Super Bowl, Visitors & Family Night Fun

We have passed by this painted wall many times on the main highway thru Santiago.  I love what it says about honesty and always think that I will stop and take a photo, but we are always in a hurry.  This time we stopped.  Walls like this are a common sight here.

I have been sick for a couple of weeks and have neglected to write in my blog.  I finally went to the doctor and found out that I had a sinus infection and an ear infection.  For less than 1500 pesos ($30.00 US), I was treated by a doctor (who also practiced in the United States) and given ear drops, an antibiotic and a medication to thin the drainage.  I’m feeling much better now and hopefully will soon get back all my strength and energy.

Stephen and the other Senior Elders found a way to watch the Super Bowl.  He took the TV from our apartment downstairs to the office so they could view it in their comfortable work chairs.  One of the Elders had access to view it on his phone, which they hooked up to the TV.  They got breakfast at the drive-thru McDonalds and were really enjoying themselves.  When the young Assistants came in the office to work, President Craig had them move their Super Bowl Party back upstairs.  He joined them for the last quarter of the game.

The previous Mission Secretary was a young elder who returned home last July.  I loved telling people that he was my “trainer”.  He came back to the Philippines this month with his parents for a visit.  They toured many places and he enjoyed wearing shorts, snorkeling and especially seeing the people that he had taught.

We also received a visit from another returned missionary from Manila.  Sister Alyssa Ela is the one who drew this sketch of me.  She took the 2019 Mission History that I compiled and delivered it to the Area Office in Manila.

We held a Sisters Conference last week.  It was a one-time special conference held on two different days to help the Sisters overcome their fears and be more effective missionaries.  It ended each day with a Spirit-filled testimony meeting.  

Last Sunday evening we enjoyed a family home evening in the home of a woman who was baptized a few months ago.  Her two sons will be baptized this Saturday.  When the meeting started, there were 24 people in attendance.  They borrowed chairs from their neighbors and brought in benches from outside to accommodate everyone. The guest continued arriving and I quit counting at 30! The home was bursting at the seams and still, curious neighbors were peeking in the window and standing in the doorway. We had a song, prayer, lesson and two fun games that had us all laughing.  We concluded the evening by eating pancit and pasta.  I brought Rice Krispie Treats which were quickly devoured.

Other Photos:

District Conference in Bambang

"Heart-Attacked" on Valentine's Day by the Sister Missionaries.

Visiting with members while Stephen interviews 2 prospective missionaries.

Enjoying 'Merryenda' after FHE

Senior Missionaries Big Adventure

Standing in front of the Hapao Terraces wearing a jacket made from handwoven cloth.

This was a busy week preparing for and traveling to three-zone conferences.  We were rewarded at the end of the week with a Senior Missionary outing to the ancient rice terraces.  I was very excited about this trip because we were going to travel on a road I had never been on and see the Batad Rice Terraces.  The Batad Terraces are the background photo for my blog.

After staying the night in Santiago, we left early the next morning to begin our adventure on a remote narrow road that quickly climbed in altitude and meandered through small villages.  Elder Allen was our driver and was so kind to stop when I saw something that I wanted to capture in a photo.

 At one point, along the steep slope of the mountain, the road turned from concrete to mud.  We had to pull as close to the edge as possible so that a bus could pass by.  That was a new experience for me.  I was grateful for our experienced driver.

When we reached the Batad Terraces, it was time for a rest stop.  The restrooms here are referred to as the 'Comfort Room' or more commonly as a 'CR'.  After our experience of passing the bus and other vehicles on the primitive road, we were grateful to be able to pay 10 pesos to relieve ourselves.

We took a short hike to the Batad Village where we could better view the rice terraces.  It was cloudy and all of the rice terraces had not yet been planted, but still, the beauty was magnificent.  It amazed me to think that these terraces were built with primitive tools at least 2,000 years ago when Jesus was on the earth.

We stayed the night at the Banaue Hotel where we ate dinner and had a fun card game of 'Phase 10'.  It was very cold!  I wore two lightweight jackets.  Stephen didn't bring a jacket and had to layer himself with three shirts.  I was so cold, that I wore his dirty socks from the day before.  I never dreamed that I would get cold in the Philippines. 

After taking photos in front of the hotel the next morning, we continued on our adventure. Like most of the rice terrace communities, Banaue is built on the side of a mountain.  

We got stuck driving up a steep road to visit a small village. The road was made out of concrete, but was very narrow and bordered with thick clay-like mud.  The men had to get behind the van to push it.  The women were grateful to get out of the sliding vehicle and observe with their feet planted firmly on the ground.  This experience added excitement to our adventure.

We stopped at Pedro’s in Lagawe on the way home for some yummy pizza!

To conclude our adventure we stopped at a museum where we learned about the culture of the Ifugao people.  It was surrounded by a garden of beautiful flowers. 

Across from the museum was located a war memorial.  It is the site where the Japanese surrendered to the Filipino Army.  This photo was taken from a look-out tower.

More Photos from our Adventure: