Week 64 - April 1
Monday - I spent the morning visiting with Cathy McOmber about a possible project with Mabuhay Deseret Foundation to supply them with monthly hygiene kits. The more we visited the bigger and better the idea developed. I wish I was going to be around to see this project through to fruition, I have my hopes high for a successful and helpful project for those who benefit from the surgeries Mabuhay provides yearly not just here in Luzon but in the Visayas and Mindanao as well. Steve spent the morning preparing for our MOA signing on Wednesday. We met with Mary Ann to go over our calendar for the rest of the month. We left the office around 11:30 to go pick Lauren and Andy up from the airport, they flew in from Bali. We ate at a Burger King and then took them to Beehive to introduce them to our friends there and then another trip to KILUS so Lauren could get a few more gifts. We met at Outback for dinner with Gunnell's, Singleton's, and Deb.
 |
Beehive, I love Lauren's expression
showing honor for the hard work they preform everyday |
 |
| Me, Steve and our favorite waitress Beverly |
 |
| Lauren, Andy, Beverly, and me |
Tuesday - We got up early and left for the airport so Lauren and Andy could catch their 6:00 a.m. flight home. We didn't anticipate such a horrible commute on the C-5 so early in the morning. We finally pulled off and got on the EDSA when Steve realized he left his wallet at home. None of us had any pesos and that was a problem in case Waze directed us to Terminal #1 over the Skyway (you do not want to go through a toll booth here without pesos). By the time we got to an ATM and got them to the airport we were all stressed but they made it on the plane just in time. We attended the 9:00 Devotional, the Whiteheads who work in the Dental Office gave there farewell talk. Nick (our janitor who lost his job last week due to the cut backs) came by our office to say good-bye. It was so sad, he was heart broken. 28 years of service in this office and poof he is out of a job he took great pride in and loved very much. He will be sorely missed. We visited with Dennis about getting our apartment ready for our replacements and then went down in the cage to box up our school supplies for Joy Kiddie Center. We went to Outback for a baked potato.
Wedneday - We were made aware that our CC was blocked because of a fraud alert. Turns out when we tried to get money out of the ATM on our way to the airport yesterday we used a BDO bank instead of a BPI and that sent up a red flare to our bank. I had to spend some time getting that straighten out, it is nice to know that security is tight because you never know. We had our MOA signing from 10:00 - 12:00 and I must say it was probably the nicest MOA signing we have been to. We had good support from our Senior Missionary friends and everyone was so impressed and interested to learn the work that John T Go Hoc and Thomas do at Joy Kiddie Center. It truly is an honor to know these good men and help them with the incredible work they do with these children. We donated two semesters worth of school supplies and around 6 pictures of Christ that they asked for. They also wanted a few copies of our Hymn Books to teach the children from. When our MOA signing was over we put all the supplies in a van and drove them down to Intramuros where the school is. When we arrived the children came and helped carry the boxes in, it was so cute. The children are getting to know us now and there faces light up when they see us. We have been invited to their Easter Contada. We went to get a Jamba Juice for dinner and saw the Gunnell's eating at some weird Japanese restaurant, we went and got our juice and then joined them for dinner. We spent the evening trying to improve our Mental Health Power point.
 |
Mary Ann, Mr. Abner Lacson President and CEO of Church Strengthening Ministry, Inc.
John T Go Hoc Signing the MOA |
 |
| We had good support from our friends in attendance |
 |
This picture appeared in the Church Newsroom
 |
| Helping bring the flip flops into the school |
|
 |
| Many hands make light work |
 |
| Singing her solo |
 |
Steve is getting to be Filipino
He can take a good selfie
|
 |
| The school grounds |
 |
| The library |
 |
The computer room
LDS Charities donated these computers around 5 years ago |
 |
| Steve living the dream! |
Thursday - We tookt the Singletons into the office with us. Steve worked on getting our Hygiene Kits for MPHA put together for tomorrow's kick off. Steve Gunnell helped me with some Power Point projects for our FHE presentation. The MTC has volunteered to assemble our Infant Care Kits so I helped get Sister Warner organized to do that. It will serve as a huge favor to us. We went to Burger King with Singleton's for lunch since we won't be in the office on Friday. Steve was busy packing boxes of hygiene supplies and then we had to be back in Eastwood by 3:00 to have Carbon Monoxide Detectors installed in our apartments. Go figure.
