fold and put away your clothes.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">You won’t have your Mom with you and your
companion won’t do it for you.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Know how
to take care of your self.</span></li>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Learn to clean your house.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">If
your apartment is clean and neat, it will invite the Spirit.</span></li>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Read, ponder and learn to love the Book of Mormon.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">You can bear a powerful testimony if the Book
of Mormon has already helped you in your life.</span></li>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Learn scriptures.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Memorize as
many great scriptures as you can.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></li>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Learn to lead music.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">You will
have many opportunities to lead music.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></li>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Practice the piano.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Being able
to play the piano is really needed everywhere you go.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Be able to play the hymns.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>So . . . start getting ready now. Serving a mission changes your life! Serving a mission with all your heart changes your life and the lives of those you serve! </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">MUCH LOVE,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Elder and Sister Mills (also known as Grandpa and Grandma)</span></div>
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Elder and Sister Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17345904527991190720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138960148052823370.post-15502967947220480002012-11-18T17:36:00.000-08:002013-05-21T20:33:18.382-07:00Grateful<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Reflecting on many, many blessings always lifts my heart and so as they are easy to count here we go:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Grateful to be a missionary, a representative of Jesus Christ, to share His gospel. It is at once a humbling, challenging, and joyful experience. We feel so thankful to be able to serve and teach individuals, to share messages of Heavenly Father's love for them, of the Savior's loving and redeeming Atonement. We are able to bear testimony regularly that there is help for their burdens and problems; that there is great peace and happiness available to each as they come onto Christ. We are witnesses ourselves of these things we share and we are able to see the miracle of change occur in their lives as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So thankful to be serving together. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Grateful to have the privilege of serving the Lord here in this part of the Philippines where beauty surrounds us in nature and in people. We find people for the most part to be caring, affectionate, happy, and humble in nature. We are strangers, yet are welcomed in and revered, treated with great respect and honor. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Immeasurably grateful for children and grandchildren who support us in love and in deeds. We truly are blessed by each one of them as they offer precious time to keep our affairs running smoothly at home. We are so glad to be able to communicate weekly with our family, to see and hear how life is going for them. We are pleased to hear about the progress grandchildren are making in their growing up years and are proud of their efforts to do their very best. We feel grateful to see our children supporting each other in the challenges each face. Though we aren't there, we know they are taking care of each other. That gives us immense peace of mind. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Grateful to be serving along side wonderful missionaries young and old. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Elder and Sister Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17345904527991190720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138960148052823370.post-47460538114223058562012-10-04T20:57:00.003-07:002012-10-04T20:57:57.677-07:00<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summer is over and the weather has cooled a bit as the seasonal rains give us a break. When we walk or run in the morning at 6 am now it is pleasant and invigorating. For the first time since we have been here I came home from church on Sunday and did not have to completely change my clothes from sweating through everything.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what happened during all those months of our mission? Well we spend a lot of our time in the branch we live in, helping to teach the members how the Lord's church works. We do training to help them begin to hold presidency meetings, branch council meetings, pec meetings, byc meetings, and what the purpose of those meetings is. People here are converts of few years and have never seen how a branch or ward functions with everyone working together. The church Handbook is in English because this is considered an English speaking country. In these rural areas however their native language is Ilocano. They speak the national language of Tagalog. And they learn English in the upper grades of school, but it is limited and they are shy to speak it. As a result there is much to learn regarding serving in the Church. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People view callings as a position more than an opportunity to serve, so when they are released many are offended and quit coming. They need to be invited back and made to feel welcome and needed, and members need to be taught to do that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We also enjoy visiting with members of our branch who need to be strengthened in scripture reading - to learn to love the scriptures and realize the power they have to increase needed faith in the Savior. Many people here suffer from addictions to alcohol etc. and are in need of help overcoming these problems.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We love helping members learn how to have a simple family home evening. Not a big block party, but just a simple evening with their own family!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are involved with helping our young single adults in the branch get regular activities going. They love to spend time together and are recently joined by 2 young women who have returned from working in Manila. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are trying to help the Branch presidency increase the quality of our sacrament meetings. We are working to help the auxiliaries raise their vision of what Sunday meetings can be if they prepare.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here are a couple of baptisms in our Branch that happened this summer. The couple on the left are the Branch President and his wife. Then the Elders, the newly activated father of the little girl in front who he will baptize. President Carlos attended and has his arm around this happy father. The sister on the right is a member of less than 6 months and her son is front and center. The two women in white are to be baptized as well as the little boy on the right who is a in a neighboring branch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You notice the women in pink in this picture was one baptized in the previous one. This is one of her daughters who will be baptized by the young man in white. The other women being baptized is excited to join her husband and daughter as members of the Church.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Besides training in the branch we have spoken on a few occasions during the summer at Stake Youth Conferences and also at a Stake Aaronic Priesthood fireside. This is a stake where their children have grown up in the church here in Santiago and they understand the Gospel so much more. (It gives us patience that in time our area will also understand)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One of the assignments President and Sister Carlos have given us is to launch and administer the CLS program in this mission. It is a Church sponsored program to help missionaries in certain countries learn English during their Companionship Language Study hour which happens every morning. They can study and pass off modules 1 through 25 and then have an opportunity to take a test that will give them a certificate of proficiency. If they have an English speaking companion, he/she is supposed to assist them with their pronunciation. If not they use a cd to practice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We had a lot of fun kicking this off in each of the Zones of the mission during June and July. Now we are trying to motivate them monthly to make consistent progress. