The Rains Came Down.....and Stayed!

An early rainy season storm caught us off guard at the Philippines MTC.  A Sunday night torrential rain dropped inches of water in a few hours on our campus resulting in significant flooding in our utility rooms.  For several days we were without full power and water.  Thanks to a great recovery effort, our missionaries were never in danger, only slightly inconvenienced.  Without air conditioning, classes shifted outside to our courtyard and breezeway.  Efforts to avoid future flooding are well underway.  

Unbelievable rainfall

Classes move outside

It's a Small World

The compound we live on houses the MTC, the Area Office and the Manila Temple.  It naturally serves as a gathering spot for visitors to the Philippines.  We are fortunate to be in the center and benefit as friends, and former missionaries have reason to come visit.  Pictured above are just a few of our recent visitors.  

Former missionary and her baby at a recent wedding we both attended.

Rocky Rudd served with us in Angeles Mission.  She now teaches at a private school in Utah Valley.

President Koster's mother is related to our dear friends from Naperville.  It truly is a small world!

683 - May 31, 2019

On June 19th we said farewell to Batch 683.  The missionaries came from 13 different countries throughout the world.  China, Figi, Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Philippines, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste and the United States were all represented.  God bless you all!  

 

Departures begin very early!  The breezeway is dotted with luggage ready for missionaries to grab and go to their missions.  It's a bitter/sweet day!

Happy Father's Day

A good day to celebrate the men in our lives who care for us, help us and make us better people.  These are the leaders who serve in the mission presidency and two branch presidencies.  The sugar flowed freely!

Visitors in June!

 The Philippines isn't a well traveled route for our loved ones to hop, skip and jump to.  Imagine my delight when my auntie and cousin asked if we had time for their visit.  In less than a week, they arrived at the Manila airport.  We had a whirlwind 5 days to pack in much.  They took on a giant task of organizing my "assistance room."  It is labeled, organized and such an inviting place to find those things that are needed. 
We had great variety during their visit, including a devotional with Elder Wakolo, a visit to a local children's charity (Mabuhay House), time at the American Cemetary and the Manila Temple.
LaVerne and Jan came and did what they always do...give and give more! 

Assistance Room Organizers!

 Elder Wakolo's Devotional was a delight.

The American Cemetary in the Philippines

Mabuhay House

Coloring and wearing Father's Day ties.

Manila Temple!

Kai's Trap

We love what's happening with our wonderful "Grands" back home.  There are many times a giggle or belly laugh will accompany a story that we hear from our kids.  Our daughter Mikale sent the following post on Instagram in June.  "My kids have big imaginations.  Sometimes their inventions go a little overboard (note the chain hooked to the paint can and stepping stool), seemingly always when there's a babysitter over.  We'll probably never see her again."

For cleanup, "we used two dust pans to scoop up most of the paint, then used a power washer.  It was a long process but it thankfully mostly cleaned up.  We were in a stake conference meeting and had to rush home when the babysitter called."  

The whole messy episode seemed to have ended well.  Kai and Lincoln cleaned up nicely.  The garage looks great.  Mikale and Ammon's nerves are frayed but not frazzled.  No definitive word on the mental state of the babysitter.