Zone Leaders Council, Dec, 2011

Here is our latest batch of zone leaders gathered for our 

December Zone Leader's Council.  Front row... Elder Sambile, 

Elder Blanco, Elder Abanggan (AP), Elder Castillo, Elder 

Villanueva, Elder Cortez, Pesident & me, Elder Yance, Elder 

Bactad, Elder Sanchez, Elder Francisquete, and Elder Dela Cruiz.

Back...Elder Judd, Elder Visoria, Elder Quimsing, Elder 

Delos Santos, Elder Dioso (thumb up!),Elder Ramos, Elder 

Miranda, Elder Roxas (AP), Elder Shepherdson, 

Elder Brown, and Elder Navarro.

Elder Judd, Elder Roxas, Elder Shepherdson, and 

Elder Brown visiting with President.

ElderQuimsing and Elder Sambile.

President is teaching the zone leaders our New Vision for the 

Philippines missions..."Establishing the Church Through Real 

Growth".  The Church has grown trememdously in the past 50 

years since it first came to the Philippines.  However, many are 

less active and not participating.  We, as missionaries and 

members are going to go to the less active and help them "feel" 

what they once new and bring them back. The missionaries will

 teach them the lessons again and see that they are loved and 

feel a deeper conversion. No more tracking. Finding will come

 from referrals only. The missionaries are excited!

Missionaries going home before Christmas! Dec, 2011

This batch was given the option to go home a little early...in time

 for Christmas.  Front row...Elder Abanggan (our AP, not going

 home yet), Elder Rubio, Elder Belandres, President & I, Sister 

Huerta, Sister Juntong, and Elder Haake. Back row, Elder 

Valenzuela, Elder Libatique, Elder Vandermyde, Elder Agan,

Elder Doughty, Elder Gomia, Elder Washburn, and Elder Lucero.

  We will miss them!!

Waiting for the bus!  Again!

Transfer Day, Nov, 2011

Here we are busily putting up chairs after transfer meeting.  This is an exciting day for all who are being transferred...to get their new companions and new areas to work in!

Here is Elder Hurst with his arm on one of our new missionaries, Elder Sasagi with Elder Vandermyde looking on.  Missionaries are so good at making the new ones feel welcomed and loved already!

Here are three of our new missionaries, Elder Lucia, Elder Manzon, and Elder Seggay waiting for their companions to get reimbursements and get to their areas.

Elder Quimsing, Sister Gabonada, and Sister Batan visiting and waiting around after transfer meeting.

Elder Shepherdson, Elder Vandermyde and Elder Brown.

Don't you love this expression?  This is Elder Michaels, one of our new office Elders.

Elder Lucero and his happy countenance!  He always has a great big smile!

Sister Baladad and Sister Uy enjoying some time together before they are transferred!

Sister Romua, Sister Escalona and Elder Trapsi are excited...can you tell?  They love transfer day so they can see those they haven't seen for a while!

Elder Castillo with a new purchase...2 coin purses.  We have venders that show up to these transfer days and missionaries sometimes order things to come in the next transfer.  Wood carvers and leather crafts are mostly what I see.

Elder Dioso, Elder Revillo (behind), Sister Tacbobo, Sister Batan, and Sister Gabuyo.  Sister Billings and Sister Watkins in the background.

Sister Tacbobo, Sister Atillo, Sister Uy, Elder Abanggan, Sister Gabonada, and Elder Dioso...happy to pose!

New Missionaries Nov., 2011

Our new batch of foreign missionaries.  Elder Mac Millen from

 Australia, Elder Kleinlein from Queen Creek, AZ, Sister Morton

 from Spanish Fork, UT, Elder Sasagi from Samoa, and Elder 

Edvalson from Am. Fork, UT.  It's always fun to get a new

 batch of missionaries!

Waiting at the bus stop for the new local missionaries coming

 in from the Manila MTC to join the batch of foreigners!

