MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES

The 'matchy-matchy' Senior Sister Companions

This week was very busy and frustrating.  At the end of each quarter, I make deposits into the accounts of all our landlords for the next three months rent.  Banking is fairly primitive here, and waiting to see a teller is kind of like waiting in a busy doctor’s office.  It’s not uncommon to wait for 20 – 40 minutes.  Generally, you take a number and wait.  Multiply that times a dozen or so different banks; throw in the occasional “SORRY, WE ARE OFF LINE” notice that comes up and it can take several days to get the job done.  Also, some of the landlords will close their account without telling you, forcing you to go back and repeat the process.  I planned to go out first thing on Monday morning, only to learn it was a bank holiday.   Zone Conferences on Tuesday – Thursday gave me a pretty short window.  Oh well!  Our Mission President’s wife has a saying; “It’s just more FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES!”

This round of Zone Conferences was special because it’s the last one for our Mission President and his wife.  They will return home at the end of the month.  One of the caterers prepared a ‘special’ lunch in their honor.  

The Missionaries enjoyed ‘crown-roast’ and apple pie with ice-cream.  What a treat!

We are all very excited to meet our new Mission President.  He served as a young missionary in this area and I think he will be astounded at the changes.

We usually get the opportunity to participate with the Elders and Sisters in their training.  We are practicing how to hold the Book of Mormon when Contacting.

Saturday, we were going to attend the dedication of a new chapel in another city.  

We had to change our plans when I was asked to speak at the funeral for one of the members in the Naguilian Branch.  Most of the deceased brother's extended family were not members of the church, so it became a real opportunity to ‘teach and preach and work as Missionaries do’!

What a great last ride!

This is a family we met with this evening who is ready for baptism next week.  The Elders reviewed the baptism interview questions with them and gather the information necessary for the BCR, and I tried to distract their little boy with a ball.

Sister Roberts and I have subscribed to MLB.TV so we can watch the Diamondbacks baseball games.  Of course, watching the games LIVE would typically require getting up in the middle of the night.  I confess I have done that a few times, but usually, we just have to pretend we don’t know the final score. 

Elder Roberts

Happy Father's Day to my favorite Husband