Beautiful Country, Beautiful People

Based on so many rave reviews we were obliged to try out the food at “Fat Fingers” restaurant in Tumauini.  We were not disappointed as we ate our crispy chicken chimichangas with freshly made pico de gallo.  There was even fresh cilantro in the salsa that the owner grew in her backyard. It’s not easy to find Mexican food here in the Philippines. 

Our guards kindly carried the package upstairs for us

Our children sent us a huge box for Christmas.  It was so exciting to open it and find 22 pounds of pinto beans and cans of green chilies!  We are going to be pigging out on Bean Burritos!  We do miss Mexican food.

A sunny day after so much rain is a day to do laundry.

After eating lunch we went teaching with two of the missionaries in Tumauini.  In just over two hours, they taught three lessons.  They taught two young adult men about the Book of Mormon and praying to know it’s true.  

 They taught a young woman who was tending several young nieces and nephews about the plan of salvation and extended to her an invitation to baptized, which she joyfully accepted.  At each home, we are asked to share our feelings about the gospel principles the missionaries are teaching.  I enjoy relating my feelings of how the gospel has been a great blessing in my life.  I can testify that I know the Lord loves each of His children and that if we keep His commandments, we can feel joy and recognize His blessings even in the midst of painful trials.

Lastly, we visited the humble home of a mother who had one son, six daughters and was expecting her 8^th child.  Several of the curious neighborhood children also gathered with us.  They were so happy to be taught about the Savior and read from the Book of Mormon.  They didn’t want us to leave and started chanting “selfie” as they walked us to our car, so we obliged them.

  They are so beautiful!

On Sunday after speaking at a Stake Conference in Tuguegarao, Stephen was asked to interview a young mother for baptism. 

 While he was conducting the interview with two missionaries to translate for him, I followed a charming, silver-haired woman to her home where we could visit. 

Her grandson interpreted for us.  She told me how she had grown up on the very land where we sat.  She married and had 12 children of which 6 were still living.  Her life had been hard, with many trials.  She testified to me of how the gospel of Jesus Christ had greatly blessed her since being baptized in 1975.  It was evident that she was adored by her family.  I watched her little great-grandchildren snuggle next to her, crawl in her lap and kiss her.  It was a joy to be in her presence.

As Stephen and I were traveling through the beautiful countryside, I said to him, "I know why missionaries miss this place after they go home.  The country is beautiful and so are the people".

More photos from this week:

Christmas trees made from old bicycle tires.  One of many that decorate this neighborhood.

Bicycles have arrived in the Cauayan Mission.  The President and Assistants try them out.

Beautiful orchids in front of the mission home.