Ring in 2010... with a phone call!

Our New Years Eve plans were halted until we received a call from MIB. He was into his first day of 2010 while we were still in 2009. He had much to tell us about the future : )
We had a great conversation with him – it was great to get to hear from him! He has been in Inayauan for the last couple of transfers. It’s a bit more remote than his last area (see the map). He is enjoying it and is really immersed in the work. He sounds wonderful. Only 9-1/2 months left! WOW!!
Last week we were up north and able to visit our old ward/church. We’ve only been gone for 6 months, and yet I could see some real changes in the children there. Many of them seemed so much more mature. It’s amazing that while you are right there among them, it’s hard to see the transition. Yet, when you leave for even a short time, the changes are so significant! It was like being with family to be back in our old ward and visiting with old friends. You truly are wonderful people!
It scares me, just a little, to imagine the transition that MIB is making in the mission field. When he left, I considered how much his younger siblings would change in his eyes. They have changed so much already, just as I know he has too. I know that Hubby has changed a lot, at least physically, since he has left. He comments on those changes already. We never seem to see our own changes. Have I changed since he left? I wonder if I’ll seem changed to him. Who knows – just have to hope that the changes are for the better!
I have to admit that I’ve been hording some photos MIB sent. I have been enjoying these pictures and have yet to share them. So… here they are. Enjoy!

Humpday is over - On the downhill

Hump day was October 22nd! MIB has been out a whole year now - Only one more to go! It's all downhill from here : ) I'm excited to know that this time next year I'll be giving him lots of hugs and kisses and hearing more about his mission adventures!

Not only does this month mark his 1/2 way through his mission, it also included his birthday. He is no longer a teenager! (Which also means, I'm the mother of an adult child!!! Wow!) Thank you to all of you who sent him a note this month. I know he loves to hear from you all!

Pictures, pictures. Get'm while you can. All the viruses from the Internet cafes eventually killed MIB's camera through the memory card, so he won't be sending home pictures via email. It may be a while before we get more pictures from him. Enjoy the pictures!

MIB was also transferred to a new area. "Friday we went to Bacolod for transfers and I am now in Inayauan :D its really really south and bukid and way way pretty here :D my new companion's name is Elder Raymundo :D he seems pretty koo!"

Anybody know what "bukid" means? Yah, he throws foreign words in his sentences lots!

The fam' here is doing well. I've been asked for more updates from home. So, here we go: We are well adjusted here.

Princess jumped right into soccer. She just finished up her season and didn't miss a beat to get started into basketball. She keeps busy with sports, school work and friends. She has made a nice group of friends here and is enjoying it.

Those of you who know me, won't believe this, but I didn't take any pictures for the soccer season. Princess's friend's dad had sweet lenses on his camera and is putting a bunch of pictures on CD for the whole team. NICE. (I can see know how much Princess's team appreciated the basketball CD we gave them last year. I can't wait for the soccer CD!) Which reminds me, (Angela) that we haven't yet seen a trek CD from Princess's trek this summer. : ) She missed the reunion, so we didn't get a CD.

DK is living up to his name - He is in the high school play, "Bye Bye Birdie". That is a big commitment. It has interfered a little with tennis. He has really taken off with tennis. He'll be able to get back into tennis when the play is over (November, just before Thanksgiving). That is, if it isn't at the same time as basketball?! He is working hard on scouting. Yesterday he was working all morning doing service, planting trees and bushes for the city. He and the others that volunteered their time did a great job. It looks beautiful. Just a few more merit badges and time as a star and he'll be ready to do his eagle project. He's been trying to come up with an eagle project. He has a list of ideas going. If you have any ideas - please do tell!

Naws is growing up! He is thoroughly enjoying kindergarten. He has several good friends in the neighborhood. One just a few doors up is even in his school class. Having boy friends that live so close is a new thing for him. I guess princess movies and playing house are things of the past. Now it's lots of lego, star wars and the Wii. Naws tried tennis a few times and seems to really like it. He has his own little racket (thanks to Grandpa passing on the kido rackets) and some fun drills we do at home - Mom drops the ball, he hits it and tries to hit Dad who is sitting out in the grass. It's such a thrill to try to nail Dad with the ball! Tennis is quite entertaining, plus he gets to be a big kid, just like his big bro, DK. He is also doing basketball this year. He is so excited to start in the family tradition!! Today he has his part for the Primary Program. He's ready to go!

Hubby and I are doing just fine. We are enjoying the beautiful fall weather. We've enjoyed several visitors. Thanks so much for coming to see us! We love visitors. I was a bit disappointed when the marathon came and went and we didn't get a visit from those of you who I know where here! I guess that just means that you'll be making another trip down just to see little'ole me. : ) I'm sure as the weather continues to grow colder up north, some may have a little more encouragement to come south!! We continue to run into old friends here. It's fun to see people I haven't seen for years and catch up on what's is happening in their lives. It amazes me that other people's kids grow up too. Wow. It's true!

