Corregidor Tour

Corregidor Island,

Manila Bay,

Philippines

23 February 2009

Update: we were able to replace the car lock/ unlock transmitter which failed last week. Our car no longer sounds the alarm as we drive.

A note as to how “small the world is”: This last week while Sister MB and Elder NB were teaching one hundred graduating university students the Career Workshop, two people came into our class room to observe the curriculum. As we introduced ourselves after the class we found out they were from USU and that the lady lives in Elder NB’s sister’s ward in Cache Valley and was asked to look us up. WOW!

Sister MB celebrated her birthday this week and we took a little side trip to an island in Manila Bay called the ROCK or Corregidor Island. It was fortified by the Americans before and after WWI then fought over by the Japanese and Americas during WWII. It was the last place the Japanese took from the Americans at the beginning of the war in the Philippines and reversed at the close of the war. A lot of men died defending this strategic piece of real estate. This is the island General MacArthur was forced by the enemy to leave and he said “I shall return”.
We toured the remains of the large gun placements, bombed out barracks, and elaborate tunnel system where they had offices and hospitals as well as emergency housing for the Philippine government. The Philippines was a US possession during this time and Clark Field near Angeles was attacked by the Japanese within 12 hours of the attack on Pearl Harbor. They took out a number of fighter planes that were still on the ground as they attacked. Needless to say with two armies fighting over this island not much was left standing when they were finished.

The tour we took was conducted by knowledgeable guides who shared information freely. The island now has a modern hotel and a lot of memorials to the fallen from different countries. The US has an impressive dome authorized by President Kennedy.

The opportunity to be on this island and feel the spirit of those who gave their life for our freedom was a treat. We honor those men and women who served including the Filipinos who were courageous in their efforts to defend the Philippines.

Elder NB & Sister MB

Not everything goes well

Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija, Phippines

16 February, 2009

Our Cuyapo leadership training session was conducted on Thursday, 12 February by Paniqui District leaders and we assisted. We completed our assignments and were asked to stand in for some of the district leaders who did not come. Sister MB taught the Relief Society sisters – extemporaneously for over an hour and Elder NB did the same with the Elders Quorum. We had made some preparation but most of it was inspiration to say the least.
The sisters had prepared a Filipino dinner for us of a fried noodle dish with some meat and vegetables included. Sister MB really enjoys the food while Elder NB is a little reserved. PB&J is a good backup.

We concluded with a demonstration of Family Home Evening with role playing and explanation of parts family members play. It was concluded by Sister MB teaching them the farmer’s dog song “Bingo” and then a few games were played. A very good evening.

Not everything goes well all the time – our car, a Toyota Corolla we are driving caused us a real headache Monday. We were in Angeles finishing up a class and as we got to our car the transmitter would not unlock the car doors. Using the key allowed us to enter and drive it but the alarm would go off every few seconds and you would have to punch the button again to stop it. We live in Tarlac over an hour away – you know the rest of the story. Sister MB had control of the transmitter and would try to punch the button ahead of the alarm but would not always time it right; the people we passed with the alarm sounding – you can imagine what they were thinking “what is going on with those crazy tourists”.

We are trying to have fun with everything we do,
Elder NB & Sister MB

Cuyapo Branch

Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija, Philippines

9 February 2009

The past two Sundays we have been able to assist in the creation of a new branch in the Paniqui District. A little background – a Group was established some time ago in Cuyapo, a small town out in the country about 40 minutes north and east of Paniqui. This Group has been meeting in the carport of the Elder’s rented house (see picture). These are humble circumstances to say the least but tropical as well with palm trees, beautiful plants, and birds as a backdrop of the speakers.

The mission was authorized to form the branch by the Area Authority and that was done the first week with its separation from its host branch and calling and sustaining of the new branch president. The following week the rest of the branch presidency and all of the auxiliary officers were called and sustained. They are so excited to grow this area of the church. There were 50 in attendance at both meetings with the Elders bringing 10 and 11 investigators to the meetings.

This coming Thursday we have been asked to assist in the training of the new leaders. The Paniqui District leadership will conduct a two hour session separated in half with everyone meeting as the branch leadership then breaking into specific training groups for an hour. Following a break the whole branch is invited to a Family Home Evening where they will be instructed in what a FHE is with a demonstration as to how it should function.

What great witness of the spirit has been in attendance at these meetings – we have been blessed.

Elder NB & Sister MB

'P' Day Hike

2 February 2009

Mount Pinatubo, Zambales, Phillippines

Two things that we need to report on this blog. #1- We had Sister Lant, General Primary President and her husband visit here in Tarlac on Saturday afternoon. She spoke in three consecutive meetings giving great direction to the auxiliaries. The first two were leadership and the last was a devotional meeting and we heard from her husband and Elder Ko of the Area Presidency as well. All meetings were well attended and the members thronged the group for pictures after the meeting.

#2- Was our ‘P’ day activity on February 2nd. Our mission presidency organized a senior couple’s hike to Mount Pinatubo’s crater lake. This lake was formed after the top 900 feet of the mountain blew off in a volcanic eruption in 1991. It is part of the mountain range that is close to Clark AFB and the eruption closed Clark AFB. The US turned the base over to the Philippine government for their use and they cleaned up the ash residue from most of it. Our mission home is located on the old base.

We loaded into two old Jeeps and a Dodge Ram and drove in the early morning up a river bed crossing the river a number of times. We then drove up into the mountains for an hour until we arrived at the trailhead. Fourteen of us with two guides hiked for one and a half hours criss-crossing a stream and climbing over rocks until we arrived at the lake. The view was worth it as you can tell. We rested and had our lunch in this pristine part of the world. Our hike out was a little slower because some of our group were worn out.
We had a great day, a bit of sun and would do it again.

Elder NB & Sister MB