Maybe the last post.

Today is Sunday the 24th of July, Pioneer Day in Utah.  Next to the last day for us.  I have just finished our breakfast dishes and don't expect to prepare anything further.  We will attend the Makati fourth branch or other wise known as the ex-pat branch where we have been asked to address the Sacrament Meeting.  Wow they see us coming and we get it.  Then after dinner with the McAllisters and Tapps, the McAllisters will follow us to the MPAO where we will return our car then they will take us to the apartment.  I will finish up packing and giving out some food stuffs and a few other things try to sleep, then be picked up by a church van and taken to the airport at 5 am.  Flight is at 7:50 am to arrive in Davao around 10 am. where we will be met by Alan Mercader for a vacation he is treating us to.  Don't know when I can post again, but after Davao we will board a plane to Manila again and then catch our plane to Hong Kong for a few days.  We plan to enjoy our last few days in Asia before we head back to the states.  Am I nervous?  Yes. I am hoping all the weight is correct and that we don't have to pay extra.  Its a trick. 

Thank you all dear readers for following along.  It has been quite an adventure.  Until we meet again.  Probably post again when we are back in the states.

Sister Burningham

July 23, 2011 trained the new girl Sheila (Shella) and sent the box

It was quite a day.  We sent off a huge box, 65 lbs. wow.  Then I trained the new employee, Sheila (Shella) Torres.  She will be really wonderful as she has really picked up fast all the things that she needed to know. I cried as I said good-bye to Ryan Apduhan.  He was my go to guy on so many things.  I called him my son as he was just like a son to me.  Going to miss all these men so much. 

I was told before I left the US that I would fall in love with the Filipino people, but I was never told that it would break my heart to say good bye. 

Salamat po, my wonderful staff both in Cebu and in Manila.  I love you all so much.

Sister Burningham

Last Day in the office today

Today will be the last day in the office.  One more box to pack and send.  Train a casual employee to take my place to be an assistant to Todd Tapp.  Then we will have dinner with Alan Mercader and family.  Almost done.

July 15th picture with all our Security Family at our Farewell Party

We were so pleased that so many people showed up.  Great to have worked with them.

Countdown continues

I met with our landlady on Monday for apartment inspection and she was pleased. We worked out the details of what is left to pay in utilities.  I packed and repacked my suitcase and weighed it and reweighed it to make sure we were within the weight limits.  Still busy with unloading things that were handed off to us.  So amazing the stuff you can accumulate.

Guess who got to give the devotional talk this morning

Elder Burningham and Todd Tapp went to Cebu this morning to be introduced to the security staff and to meet the Temple President and the Mission President.  They are having a staff meeting today also.  I was advised that due to budget...I was not to go and didn't need to go or so the DTA thought.  But I felt bad that I didn't get to see the staff and the beautiful Cebu temple one more time.  I had gone in May and that is all she wrote. 

So in Elder Burningham's absence, I was requested to give the devotional talk today. Every Monday morning at 7:30 am there is a office devotional and  I had about 25 minutes.  I hope that all remembered it.....it was about sacrifice.  But really serving is not a sacrifice....it was very rewarding.  Glad we did it.  I suspect we will do it again sometime however we will wait until my sister and her husband return from their mission in 2013.  Mom is with us still and frail so I will serve her in any way I can and that will be my mission.

All is well.

Parking in our apartment garage

 Once we are down we park here, third level down.

 Going down the ramp, three times like this.

Rounding the turn to go down the ramp.

I realized that I had not shown what the parking garage is like.  We park on the third level below our 40 story high rise apartment. The driveways are really narrow and when we travel down or up them we pray that we don't hit the sides.  Spooky.

Traffic in Manila..on our way back to the apartment July 13, 2011

We had time to take a picture the traffic was so jammed.  He was happy to pose a smile and said Thank You.  Funny.

The Absolute Water Truck forging ahead in right lane.

 More traffic

One lane on left was left for on coming traffic.

Traffic lane merges to the far left which is the oncoming lane.  Its called counter flow.

Jeepney squeezing in.  Reflection in the mirror is of the purse in my lap.

