Christmas Eve at the Mission Home

Many of the missionaries serving close to the Mission Home came over for lunch and a few activities. It helped us stay busy and not miss our own families back home too much.



Elders and Sister Webre had fun putting together a gingerbread house that was sent to us by Sister Bank's mother. Complete with all the pieces and candy.



Elder Bates was hired as the structural engineer. He put all the pieces together and made sure the house could stand. He and Elder Miller texted us earlier that day saying they had gotten on a jeepney and accidently found their way to Cauayan. Of course, we invited them to come and join us.



Elder Del Mundo and Elder Cabanacan jumped right in to add their special touches, despite the fact that they had never seen a gingerbread house before.



These missionaries were so creative. They added a slide and a decorated tree and path.

We were proud of their great work! I think we'll eat it on New Year's Eve.

  

President Carlos made his delicious egg rolls, rice and yummy fresh pineapple.








After lunch we played a rousing game of Apples to Apples.   




Elder Moffat, in the sweater, was able to join in the fun despite having Dengue Fever.



We sang Christmas carols. Sister Webre played the piano for us.

We were visited by Santa's special little filipino elf, Elder Cabanacan. He was so excited to be taller than the snowman.

Later that night, our friend Vilma brought her nieces and nephews over to sing us Christmas Carols. They enjoyed seeing the Gingerbread House and we found some candy to pass out to everyone.

The children loved looking at all the Nativity Scenes we had scattered around the Mission Home. What a wonderful way to celebrate our first Christmas Eve in the Philippines.



Zone Conference Photos

One of the traditions for a zone conference is to take the official zone photograph. Starting last July zone conferences throughout the world are changed from every six weeks to every quarter.



Tuguegarao Zone (Zone Leaders: Elder Balaich and Elder Ferrer)

 



Nueva Vizcaya Zone (Zone Leaders: Elder Jenkins and Elder Naylor)

 



Roxas Zone (Zone Leaders: Elder Rondilla and Elder Daquioag)

 



Santiago Zone (Zone Leaders Elder Paco and Elder Haycock)

 



Alicia Zone (Zone Leaders: Elder Cabanacan and Elder Pincock)

 


Ilagan Zone (Zone Leaders: Elder Miller and Elder Bates)



Cauayan Zone acting silly! (Zone Leaders: Elder Del Mundo and Elder Moffat. Note: Elder Moffat was suffering with Dengue Fever and missed our group photo. He was able to come for lunch and most of the party.Also our APs belong to this zone but both Elder Mulliner and Elder Bayles didn't make it in this photo.

 

Christmas Zone Conferences

We held our Christmas Zone Conferences on Dec. 21 and Dec. 22. Three zones (Tuguegarao, Roxas and Nueva Vizcaya zones came on the 21st and Cauayan, Santiago, Alicia and Ilagan came on the 22nd)

We began with training on receiving revelation by reading the Book of Mormon. As the missionaries left the chapel President and I gave them a pocket-sized copy of the Book of Mormon.

Next came the long awaited Christmas banquet. We decided to serve a traditional American holiday meal complete with rice.(Our staff cooked all 12 turkeys, green beans and dessert. Brother Pete Kristofferson, a retired chef from New York brought some friends down from Tuguegarao to cook for two days. We truly couldn't have pulled it off without his great help!)
Our menu consisted of:

Lettuce Salad
Rice
Mashed Potatoes
Turkey Gravy
Cranberry Sauce
Green Beans
Turkey (we were able to get 12 from Manila)
Yams/Sweet Potatoes
and Cherry Cobbler for dessert

After lunch we had our Christmas Party complete with games, acting out the 12 Days of Christmas and a gift exchange.

The day ended with a Christmas Devotional where every zone performed two Christmas carols.

It was truly a conference to remember!

Brother Peter and his sweet wife



The Tables were set with care and there was great anticipation in the air!



Sisters were asked to go first through the buffet line. Look at all the great volunteers who helped serve.



Sister Benes and Sister Eveland. Wow! That's some good looking food!



Not sure who enjoyed the food more. The sisters or the elders.



We were surprised to see our filipina sisters eating as much of the North Americans!

What a good looking bunch of hungry elders!

Some of the elders went back for seconds and thirds! It's a good thing we had lots of food!

These elders added a centerpiece to their table. It's a drawing of President Carlos!

Five helpings of mashed potatoes later and these elders are finally full!

These sisters were the Partridge in the Pear Tree. Notice the Leafs.

It was hard to choose which gift to take.

Sister Acal don't get too cozy with that pillow. Someone is bound to steal it from you.

Elder Moffat got a pair of sandles and Elder Sanders was "thrilled" with his gift: an alarm clock and pink headband!

We had a little half time entertainment from the Alicia Zone for their rousing rock rendition of Joy to the World.

Our Devotional was a very spiritual experience. Here the Roxas Zone did a moving interpretive dance to I Stand All Amazed. Sister Dalisay's voice never sounded so beautiful!

Alicia Zone Leader Elder Pincock leads his zone in a beautiful Christmas Hymn.

Ilagan Zone sang beautifully together. Unfortunately I didn't get photos of all of our zones singing. Cauayan surprised everyone with the most beautiful guitar accompanied rendition of Away in the Manager with Sister Webre and Sister Fort singing a duet. Their voices blended perfectly and we all think they should cut an album!

