Visiting Sapang Palay

Today we decided to leave early to be able to visit some members homes before church started. We had a pair of Elders go with us as they knew where the members lived. We drove for a short distance and then walked to the homes.

This is really a most humbling experience. It puts all into perspective. This is an area that is extremely impovershed. Semi cobble stone streets, cement and corrogated tin houses with some electicity piped to them. Dirt floors and propane cooking equipment. The home we went to visit was a member that I have seen at church with her daughters. When they come to church they are very clean and dressed approprately and look generally very nice. They are very wonderful people who are happy and strong in the gospel. I don't think all the members live in this type of environment. It was a great experience to see them happy in the gospel.

Of the two Elders one was from the United States and spoke perfect tagalog and even had an accent. His companion was a Filipino. Both very strong into their calling as missionaries.

Some of the things I saw today reminded of the stories my sons Brad and Randy talked to me about. The streets of Ecuador and Guatelmala are similar to the streets I saw today in Sapang Palay.

We came home early from Church today as their was a level 2 alert for a Tsunami resulting from the an earthquake in Chile. By early this evening the leval 2 alert had been cancelled. We are grateful that the Filipino people will not suffer another natural disaster.

We hoped to stay later and take more pictures but that didn't happen. Darn it. The members were disappointed that we were leaving and so was I. But we will be back next Sunday to visit more members.

Sunday February 28, 2010

We are ok and no big concern with a tsnumani. We will travel to the Sapang Palay branch today to attend church and visit members. We are safe.

Saturday Feb 27th, 2010

We are looking at the world news with the Earthquake in Chile and the Tsnumani that will hit Hawaii, The Philippines and other places. Our concern is for the Philippines and have not had much feedback from the weather reports or American Embassy. Waiting to hear.

Picture of orchestra and choir

Picture of the Orchestra and choir at the Bamboo Organ concert

Picture of the Bamboo Pipe Organ

Here is a picture of the Pipe Organ that another Senior Missionary took. It is quite a structure. Renovated in 1974 in Germany and placed in it's original spot.

more videos

Here is another video of our cultural experience.

Been on our Mission one month today

We have been on our mission one month today and in the Philippines three weeks come this Saturday. Everyday we are doing something and making progress in our position here and in our branch. Two of the sisters in the branch has requested my friendship on FaceBook. That is so sweet of them. I am going to try to attach a video that one of the Senior Missionary Elders took last night.

Last night we went to a Bamboo Organ Festival in an 18th century Catholic Church in a city called Las Pinas. There is a sister here who is not a missionary but wife of the Legal Attorney here. He is an employee of the church. Brother and Sister Wright. Sister Wright has found things to do in the Real Estate Office and she knows where everything is and can drive there herself. I don't know how she does that but she finds some cultural activities for us to attend if we choose to. So we went with about 8 other couples to this bamboo organ festival. It was constructed late 1700's by a Catholic Priest from Spain. The organ had been damaged by typhoons and earthquakes several times but in 1972 it was sent to Germany for restoration and then returned to the Philippines. I hope to get some pictures from other Senior M's to post so you can see what it looks like. Before the concert outside of the church there were some high school students playing an instrument that I have never seen before called Kayawan. It is a bamboo made type instrument. I will post a video. I think you all will find this fascinating. We got our culture fix last night.

Sunday February 21, 2010 in Sapang Palay

These pictures were taken just after church in front of the Sapang Palay chapel. The members just love to have their pictures taken.

These two just love to pose.

To the left is a girl about 13 who was really anxious and eager to have her picture taken but very shy to ask. Once I asked her she brightened right up and cozied up to me for a pose.

Above is a member and his daughter. I had to pick here up to get in the picture.

The sister below wanted to know how old I was, she said I want a picture with you because I am older than you. I don't know what that meant but she is 68.

This dear sister with her one month old baby girl. Everyone at church wanted to hold her baby. She is pretty attached to her. The father has to beg for time to hold her.

The two primary children to the left are real sweethearts and love coming to church. The two young adults above tell they are single adults. In other words they are available. Smart girls and busy studying I am told by another single adult. The young adult to the right asked me if I was on FaceBook and I told her yes. She quickly got out a pen and paper and asked me to put my name down so she can request friendship.

These are children of the branch that Elder Burningham clicked away on interesting poses.

Believe it or not....this is a mother and her two sons. She looks young enough to be their sister. All Filipino's look younger than they are.

This is their meeting chapel. Well made building and nicest around.

Finally I got some pictures posted.

In Relief Society today a young sister came and sat by me and asked me if she could translate the lesson to me as it was all in Tagalog. I though that was so nice of her. All the sisters in the branch are very friendly and loving. They just don't want to shake your hand they want to give a warm hug and kiss on cheek. I hugged back. Al and I feel so pleased to feel so welcome by them. We know we can never blend but it is so heartwarming to be loved by them immediately.

Saturday Feb 20, 2010 Oh Happy Day

I am feeling better today. Antiobiotics helped along with a probiotic drink the doctor suggested. We went shopping today with another senior missionary couple that kindly took us to a mall called Market Market. It has a grocery store and then four stories high of different shops and a movie theatre. Very modern looking. It also had a big play area for kids. It seems very safe. There are security guards in uniforms at every entrance. We did our grocery shopping and got some incidentals there. Then we went to a Costco type store called S&R. It is lined up just like a Costco. You find many things there quite like a Costco with some Kirkland brand items. Not everything like Costco but comparable. We decided to become a member. We bought a vegetable steamer with three tiers and it works great. We also purchased a blender so we will try that tomorrow with mangoes. We are determined to eat healthy and trim our waist lines down a bit. We did a lot of feasting over the past 4 to 6 months. Enough of that.

Tomorrow we will travel out to the provinces for church. I will post pictures of that on Monday. The people are very friendly. The common practice there is to shake everyone's hand before the meeting starts. About 97% of the service is in Tagalog, then they throw in a few English words. For Sunday School and Relief Society/Priesthood meeting it is the same, but we get the jest of it. It is an hour and a half to ride out to the provinces and you feel like you are on Mr. Toad's wild ride. It is really an adventure. Sunday is a long day for us.

Thanks to those who left comments on the blog. At least I know who is reading it.

Friday February 19th 2010

Today we ended the week with two days of it on our own in our position. We have been learning where things are and what to do with them from the computer.

Tomorrow a senior missionary pair will be taking us around places where we need to shop etc. There is a membership store called S&R which is like a Costco to us. It will be interesting to see. On Tuesday the 23rd I have been invited to go to the Bazaar to shop with the sisters. That should be interesting.

Still working on a safe place for the cultural event June 12th. We can only advise we can't just take over. Hopefully it will work out ok.

Well, I got a little bug and had to see the Missionary doctor Elder Jafek. He prescribed an antiobiotic and I found it at the local pharmacy. You buy pills by the singles and I was able to get the prescribed amount no problem. You have to be very very careful about washing food. And take it from me, even if the water looks ok, you still have to put a drop of bleach in the water. I got a big stomach ache, slight fever and several trips to the comfort room (CR is what we would term as restrooms) I just have to be careful. Someone needs to watch me like a hawk as it doesn't do any good to give me a good talking to. :) I am out of here for the weekend.