18 October 2015

I am writing this on Sunday afternoon.  I normally try to write on Saturday but we got busy yesterday as I will explain shortly.

A scripture in the Book of Mormon jumped out to me as we were reading this past week.  Alma and his people had just been taken by an army of the Lamanites and were enslaved by them.  They were praying to the Lord for help and verse 13 says:  "The voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying:  Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage. Vs 14: And I will ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter; and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions."  We see so many people who suffer great afflictions of every kind.  We all know some and maybe it is one of us reading this.  He is always there to help in our times of trial and struggle.  It is up to us to ask for His help.  His promise is the same to us as to the people of Alma.  "I the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions."  We must ask in faith and be patient for there may be things we need to learn from the affliction but the Lord has not forgotten us and will lift our burdens and strengthen our hearts.

Our week was a little crazy with one major issue - One of the Elders, while driving one of the vans to an area for exchanges, hit a motorcycle with 2 people on it.  It was at night and about an hour away from Naga.  It is quite an issue.  The people on the motorcycle were taken to the hospital and kept overnight but released the next day.  Thankfully, no major issues that we know of.  The van is impounded at the Police station and we have a lot of paperwork to do before we can get it back.  I have been trying to reach our insurance representative (In Manila) for help.  Between Zone Conferences on Thursday and Friday, and a full day Saturday, we have not made any progress.  That will be the major focus on Monday (tomorrow).  Hopefully, we will get all the things worked out and get the van back so we can get it fixed.  The motorcycle also needs some repair.

The repair man and 2 of the FM guys who work out of the
church next door.  One is a member of the Mission
Presidency.  Great men and good friends.

For a couple of months, we have been hearing a terrible sound like something breaking up or a huge old garage door rolling up and down or even an earthquake. We thought the sound was coming from across the street and every time we would hear it, we would run to the window and try to see where it was coming from.  It usually only lasted 2 to 3 seconds.  Last week, we had just put clothes in the washer and our door was open and Sister Hoopes was outside the door when we heard it again.  It was our washing machine!!!  When it started to spin, it would bang and clang and literally jump around in the wash room.  We called FM (facility maintenance) for repair.  The repairman is a member and has been there numerous times before.  This time it took a lot of work but the machine is doing better.  Thank goodness.  Washing dishes by hand is enough.  To have to wash our clothes by hand - no way!

  We drove to Buhi on Thursday to attend district meeting.  This is a small city an hour a half away but a beautiful nice drive.  On the way, Sister Hoopes noticed this sign on the back of a Jeepney.  I got a little closer so we could get a picture.    It says: BUHINIAN RAPSUDEY

We were heading to BUHI.  Does anyone get this?  My brothers and Sisters should get this.  If you don't get it, check in next week for the "rest of the story".  A hint:  It is a play on words.

One of the many volcano mountains which dot the
landscape here in the Philippines.  This one is very nice.

 
The Zone Leaders were in Buhi the day we visited and so they rode back to Iriga with us.  We then treated them to lunch at Shakeys Pizza.

The Missionary on the left across from me is from Rock Springs, Wyoming.  I tease him a lot.  Quite a climate change here from Rock Springs but not much of a culture change.

The other one goes home in 2 weeks.  Both are great young men and friends.

This is from the program after the testing.  The students are
standing behind us although this does not show all of them.

We were asked again by a school to test some students on English.  This occurred on Saturday and they asked for 6 of us.  We took 4 Elders and the two of us to the Brentwood College of Asia International School.  We started at 9:00 and were to be done in 3 hours but we went until nearly 3:00 pm.  I think we interviewed about 20 kids ranging in age from 15 to 18 years old.  All were Freshmen in College.  After the interviews, they presented us with certificates during a special program which included some of the students singing. We were treated with great respect and it couldn't have been a nicer day. They were so grateful to us for coming and being with them.

This man is the head of the school.  He just got back in May from a trip to the US which included Utah and Wyoming.  He has a daughter who lives in South Dakota.  Those who have a chance to go to the US always love it.

The lady in the picture is a teacher at the school and is a member of the church.  She was instrumental in getting us there.

If any parents want pictures of their sons, please let me know.  I have pictures of most of them but I am not going to put them on this blog.

There is another TYPHOON out there and this one is a category 4 at this time.

We did not get hit by the Typhoon but were just on the outside edge.  This computer model is quite interesting.  We had rain for two solid days and then today was very nice but it is raining again now as I am writing this.  .

That is all for this week.  Hope everyone is doing well.

By the way:  Naga is in the lower area below the yellow color.  If you haven't found Naga yet on another map, it is almost straight across from the word SEA on the left of the Islands.  Go straight across right and in the white area just below the yellow is where the City is.  Actually, the mission starts about where the yellow ends.  The San Pablo Mission, where Jacob was, is just above our area in the yellow area.