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here we are in Ilagan Zone with our presentation.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GxolbkdyVBg/UG5IFKbHH0I/AAAAAAAAATY/gfqJM8piT20/s1600/zone+mtgs.+and+cls+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GxolbkdyVBg/UG5IFKbHH0I/AAAAAAAAATY/gfqJM8piT20/s320/zone+mtgs.+and+cls+015.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here we are in Alicia Zone. This is an interview with a potential employer. When he shows him his CLS certificate of proficiency he gets the job!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Part of our job as senior couples is to assist with Zone Conferences and transfer meetings. We do everything from filling orders for pamphlets, Book of Mormons, filters, vitamins, etc. in the commissary, to setting up tables for lunches, providing support with music.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In July our Area President, Elder Teh and his wife came to do training for Zone Conferences. We were able to hear his dynamic training twice. We also enjoyed a meal together at the Mission Home with the senior couples and the Teh's. They are a very warm and generous couple</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tUFoI--JuS8/UG5HjFm6tKI/AAAAAAAAATQ/okD_rbkeULE/s1600/dinner+with+Elder+and+Sister+Teh+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tUFoI--JuS8/UG5HjFm6tKI/AAAAAAAAATQ/okD_rbkeULE/s640/dinner+with+Elder+and+Sister+Teh+001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We go to our District Meeting every Tuesday morning. We enjoy very much the interaction with the missionaries in our District. We have enjoyed feeling the Spirit each week as we receive training from our District Leader and from the Zone Leaders.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sk-2z_KxmpI/UG5Iu-wxJ-I/AAAAAAAAATs/QodCJx2HNb4/s1600/zone+mtgs.+and+cls+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sk-2z_KxmpI/UG5Iu-wxJ-I/AAAAAAAAATs/QodCJx2HNb4/s320/zone+mtgs.+and+cls+014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This was supposed to be an object lesson where they are trying to focus the light through a magnifying glass to get the paper to catch on fire. One of the magnifying glasses was very dirty so that the lesson was you needed a clean lens to use the power of the sun. It was too cloudy though and despite a concerted effort no fires ignited, but it was fun.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here is a more recent picture at District meeting with our missionaries. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We try to support our district in their baptisms when we can. This is a baptism in Cattaban. Two great Elders! One on the right was our district leader and a very humble and wonderful young man. We had some really powerful learning experiences under his leadership.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here is a good brother's baptism in Caliguian. We were at some of his lessons with the wonderful sister missionaries. After the baptism he had a big birthday party at his house!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are 2 fine sister missionaries!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our missionary from Fiji is beloved also!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FnGBbyrqxoQ/UG5Mn1aHE3I/AAAAAAAAAUc/BcthfiOTVyU/s1600/photo+%25289%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FnGBbyrqxoQ/UG5Mn1aHE3I/AAAAAAAAAUc/BcthfiOTVyU/s320/photo+%25289%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Look at this Branch President (red tie) and counselor (blue tie)<br />and young man in their Sunday best! That was the first<br />time we have had men dress appropriately for a baptism</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There was some great food at the birthday party. It really was his birthday. We could only stay for a half hour as we had a Missionary Preparation Class we were teaching to get to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In July we started teaching a 14 week Institute Class for Missionary Preparation. It was a weekly class on Saturday in Burgos and we had 8 to 14 students attending. They, remember, have to pay for transportation or walk, some for more than an hour and a half. We brought our students from Gamu packed in our Toyota Corolla. The other students from Mabini and Caliguian and Burgos had to walk or borrow a motorcycle or pay for a tricee. We enjoyed many spiritual experiences with this fine group of young adults. Two of them are in the process of getting their papers in for a mission. Paying for medical and dental exams is also a challenge. They patiently wait to get everything in order. They will be excellent missionaries! We were so pleased for the young people from Gamu to rub shoulders with some other great young people and share important learning experiences together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The final day of class I was in Tuguegarao doing a Music Workshop with the Senior Sister Missionaries. It was hard to miss this last time with them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Elder and Sister Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17345904527991190720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138960148052823370.post-7137357141168525572012-10-04T18:15:00.000-07:002012-10-04T18:15:00.239-07:00More of Banaue<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> I found more beautiful Banaue scenes on the ipad:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Really spectacular every way you look! Unbelievable that they are 2,000 years old and still cultivated and harvested by hand. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">All the rice they raise stays locally to feed their people.</span></div>
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<br />Elder and Sister Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17345904527991190720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138960148052823370.post-67315965548164810182012-10-04T00:03:00.000-07:002012-10-04T00:03:03.054-07:00Banaue - the Eighth Wonder of the World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The last week in August we took a spontaneous trip with the Gottfredson's to just about the only sightseeing spot in our mission. It was an opportune time to see the rice fields during harvest time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Banaue is the Eighth Wonder of the World. It is four hours and 150 km (90 miles) by car from Cauayan. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One half the travel is over mountainous roads. The area was settle in the second century bc. Rice terraces were likely developed beginning about 200 bc.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Houses one, two, </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">three, and four stories </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">high hang precariously over </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">the steep mountain</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">sides around the rice </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">paddies. </span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The natives first dug </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">out the hillside creating </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">an area that would be </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">used for planting, </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">growing and harvesting </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">rice.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aVA97sF4Zt8/UG0an-IRzOI/AAAAAAAAAQE/qVvEeirDQV0/s1600/more+banaue+002+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aVA97sF4Zt8/UG0an-IRzOI/AAAAAAAAAQE/qVvEeirDQV0/s400/more+banaue+002+(Large).jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: right;">The view out of our hotel room at dawn!</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bwD7vfAeVJ4/UG0bGgtugYI/AAAAAAAAAQU/6fsFCQaswps/s1600/IMG_0040+(Large).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bwD7vfAeVJ4/UG0bGgtugYI/AAAAAAAAAQU/6fsFCQaswps/s400/IMG_0040+(Large).JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; text-align: start;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then they built a wall </span>with rocks creating a level area on the steep hillside. They hauled in gravel and filled the space to a depth of about one foot. They covered the gravel with clay to retain the water in the terrace. They brought in sand and soil where they could grow the rice. They brought in water to flood the terrace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Rain fall is usually sufficient to keep the tender rice plants in water, but during February and March in some areas water is brought in from above to keep the rice plants watered. They plant the rice and wait for the harvest.