Sunday February 14, 2010

By some slim chance I was able to get an internet linksys signal so I am entering in a post for today. We traveled out today to the provinces where we went to church in a nice church buildings. It is a branch not a ward. A branch is a small congregation not large enough for a ward. It took 1 1/2 hours to get there through the craziest drivers I have ever seen. Al (Elder Burningham) drove and he loves it. It will be quite a while before I will drive. Its nuts here.

It is a land of extremes. Abject poverty on one side and then mansions and affluent stores. While going to the provinces we went through places that had dirty and littered rivers. We stopped by a older member that Elder and Sister Gibbs know and wanted to say their last goodbyes and give them a gift. This was a really humble circumstance. The house was made of cement and it was a one room with a bed. On the bed was a very frail old man with his wife by his side and three granddaughters. The door was open and chickens were coming in and out. The adjoining room lived their daughter, son in law and children. The daughter just had a baby girl two months ago and she was bathing her on a flat cement structure with a baby blanket on it. She just bathed her by pouring water over her in small amounts. Good baby, seemed to enjoy her bath. The man has been ill for some time but he was sitting up and talking to us. After a few minutes we excused ourselves to travel further to our meetings.

Elder Burningham and myself were introduced to the congregation as the replacing senior missionaries that will be helping out on Sundays. Which means I will brush up on my music skills and practice on a keyboard to play hymns. Believe it or not.

We were asked to speak today and introduce ourselves. Elder and Sister Gibb also spoke and said farewell. Most of the meeting was spoken in Tagalog with very little English. We got the jest of most everything that was said.

After the meetings were over the members got out their cell phones with cameras and wanted to take tons of pictures. I hope to post pictures soon. It will be great. The primary wanted a picture of us with them, the Relief Society wanted our pictures taken with them then the young adults and the priesthood. It was happy. Everyone there was smiling and laughing and snapping pictures. These people love to have their picture taken. One sister in Relief Society that is very small, about 4 foot 6 inches wanted to have a picture taken with me. I really dwarfed her. I am rather spellbound by these people and really taking it all in.

Today is Valentines Day so Happy Happy to everyone. The Primary made a Valentine for us and signed their names to the card. Lovely people. Very Humble people. The ride home was another hour and a half. We have had dinner and now starting to yawn.

Tomorrow we will try to get the internet....at least we will restart that process to obtain it. We have our work tomorrow and then it is a Family Home Evening with President Ho Ching and wife at their house. President Ho Ching will be there till July and then they will move to Utah.

Hope to post tomorrow.

Exciting things happening

We spent two days in Cebu City staying at the Marco Polo. We looked over the hotel for the Prophet President Thomas S. Monson to stay in for the dedication of the temple. It is awesome. best I have ever seen. Security is up to standard for his stay.

We looked over the possible facility for the cultural celebration and found security issues there. We are trying to find a more suitable facility for the celebration that will suit the needs for all those attending and for the performers. On the same day as celebration there is a parade for their independence day and rally afterwards. Some legistics and security issues exist and we will be working at this.

Elder and Sister Gibb hosted a luncheon with our security staff and Elder and Myself. It was wonderful to meet 12 wonderful men all members and return missionaries and active in their branches as Presidents or in their Stakes as High councilmen. Wonderful people.

We have been trying to buy internet service for our apartment and found that their current policies require another form of foreign id which we don't know what it is they want. Still trying. Our washer-dryer unit will be installed tomorrow Saturday.

Things are going well. I have had some swelling in my feet due to the long plane ride but I have been able to purchase diuretics that have been helping. Should be fine by the end of the weekend.

We are also looking into cell phones that we can use here. So we are busy. I will get my first haircut on Monday. Seems like a great place. We shall see.

Until Monday I guess.
Kathy and Al

First few days

Our flight here to the Philippines was 15 hours long with a few legs with a few hours overlay. From Salt Lake City to Los Angeles it was pleasant. When we were about to disembark we were stopped by a couple of passengers asking questions about where we were going etc. Elder Burningham was speaking with one passenger and I with another. They know we are missionaries by our name tags. As I was speaking with one person there were many passengers leaning over to hear my conversation. I have never had that happen to me. People wanting to know what I had to say.

