Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas with love from Bob and Gloria in Cebu.

Liki School Project

Liki School Project

We awakened early on the morning December 8 – we were excited. We loaded up the truck with our stuff and headed over the mountains to Liki. Glenda, her husband Charles, and one of the other Liki teachers, and the two elders were waiting for us at the intersection of the Like Road and the main highway. Glenda, Charles, and the teacher climbed on the back of a motorcycle and lead the way; the elders piled in the truck with us and the stuff and we took off down the road to Liki. At first the road was paved, had nice bridges and seemed fine, but the farther we went, the narrower it became and the pavement soon changed to dirt and rocks. It was surprising to us how fast the motorcycle could go even carrying four adults. The truck went fine, but we were reluctant to go very fast since we didn’t know the road and there were occasional high rocks in the center of the road. We did ford one creek, but the water was low and slow, nothing like the first trip!
When we arrived at the school, the other teachers, some parents and all the students were waiting for us. They had decorated a little stage and planned a program of singing and dancing to welcome us. It was delightful. One of the highlights was an opening prayer that a group of children chanted with hand and arm actions. Every class had prepared a couple of songs or dances. They were wonderful. Then they asked me to say a few words – which I did. After the closing prayer, we set up the tables in an empty classroom and then unloaded all the supplies and books. The teachers were so thrilled. Then they lined up the children and walked them through to see. What a treat that was for us…to see their excitement and eagerness to learn. Things like a microscope, pliers, a level, magnifying glasses were totally new to them and one of the teachers walked with them to explain a little bit. We had taken four globes – one for each classroom – and they generated a lot of interest too.
After taking many pictures, visiting with all and thanking them for the delightful program, we headed out – very grateful for the opportunity to do such a project.

ASEAN SUMMIT Training

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Into the office this morning came a sister from Lilo-An Stake who works in the Mayor’s office in Cebu City. She was here with other people from the Mayor’s office to see about using the Stake Center for training in connection with the upcoming ASEAN Summit Meetings. They had a previously-arranged venue that was pulled out from underneath them at the last minute; someone from the Governor’s Office need it for preliminary meetings also regarding the ASEAN Summit. The Mayor’s group was quite concerned about finding a suitable place at this late date – the training is scheduled for Friday with people from the Office of the Press Secretary for the President of the Philippines coming to meet with college journalism students assigned to help each country’s press corps. Sister Ann Atay, knowing of the great location of the Stake Center in Lahug, contacted the Stake President, John Ballados. He quickly approved and Ann and her group came over to check the building out….but the man who was supposed to meet them, unlock the doors and show them around wasn’t here. So she came in the office to see if I could help.

Fortunately, we have a master key to the Stake Center and I was glad to show them around. They were properly impressed with the facilities and said they would see me on Friday.

Friday, November 24, 2006

The Journalism Volunteer Training in connection with the ASEAN Summit began very early – 7 A.M. I went for a walk about six and then bought fruit and vegetables on my way home. By the time I returned people were arriving for the meeting. Delfin had come at 6 to set up the chairs and prepare the building. I walked over about 10 to see how things were going and to visit with Ann Atay. She welcomed me warmly and introduced me to people from the Mayor’s Office and from Manila. At her request, I came back to the office and rounded up about 100 copies of the Church News and took them over along with about 20 copies of old New Era, Liahona, and Ensign Magazines to be given to the participants. There were 108 students in the training and about thirty people from the Mayor's Office and the President's Press Office in Manila.
When the meetings were over, I went back over and visited with one of the women from the Presidents' Press Office in Manila. She thanked me again and again, saying how much better the Church facilities were than the place they had previously scheduled. She asked a little about our mission and about the Church. It was a pleasure to visit with her.

Thanksgiving 2006 in Cebu

November 21, 2006

We had an early thanksgiving today. I prepared a turkey dinner for us and six missionaries. This was their preparation day and they were scheduled to come to the office for interviews with the President at 1:00 p.m. so we had Thanksgiving lunch. Sisters Castillo and Vera Cruz brought mashed potatoes and green beans and Sisters Pressler and Siringan brought fruit salad. The office elders, Elders Domingo and Olsen brought two small tables and four chairs from the Church. Everything turned out fine – the gravy and the stuffing were especially good and we had fun visiting and eating together. I didn’t have pie pans so I made apple crisp and then served it with vanilla ice cream. The missionaries all had to leave right afterwards as a meeting for them had been planned at one o’clock. They used to just have interviews and go, one companionship at a time, so they had planned to help clean up while the others were being interviewed. Oh well! It didn’t take me too long and I enjoyed some good music while I put the leftovers away and then did the dishes. One of the highlights of the day was the delicious smell that permeated the apartment as the turkey roasted. Ummm.