Car attempting a U turn in the middle of traffic.

Car attempting a u turn in traffic.

Car cutting in front of us.

I know I have mentioned the traffic here is horrendous.  On our way home we encountered counter flow and u turns in the middle of traffic.  We were laughing about it and I decided I had time to click a few pictures.  I don't think the pictures do the experience justice.  Hope you "get" the picture.

a Face Book chat with one of my security guards in Cebu

Tonight I chatted with one of my security OIC's in Cebu by way of Face Book.  He likes to call me "mom" and I call him "son."  Story behind that is when we were there at the Cebu Temple dedication  I would tell my guys that they are all my "sons" .  They all liked that but Manny Franciso liked it the best.  On the evening after the cultural celebration we were at the Cebu Temple complex taking pictures of some of the brethren before they all retired to their rooms at the Temple Patron Housing.  While I was taking pictures, Manny came over by me taking pictures and telling me...."I am going to stand by my mom and take pictures too" I smiled at him and was pleased but then he told me that his mother had died when he was just four months old and his father had died also at the age of 49.  He had no brothers or sisters and had to keep a watch on his father while he was in the hospital with a severe heart condition from which he died.  Manny told me that he felt so alone until he heard the missionaries speak about the purpose of life and joined the church at 16. 

We chatted about some of his struggles with his in-laws who didn't like him and were not members at the time.  Now his wife's family are all members and love Manny very much.  He has been blessed. So I told him that I would miss him and to remember that Elder Burningham and I love him very much and would miss him. The following is what he had said to me over chat.

"So do I Mom. My family loves you too we will always remember once upon a time in Manila and Cebu a Burningham Family is just like a Father and Mother to me and the security force are my Brothers thank you so much for everything you have done to our family and to the security dept we will be missing you Mom

Until we meet again.

Manny"

Juancho Pena Gallano new OIC in our department joining the other two new officers, Elijah Sosmena and Nilo Hisita

Juancho Gallano

Our three newest members of the staff. Elijah Sosmena,Nilo Hisita and Juancho Gallano

Juancho is our newest OIC as of about a week ago.  He couldn't be more happy.  He arrived on the day of his job offer very very early with a smile on his face. He asked for a picture of us so his daughter could draw us from a picture.  Juancho sent us the below email and I thought I would keep it in my blog.  No happier man here in the department than Brother Juancho.

Hi Sister B.

Good Morning, yes I am glad of this beautiful picture my daughter will make a souvenir for you at least you always to remember me and my family it is my blessing to be part of your Mission called here in the Philippines very short moment I have been working with you but I could not to forget this great work of Our Lord Jesus Christ to carry on to build the Kingdom on earth. again thank you for every things you share with me very strong spirit I thank you being nice parents I know Heavenly Father have another mission call for both of you of course first your own family there are very excited your coming back home I know your family missing you a lot specially all your grand children I know you have a lot of opportunity again to serve I admired all your effort and sacrifice here in Security department don’t worry we like to welcome Bro. Todd we will give all our full support as our New Security Manager Sister just keeping you in touch.

Best regards

Your Bro. In Christ

Juancho

July 11th Arrival of the Golf Cart Rain Cover

 In this picture is shown Alan Mercader on far right, far left, oursource guard, and in back is Paul Parrocha

Golf Cart Rain Cover, Paul Parrocha in the back, Alan Mercader far right and officer in far left in back.

It is the rainy season and the Security Staff asked for a Golf Cart Rain Cover so I got it ordered and it arrived this afternoon.  I had the guys install it on the cart as you can see here.  It has rained every day for the last three days and wouldn't you know it.....it is sunny on the morning of the 12th.

Our Replacements have arrived. Todd Tapp

This is the picture I took of Todd for his ID. He says I can't get anything better than this..LOL

July 8th at 11:00 pm, Brother Todd and Sister Pauline Tapp arrived at the Manila Airport where we picked them up  and took them to their home in a subdivision called Acropolis, near the Manila Temple and the Manila Philippine Area Office.  We then spent July 9th taking them around to places to shop for food and for basics.  Also we took their new Starex Van to their place for them to have transportation.  Their home is lovely and they will be very comfortable for themselves and for all that come to visit them.  We took time out for lunch at Johnny Rockets in Eastwood City not far from their place and enjoyed a wonderful visit. 

