FAMILY MAKES IT THE BEST!!!!

The past 2 weeks have flown by .... with Amy and Carter coming to spend a week with us; and then our journeys from Vigan in Ilocus Sur in the North West part of Luzon  ... down to Bataan, and then on south to Binan and then Pagsanjin falls on the south of Laguna.    We are still in full swing and wanted to share a few highlights so that you can get just a glimpse of what we are up to 'in between' the meetings with partners, arranging for Member Welfare Projects, teaching Priesthood leaders about the concepts of Welfare administration, assessing and distributing wheelchairs, and going to Church.    We do play sometimes :)   :)   :)   :)

Senior Couples serving in the Philippines is a highlight of our weeks.   This is Elder and Sister Fonbuena from California who are serving their 4th Mission to the Philippines (they are both originally from the Philippines).    They are a great support and strength to the Self Reliance Program being administered to the Saints here.

I just can't pass up a photo of a local
 Church Parking lot on Sunday after Church.  
This is the mode of travel for many of our
humble members in our Branches and Wards.
    A whole family will come to Church together
on their family 'trike'.

A beautiful beach just out from a coastal hotel
that we spent the night in on the West Coast
of Luzon, near San Fernando, La Union.  

Our daughter, Amy, and our grandson, Carter, come to Philippines to experience some tropical adventures with the two sets of Elder &
Sister Bell. So much fun together. Here we are on the Island of
Bohol, celebrating Elder Kevin Bell's Birthday!!

We made a visit to the Tarsier Sanctuary on Bohol.  This little guy was watching us as
close as we watched him.    They do not take to being disturbed .... and so we must be extra quiet and gentle
in our movements and as we search for their resting spots.   Trained guides assist us in locating the precious little creatures, and assist us in finding the best vantage point for a careful and precise photo.    We all wanted to just reach up and cup this little guy in our hands . 

So here we are ..... out on our catamaran boat .... and the prop shears off.   So we drift along on the ocean waves as we wait for the other catamaran to come find us and take us to the snorkel spot.   Carter and Amy were great sports about being patient .... but as soon as we drifted close enough to put on snorkels - we were all for checking out the water.

Good time to talk, think, share special
stories .... I love my sister - Kathy Richards Bell.
Who would have thought that 2 girl friends growing up
in the Brigham City 10th Ward in the 1960's and
1970's would become sister-in-laws and closer
friends than could be imagined.    Thanks Sister Kathy
Bell for being an awesome example, friend, and my
Sister.

And here is Elder Bell and Elder Bell.  Tharon
is 3 years older than Kevin, but they have always
been close.   They are both Returned Missionaries,
Plumbers, outstanding Priesthood holders, very
good husbands, and wonderful Fathers, and
amazing Grandfathers.   Kathy and I are very
fortunate to have found these 2 Bell Brothers.

Amy and Carter, chilling on the boat as we travel back
to the 2nd snorkel sight.    At the first site we found great shells and a Filipino family who wanted photos with their new found
American friends.     No matter where you go in the Philippines ...
you can find friends.

I love my time in the water.  I could do this weekly .... being
this close to amazing snorkel and dive sites calls to my inner
soul.    But I am honestly doing the work that I love the most -
I love serving the Lord as a Missionary .   I love being an
instrument of dedication and service to spread the doctrine of
Christ and to lift the downtrodden and assist the poor to have those
things they need.      (But I still love being under the water!)

Some pretty cool shells .... and they made it back to Utah in
great condition.     Thanks Uncle Kevin & Aunt Kathy for
assisting in the shell hunt and gathering!

Carter could not get enough of the water.   He and grandpa Tharon went out on an early morning fishing trip .... they caught some little fish, but it didn't matter.  It was fishing on the Ocean in the Philippines!!    A dream trip!!

This is one of the hermit crabs and shells
that Carter found.  It was amazing to watch
the beach.  At times, it was as if the whole
beach was moving because there was
so many little creatures and the hermit
crabs were all moving towards higher
ground as the tide washed in.

