Dragon Fruit, Spiders & Meryenda

All the children love President Roberts

This week, we had several opportunities to go teach with the young missionaries.  We trudged down muddy roads and drove on narrow streets.  At one home we enjoyed ‘Meryenda’ which is the Tagalog word for snack.  We were served a cold drink and tasty honey butter crackers.  The Filipino people are gracious and generous with what they have.  The missionaries usually enjoy ‘meryenda’  after teaching a lesson.  They have been counseled not to linger for an hour, visiting and eating, but to be urgent about their work.

Meryenda is only served to the guests

  We visited a young mother with a small infant.  After the missionaries taught her about how God can bless individuals and families, they called on President Roberts for his remarks.  He said something like, ‘As I have sat here, I noticed how much you love and care for your precious son.  Our Father in Heaven loves him even more.  He has perfect love and a perfect plan for each of His children.’  He spoke to her in a way that she could understand.  

A cradle that hangs from the ceiling and is easily removed

 On another evening we met with 15 people on a small patio.  Some of them were children who wanted to see and hear the ‘Americanos’.  A seven-year-old girl was eager to say the opening prayer.  I know the Lord heard her tender, innocent Tagolog  prayer.  I couldn’t understand most of her words, but I felt a warmth in my heart.  The two young Elders were beaming with joy when 14 of them came to church today.  For many families, it is a financial sacrifice to pay for a tricee ride to church. - Sister Roberts

Photo Gallery:

A Filipino almost as tall as Elder Roberts

New Philippines Cauayan Mission Presidency

Sister Roberts loves Dragon Fruit.  It is sweet, somewhat bland and loaded with Fiber and nutrients.

Giant Snails crossing the road

The Assistants to the President trying to play pranks in the office.  This is an average-sized spider in the Philippines.  I made them keep the lid on because I strongly dislike spiders!

Taking selfies on a narrow, dead end, road while President Roberts does a 16 point turn around with the car.

NEW CALLING, FLU SHOTS, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Hurrah for Israel!!

My first opportunity to Preside at a Baptism.

Last week President Craig asked me to serve as his 2nd counselor in the Mission Presidency.  I told him I am honored to serve him and the Lord in whatever way I can.  This calling gives me many new opportunities to work with the Missionaries and members of the church.  I am thankful for this.

The thumb is healing nicely, however, I now realize that this injury may have a lasting impact.  I must relearn certain keystrokes on the keyboard.  Not because of pain or sensitivity, but because I no longer have any feeling on the outside portion of my right thumb.  The nerve was severed and it may be a long time before feeling returns, if ever.  Sometimes surgery is needed to reconnect the severed nerve.

During the recent round of Zone Conferences, we administered flu shots to all the Missionaries who were willing to receive one. 

Bravery from the "Army of Helaman"

 We did have some who declined; mostly Americans who will be returning home soon.; but I was impressed with the bravery of many of the native Missionaries who were willing to get the shot even though the fear of needles and pain was evident. 

 Most Filipinos are not accustomed to vaccinations.  One little Elder did his best to avoid me because he didn't even want to be asked if he would get one.  When he could hide no longer, he bravely submitted and got the shot.  He was glad, as most were, to find that it was not as painful as he imagined.  Getting a qualified nurse to the Zone Conference to administer the vaccine was an adventure.  They were supposed to start at 8:00AM.  One didn't show up until 11:00AM which meant that we had to shuttle Missionaries in and out of the training meetings all day.  I kind of serve as the coordinator/administrator for these type of events and I am always relieved when they are done.

Sister Roberts and I also were able to provide training to the Missionaries on the importance of being prepared for weather-related, and other types of emergencies.  We are entering 'typhoon season' in the Philippines and want to make sure the Missionaries know where they should go if they were required to evacuate.  We also warned them to make sure their 72-hour emergency kits are fully supplied as well as necessary cash and working phones.  We made a fun little video showing what it might be like if they got the call to evacuate and were unprepared.

The Primary Colors

HIKING, COCONUTS & EMERGENCY ROOM

I achieved my goal of hiking the ancient rice terraces of Banaue on July 27.  I was the oldest one in the group, but I felt confident that I could make it, because of my four weeks of training.  I ordered trekking poles form Lazada (the Filipino equivalent to Amazon) to aid me in my adventure.  I’m not going to lie, it was hard!  My dear friend and training coach, was behind me the whole way encouraging me on with, “stop and take a deep breath so the oxygen can get to your muscles” or “take a drink, you’re doing great”. 

 After going down and then up hundreds of steep, thigh burning steps we made it to our destination.  It was breathtakingly beautiful! 

When we were about 2/3 thirds the way back to the cars, the heavens opened and the rain began to pour.  When we finished, I was soaking wet, tired and happy.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Alam ko po na totoo Ang Aklat Ni Mormon

One hot day, the mission complex gardener, picked a coconut and cut off the ends so I could drink the nutrient-packed juice inside.  I enjoyed it, but Elder Roberts not so much.  We both enjoyed the fresh, sweet coconut flesh that our guard cut for us.  He made it look easy.  He gave us a whole uncut coconut to eat later.

He made cutting a coconut look so easy!

 Yesterday, Elder Roberts decided to cut open that coconut. 

In preparation, he got the largest knife in our kitchen and sharpened it.  While he was chopping away to release the delicious coconut meat, I got in the shower.  When I got out, he told me that he had cut himself and was going to the hospital.  He calmly walked himself down to the emergency room, while I hurried and dressed. When I arrived there 5 minutes after he did, I found him smiling and being well cared for. In a matter of minutes, they cleaned him up, gave him 6 stitches and we were out the door. 

So different than the long waits we have in the ERs in the states. 

 Other Photos:

I love my new pieced quilt!  The quilting is done by hand.

Custom machine embroidery on the back

New Mission President and Companion

Saying Goodbye to the Hiatt's

Welcome to the New President and his Wife

 Sister Roberts and I usually post to this blog each Sunday.  Last week, was an exception because it was the day our new Mission President arrived and there just didn’t seem to be enough time. This has been a busy week of transition.  We said a fond and tearful goodbye to the Mission President and his wife and welcomed the new ones. 

One of the first things I learned about them was that they loved a good hamburger as much as I do.  We showed him where to find the best (in my opinion) American fast food available in the Philippines. 

 BURGER KING!

Imagine your excitement, as a missionary, when your first encounter with your new Mission President is at Burger King.  I guess it's one of their favorites as well.  I think there were at least 6 sets of missionaries that came in that day.  I can't decide if it was truly serendipitous or if the Missionary rumor mill is just that good!

Here are a group of happy Sister Missionaries helping out in the Office.

It’s amazing to realize all the many things that have to be updated, changed or renewed when a new Mission President takes over.  Even the technology issues are still being resolved; not to mention all the other processes, policies, traditions and protocols associated with a Mission.  Almost every process we do needs to be reexamined and questioned at some level.    It’s hectic for us and even more so for them.  

The first day here, they wanted to go out with nearby Elders and Sister Missionaries to experience how they teach.  President also held impromptu and abbreviated Zone Conferences so the Missionaries could meet them and vice versa.  

In a very short time, we have come to love and appreciate our new Mission President and his Wife for their faith and love of the Lord and the Missionaries.  While we will certainly miss the Hiatt’s, we are super excited to serve with President Craig and his wife.

We love our Mission experiences and the opportunities to see lives changed for the better when people come to understand the purpose of our Saviors’ earthly ministry and the impact it can have on their lives even today. 

Elder Roberts