There will be a new Sheriff in town and it is comforting to know that the Security Staff will be in good hands.  It is hard to leave our Filipine Family that we have grown to love so much, but now it is time to gear up and get ready to see our homeland and our family.  I am looking forward to seeing my mother who is somewhat infirm.  I hope she is with us when we return.  All is well, all is well.

July 7th, 2011, outing with Senior Missionaries for the day

This is a club sandwich at the Manila Hotel.  The bread is round and they cut it down and through with sides in tack then the bread is sliced sideways and chicken, bacon and stuff for a delicious sandwich.  This is a sandwich for two.  Yum.

We Sisters 4

Us Sisters at the Manila Hotel

 The eight of us, Elder and Sister  Bird, Elder and Sister Bell, Elder and Sister Goss and Elder and Sister B (us)

Carol Cunningham of DAM GOOD STUFF showroom.

Several Senior Missionaries wanted to see the Manila Hotel and have lunch and we were the only one that knew the way and have been there before.  We saw the Hotel Archives and the MacArthur Suite.  We had seen all several times before but the other missionaries have not had the opportunity.  So eight of us went in a pool care and traveled to the Hotel and got the tour then enjoyed a delicious lunch. Afterwards we took them to a Pearl Showroom operated by Carol Cunningham to meet her and do some shopping.  I have become interested in selling her jewelry in the states so perhaps my friends in Saint George will like to attend a home party where good knotted pearls can be bought for a fraction of the cost in the US.

Advertising in Manila July 2011

I wanted to snap a picture of how big the advertising is here in Manila traveling on EDSA, a main road. Here it is. As big or bigger than Las Vegas.

Post script....It is July 11th and we were told at the Family Home Evening last night by President DeLaMare that this advertising of men in their underwear was deemed as unlawful and have been taken down.  Interesting.

Boy on a truck ride - July 6, 2011

We went to the Wet Market in Araneta and found this dad using his dolly/truck to gave his son a ride.  Notice he has something of candy in each hand.  I stopped the man and asked if I could snap his picture.

July 3rd, 2011, last visit to our branch in Morong.

We are relinquishing our assignment now to the Morong Branch to Elder and Sister Goss.  Sister Goss took our picture just before we left.  You probably notice that there are not any cars.  That is because no one owns one.  All members arrive by Jeepney or trike and/or taxi.

Taking pictures of those I know here in the office including the hair stylist I go to.

 Jun, my haircut guy.  He does a great job and I have sent all my Sister Senior Missionary friends

 Dick with Facilities Management

 Dennis Santiago

 Alex Servidad in purchasing

 Ed Mendoza - Facilities Management

 Florante (Plor) Enriquez with Facilities Management

 Louie Costellas

 Lynna Espanola of CES

 Elder Miguel Valdez - a 70 over CES

Emelda (Neneng) Meneses of Purchasing

 Raymond Vicente of Purchasing

 Ramon of Purchasing

 Ryan Apduahn (Security front desk receptionist) in the Golf Cart

 Roehl Abonado, Aleah Ballados and Stephen Notarte of Travel

 Aleah in Travel with Ayen in the background on the phone

Stephen Notarte of Travel

 Armando Tolentino of Treasury

 Brad Anderson area controller over finance

 Girlie Macalincag of treasury

 The Deseret Distribution Store

 Elder Bird and Elder Bell in the Mezzenine conference room

Sister Smith of Welfare department

 Elder Smith Welfare Missionary

 Jaime Aquino of Finance

 MaeAnn Receptionist for Welfare

 ICS team, George Biol, Darlene Coporal, Venna Centeno and Michael Jacob (MJ)

 Roland Gaspar of ICS

 Sharon Perez Area Presidency secretary

 Lea Tesaluna of Finance

Marcial Evangelista of Finance

Sister Bell and Brother Franco (employee) from PEF

 Dina Alves of Human Resources

Ryan Manrique of Human Resources