 |
We will soon go back to dollars and not these colorful pesos
1000 pesos is worth around $20.00
Imagine the largest bill in the country is only $20.00 |
 |
Sunset from our bedroom window
Beautiful!! |
 |
| The product for our hygiene kits |
 |
| All assembled 10 for the girls, 10 for the boys |
Friday - We left for the office to pick up Mary Ann and head for PHMA for the Out of School Adolescent kick off. We then traveled with employees from PMHA to the Barangay where they have identified 20 out of school youth to participate in this pilot program. We arrived at 9:00 but had to wait until 10:30 for the children to arrive. We were escorted into another room and were surprised to see only 8 that were waiting for us ( they told us it might take a week or two to get all 20 that have been selected for this program to show up). Eric began by asking the children their names and what they wanted to learn. They were all so shy and hid their heads and giggled, it did not start out well. Pretty soon younger children started to poke their head in through the windows wondering what was going on, before long there were many children participating. We heard some commotion and looked over and saw some of the Barangay officials walking in with a birthday cake "Happy Birthday Elder Steve and Sister Christine Browne". It is right in the middle of both our birthdays and Mary Ann made arrangements for the cake. It was the perfect ice breaker and the kids boldly sang Happy Birthday to us and eagerly came and got a piece of cake and you could sense they were beginning to open up. Soon after that lunch was provided for them, they were all very hungry and quickly ate a good lunch. Once they were fed they began to participate in the activities Eric led them in and he showed them the curriculum they would be learning from over the next couple months. Some wanted to know if they could come back tomorrow, others were eager to go home and tell their siblings or friends about the program. We showed them our hygiene kits and how to care for them. In the end we decided to wait until next week to pass them out. Unfortunately for now I think they may need to focus on the original 20 selected for this pilot program and if it goes well expand from there. We have been scattering seeds throughout the Philippines for months and months now, they are all starting to bloom this week and next as we pass out product and deliver the promised items to different organizations. We are sad not to get to know these kids, originally we thought we would. We had dinner at Outback with Owen's, Grimshaw's, and Singleton's.
 |
| Waiting for the children (1.5 hours ekk!!) |
 |
Orienting them on the Program
Substance Awareness is just one example |
 |
This may look like our birthday cake
but it was the perfect ice breaker for the kids |
 |
| See what I mean? |
 |
Lunch will be provided for them each week
That is written into the MOA and a huge benefit for the kids |
 |
| Something about feeding hungry bellies that makes us all so happy |
 |
Playing rock, paper scissors to find a champion
They loved it |
 |
| They are having fun |
 |
I got to show them what is inside the hygiene kits
|
Saturday - Quiet Day in the apartment, I'd say the calm before the storm. We went for a bonus mani-pedi (we need to get them in before we go home) and lunch at Italiani's. We came home and I made chocolate chip cookies to package individually for some of my favorite office employees. We went to the movie Dumbo at 5:30 and then we came home and went to bed early.
Week 65 - April 8
Monday - I took the brownies into the office for Monday morning and distributed the cookies I made for the employees in the office that helped up so much. We will miss them. I went with S. Grimshaw, Jennifer Slater, and three ladies from legal to go shop at KILUS and have lunch at Lander's. They loved getting out of the office and being treated to lunch. There is just something about people enjoying food, visiting, and having a good mental health break from the office. I helped Mary Ann put together the gifts we will be giving the doctors at our Psychiatric Lunch on Friday. At FHE our presenters were the Eliason's, the new doctor at the MRC, this is their 4th mission!
 |
| Brownies with Toffee Bits |
 |
| I tied the bows, Mary Ann did not want to do that |
 |
| Our finished product, Peaches - Toblerone - Cashews - Crackers |
 |
| A different sunset from our apartment, the season is changing |
 |
| Beautiful red ball |
Tuesday - No work day "A Day of Valor" also known as Bataan Day and Corregidor Day, which is a national observance in the Philippines that commemorates the fall of Bataan during World War II. We went to breakfast at Denny's with Grimshaw's, Singleton's, and Owen's. We had to leave early to drive to Makati to work with the Young Women some more on sewing skills. I brought everything but the fabric. Steve had to go back to the office to pick it up, good thing it was a holiday or that would have been impossible with the traffic. While we were waiting I taught the girls how to sew a button on our infant hats. That was a bit of a challenge but for the most part they did well. It reminds me when I get home to teach my granddaughters how to sew a button on fabric. It is getting very hot in the Philippines. When we were finished we drove back to the office to put the sewing machines back. We went over to temple housing to prepare the Roberts apartment for their arrival. The Senior Missionaries supply groceries and basic living needs for a welcome surprise, we appreciated having that when we arrived. We went home for some rest and a quiet afternoon.
 |
| They are pleased with their work |
Wednesday - We woke up at 3:00 and drove to Terminal #1 to pick the Roberts up. Their 4:00 a.m. arrival time was delayed to 4:30 so by the time they processed through customs and got their bags it was around 7:00. We drove them to their apartment and arrived back home at 8:00. We got ready for work and went back into the office by 9:30. Everyone wanted something from us so we were very busy. At 12:30 we picked the Roberts up and drove them to Eastwood. I went and got my final haircut from Christian (I will miss him, thank heaven for Lauren) and Carole Roberts went for a mani-pedi. After that we took them to Outback for lunch and toured them around Eastwood. We took them back to their apartment at 5:30 and returned home pretty tired from the day.
 |
| We received these pictures today |
 |
The children at Joy Kiddie Center were issued their new
school supplies, hygiene supplies, t-shirts and flip flops |
 |
Look how adorable and happy they are
We love these kids, who wouldn't? |
Thursday - We were in the office by 8:30 trying to get a few things done before it was time for the Roberts to show up so we could start training them. I toured S. Roberts around the Area Office and that took a while because everyone wanted us to stop and visit. We went for lunch at Burger King with the Robert's, Gunnell's, and Singleton's, probably our last lunch there. The afternoon was filled with items to get the Roberts set up in the office. At 6:00 our evening with the psychiatrists in the Mezzanine Conference room began. There were around 15 doctors that were in attendance. Our dinner was catered by 3rd Floor. The room was lovely but everyone kept saying it looked like a wedding reception. White table cloths, bows on the chairs, red napkins in the water goblets. We met with and introduced ourselves to the doctors . After dinner we toured the MTC and then took the tunnel over to the temple for a picture over on the temple grounds. They had many questions about the temple and some of the crazy ideas they had about the church were put to rest. Two vans were ready to take them back to the Shangri la.
 |
Dinner with the doctors.
In the white shirt and tie is President Dave Coster.
He is the Quezon City Mission President. |
 |
Steve, me, Dr. Canlas and her husband
They are also CSM's (Church Service Missionaries) |
 |
Dr. Sison, he was quite a character and a wonderful
buffer between the doctors and our church employees and speakers |
 |
In the yellow is Morena, she keeps the Area Office running smoothly
Such a huge help for Mary Ann in getting all the moving parts running smoothly |
 |
Our dinner and an idea of what the room looked like
|
 |
Touring the MTC with the doctors
President Coster speaks Tagalog and it really helps |
 |
The tunnel that leads to the temple
They loved that |
 |
| President Coster showing them the temple |
 |
Of course this is not a great picture of us
but the temple shows through nicely |
Friday - We arrived at the office at 7:30 and did a bit of work before the Roberts showed up and then we were off to the Shangri la. This was an historic event that we were about to attend and it was all Mary Ann's brain child that she has been working on for months. We need to know of competent psychiatrists to refer our returned missionaries and members who need professional care to. There are not a lot of doctors and not enough to help with this problem. Mary Ann's idea was to gather them together for a 2 hour lunch and introduce them to the church and our value system to hopefully align them with our members who need help. We brought them in from all over Luzon on Thursday to the lovely Shangri la, shuttled them to the Area Office for dinner and a tour of our facility and then have them have a comfortable night sleep. They had a good breakfast and then we all met together in a nice conference room at 10:00 a.m. to begin our presentation. There were around 18 doctors that attended which is huge considering these doctors had to take a day off work unpaid to be there. Our speakers were our DTA, Area Mental Health Advisor, Quezon City Mission President, the first counselor in our Area Presidency and one of the doctors. Our opening hymn was a video song from the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square and we showed several videos about the church in the Philippines and the work of LDS Charities all over the world. This was an unprecedented event, a first of a kind, and was well received by the doctors. I think we put some myths about our church to rest, and opened some doors to developing relationships with these doctors so they can assist our members who need help. I imagine this idea will only grow and maybe next year we can include doctors from the Visayas and Mindanao. It was a privilege to be there. Mary Ann does incredible work. We went to Outback for dinner for a farewell to the Whiteheads. They have put in a valiant 2 years at the dental clinic and will be missed.
