Great week with river baptism

                                                       October 9th to October 17th 2015

These darling sisters are from Calape.  We are giving them a ride to Tagbilaran to visit a very dear man, Brother Kenneth, from Calape who is in the hospital with acute appendicitis.  Sister Milet with the dark glasses is our R.S. president.  She is married to a white man, Steve Senior, and they just left for the US and will spend 3 months there.  They are wonderful people.  The other Sister is Elsa.  She has more troubles than you can believe but such a good member of the church.   Her home was destroyed in the earthquake and she has lived in the most humble circumstances.  Mostly just a tarp hanging over a tin roof.  I just thought they looked cute both in their yellow shirts in the back seat of our truck and they were just jabbering in Cebauno.

Bad picture but we were eating dinner with the Tanners after conference.  Love President Tanner's knees, sorry about that.  Their daughter in law is here visiting for 2 weeks with two children.

We have heard about this bridge, a hanging bridge, and we just found it.  I tried walking across but decided I would save my thrills for something else.  It was pretty jiggly.

Norm is headed back with a coconut.

These sisters live in Douis.  We had them over for dinner. The white sister is from Australia and has a wonderful accent.  They were so darling to express appreciation for us.  We had a wonderful evening together.

A couple who live in Garcia, just outside of Jagna.  He is white from American and been excommunicated for about 25 hours.  Married Emma and she Catholic but is going to be baptized the 31st of October and they want Norm to baptize her.  She cooked dinner for us and it was the best meal we have eaten here.  He has been 4 years building their home and it is a mansion.  It probably isn't half done but they are living in it.   He is building the furniture, doing all the electrical, plumbing, he is doing everything.  He is working on getting back into the church and we hope he is baptized before we leave.  We first met him shopping and he stopped us and talked.  He loves Norm.

Well, the tin roof got on and this week they put in a cement floor.  And this is how they mix the cement.  Notice the feet right in there.

Elder Norm is working hard.  This is right up his alley.  It was a lot of work but he didn't get sick this time.  I thought it would be a fast project but it was not.

More mixing.  Elder Santos pouring water was Jake's last companion and he is a wonderful Elder.  President Tanner said he is Jakes clone.  I am glad Jake got to train him.

Making progress.

                                                                          This is the crew.

Finished project. We are done there for a while.

The dear man in red is Filipino but living in Spain.  He is a very staunch member and is visiting his relatives here in Jagna and none of them are members of the church so we took he and the Elders around to get introduced so they can be taught the gospel.  It was a wonderful afternoon.  He was so happy to get us all introduced before he left which will be next week.  He is 78 years old.

This is the first home we met in.  They are all his family relatives.

The 2nd group we met with.  There are possibilities of lots of baptisms.

                                                           He is telling us goodbye.

Today, Saturday, we loaded the missionaries up for a baptism.  Our back seat was full of sisters and kids.  One sister was baptized.

Sister in white blouse was baptized.  Sister in grey skirt Jake baptized and he use to hold the little boy by his feet in the palm of his hand.  Sister in the peach is the group leader's wife.  They are planning on going to the temple with us in March.

                                                               Group leader and his wife.

                                                               The sister being baptized.

                                No chairs, we just sat on rocks and branches by the river.

                                    They were trying to test how deep the water was.

Our Group Picture

The little boy is Jake's friend.  He says "Elder Tolman" so cute.

                                                                 Very beautiful country.

Arnel (Aneng) Service Project

A young couple in Loon, Arnel and Meteth need a roof over their dirty kitchen.  Brother Bell and Norm are helping.  Aneng is in the black shirt.  He has a deformed arm you can see on the left but he is an amazing young man. He accomplishes as much as anyone with his one arm. They have been baptized for a year just now.

This is their home - back door.  You can sort of see their bedroom on the inside.  The other little part is kitchen.  I don't think there is a bathroom (CR - comfort room).

Sister Bell and I decided there wasn't a lot we could do so we went to the Loon church and she practiced the piano.  I was going to do indexing but the internet didn't want to do that so I read.  The church had a fan and a bathroom which the building site didn't have so we were in a good place.

The builders took a two hour lunch break so we ran on to Clarin to get a bed.  On our way back the road was closed because this bus ran off the road.  It was only a one lane road because of construction so we watched for a couple hours while they tried to get the bus back on the road.  It was quite the deal.