Visit to Balamban

Sunday, November 5, 2006

We had a very lovely day yesterday traveling over to visit the two Balamban Branches on the other side of the island. Two sister missionaries have been assigned there - sisters for the first time in that district. One sister is young and has three months left on her mission. The other sister is a senior sister who arrived last week. Sisters Watterson and Hall were welcomed over and over. Sister Hall seemed delighted with the work. Their apartment is new, cozy, clean, and safe. Screens were put on the windows on Saturday. They were welcomed like visiting royalty particularly by a cadre of four returned missionary sisters who all volunteered to go with them and show them where the members live - and then, all four, did so on Saturday - the sisters had arrived Friday afternoon! The sisters are assigned to do activation/retention work We took five of the large Church pictures over to them as a little house-warming gift. They were excited since right now they have bare walls.

Kacy had sent Flat Stanley to visit us so we took a picture of him with a couple of Primary children and their leaders before Primary started.

Rain turns street into River

November 2, 2006
The rain came so hard and so fast today that it turned our street into a river. It was quite dramatic and fun as the photo shows.

All Souls' Day,

Wednesday, November 1, 2006

This is “All Souls Day” in the Philippines. People go to cemeteries with flowers and candles and decorate the graves and pray for the souls of their ancestors – that they will be released from purgatory. How blessed we are to have the Gospel and to be able to teach people the glorious principle of salvation for the dead – that they can do temple work for their ancestors and thus help them on their eternal journey.

Right outside the Church fence, women and their children set up stools and buckets of flowers and began making floral arrangements for people to buy. Almost immediately cars began stopping and people stepped out to pick up one or more of the arrangements to take with them to the cemetery.

Today is the day of Zone Conference for the Talisay, Cebu, and Toledo Zones. Sisters Siringan and Pressler arrived early from Labangon and went out to the street with me to take a few pictures. After the photo taking, Sister Siringan talked to two of the flower seller and found out they were from Busay, had several children, and liked being in the city ‘just for a day.’ She then told them a little about the Gospel and invited them to learn more in a very sweet and loving way. They said, “No, thank you,” and she went on to wish them success in their sales and thanked them for letting her share with them something that had brought happiness to her. It was a very lovely and comfortable experience.

Christmas in July

Christmas on July 01, 2006

Christmas came to the Cebu Mission on the first of July. After weeks of preparation by Dumaguete Zone leaders, we drove our car onto the campus of Negros Oriental State University to see 500 students (read “prospective members” or “investigators”) forming into their ranks on a field 100 yards by 200 yards. Their commandant informed me we had an hour and a half to teach about our religion!

One of the great challenges of missionary work is to entice even a single person or a family to listen to our first lesson. Here, given to us on a platter (well, after weeks of hard work), were 500 investigators pledged to listen to our program for 90 minutes. At the end we passed out about 460 Books of Mormon (in return for names and addresses). The challenge to our three zones with 26 elders and sisters on Negros Island was to follow up on this huge number of leads.

It is now over 90 days since that one day of Christmas. The resulting baptisms for the effort showed up clearly in September and continued into October. It appears about 25 new members have resulted above the normal rate of baptisms. The three Negros Island Zones, usually lagging the mission in baptisms, had a total of 40 baptisms for September. Our other seven zones combined had 51 baptisms. For missionary work July 1, 2006 was a “day of days,” a day not easily repeated. It was indeed Christmas in the Cebu Mission.

Bob Hamson

Teacher Training

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Sister Macasero came to the mission office at noon to guide me back to her high school where I had been invited to do a two-hour seminar for the teachers on “Child Friendly Attitudes – Christ-centered attributes.”The teacher training seemed to go well . . it was a very small group as it turned out which made it very nice for discussion and case studies etc. They had told me it was all the teachers at a government high school with just over 1000 students, but had not mentioned (probably figured it was such an 'obvious' thing that everyone would know it) that each teacher has about 80 students per class...yikes! I talked about love, forgiveness, and about being firm, fair and friendly, and concluded with talk about Jesus Christ - fine in schools here - and about his example as a master teacher. It was a good experience and I was so impressed with their cheerful attitudes, the unity among the teachers, and their determination to help the kids.

English Class

Not only do Dad and I enjoy our English classes, but the students do too. This was one of our smallest groups – we had 16 students and divided into three groups of 5, 5, 6. All of these students except the man in the red shirt have come every week of this session and we have been thrilled with their progress. They will each receive a certificate with a large gold seal next week for completing the 10 week session with perfect attendance! All are hoping to get jobs. Weena, the woman facing the camera, doesn’t really have to work – she has money and a car, but she is wanting to find something to do. The two men and the woman with the curly pony tail, Becky, are members of the Church; the other two women are not. Weena had one discussion with the missionaries, but thought it wasn’t a ‘good time right now.’

We sometimes play games like ’20 Questions’ or have them role play. Those activities are very popular. And, I give homework that they must do if they want a certificate. Last week they were supposed to come prepared to discuss the recent typhoons in Luzon and what preparation measures they should take. They discussed it in the small groups and my group seemed to find a lot to laugh about during the discussion. Becky is quite the comedian and has a clever remark for almost every situation…..in English no less.