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vGNp9iOWvGU/UG0aHh8_oFI/AAAAAAAAAPs/exkCnW7-kcw/s1600/more+banaue+013+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vGNp9iOWvGU/UG0aHh8_oFI/AAAAAAAAAPs/exkCnW7-kcw/s400/more+banaue+013+(Large).jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mw-vkEoHYR4/UFbFVttZ5CI/AAAAAAAAAL0/G00V7UOVPy8/s1600/IMG_0015+%2528Medium%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mw-vkEoHYR4/UFbFVttZ5CI/AAAAAAAAAL0/G00V7UOVPy8/s400/IMG_0015+%2528Medium%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rice is harvested by hand and also carried out of the fields and villages like this up steep mountain trails!</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iaQaT2gmPuk/UG0aa2viWlI/AAAAAAAAAP0/KsHh0Ncm6MY/s1600/more+banaue+008+(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iaQaT2gmPuk/UG0aa2viWlI/AAAAAAAAAP0/KsHh0Ncm6MY/s320/more+banaue+008+(Medium).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Each bundle of rice weighs about 10 lbs. so these boys are carrying 40 to 60 lbs. for 2 hours uphill.</span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KR2iLaAgkpY/UFbFau5aOMI/AAAAAAAAAL8/Fjgp2_6Jumo/s1600/IMG_0023+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KR2iLaAgkpY/UFbFau5aOMI/AAAAAAAAAL8/Fjgp2_6Jumo/s320/IMG_0023+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is how they dry the harvested bundles of rice</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4PiLnY5DN2k/UFbGIEHTGkI/AAAAAAAAAM8/HWVBY6t3ruk/s1600/more+banaue+014+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4PiLnY5DN2k/UFbGIEHTGkI/AAAAAAAAAM8/HWVBY6t3ruk/s320/more+banaue+014+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: start;">Here she is threshing using a basket. (check out the edge of her yard) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: start;">The pig is enjoying the process.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Elders Mills and Gottfredson wanted to hike to the village of Batad. We hired a jeepney for 2500 pesos ($60) for the day and the driver took us up to the saddle where the trail head was. We wondered why we did not drive our car until the cement road turned to dirt or more accurately a stream bed filled with rocks and holes. It was an experience we have never had with deep ruts, grinding gears, rocking and rolling, and all on a narrow road with steep drop offs! We wondered if we would live through it! Every once and a while there would be road work going on where bags of cement that had been hauled in one at a time were used to make cement in a small mixer, then make one more section of road.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Once we got to the saddle the jeepney driver parked to wait for us to hike. We were also watching the weather as we did not want to go down that road during a rainstorm!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is Batad. Everyone walks in and out to shop, go to school, transport goods to sell. . . </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The men took off for their hike to Batad (about 2 hours) and then Elder Mills went an additional hour to the waterfall. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CAF_3R0nQdM/UFbFfztZoFI/AAAAAAAAAMM/UH5BshJiHK8/s1600/IMG_0025+%2528Medium%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CAF_3R0nQdM/UFbFfztZoFI/AAAAAAAAAMM/UH5BshJiHK8/s320/IMG_0025+%2528Medium%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They noticed in Batad a medical clinic. It was closed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The sign says: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Office: Monday - Friday</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Immunizations: every 2nd Wed. of month</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Pre-natal: every Wed</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Home Visit: Every Fri./when the need arises</span></div>
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Some traditional natives still sleep above the ground by pulling up the ladder each night before going to sleep. It is a carryover from the days of war and vengeance. Head hunting, however, has ceased in the area.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We women decided to go down the trail at our leisure with no destination in mind. Here is a little waterfall we hiked to:</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bjpo_YMwZ7c/UG0ZqfX-OCI/AAAAAAAAAPc/N-KYYH_zMxk/s1600/more+banaue+011+(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bjpo_YMwZ7c/UG0ZqfX-OCI/AAAAAAAAAPc/N-KYYH_zMxk/s320/more+banaue+011+(Medium).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tuf7uQFMJWQ/UFbF4APiUuI/AAAAAAAAAMs/fTpgY_Up3Pk/s1600/IMG_0036+%2528Large%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tuf7uQFMJWQ/UFbF4APiUuI/AAAAAAAAAMs/fTpgY_Up3Pk/s400/IMG_0036+%2528Large%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is the one Elder Mills went so far to see. To get perspe</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ctive, notice the little person in red down on the left!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While on the trail Sister Gottfredson and I stopped to rest. We met a man from Provo UT who is traveling the world! He saw our missionary tags and stopped to chat with some fellow Mormons. Later he spent some time hiking with our husbands.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-69hMxvQE1Ns/UFbGCFuGCII/AAAAAAAAAM0/9HRRTltv_Ts/s1600/more+banaue+010+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-69hMxvQE1Ns/UFbGCFuGCII/AAAAAAAAAM0/9HRRTltv_Ts/s320/more+banaue+010+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It started to rain about 30 minutes before our husbands showed up back at the jeepney. We tried to laugh and joke to keep our minds off the gear grinding, bumping and jerking, and metal on rock sounds. A couple of young people jumped on the back for a free ride to town. Then we started inviting people to ride since we had already paid for the trip. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At one point the road had been washed out by the rain and they were doing repair work - the repairs were hand packing rocks against the side of the road. I'm not sure what the back hoe was doing but I wouldn't have wanted to be in it! Our jeepney drive asked us to walk to the other side as it wouldn't be safe for us to be in the jeepney as he drove it.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ixV0gDcB7Pc/UFbGPXe129I/AAAAAAAAANE/iVB_MO0V_YQ/s1600/more+banaue+016+%2528Medium%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ixV0gDcB7Pc/UFbGPXe129I/AAAAAAAAANE/iVB_MO0V_YQ/s320/more+banaue+016+%2528Medium%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">that is our jeepney waiting until it was "safe" to drive</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This was later, back by our hotel. It was a small village you could walk down steep steps to visit. Here is a tiny lola (grandmother) in her house. They little boy ran over just as the picture snapped.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bc0ENNL-Xvc/UFbGk9DkscI/AAAAAAAAANs/h3ERbRspOhk/s1600/more+banaue+026+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bc0ENNL-Xvc/UFbGk9DkscI/AAAAAAAAANs/h3ERbRspOhk/s320/more+banaue+026+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The baby goat is just a week old and was skipping around before settling in for lunch.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QzC4_dE5Dkk/UFbGnjiO0YI/AAAAAAAAAN0/vsrzvA0oX3Q/s1600/more+banaue+025+%2528Small%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QzC4_dE5Dkk/UFbGnjiO0YI/AAAAAAAAAN0/vsrzvA0oX3Q/s320/more+banaue+025+%2528Small%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After a couple of days in this cool mountain paradise we decided we needed to come back another time or two before our mission ends.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qAGiy4zCCKk/UG0ax-T-0QI/AAAAAAAAAQM/e0IU5yMdw2c/s1600/more+banaue+023+(Large).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qAGiy4zCCKk/UG0ax-T-0QI/AAAAAAAAAQM/e0IU5yMdw2c/s640/more+banaue+023+(Large).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">that is our hotel, the long building on the ridge<br /><br /></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4ERX2__Ax5U/UFbGeMS4bUI/AAAAAAAAANU/H8nZw1kLSS8/s1600/more+banaue+021+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4ERX2__Ax5U/UFbGeMS4bUI/AAAAAAAAANU/H8nZw1kLSS8/s640/more+banaue+021+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Elder and Sister Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17345904527991190720noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138960148052823370.post-16068906368568036592012-06-26T17:11:00.000-07:002012-06-26T17:11:23.210-07:00<h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">On the Road</span><span style="color: #0c343d;"> </span></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0c343d;">We love these people! T</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">hey live in the most humble circumstances
but are happy and hard working. This was at a Family</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Home Evening where it seemed the </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">whole neighborhood was invited! </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> Playing games are a big hit! </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Most
are farmers and raise either feed corn or rice.