Yea!!  The bus has arrived!  Elder Judd, Elder Surio, and 

Elder Roxas are there to great them!

The bus has dropped them off...Now they need to cross the street 

to get to the mission home!

Here they all come.  Happy day!!

On our way to the mission home!

Here we are all together with the "New Batch".  Front row...

Elder Estayo, Elder Cello, Sister Donato,Sister Ramos, me, 

Sister Salon, Sister Morton, and Elder Lucila. Back row, 

Elder Manzon, Elder Tolentino, Elder Seggay, Elder Revillo, 

Elder Alvaro, Elder Torculas, Elder Edvalson, President,

 Elder Sasagi, Elder Keinlein, and Elder Mac Millen.

Missionaries going home, Nov., 2011

We are dropping off Elder Durano at the MRC (Missionary 

Recovery Center).  His chest xray (All missionaries going home 

have to have one) showed that he could possibly have TB.  They 

found he did have it, but it was not the contagious kind (Thank 

goodness).  We said good-bye here, because he needed some 

treatments before going home.  He missed out on the going home 

time spent in the mission home before they go.  He is a sweet, 

fine young man.  He will be a faithful servant his whole life, 

I am sure!

Going home batch this month!  Front row...Elder Quiambao, 

Sister Ballesteros, me, Sister Camingao, Elder Villamil, and Elder

 Lopez.  Back row...Elder Painagan, Elder Belandres, Elder 

Paddayuman, President, Elder Johnson, Elder Remollo

, and Elder Adap.

On the sofa is Sister Billings and Sister Ballesteros.  In the 

back, Elder Painagan, Elder Sambile, Elder Surio, Sister Baladad,

 Sister Camingao, and Elder Quiambao.

Sister Ballesteros,  Sister Camingao, Elder Belandres, Elder 

Painagan, Elder Paddayuman, and Elder Adap.  Getting ready 

to walk to the bus that takes them to Manila.

Waiting for the bus!

Still waiting...

And waiting...

                             

More specialized training, Nov., 2011

Elder Clark...looking happy to be here!

Some of the missionaries from Lucena Zone after specialized 

training are having their snack as the open their pouch (mail) and

 enjoying each other's company.  Elder Dela Cruiz, Elder 

Painagan, Sister Grow, Sister Villasis, Elder Perez, Elder 

Poole (looking over his shoulder), Elder Delos Santos, 

and Elder Libutti.

Elder Poole enjoying one of my homemade cookies we 

brought along with a juice.  They love the cookies!

Elder Painagan is happy about his pouch!

I am happily received as I am the one passing out the TREATS!

Sister Paul Raj and Sister Grow

In the front...Elder Dela Cruiz, Elder Dorano, Elder Abanggan 

(AP), Elder Delos Santos (being squeezed), and Sister Tacbobo.

  In th back...Elder Painagan, Elder Bayla, Elder Johnson (AP), 

Elder Tamale, Sister Grow, Elder Libutti, 

Elder Poole (doing the squeezing)

Thanksgiving with Office Staff

Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, rolls, steamed vegetables, 

fruit salad, cranberry sauce and even fresh pumpkin pie!!

Notice the carcus and other leftovers!  Cute picture of Sister 

Packer & Sister Bennett trying to stuff more food into 

Elder Abanggan!

AP's with our new Christmas tree!  As you can see, we need to 

find a tree skirt!

This is all of us Seniors at Elder and Sister Howell's having a nice

Thanksgiving dinner.  We are holding up these beautiful stars that

Sister Bennett had someone make for us. You can see in the 

picture below where I hung mine at the mission home! In the 

picture starting at the left, Me, Sister Bennett, Sister Packer,

Sister Campbell, Sister Montague, Sister Walker & Sister Howell

I had to show you the cute napkins rings that Sister Howell 

made for everyone when we went to their home the Monday

 before Thanksgiving and had a dinner there, too!  She had

 the table decorated like Martha Stewart!