We made it back to the building a little late.  This is the cement thing they did for the corner posts - Norm is always amazed at how they do things.

I love this boy.  You can see where they cook.  The wood is underneath and they build a little fire on top.

This is a 70ish year old man who is in charge of the project.

Mixing the sand, gravel and cement - every thing is a lot of work.  That is all that got done that day.

Went to church in Panglao.  Soon as I sat down they said they didn't have anyone to teach the Young Women.  I didn't have a manual or a clue what I was going to teach but these are the girls and they are darling.

Monday back on the project.  Sister Bell didn't show up today (wise move on her part) and I spent 6 1/2 hours sitting in the truck.  It took forever to put the boards up.  Norm couldn't believe how fussy they were.  Everything had to be sawed by hand.

Our truck got traded to the Bells for a car.  Don't you love Norm's getup!?!?

A little better view.  He is protecting the ears.

The next day - the tin is finally going on.  Norm thought that would be fast but it wasn't.

This is our 73 year old carpenter.  The first Branch President in Loon.

The full view.

Norm was on the roof too long and it was too hot.  He had either a heat stroke or dehydration but he got really sick.  He wondered if he was going to make it but we are happy to announce he did.

President Saballa is trying to help him.  That is the completed project.  Now they are going to do a floor for them and that will be another project.  I think the Elders will help with that.  It took 4 days to get that much done.  We paid for the materials or it wouldn't have got done at all. We are so happy to be able to help.

Sept 20 - 27

This week has been scarce on the picture taking.  Our biggest activity was transfers and that was the hardest we have done so far.  We started gathering people on Tuesday - some had to go to Cebu for early meeting.  Then we gathered more on Wednesday and Thursday was the biggest day.  We started at 5:00 a.m.  Made 4 trips to the ferry - delivering and picking up and transporting.  At one time we had 6 missionaries in our truck besides us.  5 were in the back seat and they are not small people and I had an extra one in front with me and that meant I was sitting on the gear shift.  We were very cozy and thank goodness it was a short drive of about 15 minutes.  Later we had 6 more but 2 of the elders climbed in the very back of the truck and that was dandy.  We started at 5:00 a.m. and returned home a little after 10 p.m.  I am always so grateful when everyone is delivered safely.  You can picture all of the luggage.  Each missionary having 2-3 luggage and bagss.

We needed to take one elders luggage to him on Friday morning and that was an hour and a half drive away so we spent much time getting people where they needed to go.

Sunday we went to church in Panglao which is close by where we live.  Norm and I spoke and I also played the keyboard.  It certainly isn't my favorite to play but we got along.  The talks went ok I think.  I told them we were Elder Tolman's grandparents and several of them came up afterwards with such big smiles on their faces.  They love Elder Tolman.  The usual comment, he works hard - it was his last area and it is so fun to follow where he has been.  Although I do miss him as we drive by his apartment a lot.

They meet in the cutest place.  Below is the sacrament table.  They had just taken the white cloth off.  I loved the cute plants behind.  They had plants everywhere which is unusual where we have been before.

This is the outside of their church.  The door is where the people are standing.  It just seems like the Garden of Eden to me.  There is always so much green and flowers.  It is really beautiful!!

I am going to teach this sister piano lessons.  She does play already so we will see how that goes.  She is married but her husband isn't active.  She gave the Sunday School lesson and did a wonderful job.  That is the group leader standing by her.

This is Brother Lock and Sister Ruby.  Jake helped get the paper work ready so she could be baptized.  They had 3 different dates for her but things kept getting confused.  Jake had to get it all straightened out.  Brother Lock is from North Ogden.  He is in his 70's and she is in her 20's.  Don't know how long they have been married, but she is the sweetest and the prettiest lady.

After our meetings in Panglao we went to Bililihan to their group meeting at 2:30.  They meet in the Elders apartment. The Elders move everything out and put up chairs.  We started out with 11 people counting Norm and I and the two Elders and the group leader.  After we started a mother and her little daughter came and after that 2 investigators came so we made it to 15.  At first I thought it was kind of hard for such few people.  I didn't understand the talks in Cebauno - one missionary talked and the group leader talked.  But the sweetest sister gave the Sunday School lesson and it was just precious.  She spoke a lot of English and she was so personable - just walking around and talking to everyone.  It was wonderful and I was so glad we were there.

For what it is worth this is the view outside our bedroom window.