Kids and pipes

Saturday, October 14, 2006

This morning I went shopping with Elders Latimer and Domingo. We were looking for souvenirs to take home. First we went over to Mactan Island which is a center for making custom guitars and ukuleles. On the way we saw a delightful scene, children playing in a stack of large pipes. Some were in the pipes, some climbing around on top and some watching. By the time we got our cameras out and snapped a picture, it was not quite as cute as we as seen seconds before, but we were still pleased to capture the scene.

September 10 trip to Lutopan

View of the mountains on Negros - twenty miles across the water
from Cebu Island. We are on a high ridgeline looking west. The
dark blue in the middle of the picture is the water.

Sunday, September 10, 2006

We left about 6:45 a.m. for Lutopan and had a lovely drive. As we crested the last high hills before heading down to Balamban, we saw huge mountains across the water. This was the best view we had had so far of the mountains on Negros – 20 miles across the water to the west. We stopped to take some pictures, but were disappointed that they don’t show how really impressive it looks. We went over to Toledo District to visit two branches in Lutopan. They are both struggling - about 35-40 people attend in each branch. They have just heard that a big mine is going to open again and there will be employment for thousands of people. They are hoping that many of the members will return to the area as when the mine closed several years ago, many left to find work.

Both Lutopan Branches were very welcoming. I helped in Primary and we both spoke in Sacrament meeting in Lutopan I where President Reniva is the Branch President. We were disappointed that they started 30 minutes late – waiting for there to be at least three or four people before they began.

In Lutopan II, I taught Relief Society - really led a discussion with the four sisters there on Wilford Woodruff’s chapter on faith. It was quite interesting. They were talking about how it takes faith to keep the commandments – such as keeping the Sabbath Day holy. One of the women told how she and her husband sell fish for a living. He goes to the wholesale market in Toledo and gets the fish each morning then brings them up into the hills where Lutopan is for her to sell. On Sunday, the biggest day for Filipinos to cook and eat, they don’t sell at all. She says that they are doing okay so far, but it is scary to them.

Another woman told how most people work six days a week, so Sunday is the day to clean, shop, do laundry etc. For members of the Church who work it is a real challenge to get all these chores done during the work week – especially since many go to work at 7 and get home at 6:30 or 7…long days. I was so impressed with their dedication and their determination to keep the commandments.

I then visited Primary and had fun singing with the children. The best part was when we were singing “Head Shoulders Knees and Toes in Visayan and I mixed up the words for mouth and eyes. When I pointed to my mouth and said “Mata” (which means eyes) the children looked surprised and then worried. I realized my mistake and started laughing and then they all – teachers and children alike totally cracked up. We all laughed and laughed.

Later Bob and I both spoke in Sacrament Meeting – what a privilege to share testimonies of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Thieves and a Snake Skin

Fax machine - too big for thieves to get through the attic hole

Bob and Elder Crespo with 10 foot python skin

Wednesday, September 6, 2006

The morning began with a bang – a bang on the door that is. Delfin had run to get me to tell me that some one had broken in to the Stake Center and he wanted me to come and take pictures. I went. The thieves had removed a light fixture from the ceiling in a hallway that has a room and wall on one side, but is open on the other. They had then crawled through the attic and came down in the bathroom in the Stake President’s office. The only thing to be stolen there was the fax machine so they hauled in through the hole in the bathroom ceiling and through the attic to the hole outside. But, the hole was too small, or the fax machine was too big. So I have an interesting picture of a fax machine resting partially out of a hole in the ceiling!

The police were called, but since nothing was really stolen and the damage to the building was minimal, they weren’t very interested.

Elder Crespo arrived in the Office today. He has been called to be the new Assistant to the President and we are glad to have him back. He brought with him a 12 foot python skin. The snake was found by the neighbors swimming in a canal behind his apartment in Dumaguete. The men quickly caught and killed it, skinned it, roasted it, and they all had a neighborhood feast. They gave the amazing skin to Elder Crespo. I took a picture of him and Bob with the skin stretched out on the lawn

One year anniversary

Windy wharf in Bogo, Hannah, Gloria and Shefra


Shallow water fishing with nets and bamboo fences

Monday, September 4, 2006

Today is our 1 year mark in the Philippines! We went to Bogo – the first branch that we visited after we arrived. It was very exciting to see the changes from a year ago. When we first visited there were two small branches, 35 – 40 in Sacrament meeting. Reverence was deplorable with children running around during the meeting, people talking and going in and out the whole time. White shirts and ties were not common and there were very few men except for those on the stand.

Yesterday at the one branch (the two were combined into one several months ago), over 120 were in attendance at Sacrament meeting. Families sat together, with many men in the congregation in addition to those on the stand. All the men on the stand were wearing white shirts and ties (not important in and of themselves, but very important as a symbol of respect for the priesthood). Children were not running around at all and if any needed to go out, a parent went with them. It was really wonderful to see the great spirit at the meeting.

After the meeting, Bob had planned with Shefra Carabio for us to go over and visit Professor Estacion at his house. Shefra and her friend, Hannah, went with us. When we arrived, the Professor was not there. It turns out he is a Baptist minister and had gone out to help some Church members, but would be back ‘soon’. His son Duke welcomed us and invited us to sit outside in the shade and wait. He offered food and drink, but we explained that it was Fast Sunday. He then picked two pomegranates for me to bring home. Those are the first I have seen growing here. We waited nearly an hour and the Professor still didn’t come. We enjoyed talking with the girls about their boyfriends, or lack thereof. Both would like to be married and are sad that they are not.

Professor Estacion had left a message for Bob that he wanted to talk to us about maybe teaching another seminar at his University – perhaps on English – which is the reason we went to his house in the first place. Bob wrote down the cell number and email address of Duke and said we could communicate that way and we took off.

Just as we were leaving, Duke mentioned that if we went down the road about ½ a kilometer we would come to the community wharf and fishing area. Naturally we wanted to see that, so off we went. Both Shefra and Hannah had been there often – it being a frequent picnic/swimming place for the Young Single Adults. It was very windy, but interesting and we were glad to take a few pictures of the new-to-us type of fishing. Men were out in the water making a large funnel out of bamboo poles stuck vertically into the sandy bottom of the sea. Between the poles they stretched a thin, small mesh net. This forced the fish to swim into an ever narrower channel where they had spread their fishing nets with holes large enough for the smaller fish to swim through. Only the fish big enough to sell for eating were caught. We saw two groups of men in the hip-deep water. One group was working on the funnel poles. The other group was pulling in the net full of fish. This looked like a very effective way to catch fish in an area where the water is shallow for quite a ways out from land.

Afterwards, we dropped the girls off at the Carabio’s home and drove back to Cebu. It was a lovely day and we felt very good about the progress in the Bogo Branch. In the evening Bob and I prepared for the new missionaries coming in this week, by photographing and then reducing and printing out the missionary photos to go on their bank card applications. It is very easy and fast to do with out new camera and the computer and color printer.

Southwestern University

After his talks, Bob poses with some of the professors and students. The woman in the center front in the black skirt and beige blouse is a doctor who directed the program.

Saturday August 18, 2006

Bob left early with two missionaries, Elders Starr and Estrada, for his appointment to meet Sister Santiago and speak at Southwestern University. He said it went well – he talked about Creation/Evolution and then about the Rings of Saturn. Both talks were to a mixed group of students and professors – about 90 in attendance. Unfortunately they did not encourage any discussion about the Church and he was disappointed in that. He did answer questions and enjoy the interaction with the group. Then Sister Santiago took him on a brief tour of their small natural history museum. Elder Starr took many pictures on our camera and Elder Estrada helped with the slide presentation, but, unlike the last university talk, turned out not to be much of a missionary experience. Hopefully it was good for public relations.

Meanwhile, I rode over to Toledo with President and Sister Anderson and helped train at the Toledo District Conference. It was wonderful to see so many of the sisters that I am coming to know in the branches there. I taught for about 30 minutes to the entire group – about 60 – about Gospel teaching – using the model of Jesus Christ as the Master Teacher. I used a whole coconut, right off the tree to try to encourage and stress the importance of preparation. I also had scripture reading and some discussion. Then I taught 45 minutes to the 20 Relief Society workers – reviewing the basics about Sunday meetings, explaining the Enrichment/Activity program, and encouraging improvement in Visiting Teaching. Again, many of the sisters I know now and it is a pleasure to see and work with them.

Poor Man's Tour Second Time Around

Sister Lee, Gloria, Elder and Sister Platt pose in front of baskets full of dried fish of all sizes. I tasted a piece of a small dried fish - wasn't too excited about the eyeball looking at me, but it tasted okay - like a fishy potato chip. They are sun dried, whole, and then added to sauces and soups or eaten as is.


Sister and Elder Platt and me riding in a horse-drawn cart to the jewelry alley



July 23, 2006

Yesterday Patriarch Benedicto took the Platts, the Grahams, his daughter Sister Lee, and me on a ‘Poor Man’s Tour’ of Cebu. I enjoyed it greatly even though we visited the exact same places as the first time. This time the pace was slower in the market areas and speedier through Magellan’s Cross and the Catholic Churches. I found a carved caribou and also a hat for Bob at the Market. Sisters Platt and Graham also found ‘treasures.’ Elder Platt bought a hat. At the jewelry lane of the market, I looked at pearls, but bought cheap – 4, 6, and 12 peso (8, 12 and 24 cents) bracelet, and two necklaces. I had been looking for some with blue in them since so many of my clothes are blue. I again enjoyed seeing the large sculpture/monument to Cebu history. The Grahams were surprised that all these interesting places were just a few blocks from the LDS Institute where they go every day to teach.

