Graduation

Baguio, Benguet,

Philippines

27 July 2009

We were involved this past week with two interesting activities. First, we were invited to attend the livelihood training graduation of the “Cell Phone Repair” class conducted in the Tarlac Stake building and second, the tour of a manufacturing plant (NB has not been in one for a full year) in Baguio.

Our Stake Employment Committee (SEC) office manager in Tarlac, Brother Pablo, has been active in committing the mayor’s office to provide livelihood training for our members in Cell Phone Repair and other worthwhile training. He was successful in requesting the training, signing up enough people to be trained and arranging the use of the building for the training. The class opened with 29 people and after two months 13 graduated and are certified Cell Phone Repairmen. Of the thirteen, eleven of them are members.

We were invited to attend the graduation along with the city dignitaries – Mayor, Vice Mayor, Provincial representative; the certifying agency – Technical, Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA); and the LDS church leaders. The proceedings were conducted by the Mayor’s office. As we arrived, NB was asked to say a few words of encouragement and in doing so told them they must build on what they have learned and that there was no limit on what they could do. He used the example of SM (Filipino company) as a company that started small and has grown into a mega company in Asia. The mayor, who as a young man was mentored by a member of the church, spoke favorably of the LDS church and the good they do for their members and the community. We were very impressed by the mayor and his positive comments.

The tour of the Moog Aircraft parts manufacturing plant was a treat for NB because it was the type of work he has done for so long. The smells and noises of the plant brought back many fond memories. Our tour guide was a member of the church who spent two hours with us telling us about all the operations, the self managed teams, team measurement tools, skill level evaluation, and where their products are used on the aircraft. They are a very progressive company and do so much for their employees here in the Philippines. We loved both opportunities to be with members and non-members alike.

Elder NB & Sister MB

Elementary School Visit

Gerona, Tarlac,

Phillippines

17 July 2009

Yesterday we had a real treat – here is the story:

We left Tarlac City for Gerona and picked up District Pres. Nadado and his son Kristin (14) and drove out into the country about 5 KM to a small Barangay (village) to the school where Sister Bessie Nadado works as a teacher (above in the midst of the children). She teaches grade 5 and has 48 students in her class.

We were invited to the school for a lunch for the under-nourished students (July is nutrition month). MB had contributed some money for their lunch and they invited us to come and visit. Two sisters from Gerona Branch prepared and brought a big pot (maybe 5 gal) of macaroni, meat and veggie soup for the students.

As we arrived, the students looked at us as if they had never seen a white person before – they were very curious the whole time we were there. 359 students attend classes at this Barangay elementary school and they fed about half of them from the soup pot and they were given crackers as well.

A few of them spoke English well and others understood a little. We tried out all the Tagalog words we know, we told them we were Lolo (grandfather) and Lola (grandmother) and they could be our Apo (grandchildren). When the camera came out they all wanted to be in the front row and crowded in for the picture. We had to be careful so no one was hurt some times taking pictures from the hip verses holding the camera to the eye.

At one point, after they had eaten their lunch, I asked them questions in English – like days of the week, months of the year, how old they were and then asked if they could sing a song for me. You have to picture this – I am standing on a short wall looking down on about 250 elementary school children that are crowded close around me and Sister Bessie’s class starts singing a song – “Choose the Right” singing loud and clear – all three verses. What a surprise. None of these children are members of the church but they have learned how to sing church songs, pray and to live better lives from their teacher. Before we left, I had them all line up and shook each of their little hands – not all of them wanted to touch a big white guy. However, as we were leaving, a lot of the students gathered around MB and walked with her to the car. What a privilege it was for us to be with these beautiful children, what a privilege to be serving in the Philippines.

Elder NB & Sister MB

July Holiday Remembered

Tarlac City,

Tarlac, Philippines

6 July 2009

Happy 4th of July – this is one of our most favorite holidays! We love what it stands for and how it makes us feel about our country. Being out of the USA, we appreciate it even more! We missed our Kaysville town celebration with breakfast early in the morning, getting ready for the afternoon family BBQ, preparing for the parade by hauling water in every container possible to our spot on the parade route( saved by dear friends who come early) and of course the parade itself, the BBQ and then fireworks – what a day! When the parade starts, we have our family and friends there with us collecting candy, trinkets and waves from the parade participants then the most fun part at the end – the water parade. Some of the family trying to stay dry while others are right in the wettest part – soaked to the skin. What a great day, we hope each of you enjoyed your 4th of July celebrations!