They are up before dawn to work when it is a little cooler.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">They plow behind caribou, their huge ox, through
deep mud.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-93fzRGHJkG0/T-lkqAiVY9I/AAAAAAAAAI4/IjMdFtOk8B0/s1600/from+the+road+017+(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-93fzRGHJkG0/T-lkqAiVY9I/AAAAAAAAAI4/IjMdFtOk8B0/s320/from+the+road+017+(Medium).jpg" width="320" /></span></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-93fzRGHJkG0/T-lkqAiVY9I/AAAAAAAAAI4/IjMdFtOk8B0/s1600/from+the+road+017+(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-chHhP0hrXMM/T-ljd0N_k3I/AAAAAAAAAGw/35MblAjbv74/s1600/from+the+road+001+(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They also have a sort of hand tractor called a kuliglig they use to plow their fields. It's kind of like a tiller but with really long handles. They can also attach a trailer to it and it becomes transportation. These are commonly seen on the roads where there are farms. Many of our members ride to church on them.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The corn was being
harvested when we arrived the first of May.
It took a few weeks to complete during which they harvest the corn, husk
it, and then take the corn off the cob by hand.
They dry it on any piece of concrete they can spread it. The side of the road works. It is disconcerting to have to drive over the
layers of drying corn kernels, but there is nothing else to do when there is
crazy traffic. Then they sweep it up
into bags and hall them to market. Since
then the new crop has been planted and is already 3 or 4 feet high. So much of the work is done by hand! Most don’t own their land so profits go to
landowners leaving small amounts for the farmers.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">These are a crop of sunflowers with heads bowed. Not sunny day!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We don’t have rice
farmers here in Gamu but there are rice fields not too far away. Those fields have just been planted in the
last week or so and planting is still going on.
The fields are smaller rectangles, or terraces, bordered by mud edges to
hold in the water. The rice plants are
hand planted as it has been done for centuries.
It is an amazing picture to see the rows of beautiful green fields being
planted. It is backbreaking work done by men and women. Sometimes they plant later in the day under
umbrellas clustered together. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This one has some terraces along the contours of the land.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is more commonly seen in the flat lands around us. Here they are, planting each plant by hand!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We took these pictures in the southern part of the mission near Solano. This is higher country with hills and mountains surrounding valleys. </span><br />
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Those little tufts out there are </div>
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seedlings <span style="background-color: white;">ready to be planted.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The reason why we were driving through this beautiful valley is we spoke at a Youth Conference at Banaue Resort. We had quite the adventure getting there having never been before. It's about 3 and a half hours from Gamu and part way there a big truck got stuck on the highway blocking both directions of traffic. As usual everyone began "filling in the blanks" until it was just a big parking lot! Some cars and tricees seemed to be getting through so we followed one to a little dirt side road that took us over a narrow bridge and back out to the highway. A huge bus was trying to take this little detour but we waved them back. No Way!! We got back to the highway where all the northbound traffic are waiting. Everyone is trying to pull as far to the side to make room for a flatbed truck with a back hoe to pull the truck out of the way. Amazingly it finally got through with inches to spare! We grabbed the opportunity immediately to head south before the corridor he had created filled in and with little traffic made great time arriving 10 minutes early instead of hours late for the concluding devotional we were to speak at!</span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a small miracle!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are some of the vehicles you drive with when on the road. Tricees are motorcycles with a side car. They hold people, inside, on the back of the motorcycle, even on top. We wonder how their skinny tires and small axles handle the load! Out on the highway they go about half the speed of larger vehicles so you have to go around them. You signal, toot your horn, check all your mirrors for anyone else having the same idea, then hit the gas and go around. Usually everyone is keeping an eye out and slows down a little or defers to the larger vehicle. Driving down the shoulder is common. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the city tricees rule. They move constantly all around you like a school of fish. This is a u-turn in Cauayan by the palengke (market). 3 lanes of tricees turn all at once. The method of driving is you just start turning gradually into traffic and the vehicles eventually give way.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Besides tricees there are jeepneys on the road. These are World War II jeep transport vehicles that have been "upgraded" and as you see decorated! They are personalized like the tricees who also have names on them.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Spider Man"</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FvL_6tPPpn8/T-o8yUJB3jI/AAAAAAAAAKE/9QkDjfagwgM/s1600/cauayan+palengke+and+traffic+001+%2528Medium%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FvL_6tPPpn8/T-o8yUJB3jI/AAAAAAAAAKE/9QkDjfagwgM/s320/cauayan+palengke+and+traffic+001+%2528Medium%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">People in other areas raise food crops to sell
at the market called a palengke. Here
you can buy rice, eggs, potatoes, onions, apples, tomatoes, cucumbers,
cabbages, peppers, squash, jicama which they call sicama, carrots, green beans
(they have one called sitaw that is more than a foot long), eggplant, their