Dedication of Chapel in Balamban

After Dedication the picture taking began - Bob in background


Bob and I with Sister Bastida in front of her wooden house

Sunday, July 9, 2006

Today we went over to the dedication of the renovated chapel in Balamban. Driving up over the mountains is one of the most beautiful and peaceful drives here – and thus, our favorite. The members of the Church there were so excited to have such a beautiful new building. They had been meeting in an old house – Primary was held in the carport! After the meeting and dedication, (and a picnic lunch in our car), we went home/visiting teaching with some of the members. Bob drove us and two other ladies and a 15 year old boy – our Priesthood representative from the Branch. He did a fine job of teaching at the house where it was his turn to present the lesson. Bob and I joined in the songs and shared our testimonies at the end of each lesson.
Going in the little, dark houses sure made me appreciate home and the tons of blessings that we have. Most people in the Philippines do not have running water or indoor bathrooms….like camping all the time. We see people of all ages carrying water when we drive outside the city…oh and they are all carrying firewood too. Many have electricity (and almost everyone has a TV) but very few have actual stoves. They cook outside over a fire, or have a single electric burner and an electric rice cooker. They eat rice with every meal. If no rice is served, it’s not a meal, it’s a snack!

July 1 Fireside

Bob beside the poster advertising both the Service project and (in small print at the bottom) the evening Fireside.

But, the day was not over yet. We went back to the “Why Not” for another steak dinner – and I watched Germany defeat Argentina in soccer. Then it was time to go to the chapel where Bob showed the “Restoration” video and spoke again. A little over a hundred people came to that including some investigators. I enjoyed visiting with some of the sisters before the meeting started.

Speaking to Negros Oriental State University Students

ROTC Roll Call before our talks began

Students line up to get copies of the Book of Mormon

July 1, 2006

We met Elders Clark and Crespo and followed them to one of the campuses for Negros Oriental State University. A few members of the Church had gone right over after the beach-clean project and set up a sound system. We looked in amazement at the huge group of young people assembled outside on a large field. Apparently all first year students are required to take an ROTC class and this was the class – about 500 in all – that we were speaking to. This had been set up by Elders Clark and Crespo who met with the President of the University and asked if they would like to have us come to speak to their students. Other missionaries came to help and they soon had the awning set up. The sound system was set up on a cement stage, where the awning was also put. Fortunately large trees provided a nice shady area where the students sat while we talked. Elder Clark conducted; the missionaries sang; Sister Olpin played her flute and then after the prayer I spoke on Change – and choices and consequences. Bob talked about the distinctive features of the Church.

At the end, Elder Clark offered a free copy of the Book of Mormon to anyone who wanted one, either in Visayan or English. After the prayer, hundreds of students lined up to get copies. We gave out 464 for sure – 5 cases of English and 7 cases of Visayan – and parts of four other cases. In return, we collected hundreds of names and addresses for the missionaries to contact! We were so grateful for the fine weather; for the support of missionaries and members; and for the Spirit of the Lord. It was a tremendous experience.

Community Service Project

Elder Crespo begins handing out the first of the Helping Hands Vests



Missionaries, Church members and people from the community begin cleaning

Missionaries carefully plant some of the 300 plants that were donated.


At the end of the project every enjoys visiting with each other and admiring the clean park

Saturday, July 1, 2006

What a blessing. The sky is clear and blue; the sun is shining and a gentle breeze is blowing – a perfect morning for the beach clean-up service project. We had breakfast at the hotel café and then went over to the church where many people were already gathered. Elder Crespo began handing out the “Helping Hands” vests. I was so happy to see that they looked fine on all sizes of people and everyone seemed happy to wear them.

Many members joined the missionaries and about 8:45 a.m. we walked over to the beach. Bob took many pictures of both individuals and the whole group.

Dumaguete has a boulevard along the beach with a wide, strip park with many large trees and then a wide sidewalk. In preparation for a service project, Elders Clark and Crespo had gone to meet the mayor to ask him what they could do to help and he said his top priority was to clean all trash along the beach side of the boulevard, the park and the beach. It was low tide; the sun was shining; people had showed up to work. What more could we want!

More and more members and a few people from the community joined in and at least 140 vests were handed out. The missionaries and others began working right away. Some of the sisters in Dumaguete Branch had made mittens out of scraps of cloth and people donned those to pick up the trash. Elders Crespo and Clark had tools and trash bags and some members had brought native palm-spine brooms. We also had 300 small plants to put in. The missionaries set the example of working hard and quickly. We saw several families – old and young working together. It was a great pleasure as well as a good example to the city and a service to the community. All together we collected many black bags of trash that were picked up by the city trash collectors. All the plants were planted and the whole area looked neat and clean. Sky Cable sent a camera man to make a video to show on their news show and they talked to Elders Clark and Crespo.