  On Saturday we attended this self reliance graduation.  68 graduated.  It was amazing to me.  It is sort of like a bridgerland program, they can do sewing, cooking, welding, etc.  They attend a 12 week course and they graduate.  This is a huge milestone for these dear people.  It just thrilled me to see them progress and improve their lives. They had a wonderful graduation.  I don't know where they got the cap and gowns but they were all so happy.  They had the graduation music and all.  Much food afterwards.  It was a grand occasion.

Elder and Sister Bell attended with us and afterwards he installed a warm water heater in our shower.  I can not tell you how grateful I am.  I just dread showering and washing the hair takes a lot of gritting teeth but he installed this box thing and it works and I will be forever grateful.

My next happiest news is I found some canned beans.  I love green beans.  By far my favorite vegetable.  When we first came last year I could find canned beans and they were't too bad.  I bought quite a bit but then they weren't available any more  I have hunted for MONTHS for more green beans but they just have rows and rows of peas and corn and I don't like either of them.

Well, Friday much to my amazement as I was checking, the can said green beans.  I actually had to get out my glasses and see if I was seeing right.  They had 12 cans of them and I bought all 12.  I was back the next day wondering if they would have more but nope.  Peas were in the same place.  I will surely enjoy my beans although I did give a few away to Sister Bell.  Quite noble of me as I am not sure if they will appear again. 

Our apartment is getting to feel more like home.  Did a bit of baking today - last week we ran out of gas so for 4-5 days there was no cooking.  It seems we are always trying to figure something out.  But I now have gas, green beans and a warm shower.  Things are looking UP!!  

Sorry I didn't get to hear the women's conference.  I tried to listen but it kept freezing on me.  I did see that Claudia Bigler was leading the choir and congregation.  That was fun! 

Love you all bunches!!  

Baptism and District Conference

                                    Week of September 13th to 20th 2015

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We took a sister to the hospital last week.  While we were waiting for her x-ray I noticed this sign and thought it was interesting.

Sister Stanley stepped out of the shower and slipped on the tile.  Her knee went out on her and she tried to catch herself with her elbow.  Ended up with two fractures and we were all so grateful it didn't require surgery.  Sister Lappay is her companion.  We rested at McDonalds while waiting for Elder Halladay and the truck.  They are lovely sisters.

These Elders from Panglao invited us to attend their baptism.  We picked them and their bikes up because the bikes needed repair.  On the way to the church I asked who was being baptized.  The Elder said actually Elder Tolman found this sister.  Norm said this wasn't Elder Tolman's area and he said Elder Tolman was on splits and started talking to this lady on the bus.  And the rest of the story is she is now baptized.  Just warmed my heart.  Of course I couldn't wait to tell her we were Elder Tolman's grandparents.  Such a sweet sister.  It took the elder 4 times to baptize her.  It was his first and they didn't do a demonstration.  She couldn't get her nose plugged and he couldn't get her completely under.  Such a sweet lady.

This weekend has been our District Conference - better known as stake conference for most of you.  Elder Augustin, an area seventy, was our visiting brother.  We had the privilege of spending much time with him and he truly is a gentle, spiritual giant.  He is from Manila.    The conference went well.  I was in charge of the music which is a little scary.  It all went amazingly well considering we had 3 practices.  I know we had angels singing with us.  It was our last meeting in this area and it truly made me sad to think we were moving on and wouldn't see them as much.  I have grown to love them.

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After conference they were taking lots of pictures. The girl second from the left is April and I taught her piano lessons.  She is VERY talented.  Is now off to college and will go on a mission..  I am standing between Britzel and Nino - brother and sister.  They are both in college.  I taught Nino piano.   Their  Grandparents are the Lanzaderas couple that we went to the temple with.  Love them so much.  You never see them but what they hug you and thank you for helping them. Sister Tanner and Sister Bell, our new senior Sister who is teaching me more than I am teaching her for sure.  So very capable and wonderful to work with.

We stayed here Saturday night.  President and Sister Tanner and Elder Augustin were all here.  It was a privilege for us to be with them.  I could just feel their goodness and it was a special experience for me.  This is a rare place to stay in the Philippines, even has a swimming pool which Norm GREATLY enjoyed.  

We are enjoying dinner together.  They have delicious food.  I haven't been much on eating out but this place is good.  I think I have tried most things on the menu and have liked them all - Norm not so much.  He said he preferred their pancakes.

                                                         I love this dear sister!!!!