Senior Couple Responsibilities

 One of many responsibilities Senior Couples have is to conduct surprise inspections of Missionary Apartments.  These are done periodically to be sure that they are clean and organized and that the Missionaries are following mission rules.  Sometimes we have to use GPS just to find the apartment.  Regular street addresses are seldom available.  It’s more like ‘go to the blue house then turn left and go past the arch with the golden garland, and the apartment is on the right”.  You might think I am kidding, but I’m not!  Beside general cleanliness, these inspections include preparedness for emergencies, filtering water so it is safe to drink and guarding against disease-carrying insects.  

Sister Roberts and I have been working with the Mission President and other Senior Couples to make sure that we are fair and consistent in how we grade them.  It’s important because if they FAIL the inspection, we withhold a portion of their support payments as an incentive to ‘clean-up’.  These Missionaries work hard and in very difficult circumstances, that our natural instinct is to be charitable in how we score them, but in the broader view, we are trying to teach them important life skills that can bless them throughout their lives.

We have also been arranging for mass immunization clinics to be conducted during Zone Conferences this week.  Many of the Missionaries arrive here in the Philippines without having received the required immunizations.  Obtaining the vaccines, syringes, needles, consent forms and the medical professional to administer the immunizations has consumed much of my time this week.  I was concerned about looking like some kind of drug dealer going to Pharmacies’ and Hospitals all week trying to get everything ready.  We will be providing over 120 immunizations if everything goes as planned.

Sister Roberts is always busy making travel arrangements and other preparations for Missionaries who are returning home and those who are just arriving.  She could easily get a job as a travel agent (if those careers still exist) when we get home.  I get two or three calls a week from landlords who have a complaint about the Missionaries living in their apartments or wanting an increase in the monthly rent.  I am still working on the best way to tell them that “we go by the terms and the lease agreement and don’t give rent increases just because you have a broken water line or want to remodel”.

Speaking of REMODEL, we got word yesterday that the Mission Home and the Senior Apartments are due for a ‘sprucing-up”.  I asked the facilities management team leader "what are we supposed to do while you are painting and fixing up the office and our apartments?”  He suggested we take a vacation.  Yea, like that’s going to happen!  Oh well; I have my swimsuit at the ready, just in case.

I got my first hair-cut in the mission field this week.  The guy cut my hair, gave me a scalp massage, back massage, straight razor trim on my neck and a hot towel; all for 180 pesos.  That about $3.50 USD.  I may never come home!! – Elder Roberts

Philippines Drivers License; Naguilian Branch

Elder Roberts trying to squat low enough for a drivers license photo

This week we had an adventure going to get our Philippine Driver’s License with the two other Senior Couples.  First, we were required to get a physical and directed to a small simply furnished room with three old desks, stackable plastic chairs and an eye chart on the wall.  The room was staffed with a 78-year-old doctor and his two assistants, one who tested our vision and the other one tested for our blood type if necessary.  When examining one of the Elders (who shall remain unnamed) the doctor asked questions and gave advice to him about everything from his weight to his sexual activity.  I said, “Doctor, you are embarrassing me!”  I shouldn’t have said anything because then he carried on even more.    Everyone was snickering and trying hard not to laugh out loud.  There is no concern for privacy here!  When it was my turn, he told me I was underweight (that’s the first time I’ve ever been accused of being too thin).  He also said that I was beautiful and that I looked like the actress, Susan Hayward.  He was quite a character!  Three hours later we all proudly possessed new Filipino driver’s licenses.

On Sundays, we have been assigned to attend the Naguilian Branch.  It is a small congregation that meets in a tiny quaint white building that is cooled by opening the louvered windows and six oscillating fans, four on the ceiling and two on the wall. We love the warm, friendly people who attend church here.  They sing all the hymns in English and give their talks in Taglish, which is a combination of Tagalog and English.    Before the meeting started today, I was sitting next to a couple who spoke very little English and I speak even less Tagalog.  I was able to increase my communication with them by opening ‘Google Translate’ on my iPhone and letting them read the translation of what I typed in English. I now know how it feels to be a foreigner who can’t understand the language.