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rDk027hU6S0/T-o8zx3tEFI/AAAAAAAAAKM/hHsA5C4dB8U/s1600/cauayan+palengke+and+traffic+002+%2528Medium%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rDk027hU6S0/T-o8zx3tEFI/AAAAAAAAAKM/hHsA5C4dB8U/s320/cauayan+palengke+and+traffic+002+%2528Medium%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;">The bananas are amazing and taste delicious even when they look over ripe.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;">The pineapple is so juicy and sweet!</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;">It is in season right now and we love it!</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Mangoes are so sweet and soft. . . m,m,m,m.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;"> </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c0WxFfCGftw/T-o81yoSHLI/AAAAAAAAAKU/1LWkw6SJbGI/s1600/cauayan+palengke+and+traffic+003+%2528Medium%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c0WxFfCGftw/T-o81yoSHLI/AAAAAAAAAKU/1LWkw6SJbGI/s320/cauayan+palengke+and+traffic+003+%2528Medium%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pretty good looking rooster and doesn't he know it!</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xr9m9_G-gPI/T-o83LK2ciI/AAAAAAAAAKc/pgBcrSIB4PM/s1600/cauayan+palengke+and+traffic+004+%2528Medium%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xr9m9_G-gPI/T-o83LK2ciI/AAAAAAAAAKc/pgBcrSIB4PM/s320/cauayan+palengke+and+traffic+004+%2528Medium%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are the various grades of rice you can buy.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> There is also “fresh” meat at
the palengke which we don’t buy. There are also tons of shops that have
household items, clothes, you can get a haircut (scary!) It’s a real bazaar!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another trip to the Southern part of the mission which is a province called Nueva
Viscaya. The mountain valleys were so
beautiful and the winding road going up a little exciting with big buses and
trucks climbing up and speeding down.
There are villages along the road where people have hoses running and
trucks stop by the side to wash their trucks.
I saw a little naked boy taking a morning bath at the hose.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O2eSb_BPqVs/T-lkxDdrmYI/AAAAAAAAAJY/0SoTo-htBaE/s1600/from+the+road+021+(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O2eSb_BPqVs/T-lkxDdrmYI/AAAAAAAAAJY/0SoTo-htBaE/s320/from+the+road+021+(Medium).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We bought a few pineapples here</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I had to take this picture. It's a little nursery where the sign says "Forest for sale". </span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">We also traveled to the
Northern most part of the mission to Tuguegarao the largest city.</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">There are many more tricees here. They are definitely king of the road in this city.</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">We learned that this is the hottest city in
the Philippines!</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">We live in the hottest
mission in the Philippines!</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">That was not
what we were expecting, but it is true!</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">Again, the road trip was spectacular with mountains in the background
and beautiful green fields</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">and trees
everywhere you looked.</span></span></div>Elder and Sister Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17345904527991190720noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138960148052823370.post-15101151017420471032012-05-27T18:04:00.000-07:002012-05-27T18:04:27.325-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h2>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First
Two Weeks in Philippines:</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We
left from SLC airport about 7:00 pm on a Monday night April 30<sup>th</sup>,
and flew to LA where we experienced a five hour layover and we then flew to
Hong Kong which was about a 14 to 15 hour flight. We had a layover in Hong Kong for about two
hours and then we flew into Manila. In
total about 20 to 25 hours of travel. We
were driven to a little hotel late that afternoon where we crashed from jet lag
and had a meal. We enjoyed our traveling
companions, Elder and Sister Gottfredson,
a senior couple also from Salt Lake traveling to our same mission. The next morning we were picked up early in
order to get our driver’s license processed. . .a very interesting
experience. We were given an eye exam
and blood pressure test. They took our
urine specimen in an unusual manner. We
paid money at five different locations. Finally we were licensed to drive in the
Philippines! (We are grateful we don’t have to drive in Manila!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4AqwNFzqCOg/T7748nVWIRI/AAAAAAAAACc/OU2Fl2-Z_wo/s1600/mission+arrival+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4AqwNFzqCOg/T7748nVWIRI/AAAAAAAAACc/OU2Fl2-Z_wo/s320/mission+arrival+005.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Getting fingerprinted etc. for our driver's license</span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GCiMPgYIO0o/T774SDZu3bI/AAAAAAAAACU/M2jPsFXV4q8/s1600/mission+arrival+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GCiMPgYIO0o/T774SDZu3bI/AAAAAAAAACU/M2jPsFXV4q8/s320/mission+arrival+004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">The Manila Temple is across the street from</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">the Manila MTC and the mission offices there</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">in Quezon City.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BrhyNq7rp7o/T775rMLtN0I/AAAAAAAAACk/MpFUJtVzRsI/s1600/mission+arrival+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BrhyNq7rp7o/T775rMLtN0I/AAAAAAAAACk/MpFUJtVzRsI/s320/mission+arrival+006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The intense rays of the sun and the high humidity were daunting. In the afternoon we were able to visit a newly dedicated MTC center immediately across from the Manila temple. President Taylor, the MTC president, gave us a very nice tour. Turns out he was an old school mate of Mignon. We then went across the street and participated in some initiatory work and an endowment session. It would be our last temple visit for two years. I received some strong impressions that our mission president would be inspired in our assignment and that we would have some help in the language. The temple is beautiful, but small. We were the only Caucasians on the session. It was a tender experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We went to the hotel to sleep and woke up in the morning to catch our flight to Cauayan, our mission head quarters. I sat next to a young Philippino man on the plane that was also going to Cauayan. He had been married for just a year and just had a little baby. He gave me phone and address info in order to have missionaries deliver a Book of Mormon to him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7L_eHfFtQq4/T777OhH9hoI/AAAAAAAAAC0/7I4WGMaPXz4/s1600/mission+arrival+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7L_eHfFtQq4/T777OhH9hoI/AAAAAAAAAC0/7I4WGMaPXz4/s320/mission+arrival+014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Waiting for us at the Cauayan Airport was an enthusiastic welcoming group consisting of President and Sister Carlos, 3 other senior missionary couples and the APs. They were kind, enthusiastic and welcoming. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VWdcsLh9W1U/T7771wU4xUI/AAAAAAAAAC8/aGgXFg2fa7Q/s1600/mission+arrival+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VWdcsLh9W1U/T7771wU4xUI/AAAAAAAAAC8/aGgXFg2fa7Q/s320/mission+arrival+015.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">Sister Carlos taking a picture of me taking her picture. </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">They had been waiting in the heat for over 30 minutes to greet us!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EOLeqaFOo6M/T778ylp2lcI/AAAAAAAAADE/ilnvyVIN2VQ/s1600/mission+arrival+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EOLeqaFOo6M/T778ylp2lcI/AAAAAAAAADE/ilnvyVIN2VQ/s320/mission+arrival+016.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">Elder & Sister Laker and Elder & Sister Shaner</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We went to the mission home and spent some time with the President and his wife and the other senior couples getting better acquainted. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">Elder and Sister Russell. They leave us in July to go home.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We enjoyed a delicious meal and then President Carlos took time to interview each of the two new couples and give them our assignments. Mignon and I were deeply touched at the spiritual sensitivity and power of this interview. As he explained his philosophy of missionary work, Mignon and I smiled with a few tears in our eyes for it was all about change of heart and coming unto Christ. It was clear that the assignment that he gave us was not the original he had intended. He explained as he looked into our eyes that he felt impressed to have us serve in a little branch called Gamu. It had really been struggling, possibly the weakest in the mission. After helping the saints in Gamu, he wanted us to expand our efforts to their district, Burgos, which was possibly the weakest district. </span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CUkLNkdXHC0/T78AQPu8DiI/AAAAAAAAADk/Y--vJW24WzM/s1600/mission+arrival+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CUkLNkdXHC0/T78AQPu8DiI/AAAAAAAAADk/Y--vJW24WzM/s320/mission+arrival+021.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">President and Sister Carlos have taken care of us since we first received our call through emails, skype, </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">and now with their arms around us. We love them!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were staying in the mission home that night since our little cottage was not yet fully completed. We stayed in the GA bedroom (the guest room they put General Authorities in when they visit). As we prepared to move into our little cottage, we found out that we had been issued a defective debit card which was to be our source of obtaining access to our funds. President Carlos was kind enough to allow us to obtain an advance from the office while we worked this problem out. It took about a week and a half before it arrived even with our son Craig rushing the process through. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e3JV5fHn1h4/T78IsC3CQVI/AAAAAAAAADw/i67YfapJZUk/s1600/IMG_1578%5B1%5D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e3JV5fHn1h4/T78IsC3CQVI/AAAAAAAAADw/i67YfapJZUk/s320/IMG_1578%5B1%5D" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our little cottage in Gamu is in the midst of a farming community. Most of the residents work in the fields raising corn and rice. We live in a little walled compound with our landlord, Ray, his wife Josie, and their 8 year old daughter, Jade. Ray is from the UK and his wife from the Philippines. Inside our compound there are several families of chickens that are following around by their little chicks. There are in the neighborhood ducks, goats, dogs, cats, pigs, and many large water buffalo that are use to pull carts and plow the fields. If you thought a cow pie was big it is nothing compared to a water buffalo dropping. They are huge! </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U5hsuOhpfLw/T78MiiFZTHI/AAAAAAAAAEI/rz05UMBIvKo/s1600/scenes+from+Gamu+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U5hsuOhpfLw/T78MiiFZTHI/AAAAAAAAAEI/rz05UMBIvKo/s320/scenes+from+Gamu+018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mjlrC2Wd_0A/T78Ns-oBcUI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/9iCt8n9GnFw/s1600/scenes+from+Gamu+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mjlrC2Wd_0A/T78Ns-oBcUI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/9iCt8n9GnFw/s320/scenes+from+Gamu+019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our little cottage is very nice. We have a little living room, a large kitchen, a bathroom with a shower, and a good sized bedroom. It is better than we would have anticipated. </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4R0qs9ef27g/T8KvmW5UJUI/AAAAAAAAAEc/4IeNtJLdvqI/s1600/scenes+from+Gamu+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4R0qs9ef27g/T8KvmW5UJUI/AAAAAAAAAEc/4IeNtJLdvqI/s320/scenes+from+Gamu+001.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tQqxu3Uq9Ys/T8Kv4NU5uII/AAAAAAAAAEk/3ZwjvOGETWQ/s1600/scenes+from+Gamu+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tQqxu3Uq9Ys/T8Kv4NU5uII/AAAAAAAAAEk/3ZwjvOGETWQ/s320/scenes+from+Gamu+002.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gH6goz8lXGQ/T8KwJWPDEwI/AAAAAAAAAEs/uRA04IQJLPs/s1600/scenes+from+Gamu+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gH6goz8lXGQ/T8KwJWPDEwI/AAAAAAAAAEs/uRA04IQJLPs/s320/scenes+from+Gamu+003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> <span style="color: blue;">Don't you like our kitchen? That's the water</span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;">purification system hooked to the sink</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;">faucet. Our little gas stove/oven works on</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;">propane. I am trying to get used to baking</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;">at this altitude with gas and only getting top </span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;">or bottom heat, not at the same time, so </span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-small;">uneven. </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2rZE4-FVRLc/T8Kw0acuJiI/AAAAAAAAAE0/cGgWmyHJ9Lw/s1600/scenes+from+Gamu+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2rZE4-FVRLc/T8Kw0acuJiI/AAAAAAAAAE0/cGgWmyHJ9Lw/s320/scenes+from+Gamu+006.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FsE3eoavIBw/T8KxdzZldfI/AAAAAAAAAE8/wZpt5pFHFEg/s1600/scenes+from+Gamu+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FsE3eoavIBw/T8KxdzZldfI/AAAAAAAAAE8/wZpt5pFHFEg/s320/scenes+from+Gamu+007.