Another sea creature inhabiting one of the shells that
Carter found during our snorkel trip.  On our second site,
we went to a coral reef that was breathtaking and so
'un-touched'.   We could experience so many types
and varieties of Coral and sea life.   The water was literally
teaming with life.

I love the hues of the purple plant along side of this beautiful tropical flower.  The Philippines is truly a pleasing, beautiful heaven to behold.  The lush foliage and amazingly brilliant colors of the flowers is such an amazing experience to witness and enjoy.

This may be just a tiny little flower .... but so beautiful!

Amy, myself, and Carter are going to
be brave as we head out to visit the
chocolate hills of Bohol before we
experience our daring adventures at the
Zip Line and Suislide Swing over the
canyon .

Such gorgeous flowers.

Photos out of order .... but had to share a few of the butterflies that are found here.    We visited a butterfly enclosure that houses the caterpillars and then the pupae from which these gorgeous butterflies emerge.  Carter and I probably spent an hour inside the enclosure as we watched and captured with our cameras these amazing species in the insect world.  Butterflies have always been an amazing and favorite thing  in my 'book of life'.

The famous Chocolate Hills of Bohol.  It
has been extra rainy this summer here on
Bohol island, so the hills are not their usual
'chocolate' brown color.   They are only found
on this island .... nothing quite like them
anywhere else in the world.     What
created this phenomenon here?

Another beautifully designed butterfly, only minutes after hatching
from its cocoon.  It is still attempting to dry it's wings.   What a
inspiring moment to witness the emergence and then
wing drying minutes.

Carter had a special touch .... the butterflies would light on
his hand and he was gentle enough with them that they
would stay and climb up his hand and wrist.  A wonder of
Nature - so beautiful.

Here we have Carter sitting on the top of the multi-cab vehicle that Elder & Sister Bell uses to transport Missionaries and Members to activities and transfers all across the Island.  Missionaries are not allowed to ride up top ... but Carter wanted to experience what all of the Filipino boys were experiencing  .... on the top of the Jeepneys and off the side of the trikes; so Elder Bell let him ride on top while we traveled.     So many of the Filipino people were very happy and waving at Carter as we drove across the island and through a few cities.  Carter loved it and just waved back.    It is not often that a Filipino sees an American boy who is 14 years old and 6 feet tall riding on top of a vehicle in the Philippines.   He was a 'star' for the day!!

We are the brave 3 today.   Kevin and Kathy have made the adventurous trips before and so they just encouraged us and were our cheering squad.   Grandpa Tharon wanted to make sure that he had the photos for all of us .... so we Zipped and Swang ... and had alot of fun.

Amy preparing for her swing across the canyon.

Me (Holly) Zip-lining across the canyon.

Our trophy picture,

Carter coming in from the Zip Line.    What a rush!

Good sports after a day of Zipping, swinging, riding in the
multi-cab, climbing a hill, touring  .... experiencing the
beauty of the Philippines.

Last day with Elder Kevin Bell & Sister Kathy Bell.  On Pangalou Island, Carter is preparing to do some more snorkeling out in the Ocean before we fly back into Manila.  It has been an adventure to remember.

Carter was just not wanting to let a moment pass if he could be in the water and checking out the ocean floor.

We really enjoyed our 'down-time' week with Amy and Carter, and sharing it with Elder Kevin Bell and Sister Kathy Bell made it even more memorable.  We spend so much time traveling and in meetings ... so this was a cherished week with family.    We miss them now that Amy and Carter are home .... but we feel that they have glimpsed just a tiny bit about the beauties of the Philippines; but also they have witnessed the humility and sincerity of these amazing, resilient Filipino people.    They have seen the humble circumstances they live in.... they see the traffic craziness .... the feel the heat of the air and the saltiness of the sea .... and they now realize the blessing that it is for Elder K. Bell & Sister K. Bell  AND Elder T. Bell & Sister H. Bell  to come here and to serve these kind people and to love them.  And we do .... we love the Filipino people.