Thursday we attended a special fireside for couples.  We were taught many things about creating an eternal marriage.  The principle I learned that was most meaningful to me:  “I love you is not simply a romantic expression.  I love you is a promise of my behavior.” –Jeffrey R. Holland

Today is my birthday. I started celebrating it on Friday afternoon by going to the mall for a pedicure and manicure.  I sat in an overstuffed chair with my feet up and pillows placed in all the right places for comfort and relaxation while one woman worked on my hands and another on my feet.  I indulged with an extra 30-minute foot massage, all for the price of about 15 US dollars.  Saturday I had an hour massage for 6 US dollars.  Yep! – it was all about me.  

I share the same birthday with the Relief Society President

A beautiful plaque made from bamboo by a member of our branch.  Many of the full-time missionaries order his work to take home with them.  He calls himself, "The Bamboo Guy"- Sister Roberts

Travel to Banaue (Bah-now-wee)

This week we traveled to the ancient rice terraces (Banaue).  Some refer to these as one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world.  Our mission president likes to give all the missionaries an opportunity to see them just prior to completion of their mission.  It takes 5-6 hours to drive from the mission home and much of it is on extremely narrow and winding road. The place is beautiful with lush greenery and about 6000-feet in elevation.

(I found this cute little cub-scout leader there and couldn't resist giving her a hug)

 I also ran into a little trouble with one of the natives.  We got into a lively discussion about infant baptism but ultimately decided to agree to disagree.
















From the road, you must hike down a very narrow and steep trail and cross a footbridge over the river.  Then you have to climb back up the other side to get to the terraces.  Sister Roberts and I got wobbly legs just getting to the bottom so we climbed back up and waited for the missionaries to complete the round trip.  Our thigh muscles are still complaining!  We did not know what to expect and are not in shape for such a challenging hike.  Next time we will act more our age and shop at the souvenir shops on the road while waiting for the missionaries to return.

Somewhere along the line, I caught a little something that is giving me congestion and a sore throat.  It doesn't feel too serious however and I expect to be better tomorrow.  Another set of Senior Missionaries arrived yesterday.  The will make 3 Senior Missionary Couples all together.  We enjoy our association with them.

Today was a nationwide broadcast to the Philippines from Elder Holland. He was speaking from Manila.  He gave a wonderful apostolic blessing to these kind and humble people.  We feel very privileged to be serving here. - Elder Roberts

Training new Missionaries, Food in the Philippines

This has been a very busy week as we sent 6 Sisters and 2 Elders home that completed their missions and welcomed 17 new missionaries.  When the new missionaries arrive, we spend time teaching each one individually about missionary life in the Cauayan Mission.  My trainer, helped me with the first two and then I was on my own for the next 15.  It was my responsibility to make sure 

that we had their parents correct contact information.  I also taught them about filling out Baptism and Confirmation Records, Companion Language Training and 72-hour emergency kits that each missionary receives when they enter their assigned area in the Philippines.  They are reminded that the kits are for emergencies only.  It is a temptation for some of them to eat their Snicker and granola bars. Elder Roberts taught them about mission finances; turning in receipts, and receiving their monthly support.

We drove 2 vans, 2 double cab trucks, and a car to the airport to drop off the departing missionaries and pick up our new arrivals.  It is a very small airport and the whole process took less than one hour.   Before going to the airport, Sister Hiatt, made all the departing missionaries some "decadent French Toast"  It was yummy!

For lunch, one of the members cooked us some delicious Filipino food.  One of the new Elders let me take a picture of him eating the customary way with a spoon and fork.  You hold the meat with your spoon and pull it apart with your fork.  Knives are not apart of the table setting.  In the Philippines, most people eat rice 3 times a day.  In the mall behind the mission home, There is a McDonalds and KFC.  They both serve rice and spaghetti along with the traditional items on the American menu.  At KFC, you will find a "gravy station" where you can serve yourself endless gravy.  There is also a Burger King. They serve Whoppers, chicken, and rice.  At "Insal" a local favorite, they serve delicious grilled chicken and endless rice.  While you are eating, a worker will come by your table and offer you more steaming, hot rice from an insulated covered pot.  There is good food here, but I do miss Mexican Food!

Yesterday, we did our first apartment inspections.  This is where we show up unannounced to check the cleanliness of missionaries apartments.  It was challenging driving down the narrow, crowded streets to try and find the apartments.  Elder Roberts brought a GPS to help us. A few times we had to carefully maneuver and turn the car around.  I'm really grateful that I don't have to drive.  Elder Roberts is also grateful that he is the driver and not me!

 No matter where we go, there are always beautiful flowers and Beautiful Kind People ! - Sister Roberts