 |
The Sisters at the MTC have been assembling
our Infant Care Kits. It's a huge service
How cute are they? |
 |
| Our place setting |
 |
| The room we held the lunch in |
 |
Morena, Ace, and Mary Ann
making final preparations |
 |
Sister Roberts and I chatting with Dr. Sison
 |
| The room filled with our guests |
 |
Danish and fruit
Mary Ann and our church leaders
Just some our our buffet lunch
Lunch
We sat next to a wonderful couple from Nueva Ecija
who traveled until 1:00 in the morning to attend
They have a heart to find help for those who are suffering
The gang at our Farewell Dinner for Whiteheads
|
|
Saturday - We got up early and met the Singleton's in our lobby. Then we drove over to pick the Grimshaw's up and then to the Area Office to get the Robert's. We drove to Intramurous to Joy Kiddie School to attend the children's Easter Contada. These children have been working very hard and we heard that a lot of their parents don't come to support and watch their performances. That is why we loaded up 4 couples to go and support them. It was an hour long Easter Pageant with beautiful music and story line of Christ's life, death, and resurrection. The children just beamed when we walked in and everyone wanted to shake our hands and tell us their names. I don't really have a way to describe how beautiful this event was but I can say that these children at Joy Kiddie Center have been a highlight of our mission and we will miss them. They presented me with a really nice woven purse and some place mats at the end. Steve drove us all over to Mega Mall and a nice lunch at Chili's. We came home for a rest and then went back to the Area Office where the Robert's are temporarily staying at temple housing to take them some oatmeal and dried beans. Elder Roberts lives mostly on a vegan diet so he was looking for these items and wasn't able yet to find them. They told us it was like Santa Claus had arrived. It's the simple things, right?
Monday - We left for the office at 6:15 and loaded our van with 60 Infant Care Kits. At 7:00 we left the Area Office with the Gunnell's and Singleton's in our van. Jairus, Mary Ann, and the Roberts drove our car and we all headed up north to Balanga for our MOA signing for the computers we donated. We were able to supply this area with 70 computers and monitors that will be used in 4 learning hubs. This was a wonderful event to attend and we were so thankful we were able to get it put together before we went home. We were served lunch in a class room and then we headed for home. We returned to the office by 4:00 and were back in our apartment for a quiet evening by 5:00.
 |
| Arriving at City Hall waiting to caravan over to the Learning Hub |
 |
One of ???? e
Learning Hubs in Balanga |
 |
Presenting a member of the hospital staff with
60 Infant Care Kits, this is to promote good will |
 |
| All the group |
 |
| Signing the MOA |
 |
Some of the children that will be benefiting
from our computer donation |
 |
The new room with 20 of our computers.
air - conditioned, clean, and bright green paint |
 |
| Our lunch in a class room |
Tuesday - Yah!! our taxes are finally complete. We are so thankful for Kimberlee and all she has done to keep our affairs at home running relatively smoothly. Some of it can be a helpless feeling. I spent some time with S. Roberts training her on our work with Infant Care Kits and all the moving parts there. We left the office at 12:00 and drove the Roberts to Landers, Beehive and then KILUS. After that we drove to Eastwood and let E. Roberts practice driving to the office. The traffic is light this week because everyone is out of town for the Holy Week so it's a good time to learn. Our quiet evenings spent in our apartment are coming to an end. I will be so happy to be able just to walk outside and work in my yard or walk around the block. It's the little things...
Wednesday - I went into the office to get some work done and Steve stayed home to wait for the air-con repair man. I went to Mabuhay for the last time. I was happy to see Aisa, she was there a year ago getting work done on her legs. Our air-con has been dripping for almost three weeks now. They have spent hours trying to fix it. Moments after they left it started dripping again. We met at Outback for our Good-bye dinner. There were 23 people who joined us.
 |
| I was so happy to hear that Aisa will be going home soon |
Thursday - Happy Birthday Steve!! We left our apartment early in the morning and picked the Roberts up from temple housing to leave for the airport. We flew out of Terminal 3 with the Gunnell's as well to go to Dumaguete for the Holy Week vacation. We arrived at the Pura Vida, around 10:30 a.m. where we were warmly greeted by the staff. They took us to our ocean side dining area, a covered patio with a beautiful view and an ocean breeze. We were so pleased with the choices on the menu for lunch and had a delicious garden salad and margherita pizza. They showed up for both lunch and dinner with a carrot cake for Steve's Birthday with whip cream and mango sauce. We went to the dive shop to book a our trip to Apo island on Friday and discovered it was not available. We all decided we would be very content to spend the next couple days enjoying the Pura Vida with it's beautiful pool, nice spa, ocean front beach, and restaurant with a variety of food we could recognize. We took a nap in our super comfortable room and then went for a mani-pedi. The Whitmore's (Humanitarian couple from Cebu) joined us for dinner. We had candle lit tables, fresh bread and dip and a full moon to enjoy during our dinner. I had vegetable lumpia for dinner that was really good and Steve had sweet and sour chicken.
 |
| Landing in Dumaguete |
 |
| The view from our dining table |
 |
| Enjoying a Candle light, moon light dinner on the beach |
 |
| One of the many beautiful boats coming and going all weekend |
 |
| The coast line |
 |
The pool at Pura Vida
Happy Birthday Steve!!