I've blogged LOTS today - so I hope you "feel the love" and know we think of our friends and family far away lots! I am reminded frequently how much our friendships touch our hearts and how important friends are.

Enjoy!

Less than 400!

Did you notice the count down - less than 400 days until we see MIB again!! But whose counting, right?
I'm so excited for the experiences he is having. So is MIB; he said, "The missionary experience is awesome. I wouldn't trade it for the world. There is so much about this gospel I am learning out here and so much about the world too. It's awesome."

These first few pictures are from his current area (I think). But the others, I believe, are from a previous area. I am just now getting the pictures. He's been trying to send home all his pictures a little at a time. Since they are all new to all of us viewing them, I figured you'd enjoy them whether recent or not. Enjoy!

News from this week is about the expansion of the ward where he is now. He is so excited about the growth. "So this week went pretty good. We are getting to visit with the new bishop, his counselors and some in-active members :D So our meeting house is supposed to be fine to meet in by Sunday. I went through it and compared it to all the churches I have been in in the Philippines. Its way nice (all of ours in PG that I remember are still way bigger but hey it's all good). I'm way way excited to get to meet in it."

"It used to be tiny before I came and now it's huge, bigger than the stake center. Everyone is way way proud of it. haha To me it is awesome; I'm way way excited :D"

"My comp is awesome. We are teaching tons of teenage girls and they all have different religions, so it's kinda fun. haha For example, some of the girls believe God and Jesus Christ are one person and a spirit."

MIBs birthday is in a few weeks. It's a great excuse to send him a letter. I'd love for you to share your testimony with him - share with him what you believe in and what you know to be truth! Just in case you've misplaced his address, here it is (postage is 98 cents):

Philippines, Bacolod Mission Office

PO Box 660

Bacolod city

6100 Negros Occidental

Philippines

No excuses! Share the love! Take a minute to send him a letter! Thanks for your love and support!

Elder Espitero‏ and Old Sigay City

MIB is in Old Sigay City with Elder Espitero. The two have faced a lot together, including the death of Elder Espitero's father. What a dedicated servant of the Lord that Elder Espitero has been to remain in the mission field during such a difficult time.

It has caused me to reflect how quickly circumstances in life can change and how much we really need our loved ones.

Thank goodness for the gospel of Jesus Christ where we can know that we will again be reunited with our loved ones after our mortal life on earth.

I have received few written words from MIB the last few weeks, but lots of photos.
Here is the majority of what I have heard from him and some pictures for your enjoyment!

"So we had a baptism on Saturday :D Bengie :) I got to baptize him :D Only problem is my camera died, so the Pres. took a picture with his and his camera is film. I will have to wait to get it. Umm, we had some exciting stuff but I have to save some stories for when I come home. haha. Well, I hope everything is going great over there even though I'm not there. haha"

Until next blog...

Views of Zions NP

While looking for a picture of Hubby to include in my last post, I ran across these pictures from our last venture to Zions National Park.

I thought you may enjoy seeing some of what we captured there. Zions is one of our family's favorite places.

I didn't take near as many pictures as everybody else did! I was able to sneak a few in, but mostly somebody else was snapping pictures, including NAWs!

There is something therapeutic about nature and Zions has lots of it!

Enjoy!

Jesus Spoke in Church Today!

Today's little storey is just too funny not to share.

Those of you who have not seen my Hubby in the last year may not recognize him these days. He has been growing his hair out. Along with his "longer than ever before" hair, he also has a beard and mustache. (His latest idea is to grow a beard long enough to braid...hmmm. Maybe he'll get another idea before he fulfills that one.)

Here is a picture of him so you can see his new look. I love the curl!

Now for the Jesus Storey:

Hubby and I spoke in church today. Yep, we did and survived : )

After the meeting, our neighbor came up and shared with us a story of how Hubby had truly inspired their 3 year old to pay attention in church.

They noticed early on in the meeting that he was staring at the program and studying it more than usual. The picture on the front of the program was of John the Baptist baptising Jesus. He continued to look at the picture, and then look up at the stand and then back at the program again. When Hubby stood up to speak their son stared at him and watched him so closely. Then after listening for a few minutes he turned to his Dad and said, "Jesus is speaking at church today."

Yes, it's not the first time Hubby has been called Jesus. When going out, Jared would endearingly refer to Hubby when saying, "Jesus, you sit up front with me." However, I don't think Hubby's look ever encouraged Jared to pay any more attention to what he had to say as it did the 3 year old in church today.

Too funny.

Ocean Baptism

Guimaras

MIB loved his time in Guimaras. It was his first time being the senior companion and group leader. He really loves the people of Guimaras!

One of the things he had so hoped for on his mission was to be able to baptise in the ocean, and HE DID! Here are pictures from that baptism.

MIBs ability to speak the language has improved so much. He doesn't admit to it, but when he is struggling to find the English words in his emails, I know he must be doing well.

I promise I won't go months without blogging more. Check back again soon!