Barge to Dumaguete

Our car, empty barge and storm clouds over Negros


Heading home on barge, our little car in the middle....sunshine over Cebu Island




Friday, 30 June 2006
We drove down the east side of Cebu Island to the southern end where we took a car barge to Negros Island. It was a lovely drive and the barge ride was interesting even though it started to rain about half way across the channel. Rain has been forcast for the entire weekend - which would make a problem for the community service project and the talk outdoors at the university. We are all praying for sunshine. (I put both barge pictures on at once so you could see the contrast in the empty and full barges - the empty one was full by the time it took off - and in the weather coming and going.)

Kawasan Falls

Saturday, May 26, 2006

I went (Bob decided he didn't want to go) to some lovely waterfalls about three hours away from where we live. Two missionaries and another missionary couple went. We had a fun time and it was a beautiful hike in to a wonderful place - three layers of falls with pools to swim and play in at each one. But, being with the young missionaries, we didn't go in the water! It was fun anyway. I did try swinging on a vine out over the creek – but held on with both feet and hands – didn’t want to end up on the rocks or in the water.

At the top and bottom waterfalls, both of which emptied into fairly large pools, bamboo rafts were available to rent. Someone had rigged ropes across the pools so you could pull the raft along and go under the falls. At the first waterfall, the ropes were rigged so that you could pull the raft into a cave. Then everyone on the raft had to lie down flat and you could slide the raft – with people on it – under a huge rock, coming out behind the water fall. From there, you could pull on another rope and work your way through the waterfall and back across the pool. We watched one group do this over and over.

Little food places and restrooms were available, although most groups hiking in brought food and water. At the beginning of the trail, we saw a large sign regulating the wages and services of the porters – men who sat beneath the sign waiting for people who want their stuff carried up to the falls. We took snacks and water in our backpacks and stopped on the way home to eat the picnic lunch Sister Graham and I had prepared. The elders especially seemed to enjoy it.

Mountain Youth Camp

Friday, May 25, 2006

We went up in to the mountains to a ward youth campout and did a workshop on missionary work. We had the youth - already divided into four groups - make posters encouraging youth to go on missions. We provided magazines, markers, glue, poster paper, colored paper, etc. They seemed to have a great time and came up with some amazing posters. Elders Flores and Magsino gave excellent talks. I told a missionary story and Bob talked about baptism for the dead. We took pictures and visited and they gave us each a tee shirt like the ones they had made for themselves at camp – great!

Medical Clinic in Busay

Delfin and the house he built for his daughter


The children and I (and Elder Vander Veen)


Elder Knaphus assembles toy airplanes

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

What a wonderful, but very busy day. I spent the morning up in the hills in a little community at a medical clinic. Former missionaries have organized a foundation and they come back once a year and put on medical clinics and give away free medicine. They also are remodeling a little hospital. Most of their projects this year have been on other islands, but this one was very near us so the office elders and I went to help. AND as a bonus I walked by two orchid farms on the path down to the village. It was great.

They had organized and planned very well – contacted barangay leaders who provided nurses and helped them contact doctors. The Barangay set up a canopy on a basketball court in the center of the little village. They also furnished about four tables and a dozen chairs. The foundation provided cases of most commonly-needed medications which, based on the doctors’ exams and prescriptions, were provided to the patients free of charge. When we arrived, many people, mostly women and children, but some men as well, were all waiting. Barangay nurses were there and began taking information and preparing for the doctors. When the doctors arrived – they were three government doctors who provide these free clinics a couple of mornings a week. They had actually been doing another clinic in Cebu and were so discouraged. Many people needed medication and had no money to buy it, so what was the point of checking them and writing prescriptions. They left that clinic early and came up the mountain. When they saw the big boxes of meds the foundation had provided, they talked to the man in charge of the foundation – Gary, and he came up with the idea of sending two of the foundation men down to the site of the first clinic and hiring a jeepney to bring the people there up to the mountain where the medicine was! They did; many of the people came; all were grateful to have the medicines they needed.

Our job was to entertain the children (and guard the cases of medicines) while people patiently waited for their turn to see one of the doctors. I took a few pictures. Delfin – the gardener/cleaner at the stake center who has helped me often – lives in that area. I took a picture of him beside the house he built for his daughter, and another of him with his grandson. He was one of the men helping organize and keep things in order. I saw a man badly crippled and ask Delfin about him. He had a stroke a couple of years ago. I talked to Delfin about the Church wheel chair program and he took some request forms and agreed to follow up on them.

Medillion

Bob, Elders Pedraza and Vakapuna, and the family that were baptized last week are shown here after Church in Medillion.

Sunday, May 21, 2006

We left home at 6:00 A.M. to drive to Bogo. Elder Siady – a former Stake President and now Executive Secretary to the Mission President – went with us. He had been assigned to audit the Bogo District Records. We had a good drive –very little traffic. It usually takes us almost 3 hours; this morning it took less than 2! Elder Siady is very interesting to talk to – been serving in Church leadership positions for over 25 years so has much to teach us about how things are done here and some of the strengths and weaknesses.
We dropped Elder Siady off at the Bogo Chapel, visited awhile with the members who were there early – the Carabio family, Elder Hansen and a few others. Elder Hansen arranged for a member of the District Council – Brother Flores – who was going to Medillion on District business to lead us there as we had only been there once before and weren’t too sure how to find the building.
Medillion was great! More people attending than the last time we went – more men especially. Bob taught Sunday School, which he always enjoys. We both talked briefly in Sacrament meeting. I visited and helped in Primary and Relief Society. The Primary teacher for the older class did a very good job. She was a little nervous with me in the class, but soon got over that and had a very nice lesson on prayer prepared. It was pleasure to be there.

