Day One
Two cars left at 6 am with Elder and Sister Mills, Elder and Sister Shaner, Elder and Sister Laker and the Carlos. A third car left mid-morning with Elder and Sister Gottfredson and Elder and Sister Kiholm.
Our first stop in Baguio was SM Mall. It feels like a mall back home and I kept thinking "Oh the humanity! Civilization!" We were starving and so we headed straight to Pizza Hut! Oh my, what a treat to have pizza that tasted like home.
After checking into the hotel we headed to the Easter Weaving School which was established about 100 years ago to teach the art of weaving in the Igorot style. The Igorots were the indigenous mountain people. It is fascinating to watch them weave using the large looms. Their feet are doing a dance and their hands are flying. They memorize the pattern and as they are throwing the shuttle from side to side they are pulling various levers to bring forth the correct color of yarn. It all happens at rapid speed and is just amazing to watch. The school also has a huge (new expanded) showroom and gift shop. We had a lot of fun shopping there. Then we visited Narda's gift shop. She is known as the premier weaver and her work is truly exquisite. We bought a few keepsakes at her shop.
That night we dined in the hotel--we stayed at Camp John Hay in the Forest Lodge. And we began our workshops. Each couple designed their own workshop that was to last approximately one hour.
The Lakers began with a workshop about the connection between serving a mission and blessing our families back home. Besides the vicarious blessings that we all have been promised, they had us brainstorm other practical ways we could bless our children and grandchildren. Ideas come up such as sharing the miracles we see here in our work via email ; skyping with them during their special times back home (One couple got permission to witness a grandchild's baptism via skype); one couple is keeping a journal for their family and will have it printed and bound for each family back home. There were dozens of great ideas shared during their workshop.
The Mills taught a wonderful workshop on teaching others to feel the love of God and through that power senior missionaries can assist them to change. They talked specifically about overcoming addictions since that is a real issue here that we see with many of our investigators.
Day Two
Day Two began with some leisure time for a brisk morning walk and breakfast.
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| President spotted some beautiful rocking chairs overlooking a scenic view. |
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| Later we spotted the sign saying the rocking chairs were lovingly provided for the elderly! |
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| We met up with the Shaners at the Manor for breakfast |
At 9:00 am we met for the Kiholms workshop. They taught us all about the ERC (Employment Resource Center) and how senior couples could help with that program.
Then we headed out to the wood carver's village and Asin Hot Springs. We went to a resort that had 15 swimming pools filled with the therapeutic water from the natural springs. It wasn't "hot" like we expected but the water was very refreshing and soothing. (Senior missionaries don't have quite the same rules as young missionaries and so we could swim). Some opted to play a game at a lovely table near the pool while others chose to walk around the resort.
In the afternoon groups headed out to various places. One group went shopping at the mall. The rest of us headed up to Mine's View Park (Baguio is home of many silver and gold mines and from this famous lookout spot you can see many of the mines). It is also the home of lots of fun touristy shops.
Everyone was on their own for dinner with strict instructions to be back at the hotel for our evening activity, which was a workshop hosted by the Shaners. It was called "Get in the Grove with the YSA (Young Single Adults)." To make the activity feel real we invited our dear return missionary who lives in Baguio and a bunch of her YSA friends to come spend the evening with us. They Shaners developed a treasure hunt all over the Forest Lodge and the Manor hotels. They had to get permission from the security and hotel staff. Each senior couple worked with several YSAs to follow the clues. After 45 minutes we were to meet back in our hotel room for a discussion led by the YSAs about what they need and don't need from senior couples. It was a wonderful time for us to ask them questions and to share ideas about how we can better serve the wonderful young people in the church.
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| Loving Sister Jose, she was one of our great sister missionaries |
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| The wonderful group of YSAs that helped with our activity |
After breakfast we met for our final workshop hosted by the Gottfredson. Their topic was on unity in marriage. They have been teaching a Strengthening Marriage course in various units throughout Alicia District and they pulled some of the best material from that course that could be applied to our own marriages and how to strengthen them while serving as mission together. We had a really great time to reflect on some of the parts of our own marriage that need to be strengthened and they shared lots of great ideas to do so.
Later we all could choose what to do. Some went to Burnham Park and the Baguio Museum. Some went to the mall and other various sights. We were instructed to eat a very light lunch as President Carlos had a surprise that night. (He even kept the surprise from me.) He told everyone to dress up and meet in the hotel lobby at 5:30 p.m. There we were greeted by two van drivers and we piled into the vans. They drove us to a home at the top of a hill. The view was absolutely spectacular. President's surprise was to dine at the home of Chef Vicky. She was trained in New York City at the French Culinary School. She invites small groups into her amazing home to dine. President told the group that this was a gift from him and not from the mission as he would be paying for it from his own funds. It was his way of thanking each of the couples for the tremendous work they are doing. Boy were we into a treat. After a wonderful appetizer with 5 dreamy dips (crab, artichoke, chili, smoked fish, dried tomatoes) she proceeded to serve us an 8-course meal. With each course the chef would come out and explain what we were eating. It was a meal of a lifetime! What made the evening even better was the pace--we were able to visit with each other. Her home was just the most warm and lovely home you could ever imagine and that added to the precious experience.
Let the Dinner Begin...Course #1 Appetizer: Caramelized Onion and mushroom custard baked in an egg and served with buttered-cheese fingers.
Course #3 The Intermezzo Course was a Parmesan lollipop topped with marshmallow and rosemary. (It was truly scrumptious!)
Course #7 was typical of European Dining as it was a salad, which they believe helped in digestion. This was a Moroccan-style salad with dates, oranges and almonds on mixed greens with watercress and served with a light citrus vineagrette.
And that my friends is how senior missionaries in a 3rd world country dine---at least on this one special night!
Day 4
We arose early on our final day and headed to the Baguio City Market where we bought fresh strawberries,blueberries, asparagus, fresh herbs and last minute gift items. It was an amazing place and we could have spent an entire day there and still not have seen everything. Then we headed back to Cauayan and arrived before dark.
Our senior couples deserve this wonderful little break. You simply can't believe all the work they do to strengthen the church in the areas where they serve. We love and appreciate each one of them!
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