December Zone Leader Council

 We have the best zone leaders in our mission. Once a month we meet for a zone leader's council. Every other month it's a longer meeting where we spend most of the day together. This month President had all kinds of issues for the council to discuss. I was asked to train on resolving conflicts since our zone leaders often assist companionships who are struggling to get along. (Luckily that doesn't happen very often.) And then President asked Elder Pincock and Elder Del Mundo (two of our senior zone leaders) to talk about working with branch/ward priesthood leaders and inspiring and motivating missionaries.

Brother Ed's New Restaurant

Any missionary who serves near Cauayan City gets to know and love Ed and Winnie De Los Reyes. They are a young couple who have been married for ten years. He served a mission in this area and came back and courted Winnie. They haven't been able to have children yet, but they are always found with a bunch of kids hanging on their arms. Kids love them. Ed is on the district's high council and Winnie teaches the Young Women (I believe that's where she is serving.) Anyway, Ed just opened a new business venture a restaurant that specializes in Tapa beef, chicken and pork. A bunch of us decided to surprise him and try it out. It was very delicious!

Hold Still Elder Sanders

Elder Sanders texted me on P-day to say that his ear was plugged and had been for a couple of days. We suggested he come to Cauayan and see an ENT, which was recommended by a member. When he got to the office the doctor specialized in uterine cancer--certainly not what he needed. But that clinic told him about an ENT down the street. That doctor wasn't in Cauayan until Saturday so he came to the mission home. Both Elder Bean, his companion, and Elder Moffat have had problems with plugged ears and had doctors flush them out but putting water into the ear canal. Elder Moffat offered to try it and Elder Sanders was willing. So we got a syringe and removed the needle. Elder Moffat shot warm water into his ear and out popped a couple of hunks of wax.

Last I heard, his ear is doing just fine. I think we all will feel better when our Mission Nurse arrives in mid January! (Elder and Sister Larson from Silverton, OR are due to arrive in mid January and we all can't wait!)

It's Sister Breese's Birthday

Sister Breese celebrated her birthday on Dec. 2. President cooked baby back ribs, Sister Breese made her famous potato salad and I baked her a Texas sheet cake. (She was born and raised in Texas, so it seemed appropriate.) When President asked her who she'd like to have over for her birthday dinner she didn't hesitate to say, "Elder Goobie." Now, it's no secret that Sister Breese loves all of our missionaries but her very favorite is Elder Goobie (from Canada) who was her trainer. He taught her how to do her job and she loves him like a grandson. President reminded her that Elder Goobie now lives and works about 45 minutes away and he just couldn't take him away from his work. Of course, the President was just teasing her and after everyone arrived and we said the prayer, Elder Goobie popped out of the back room. Sister Breese just about cried, she was so happy to see him.

Photo Caption: Elder Goobie with Elder Hardman, who just had his ingrown toenail removed. He came hobbling along.
We all enjoyed a delicious meal and the opportunity to thank Sister Breese for being such a bright spot in our mission. Her laugh is infectious, her work is perfection and her love is boundless. We hope this next year is her happiest year ever!

 After the guests left she opened gifts sent from our dear friends in Omaha and a few from us, including a jar of Skippy Peanut Butter, which is hard to find. In the photo below Sister Breese was modeling her new umbrella sent from the Shaners. People here use umbrellas to shield from hot sun and when it's raining.

Visiting the Young Women in Paddad

On Sundays we usually visit two congregations. Sometimes there is time for me to attend Primay (for children 2 to 12) or Young Women's (girls 12 to 18). Last Sunday we visited San Mateo and then headed to Paddad. We got there in time for me to visit the Mia Maids (girls 14 to 16) Young Women's class. I have to say that I was totally impressed. They didn't know we were coming to visit. They a tablecloth on the table with nice visual aids. The teacher was more prepared than any I'd ever seen in the US. Her lesson was fantastic. It was all about the talents that we have and what our responsibilities are to be thankful for our talents and to nurture them. The 8 girls in the class were totally engaged in it and everyone fully participated. The spirit was there and it just felt like the happiest place on earth. I was blown away by the girls comments. I know we're here to strengthen the members but in most cases I leave their presence strengthened!

This is one of the young girls who stood to give part of the lesson.

Life is Good! We have a Mall!

We've been watching a "mall" going up in Ilagan, a town about a half hour from here. Our hope was that it would be done sometime before July 2013, when we go back home. It seemed like they were progressing at a snail's pace and there was no hope of it opening for months to come. Then one Saturday we heard that it had actually opened. We dropped everything and ran up to see for ourselves. Only about 6 stores are open at this point but one is a wonderful, spacious, clean grocery store. President said he didn't know if he'd ever seen me that happy. Truly I had the urge to do cartwheels up and down the aisles. (I had a dress on and remembered that I hadn't done a carthwheel for over 20 years and so I restrained myself.)

It's funny. Other than food, there is nothing I need from a mall, but just knowing that we have one made me feel like the humanity here had just become civilized! At our recent Mission President's seminar I realized that we were the only mission in the Philippines without a mall. So now, I think I can make it through the next 2.5 years.

We met the zone leaders from Ilagan and enjoyed lunch at a restaurant that serves unlimited rice. I'm sure they will change their policy when they see how much rice our missionaries can eat!