The youth of City Stake practiced their dance program for the youth conference to be held at a beach resort in Balamban on April 25, 26, and 27. I certainly enjoy the bamboo dance – tiningling – and took several pictures. They seemed to be having such fun and, as a bonus, were fed dinner at the end of the evening.
I get my vegetables and fruits from a street market about a half a block from our apartment. Little tables and stalls are set up on either side of a narrow side street. They generally open about 6 a.m. and I am usually there by 6:30, before it gets too hot. The first lady is very friendly, speaks some English and is happy to tell me the names of things I don't recognize and to give me cooking ideas for unfamiliar vegetables. The second lad has a great smile and, early on, helped me figure out the money - particularly the change. A few days after I took these pictures, I took them each a copy and they seemed quite delighted.
We just finished our first play mat for a primary nursery. Yesterday was a very, very quiet day in the office - just us and the office elders. The whole country was on vacation and Pres., wife, and assistants were off on another island. I brought my fabric downstairs and my markers and my crude drawing of what I thought I wanted. Elder Crespo is a very good artist and he was not busy so took right to the task and drew a very appealing version of my sketch. He used every marker I had so it is very colorful. Elder VanderVeen just happened to have some small cars his mom had sent in his last package and he was happy to donate them. I think the nursery kids - who right now have zero toys - will be thrilled. An old singer sewing machine is in our apartment and I just hemmed the edges of both pieces of fabric, the finished one and one yet to do - I think I can draw the picture - roads, houses, the ocean, etc. on this one, by carefully following Elder Crespo's example. The fabric cost 88 pesos total - so that's about 44 pesos or 88 cents each mat. I had brought the markers from home. I'll be looking for some more little cars and maybe some small people to see what I can find. It will be fun to visit Primary and see the nursery children at play.
