School Children, Projects, and many Kilometers

Primary Fashion & Talent show on a Saturday afternoon.  

We have been richly blest this past 2 weeks as we have been on the road for hours on end, but met wonderful school children and humble Priesthood leaders along the way.

Elder Bell meeting in council with this past Branch
President, and present Branch President as
we discuss ways to assist their members who
are struggling with financial problems.

Our second meeting with Priesthood
leaders and committee as these 2
Wards discuss the possibility of
a Member Welfare Project raising a
Large Vegetable Garden and having a
piggery..

This member was thrilled to have a new wheelchair
delivered to her home out in the mountainous region.  She
had suffered a stroke and had been unable to leave her home
and attend Church and go into the city.

This was a little lizard skeleton atop the gate of one of our Churches
that we needed to visit.    We waited for the Branch President to come
open the gate and let us in .... and I noticed this.    Tharon could not
figure out what I was attempting to take a photo of.

I have been noticing many of the schools
have uniforms for the children to wear.  They
are simple, but look so cool.

I liked the ties that went with this uniform

This one has a lighter blue skirt.  The boys
wear darker slacks and a white shirt.

This is a dark blue skirted uniform.  The
shirt/blouse is white.

Many are just a simple skirt of a particular fabric, and any white top.

These two girls are from different schools, but are awaiting
the 'trike' to pick them up after school is over.

I really liked this green material and the
pink on the little boys shirt added
'pizzaz' to his uniform.   The schools send
the kids home (or out) for lunch time for
1 hour.  The schools do not have funds for school
lunch ... and so the families have to provide
for their children.    Some of these kids only eat 2
meals a day.  Rice, some protein.  Maybe some soup.

I also liked this one.   The tie sets it off and looks fashionable.
The other two girls have a 'light' colored top.

These young men were excited to have
their photo taken ... just prior to a
performance for LDSC.   We were
honored with a special performance
by the 6th graders of this school that
the Church donated computers, chairs,
and construction supplies
for repairs after Storm LAWIN at
the first of the Year.

These children are not used to seeing an old blonde woman
taking photos of them in their school.  They were all smiles
and high fives.    I loved their smiles.

I caught this beautiful young lady's contagious smile.

Receiving these two boxes of precious reading glasses that this young Elder's family has
sent to be distributed to the needy here in the Philippines.  As Humanitarian Missionaries we
accepted these and have arranged with Mabuhay Deseret to bring them to a Vision screening
that we will be assisting with next week.  This is Sister Hiatt, and President Hiatt,
of the Cauayan Mission in Northern Luzon.  This Mission covers most of the East Coast
of  the large island of Luzon.   Most of it is extremely mountainous.    We have been
warned to not be out driving through the mountainous areas after dark ... the Filipinos
have a vigilante group moving about.          Sister Brett is the Office Secretary and was so kind to
assist us with our needs in the Cauayan City area. 

Dr. Jacinto .... we are working together on the
Wheelchair Initiative project up in Northern Luzon.
Cagayan Valley Medical Center just signed a new
Memorandum of Understanding with LDSC and they
will receive more training so that they can provision
supportive chairs to Cerebral Palsied people, and those
who need a more technical wheelchair for their
disabilities.

Tharon is with the school superintendent
and school principals to sign over the LDSC
donations to the 2 Elementary and 1 High
schools.       The school building we are
in had its roof torn off and a large part of
it demolished in the LAWIN Storm.   LDSC
has helped supply materials to put the roof
back on and repair most of the building
so that it is usable for the children.

When we came to Baguio, this plant
was really not healthy.   2 months ago
I placed it outside on my balcony - so
that I did not kill it from lack of water
because we are gone so often.  As you
can witness ... it is thriving!    I love it!!
I am hoping that it shoots up a long
stem and we have a beautiful orchid
bloom before we leave next July!!

This is outside our balcony.  The storm has socked in hard and
we are surrounded by clouds.  It has rained, rained, and
rained.  

This is the little 'guard station' in front of our apartment complex.  There is
a guard here 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week.   If you ever mail us a package or a
letter, this is our private mailman.   He receives all mail for the building and
will then hand deliver it when we are either coming or going out of our parking
area.    This is common at almost all establishments, stores, hotels, and even
the fast food establishments (yup, a guard at McDonalds).    This is to serve
people, but also to prevent theft and corruption.


August is almost at its end.  I look at our September schedule, and it seems strange not to see so many trips planned for MANILA.   We are excited for the potential for more Member Welfare Projects ..... resources that can bless the lives of these people who are humble, who trust in the blessings of following the counsel of their Priesthood leaders.  We continue to pray that we will be found worthy to be instruments in the Lord's provident hands in assisting these people in the needs that they so desperately have.

We send our love across the miles.  School is starting back in the States, and we know that our grandchildren are getting back into the routine of school and Carter has his learner's permit.   Brayton is back full swing in High School Varsity Football .... a very valuable and strong player.    I have loved watching his and Hunter's games over the years.    Hunter is at Utah State University and excelling in his studies.   This handsome, wonderful grandson is aiming for Medical School.     In so many ways it is hard to be away during this wonderful year with our grandchildren  (we will miss Kole's first steps & snuggling little Boden as he learns to crawl and prepare to walk ; Jake's 8th Birthday and Baptism is quickly approaching, oh my heavens -- many amazing and special big things happening in their lives)   ...... but we also know that God's angels are watching out for our children and grandchildren while we serve here in the Philippines.