About 20 women were in Relief Society – 1 investigator and 1 new convert were both welcomed and included. The teacher was new to her calling, but did an excellent job of using scriptures and discussion as well as quotes from the manual. She was well-prepared. It was so nice to see. The District is providing much better training for the teachers and leaders than they have had in the past and it is making a difference.

I had worn the necklace Elder Pedraza sent me for Mother’s Day as he is serving in Medillion. One of the sisters there had made it, and another one had designed it. They were delighted to see me wearing it and noticed how nice it looked with my pink blouse.

After the meetings, Elder Pedraza talked to me for a bit. His Auntie died two weeks ago of a kidney infection and then kidney failure. Now his mother has the same problem. His Auntie has not yet been buried because there is no money and his mother can’t have an operation for the same reason. He was one of the main wage earners in the family before he came on his mission, and is feeling very bad about not being there to help now. I encouraged him to talk to the Mission President after sharing with him my faith and testimony that as he served here, the Lord would bless his family at home. Bob and his companion, Elder Vakapuna, gave him a blessing and he seemed to feel better.

Bob and the missionaries also gave a blessing to a sister whose has a baby due in a few weeks. Her husband is not a member of the Church yet. We left Medillion feeling like we had been of some help there.

On our way back to pick up Elder Siady in Bogo, he called to tell us the Hansens had prepared lunch for us all. We picked him up and then went to the Pension House (Sister Hansen’s mother’s place). We had a delicious lunch and nice visit and then headed home.

Again we enjoyed visiting with and learning from Elder Siady and the ride didn’t seem so long.

It was another long and wonderful Sunday.

Mother's Day in Cebu

Sisters Watterson, Sacopayo and Hamson with new members of the Church

Talisay Triplets - Ammon, Omner, and Omni


Visiting Teaching Transportation

Sunday, May 14, 2006

We had a lovely day – long and busy making it easier not to think so much of all the family at home. We first visited Pardo Ward where Sister Watterson and Sister Sacopayo are the missionaries. Their Bishop told us. “We have the best missionaries in the whole Church!” We took pictures of these two sisters and some recent converts.

During Sacrament meeting the Bishop had all the mothers and potential mothers sit in the middle near the front. I sat next to a sister with a seven-month-old baby named Spencer. She let me hold him for much of the meeting and I thought of our dear little babies at home – Mariah, Charlotte, Susan and Rebecca. He was very wiggly and chatty and adorable- just as a baby that age should be. The Primary children did a program of songs and short talks about mothers and then the Bishop spoke. Afterwards the Primary children took a gift – a little colorful cloth bag – to their mothers and delivered it with a kiss. Then they went back and got another bag and took it to another sister sitting in the middle. Mine was delivered by an 11 year old boy who delivered the kiss too! What a treat! I must admit I had tears, but mostly of gratitude for the wonderful children and their spice (that is the plural of spouse isn’t it?) and grandchildren. We are so blessed.

After visiting for awhile with the members, and being very impressed with the Bishop – Bishop Winston Lee – who goes out teaching with his wife and the missionaries every Friday night, we drove over to the Talisay Stake Center. We ate a snack in the car and then met with the Relief Society President, Elders’ Quorum President and about 15 members and planned our visiting and Home Teaching. I met three brothers – triplets named Ammon, Omni and Omner who had just returned from their missions to Davao, Manila, and Baguio – all in the Philippines. Seventeen children are in the family – two are on missions now – a sister and a brother. These three are right in the middle of the group. We took a picture of them – fine young men. One of them went Home Teaching with Bob.

At first they were going to have all six sisters go out together. I suggested we divide into three groups and go two-by-two as more sisters would get visited that way. I went with Virginia Alcantara – she has been in the Church about two years, speaks almost no English, and was scared to go with me. I was a little concerned too since my Visayan is so limited. But, off we went – the Relief Society President and her companion, a new convert went on the tricycle with us at first to show us the way. We rode about 3 kilometers on the tricylcle - it was motorcycle one – not pedaled and was a little scary at times – when we were passed by big trucks, for example, but is a pleasant way to travel.

We had a wonderful, wonderful experience. We visited two sisters – one was on her way out shopping with her children and only talked for a few minutes. She had two young teen-age daughters and I couldn’t help but think what a blessing the Church would be in the lives of these girls, but the mother was not interested and politely sent us on our way.

