January 26th - February 2nd 2025

 

Yay for Mountain Dew bottles.  They not only provide warning they also make great decorations.

We see people sleeping at the most interesting places.  This is in Burger King.  Every time I see Filipinos asleep on cardboard on the sidewalk, or on their motorcycles, or in a hammock under a semi truck I hear the words of a missionary saying - "Sister Bingham - anywhere is a bed to a Filipino."  So true.

Michelle Ray sent me a message saying that since she has been home she has a lot of dust in her house.  I sent her this photo to make her feel better.

Can you see the rat in the photo - maybe zoom in...

Welcome to the mission Elder Pierce.  He came a week earlier than the rest of his batch.  He came from the country of Zimbabwe as his father works for the stake service there.  Elder Pierce will have an easier adjustment as he has lived many places around the world.  It's hard to have a missionary come out of cycle, but it gives us more personal time to spend with him.  We also gave his companion, and his housemates a pizza lunch at Muditas. It was really a fun lunch with them all!

Elder Pierce, Elder Briggs, Elder Tabalba and Elder Balat.

We went to the Urdaneta temple Friday morning to witness the sealing of one of our returned missionaries, Justin Gamba.  He married Desiree.  We were happy to be there to support them.  We love any chance we get to visit the temple

Your dad finally found these carabao horns - they are huge.  It has been a fun adventure, visiting a couple of Filipino slaughter houses.  I hope that we can fit them in the carton and get them home.  He is still hoping to get a couple more - he'd really love to have the skull as well.

Took Sister Olson & Sister Orchard to the Urdaneta temple for a iniatory session.  Had to say the 3 of us experienced moments of pure joy.  I love the Filipino accent and to hear it spoken in the initiatory ordinance is beautiful.  The Filipino ordinance workers are just that - beautiful.  As the 3 of us sat in the celestial room together I thought - I want to remember this moment and feeling forever.  The Urdaneta temple is a special place to your dad and to me.  We are so grateful to have it so close.  The temple is blessing the members in our mission.  We see it all the time.  President Nelson has been so inspired.