September 13th - 20th

 P-day on Mt Arayat! It really is quite the hike! 1000 meters (3200 feet) in 2.70 miles! Like straight up! We had great missionaires with us - Elder Balat, Elder Mitchell, Elder Cox, and Elder Lequigan.

They actually brought a white shirt and tie in their packs! They LOVE taking that photo on top of Mt. Ayarat.

We invited the Stake Presidents and their wives to dinner at the mission home. It was a great evening. (Not too bad when you can cater the food and have help setting the table)

Elder and Sister Dela Cruz (The service missionary leaders) President and Sister Malabot (1st councilor in the mission presidency) Prsident and Sister Escoto (Angeles Stake) President and Sister Bajarin (Camiling Stake) President and Sister Coro (Paniqui Stake) President and Sister Corpus (Santa Ingacia Stake) and we were sad to miss the Donatos and the Rosales.

The baptism of Sister Ellix was really sweet. Her boyfriend is currently serving in the San Pablo Mission. She was on prepared soul. We loved hearing her sweet testimony after the baptism. Sister Williams and Sister Peter.

While I was out with Sister Ponitin and Sister Sabisol we watched these kids play this Filipino jumping game - WOW - can these kids kick their legs in the air. 

Working with these 2 - What an awesome night in Cutud!

We had the tender experience of attending the temple with Elder Lighten and his companion Elder Gerdan. The Rays have been so good to Elder Lighten, especially with the passing of his mother. Michael gave permission for them all to attend the Urdaneta temple. I LOVE being in the temple. What a tender experience it was to be there at this time with these missionaries. I had a sweet experience at the veil -  so powerful. Probably thanks to general conference and the focus on the temple and our covenants. What a blessing it is to sit with Michael in the celestial room after our session.

Michael has been trying to find a skull and set of large horns so that he can make a European mount of one of these carabao. Unfortunately, this farmer was not ready to sell his horns yet.

What a beautiful night! We LOVE this grass -  it grows wild all over the mission - it is in full bloom right now. It is so tall.

We said goodbye to Sister Jones. She returned to her home in Virginia after having some health challenges here in our mission. We are going to miss Sister Jones. (The van picked her up and 3 AM and took her to the Manilla Airport)

Here are the 17 new missionaries that we welcomed into our mission about 3 weeks ago! We didn't get a group shot with them, so we took it at our New Missionary Follow-up Training Meeting ( One of my favorite meetings) We should have taken a picture with their stellar trainers as well! They just keep going and coming - it keeps touching our hearts and at times can make our heads spin!

Anyone need a basket?!

These Carabao are sometimes called water buffalo - now you can see why.

The Filipinos love God!

Here is a follow up photo to show that the 4 Elders didn't actually hike in their missionary attire! This is at the end of the hike! 4 tired missionaries!