The next sister we visited was delighted to see us. She has just started coming back to Church after many years away. Her children are grown and gone from home – working abroad – and she is helping raise her brother’s children and is bringing them to Church. She and Sister Alcantara talked in Visayan and I could understand enough to know that she wanted to be part of the Church again and remembered the wonderful year when she was a teacher in Relief Society. The Spirit was very strong and I was able to share my testimony in Visayan before we left.

We took a Jeepney across town to meet other sisters at a Julie’s Bake Shop – a famous chain of bakeries here. I was to change companions there and, along with two new sisters, go visit one of the older, long-time members of the Church. One of the sisters was nearly an hour late in coming, but when she did arrive, she had her husband driving her in their pickup and he drove us to the house we were to visit. The three sisters – one had brought her teenage daughter – rode in the open back and made me ride in the cab. The husband/driver is a young policeman and was very interesting to talk to – same concerns as at home – drugs, gangs, domestic violence, robberies, etc. He has a college degree in criminal justice and hopes to end up in administration.

The sister we visited lived at the far side of a big field – no wonder she doesn’t get out much – it would have taken us 10 minutes just to walk across the field. Her house was very nice and her grown daughter was there visiting from Cebu for the day. I said the prayer in Visayan – very simple prayer – but they seemed to appreciate my effort and much of the lesson and conversation was in a mix of English and Visayan as all there spoke some English. It was a delight to meet this sister who had joined the Church in 1968 and spent over thirty years teaching and serving in the Church and raising her family in the Church. She is now mostly house-bound – bad arthritis in both knees and poor vision…but very cheerful and pleasant and a blessing to meet.

We met back at the Church and after a quick reunion with my first companion, Virginia – and a picture, Bob and I left and drove back to Cebu. We went to the Sikatuna building for a CES Fireside. There was some confusion about when it was supposed to start. The flyers said 6, but someone thought maybe 5. As it turned out, it didn’t start at all. They couldn’t get the broadcast system working and after waiting over an hour and visiting with the Grahams and several of the young people we know, we all were told to go home and that they would try again another time. I was amazed that they didn’t have a meeting and take advantage of the over 100 young adults who had come. Of course, they did enjoy talking with each other, but I think they would have benefited by hearing from the Grahams and others who were there.

We finally arrived home about 7:30 – tired and hungry and happy – it had been a very good day.

Happy Birthday/Mother's Day

Saturday, May 13, 2006



We cleaned, did laundry, worked in the office, and went for a ride with the Grahams to locate a chapel here in the city in the daylight. The CES Broadcast will be there tomorrow night. We opened a wonderful birthday/mother’s day box from Karl and Carmen – 2 tee shirts for me, candy, sun flower seeds for Bob and lemonade mix, temple stickers and a nylon body scrubber to share. We had fun opening it all.

David sent flowers which were delivered! I was impressed with the service. It is a huge bouquet with each stem in its own little water vial and the whole bouquet is wrapped in bright pink crepe paper with a big yellow bow – very colorful. I will have Bob take a picture of me with it.

In the evening I baked oatmeal cookies and made chicken and stuffing for Bob’s birthday dinner.

Two Wheel Chairs Delivered

Gloria with Lourdes and her son Charles and the new wheel chair

Estoy in his new wheel chair

Monday, May 8, 2006

This was a busy, happy day. While Bob and I and the office elders were walking about a block away to have a rental contract notarized, four wheel chairs were delivered. They are really here! I was so excited that I called the two people whose telephone numbers I have and they said they would come over in the afternoon. And, they did. When the first one came, Estoy, and Elder Knaphus – bought in one wheel chair, I realized we had been given the wrong sizes. We had three children’s chairs and one for an adult. We gave Estoy the adult one and he was so thrilled. He had an old wheelchair, torn and falling apart, and it had no rests for his feet, so he kept one foot curled up on his lap and the other resting on the edge of the wheel support – very uncomfortable looking. Both he and his brother had polio as children and are both crippled in the legs. His brother can walk – with a ‘stick’. Both brothers have jobs working in a factory that makes fire extinguishers. Estoy is paid 2000 pesos – about $40 a month. Minimum wage would be about $6500 pesos a month. Now that Estoy has a good wheel chair he says they have promised him more work. It was a great blessing to be able to help him.

We called the freighter who had delivered the chairs and he said he would come right over, but did not arrive before an 89 year old woman was brought in by her son to get her wheel chair. She can walk very slowly with someone pulling on her arm and her using a three pronged cane. When she has to go some place far, the family sits her on a chair and the men carry her and the chair! I felt so bad to see her hobble into the office and not have a chair for her. But, she and her son were very patient and said to call them when the right sizes (supposed to be on Tuesday) arrive, and they will come back. The freighter did arrive and said he would make everything right tomorrow morning.

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

First thing yesterday morning the small wheel chairs were picked up and about two hours later the right ones were delivered. I called the family of Lourdes Young and her son Charles brought her back in the afternoon and we were happily able to give her a wheelchair. She and her son were very grateful and invited the missionaries – Elder VanderVeen was talking to them – to come and visit their house