Yummy Carrot Cake with Whip Cream
and Mango Sauce |
Friday - We woke up and took a walk on the beach and then enjoyed breakfast from an upstairs dining room that looked out over the ocean, and again a wonderful breeze. We relaxed in lounge chairs, swam in the ocean and the pool and had the Signature Full Body massage in the afternoon. After that we met our friends for a late lunch and some shop talk. Steve and I walked down the beach about 15 minutes with S. Roberts and S. Whitmore to a quieter area and snorkeled. We had a late dinner and everyone had a variety of food for dinner. We were so impressed with the food, it was among the best we have had here in the Philippines. Beautiful full moon to watch and it was also fun to watch the boats come and go.
 |
| Who doesn't love to see their name in lights? |
 |
| More boats |
 |
| We were treated to a full moon |
Saturday - Steve and I got up to watch the sun rise over the ocean and then I took a walk along the beach, swam some laps in the pool and then went snorkeling with S. Roberts. The tide had come in much closer than it was the previous afternoon so it was an amazing snorkeling experience. The water was warm, the sun rays were hitting the coral making the colors vibrant and there were a ton of fish to watch. Probably the best snorkeling I have ever done in my life. If was glorious. We ate breakfast and then took a shuttle to the airport. No delays at the airport, no delays on the runway, no delays in Manila it was such a nice commute. The traffic back into Quezon City was light because of the holiday which was so nice because the heat this month in intense and we wanted to get home. We met the Grimshaws at Outback for dinner. Our last Saturday in Manila!!
 |
Sunrise
Steve living the dream |
 |
| Goodbye Dumagete |
 |
The help at Outback were so excited to surprise Steve
with a belated birthday song and treat. |
Sunday - I got up and talked with the Lauren, Kimberlee, and CarolLynn and made my last batch of cookies for the office. We have been packing and cleaning up all week. I went over to Gunnell's for a little bit of help for our FHE presentation. Sister Singleton is going to step in and take my place as the Monday morning cookie lady so I took my remaining cooking supplies up to her. Steve is trying like crazy to get our BOA card reconciled before we leave. Not an easy task.
Week 67 - April 22
Monday - We left the area office with Jerry, Gunnell's and S. Grimshaw, Kaneen, Singleton, Duncan and Stone to attend th Women's Bazaar. I didn't need to buy anything but I wanted a shawarma, closest thing in the the Philippines I've found to a soft taco. I got my swimming insurance forms completed and sent in. Just tying up loose ends this week. During FHE there was an earthquake. Some of the missionaries felt it while we were in line for our food but Steve and I didn't. We presented our farewell Power Points.
Tuesday - We worked in the office until 1:00 and then came home to have the air-con worked on for a third time and waited for the plummer. I walked over to Outback for some take out salad and fries and to say good-bye to our servers. Our 1:00 appointment showed up at 4:00 but good news.. the air con is finally fixed and no longer drips. We went for our exit interview at TGIF's with Kenneth and his wife. It was a nice dinner and we enjoyed visiting but it wasn't much of an exit interview.
 |
Look who we ran into on our way into the office this morning
Tres Galong our driver when we were in Tacloban in November!! |
Wednesday - We met with Mary Ann mostly because she likes to talk to us and just have someone listen to her. We will really miss her a lot, she has been one of the best things about our mission. Jairus took 25 of us for lunch at Viking and then we had a group meeting and training. It was during a brown out so it was a bit hot with no air-con.
 |
The birthday that never ends, his 5th cake!!
Our peeps at Viking |
Thursday - Our last day in the Philippines. We went to breakfast at Denny's and then stopped in at Nail Tropics for our last mani-pedi and then headed into the office. I spent some time with Mary Ann and then we drove to Lander's with her to get pizza and chicken for our Karaoke/Goodbye Party. The party was in the cafeteria and around 5:00 Mary Ann welcomed everyone and then she surprised us and showed us a video that she put together for us. It was so thoughtful and wonderful. Steve and I spoke and said our goodbyes to our friends and co-workers and the karaoke fun began. Kenneth came in with Balut and Steve and I along with S. Gunnell and S. Grimshaw ate it. It was the perfect end to a truly amazing experience. We will be forever grateful and never forget the people of the Philippines.
 |
Eating Balut, no words!!!
 |
Nick , it was so good to have him back in the office
 |
The finance and travel girls having a blast
Singing a Spice Girls Song
It was so much fun to watch them
We will miss them all!!!
|
