More Specialized Training

Siniloan Zone...In front, Sister Batan, Sister Ballesteros, 

Sister Gabonada, Elder De Guia, Elder Gomia, Elder Orro,

 Sister Billings, Elder De Young, Elder Sambile.  Back row, 

Elder Roxas (our new AP), and Elder Adop

Santa Cruz Zone...Front row, Elder Villanueva, Elder Yance, 

Elder Sheperdson, Elder Johnson, Sister Buton, Sister Roque, 

Back row, Elder Castillo, Elder Knight, Elder Guba, Elder 

Brown, Elder Butler, Elder Belandres.

Elder Bennett Giving counsel to Elder Surio and Elder Judd at a

 specialized training with San Pablo Zone during our 

"Practice" portion.

I got to prctice with Sister Romua and Sister Escalona 

at that workshop. 

Sister Bennett with Elder Judd and Elder Surio.

Good-Bye to Elder Elliot

Elder Abanggan and Elder Elliot getting ready to unload our new 

Christmas tree out of it's box and help me set it up.  

Elder Judd is posing in the background!

Elder Elliot with Elder Johnson...They were in the same "batch" of 

missionaries when they came out, but they were given and choice

 to go home for Thanksgiving or not, since it was so close to 

the same time.  Elder Elliot is going home the week before 

Thanksgiving.  Elder Johson is going the week after Thanksgiving 

with the rest of the batch, which are all local missionaries

 (from different areas in Philippines).

Our Good-bye picture with Elder Elliot.

Elder Roxas and Elder Johnson with Elder Elliot at the airport.  

He was a great missionary & hard worker to the end!  

We will miss him!

Field trip in Baguio (MP Seminar)

This is the gate entry into the Philippines President's Mansion

 in Baguio.

The President's mansion is behind us with the life-sized nativity.

This is a Santa hanging from a tree in that same yard where

 the nativity is.

A better shot of the nativity.

Shopping in Baguio!  Window shopping that is!

A fun view of the beautiful pine trees.

A wider view looking down off the mountain in Baguio.

These women are busy weaving fabric in the basement of a store

 called Easter Weaving Room, Inc.  They have beautiful fabrics. 

 I think it would be fun to make a skirt or light-weight jacket 

from some of their unique fabric.  It was fun and interesting to 

watch them.  It made me remember my weaving class at BYU.

Some of our group shopping at Weaving Room Inc.

I had to add this picture of Elder Ardern.  He is in the 1st quorum

 of the Seventy and also a Counselor in our Area Presidency.

  He gave a talk in October, 2011 General Conference entitled, 

"A Time to Prepare". He spoke about devoting our time to things 

that matter most. He made mentioned that "catapulting angry 

birds at concrete walls" was something we can mindlessly turn 

into countless hours of our time.  Elder Brent Neilson of the 

1st quorum of the Seventy is the other Counselor in our Area 

Presidency and he found this Angry Birds hat at the Easter 

Weaving shop. He made a funny little presentation  of this hat 

to Elder Ardern in front of all of us on the bus!  The Area 

Presidency are really a lot of fun...and so are their wives

Mission President's Seminar Nov. 2011 in Baguio

This picture is taken off our hotel room balcony at The Manor in 

Camp John Hays at Baguio, Philippines.It is beautiful and cool 

weather there!  It was a great place to have the seminar! 

Beautiful Grounds!

Beautiful hydrangias!  We don't see these in San Pablo!

Another view from our balcony!

More of the beautiful grounds!  As you can see, Philippines

 is ready for Christmas.  They start early.  They celebrate in 

September, October, November and December for Christmas 

holidays.  Christmas music has been playing in the malls 

for 2 1/2 months so far!

This area on the grounds is called the friendship garden. Abraham 

Lincoln's statue is sitting at the other end of the garden.  Notice 

the big pine trees in the background.  You won't find pine trees 

anywhere else in the Philippines...only in Baguio! 

Beautiful view at night!

...And another!

Lovely nativity and decor in the lobby entry of hotel.

Hotel restaurant had fabulous food!  Presentation as well as taste!

How's this for a Christmas tree?

Marinduque Special Training Nov. 2011

Beautiful scene of a roadside view on Marinduqe!

This is a view behind us at that previous picture...It is very typical

 to see this.  The Philippine people are very resourceful on 

places to hang or lay their laundry out to dry!

The winding roads on Marinduque!

Specialized Training for the Marinduque Zone...Having their
snack after the meeting!  It was a wonderful training on the Power
 of the Book of Mormon in Conversion.  Elder Johnson, our AP
is in the lower left side.  Above him, starting from the left...
Elder Blanco, Elder De Leon, Sister Baladad, Sister Camingao,
Elder Waga behind her, Elder Trapsi, Elder Haake, Elder
Lucero, Elder Abanggan above him, Elder Dela Cruz and Elder 
Pratt.  They were a fun group!  It's always good to be with 
the missionaries!

Elder Johnson getting creative with his photography!  This is a 

shot of the seaside at night on Marinduque!

Here we are on the boat home from Marinduque with 

Elder & Sister Packer!

Baptism in the Ocean Nov. 2011

Walking to the beach for the baptism!

 This is the place for the Baptismal service in Lopez Zone 

on the beach.

This is one of the Sisters getting baptized...5 of her children were 

getting baptized with her.

One of the cute kids attending the baptism.

Some of the group wanting to take a picture with us!

Another child that attended.

...And another!  Cute, huh?

All in white...some are baptizing and others getting baptized.  

We are in the middle of the back row.

Here is the group going out to be baptized.  This is a beautiful

shot captured by Elder Packer.  It has become a famous picture

in the mission!  Beautiful!

Here is President Peterson with Elder Sollano and it looks like

Elder Navarro behind the tree!  President is always teaching!  

This was another great picture taken by Elder Packer!

A special hymn being sung by our missionaries at the service.  

It was beautiful!  From the left, Elder Michaels, Elder Smith

(picking through in the back), Elder Francisquete, Elder 

Sollano, Sister Rombaoa, Elder Delos Santos, Elder Navarro,

Sister Uy, Elder Miranda, Elder Valenzuela, and Elder Agan.