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eT1WEJKGlR4/T8KxuEETFZI/AAAAAAAAAFE/VZDdAB7uNHM/s1600/scenes+from+Gamu+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eT1WEJKGlR4/T8KxuEETFZI/AAAAAAAAAFE/VZDdAB7uNHM/s320/scenes+from+Gamu+008.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">The bathroom is great and spacious, but no<br />electrical plugs so I have to dry and style<br />my hair in the kitchen!</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j_qR7HEZLlw/T8K7WCPJxpI/AAAAAAAAAFw/RQI-D4b5kIg/s1600/scenes+from+Gamu+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j_qR7HEZLlw/T8K7WCPJxpI/AAAAAAAAAFw/RQI-D4b5kIg/s320/scenes+from+Gamu+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XDKRloxoDtA/T8K7pMhEMLI/AAAAAAAAAF4/GFkfHy-H40A/s1600/scenes+from+Gamu+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XDKRloxoDtA/T8K7pMhEMLI/AAAAAAAAAF4/GFkfHy-H40A/s320/scenes+from+Gamu+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">After 2 weeks we finally got our bookshelf, coffee table <br />and end table to complete our living room</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lXRhjVSXMuY/T8KyjDLh_xI/AAAAAAAAAFM/fVhAb4LK1qk/s1600/scenes+from+Gamu+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lXRhjVSXMuY/T8KyjDLh_xI/AAAAAAAAAFM/fVhAb4LK1qk/s320/scenes+from+Gamu+009.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">The all purpose bedroom/ office (the room with the aircon)</span></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EjU_7xBduW4/T8K8f0P6TYI/AAAAAAAAAGA/axLqh9u7opQ/s1600/scenes+from+Gamu+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EjU_7xBduW4/T8K8f0P6TYI/AAAAAAAAAGA/axLqh9u7opQ/s320/scenes+from+Gamu+005.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">We aren't kidding about creativity in getting<br />internet access!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our next challenge was internet access. This is the main reason that we have been so slow in updating you. After much pain and suffering, investigating all avenues, we have access that most of the time is adequate. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are stared at wherever we go. We have found that roosters do not wait until sunrise to crow but rather begin about 2:20 am. The pigs begin a little later and the dogs seem to communicate whenever they want.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We moved in late Saturday night so we could attend our little Gamu branch in the morning. The next Sunday morning Mignon went into a very small primary room that had about 25 children in it. The primary president had to work in the fields because of the corn harvest and they had no teachers. Mignon brought in a little extra key board that they had and did music. She was great. I could hear loud children’s voices singing primary songs in English all the way in Gospel doctrine. Mignon looked like she had taken a sauna when she came out. The building is a beautiful new chapel without air conditioning. I was asked to give the opening prayer in gospel doctrine. This branch does not understand English. I am glad they kept their heads bowed as I glanced at a few prayer phrases that we had learned in the MTC. We were asked to go up and bear our testimonies since we were new to the branch. Again, we referred to a simple testimony that we had learned in the MTC. We loved the spirit in this little branch. We knew that we were exactly where the Lord wanted us to be. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lDzFMi-0Qa0/T8Kz9bJjiWI/AAAAAAAAAFk/G_83UWWuWRg/s1600/scenes+from+Gamu+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lDzFMi-0Qa0/T8Kz9bJjiWI/AAAAAAAAAFk/G_83UWWuWRg/s320/scenes+from+Gamu+022.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">Gamu Chapel</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the block of meetings we attended a two hour branch council meeting. After this meeting the missionaries asked if they could join us for dinner. I told them that would be fine if they were ok with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. After dinner we went out visiting less actives with the missionaries. The heat and humidity is incredible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That evening we drove about 45 minutes to the mission home where we have a weekly meeting with the mission president, his wife, and the other couple missionaries. We had a wonderful meal for this one and then shared and coordinated. We were invited to be the concluding speakers for a devotional at one of the stakes at the conclusion of a 3 day youth conferences. It was to be a one hour speaking assignment at the conclusion of their testimony meeting. We were told to expect about 150 youth. It turned out to be a tender experience after a little stressful preparation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have done a lot of visiting of less actives with
our missionaries. The elders are
amazing. They are extremely hardworking
and very effective at helping individuals experience a change of heart through
the Book of Mormon. Mignon and I feel
like little babies due to the language constraint. I hope it will come sooner rather than
later. Our mission president assures us
that the language of the spirit and love will compensate for our weakness in the
language. </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Monday night we participated in a family home evening in the
home of a partially active and partially inactive family. It was a very humble little home with one
light bulb in the house and a concrete floor.
We prayed, we sang, a lesson was given, we played and we ate. In the Philippines you do not just have
refreshments rather they prepare a meal.
Neighbors feel comfortable dropping in.
I had to be careful not to look too distracted as three little lizards
kept darting after each other on the ceiling.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday we participated in a branch mission day. We met at the branch at 10:00 am after which
the missionaries provided training as to what might be said at the homes of the
less active that we were to visit. They
taught that we were not to focus on inviting them to come back to church rather
we were to remind them of the Gospel and what they had felt when they joined
the church. After the training we again
had a meal together. A very interesting
experience. Rice was prepared. Mignon brought a shrimp pasta salad. A number of the members expressed that they
had never tasted shrimp before. We are
in an inland city. One individual
brought half dozen fish that he had caught.
They were put into water with the heads on and boiled. The broth from the boiled fish was poured on
to the rice and some drank the broth. We
learn two things from this branch meal.
Bring your own utensils and get to the front of the line. Individuals were eating from everything from
cups to dish covers and were sharing from the same vessel. You eat with your fingers which is a little
uncomfortable without a napkin handy. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall it was a wonderful activity.