We had another busy week by spending two days with the departing missionaries trying to help them prepare for the working world they will be returning to. They were the largest group we have had – fourteen – 12 elders and two sisters, seven from the US and two from Tonga and five from the Philippines. What a fun group they were – full of life and very optimistic about their future. Our mission president has seen a great change in these missionaries for the past two years (or) eighteen months, they have grown tremendously. One of the elders (from the US) was so shy when he arrived he could not talk to anyone but at the close, during our training he was very out- going and presented himself very well. He volunteered to do things in front of the group. What a great change. We love this experience and these wonderful young missionaries.

(Picture above is the group getting ready to complete a test given by Sister MB).

Elder NB & Sister MB

Manila Temple Visit

Manila Temple,

Quezon City,

Philippines

29 June 2009

Time in the mission is measured in a six week cycle called a “Transfer”. All activities are scheduled and repeated every six weeks and they include: district meetings, zone conferences, president’s interviews, missionary correlation with districts and stakes, departures, arrivals and of course the transfer of missionaries within the mission. Also, we hold a couples meeting once during a transfer where all the senior couples in the mission meet for instruction.

We have five couples, plus Pres. & Sister Puzey, assigned to the Angeles Mission, one of which has completed their eighteen months and are returning home. Our mission president took all of us plus the new replacement couple to the temple to say good-bye. Our friends (the Andrews) are returning home to Orem. We were up early and drove almost two hours to Manila Temple and attended a session. What a special experience it was to be there with all our friends and to feel the spirit of that beautiful place. After the session we went to the Distribution Center at the Philippines Area Office (PAO) to get a few things for our areas then off to lunch at Chili’s (yes the same as back home). We had a great visit, shared stories and said our good-byes to the Andrews – we enjoyed the food and friends.

During the temple session a young couple from India were there to take out their endowments and then to be sealed. We noticed them and were impressed with their dedication and commitment to make the long journey to attend the temple. Some of us even assisted by snapping pictures for them outside the temple in their wedding dress and tux – they were a very beautiful couple.

The rest of the story – the next day our mission president and his wife went to the mall on Clark Air Base (the Clark airport services the Philippines and Asia) to purchase a few items and saw the couple (from the Temple) standing outside the mall with all their luggage. Transportation scheduling brought them to the wrong area and they didn’t quite know which way to turn or how to get to the airport for their evening flight. President and Sister Puzey took them to the mission home, fixed them lunch, and enjoyed the rest of the day visiting with them before taking them to the airport for their flight. Do you think Heavenly Father was keeping an eye out for the young couple?

Elder NB & Sister MB

Lost and Found

Victoria, Tarlac,

Philippines

22 June 2009

A little story about how we found our lost cell phone - directed or lead to it?

We were in Cabanatuan most of the day on Friday. On our way home, we stopped in Victoria to visit with Sister Melegrito about some government training for our members. We visited a bit with her then headed home – upon arriving, we noticed that we did not have our cell phone so we got dressed and drove back to Victoria. I had an impression as to where it was. When we arrived, I looked through a pile of bush trimmings near the driveway. This is where MB got out of the car on our first visit. The cell phone was not there – it had all our contact numbers and everything we need to operate.

There was a crowd gathering all the time I was looking through the trimmings and they helped without success. We talked to a few of them, when I asked questions of them there was no positive results. A few young men drifted in and asked what we were looking for and we told them and they asked if my phone looked like this – showing me a phone and when I looked at the back it was our phone (the number is taped to the back). They had found it and had a treasure taking parts of it to use elsewhere. When I turned it on it was missing a key component – SIM card (all our numbers, etc.). When I asked about the SIM card another young man said he had it and fished it out of a pack of cigarettes. We had our complete phone and we were happy. If we would have lost the cell phone it would have cost us a lot of time and effort to get back to where we are now.