The flight to Taiwan was 13 hours long and then to Manila it was 2 hours. We were in Taiwan about 4 hours before our flight took place. There was a travel person with our name on it and he took us through customs quite quickly. We left the terminal with him and then met Elder and Sister Gibbs who we will be replacing. They helped secure our apartment for us. We have moved into it and then will sign the lease sometime this afternoon Feb 8.

We got our drivers licenses today. It is really an ordeal. But we got them. This is too much information but I just couldn't bring myself to give them a urine sample....just couldn't do it. So they took my saliva instead. And you pay everyone along the way. The bathroom for the urine test left alot to be desired so sorry...just couldn't comply. They found another way, for all I know it was satisfactory to their standards.

We have been to the store first day here, Saturday, and bought a few needed things. We are making lists as we get established.

Sunday, yesterday we went to church. They speak both Tagalog and English. They will speak English and then translate into Tagalog. Very Very humble people. Very strong LDS Saints. And they sing very well. We sat in front of a family with quite a few children and they just sang out so strong. Know all the words in English and all the notes. It was beautiful and so impressive.

After church we went back to our apartment and rested. Our predecessors had us over for dinner and it was very good. Elder and Sister Gibbs gave us information about the people and what the customs are like and what humble circumstances they are in. They also told us that many of the women do not get married simply because the men can't afford it. Average Filipinos don't get married, just live together and create families...divorce is against the law. So many Filipino women marry American men. They are very sweet and beautiful and very smart. LDS families are strong in the LDS faith and live the Gospel with temple marriages etc. I met many Filipino women in St. George and asked them why they were in the states. In every case they said because they married American men. Seems to be happy arrangements at any rate.

I am logging this post from the area office. Stilll will need to get our private Internet to really be able to do this. So please check in often.

Love, Sister Kathy Burningham

Last Day

This is our last day in the US and in SLC. We have a few hours of Security Training here and then it is off to the airport about 4 pm. or so. Next stop will be to the Philippines. We are excited. We are doing last minute packing and weighing our luggage and so far we are in the weight limit.

I would say we are excited and a little tense. Excited to go and a little tense on what all the requirements are for travel. Well passports are in hand and so are the visas. Off to the hot and humid from the cold of Utah. What a change. Still the anticipation of an adventure.

Will write another post once we get there.


magandang gabi ( Good evening) or in this case magandang umaga (good morning)

Elder and Sister Burningham

Day 1 of Security Training. February 1st, 2010

This was an interesting day. We were fingerprinted, gave handwriting samples, both printed and handwritten. Voice recordings. Then various classes on how to keep missionaries safe. What we should do if at all acosted. How to recognize bombs and what to do. Well, if you work in security you have to know all that.

We got an overview of the security in around Manila and what we should do to report back to our supervisor here in Salt Lake City. From what I hear today, the Catholic Church has more problems than any church.

It is truly going to be an adventure.

January 29th, Salt Lake City Utah

Finished our Missionary training at the Missionary Training Center. We are in Salt Lake City now at a hotel the Church has put us in and we will start our Security Training starting Monday thru Thursday. Saturday we will be briefed and security credentials. Sunday we will see Music and the Spoken Word at the Tabernacle with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. All is well.

Day 4

We are now on to Day 4. We are being taught how to lead a gospel discussion to those who have not heard what it is we believe. The manual, Preach My Gospel is invaluable in our instruction. It makes teaching more simple with overviews instead of long lengthy discussions which no one wants to listen to anyway. More importantly...the most important person in our discussions in the one we are speaking with. Knowing the person....loving a fellow human being and being friends in the most important in our relationships withour brothers and sisters here on earth. I am enjoying that part of our instruction. Now on to day 4.

We are in the Missionary Training Center

Well, we have hit day 2 and completed a very busy day. Full day of training with a devotional in the evening. It went well. We are making friends. Seems that some of the senior missionaries are our age but we look younger. It has been very spiritual so far and very enjoyable. Looking forward to tomorrow

Getting close

We have about 10 days before our Farewell, then next day is the MTC. Still busy with preparations but getting to the end.

Preparations

January 4th 2010. Things are escalating with the preparations. Packing and defining the taking care of house with Son Brian and daughter in law Jenna. Looking at accounts etc. We are pretty busy with are preparations at this point.