Our area consists of three little township which are separated with some
distance. We were divided into three
groups. Each group had some teenagers, a
member of the Relief Society Presidency, and another couple of members. We were given specific less actives to
contact and teach the gospel. Each group
was assigned about five families. We
left about 1:00 pm and were asked to report back at the church at 5:00 pm. The sun was scorching and the humidity was
very high. I was astonished at the
perseverance and fortitude of these members and missionaries. It was so hot that Mignon asked to be taken
home to get some relief from the sun after visiting several hours. We bore testimony and read passages from the
Book of Mormon. We prayed. I could see the spirit working already on
less actives that we had visited just a few days prior. These humble Philippino people seem to have a
natural inclination to feel the spirit and understand quickly their
relationship to Jesus Christ. They comprehend
quickly a change of heart. Some live far
from the meeting house and have money to just provide food for themselves from day
to day. I do not think I have seen
harder working missionaries or members anywhere. It took all our strength to try to keep up
with them. </span></span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mtcRUaBavxc/T8Ky0pZ40WI/AAAAAAAAAFU/5JrO5IKwXEM/s1600/scenes+from+Gamu+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mtcRUaBavxc/T8Ky0pZ40WI/AAAAAAAAAFU/5JrO5IKwXEM/s320/scenes+from+Gamu+010.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">A tall American Elder from Utah riding the Jeepney to district meeting.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wIRI0vD19Nk/T8KzsrU1M_I/AAAAAAAAAFc/e4hmbFBUCzI/s1600/scenes+from+Gamu+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wIRI0vD19Nk/T8KzsrU1M_I/AAAAAAAAAFc/e4hmbFBUCzI/s320/scenes+from+Gamu+012.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Our Gamu elders, Elder Needs and Elder Ballentos</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We did enjoy some district
meetings with missionaries and our first fireside for departing missionaries
and our first change meeting for new assignments. I will share these experiences in our next
blog. We love the people, the missionaries,
and our mission president already. We
literally crash at night from fatigue, but it is a good feeling.</span></div>
</div>Elder and Sister Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17345904527991190720noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2138960148052823370.post-13207935634934919872012-05-26T18:03:00.000-07:002012-05-27T18:11:41.538-07:00<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">MTC Experiences</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">Missionary Training Center</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Arriving at the MTC as Senior Missionaries is not the same experience as when you drop off a son or a daughter! It is fun, joyful and full of anticipation. No tears or fears!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pVhw2-KvVbk/T74kv6IXjvI/AAAAAAAAAAw/rA0CzaRPZ3Y/s1600/mtc+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pVhw2-KvVbk/T74kv6IXjvI/AAAAAAAAAAw/rA0CzaRPZ3Y/s320/mtc+014.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">The famous map where every missionary has their picture taken! </span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We met many senior couples on Monday and throughout the week. (We actually arrived there on April 23 through the 27th, but it has taken us this long to get to our blog!) There were over 70 in our group that week: about 8 couples learning a foreign language in addition to the Preach My Gospel instruction. Some were headed to mission offices, some to Church sites, some as medical personnel, some as public affairs missionaries, and others to do humanitarian work. Most of us are assigned to work as member and leadership support.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E7loKGP4mlE/T74mmdTrPiI/AAAAAAAAABA/E0U2IjkB-wQ/s1600/mtc+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E7loKGP4mlE/T74mmdTrPiI/AAAAAAAAABA/E0U2IjkB-wQ/s320/mtc+005.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is our district - the couples we studied with every day. The couple here is going to <br />Hanoi, Vietnam. The young guy is our afternoon teacher.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WffvKjLkx3I/T74mIAUvhsI/AAAAAAAAAA4/zdNfa2xOO3g/s1600/mtc+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WffvKjLkx3I/T74mIAUvhsI/AAAAAAAAAA4/zdNfa2xOO3g/s320/mtc+004.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The couple on the left are going to Hawaii and the one on the right to Germany.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_RsTYBR7vU4/T74oP9o5hYI/AAAAAAAAABQ/50lY_yJ3ffg/s1600/mtc+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_RsTYBR7vU4/T74oP9o5hYI/AAAAAAAAABQ/50lY_yJ3ffg/s320/mtc+009.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here we are again with our district and our afternoon teachers.</span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our daily schedule included large group training on teaching people, not lessons. We broke out into smaller groups of 4 couples where we studied principles, practiced, and taught "investigators" (volunteers from the community) in a simulated setting. Though one felt a little nervous at first, these experiences were actually kind of fun teaching the things that mean so much to you in your life. You could get feedback from our teacher who had watched over closed circuit camera, as well as sense yourself the things you would have done differently to be more effective. </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QeMnYuB7KqU/T74tI-8rV4I/AAAAAAAAABk/VY4XJmgdf6U/s1600/mtc+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QeMnYuB7KqU/T74tI-8rV4I/AAAAAAAAABk/VY4XJmgdf6U/s320/mtc+015.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: medium;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">The cafeteria doors have just opened and the herd presses forward!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In addition we had 3 square meals a day at the MTC cafeteria which any missionary will tell you is an experience in and of itself: many meal choices offered and mostly geared towards 19 year old boys! We tried to take many brisk walks in between meetings to burn some of those calories we were eating!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">The MTC Post Office</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;">In the MTC Bookstore</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tuesday evening we had a devotional where we heard from Elder and Sister Russell M. Nelson. It was so amazing to be there gathered together with all the missionaries old and young, all coming from and heading to palces all over the world, and sing "Called to Serve".</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_JJ3rLrYqLw/T8LNllGdpFI/AAAAAAAAAGk/RBX1OM-ECLI/s1600/mtc+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_JJ3rLrYqLw/T8LNllGdpFI/AAAAAAAAAGk/RBX1OM-ECLI/s320/mtc+013.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Scenes on the MTC grounds</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the evenings on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday those of us with languages to learn had two hours with our tutors. Then you tried to do a little preparation homework for the next day and fell into bed exhausted by 9:45 to wake up by 6 am and start again. By Friday night we had a closing testimony meeting with us giving our testimonies in our languages. We had written them down in English the week before, our tutors had translated them, and then we had worked to learn them. Most of us read them (too nervous to pronounce and also remember them), but a few including Elder Mills had memorized theirs!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4SrgTxUeKC4/T74nwWum8TI/AAAAAAAAABI/J67vOM9CD6w/s1600/mtc+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4SrgTxUeKC4/T74nwWum8TI/AAAAAAAAABI/J67vOM9CD6w/s320/mtc+008.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">This was just part of the 70+ couples at the MTC that week.</span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">BEST WISHES TO ALL THE GREAT COUPLES WE MET THAT WERE HEADED ALL OVER THE WORLD!!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>Elder and Sister Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17345904527991190720noreply@blogger.com0