(MB) I wanted to add a story from church at the Anao branch today. I went to Primary with Sister Nadado who is the Stake (District) 1st Counselor in the Primary. She told a cute story in Tagalog, then she asked me to tell one - so I told the Parable of the Sheep and Goats because there are about a zillion goats in the Philippines. She interpreted and we made it kind of cute. Then the Primary President was teaching a lesson, I didn't notice at the time but one of the boys had slipped out to the little neighborhood store and came back drinking a pop out of a plastic bag with a straw!* Sister Nadado scolded him a little but then everything just went on as normal with him drinking his pop! (I asked him if he could get me a Coke) no, not really! But anyway, as you can see, life and church is always an adventure for us! But we love it and we truly love the Filipino members. They are great people!

As you travel on the roads you have to be alert of the road conditions and the hazards.

Elder NB & Sister MB

*pop bottles are valuable and stay at the store – they pour the pop in a plastic bag to go and give you a straw.

Visiting General Authorities

Angeles, Pampanga,

Philippines

15 June 2009

This week has been one of those special weeks that make a mission so worthwhile and fill you with the spirit of the work. On Tuesday we held an all mission conference (first time that anyone remembers) with 150 missionaries and five couple missionaries. Our meeting leaders were delayed so as we waited for their arrival we sang the songs of Zion – what enthusiasm and gusto was displayed. We gathered to be instructed by Elder Whitney Clayton of the Seven Presidents of the Seventy and Elder Ko of Philippines Area Presidency and of course the Angeles Mission President, President Puzey –each with their wives in attendance. When the party arrived they formed a reception line and shook hands with each missionary – what a treat for some of these missionaries who have never been this close to a General Authority. Elder Clayton had Elder and Sister Ko and the Angeles Stake President, President Briones tell their conversion stories – wonderful church leaders who found the church and joined with all their hearts.

Elder Clayton talked for almost two hours and gave instructions and direction to the missionaries while calling them to a stronger commitment to the guidelines in the Preach My Gospel areas of emphasis – missionary purpose, companion study, planning your weekly activities, learning the language, finding and being firm when inviting people to accept a commitment. The missionaries were strengthened and all verbally committed to “lengthen their stride” and work harder than ever before.

We were invited to attend a Welfare meeting in the Makati Employment Resource Center (ERC) with the three ERC managers from Davo, Cebu and Makati and a special guest Dr. Warner Woodworth from BYU (who happened to be in our bishopric when we lived in Ann Arbor, Mich.) These meetings were directed at helping the saints in the Philippines improve their lives through training and funding from NGOs for self employment projects.

This weekend we attended the Paniqui District Conference presided over by an Area Authority Seventy – Elder Fabian Sinamban. We received instructions from the district presidency, the mission presidency and Elder Sinamban.
We were privileged to participate in these different meetings all in one week’s time – we have been spiritually fed.

Elder NB & Sister MB

Start of the Rainy Season

Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija,

Philippines

We have just entered the Philippine rainy season, (June through September). It actually rained most of May too, so everything has really greened up. Last week it rained hard and heavy every day and flooded the main road into town with standing water. Everyone has to drive slower to keep the wakes down but the tricycles go very slow and have to watch out for spray from the car tires. We are careful to only spray the kids at the side of the road who are waiting for a splash.

We had a mission Zone Conference last week where we were able to see our little missionary batch* we befriended at the Prove MTC. When we were at the MTC we found the next batch going to the Philippines Angeles Mission and took them Halloween candies and treats before we left for our mission. They followed in December. They are now assigned in the same zone so we were able to get them together and took their picture with us. They are working very hard in the Camiling Zone.

Sunday we had the assignment to go back to our favorite little branch in the Paniqui District – Cuyapo Branch. It was made a branch a couple months ago and they were holding their meetings in the missionary’s carport. Now they have a rented house that has been remodeled for their use with class rooms, an office for the branch president and a very nice large room for their Sunday meetings. Their new building means so much to them and has really changed their commitment to the gospel. We are so happy for them.

Elder NB & Sister MB

* A batch is the group that studies together at the MTC and arrives in the mission field together.