LAOAG JUBILEE EXHIBIT

Pictures of Laoag Jubilee Exhibit

On July 16, we hopped on a plane and flew to Laoag for the very first of the Jubilee Church History Exhibits that will now travel to 32 locations throughout the Philippines. This is Phase 2 of the Jubilee Celebration. Phase 1 was the Jubilee Cultural Celebration held the end of April and middle of May. Our job was to see that the exhibit arrived intact, see that the designated stakes could assemble the panels by following the instructional DVD that was sent, and be there to observe the opening of the exhibit. We arrived safely in Laoag. We were immediately struck by its beauty. Laoag is located on the northern tip of the Philippines just across from China and Taiwan. This area is famous for its beautiful beaches. We checked into our Hotel, the Java Inn. It was a very unique place.....lots of extras in the planning to make this stand out and be a fun place to stay. The shower had hot water, but none in the bathroom sink. We got settled in and headed for the LDS Stake Center. Let me just say that the Jubilee Event in Laoag was done right. The stake public affairs director had everything organized and followed the instructions we sent perfectly and then some. She said they had met as a Stake Public Affairs Council along with the Stake Presidency member over them, and the Stake Relief Society President, a few months ago to plan this event (sounds like a council to me!) Each ward was assigned a day to staff the event and to also assemble one of the panels. The panels were assembled, set up, and then ward members praticed what they would say about the pictures located on each panel. I was touched by their devotion, dedication, and desire to make this a success for their stake and community. The Laoag Mission President, President Odgers from New Zealand, came and assigned two sets of missionaries to be there each day to help make this a success. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Monday where the wife of the mayor came and spoke to those gathered and then cut the ribbon opening the week long open house. She was 41 years of age and did a wonderful job. She spoke of how much she felt the love of those in attendance and was happy she could speak about spiritual things and not political things. We sat with her and after she was presented a picture of the Savior (red robe one) she held it close to her heart. She also graciously went through all 8 panels and was very complimentary. We attended church at two of the wards and felt a great love for these people. They are so kind. Following the Open House opening ceremonies, we went back to the Java Inn, packed up our things, and checked out. We now had six hours until we needed to be at the airport and no place to go and no car of our own.....soooo....we made a plan......we hired a driver/tour guide and said, "Show us the sights for the next 6 hours". And he did!!

FAMILY ENRICHMENT SEMINAR

The Patrick Esmundo Family Demonstrating a Family Home Evening

Our Family Crest (39 is the Number in Our Family)

Elder and Sister Bird Holding Family Crest at Family Enrichment Training

A Collage of Pictures Taken at Family Enrichment Seminar

The Family Enrichment Training Seminar has been in the planning for over a year. Leni (Public Affairs Director of the Philippines) sits on the board of the Department of Social Welfare with emphasis on how to strengthen the Filipino family. She first approached BYU about producing a FHE book that would be non-denominational and non-sectarian....it could therefore, be used by ANY family in the world...in any country/government. They did it, and sent many copies in Tagalog to the Philippines. Saturday, July 9, was the presentation on how to plan, organize, and carry out a family night. This was presented to the National Committee on the Filipino Family along with the heads of about 8 sub-committees and some volunteers. It was so successful......these people were amazed at what we do in our families one night a week. Leni taught them how to organize it, what you do.....everything....she brought in a family to demonstrate a FHE.....they were perfect.....Mom, Dad, four children....ages 14, 12, 6. and 3. The 14 year old conducted, the 3 year old wandered around getting into everything.....she wanted to play with the screen behind them, then wanted the mic that her brother and parents were using....and was so happy when treats were served! It was so endearing!!! The people in attendance absolutely loved this. After the demonstration, they asked the parents lots of different questions. A few weeks ago, Leni had assigned the Goss's (other missionary couple in PA) and us to make a family crest/shield from the pattern in the FHE book to be shown and explained at this event......it was lots of fun. I also showed a family calendar (ours!) as another idea of something to do to keep a family close. The Goss's shared a FHE experience from years ago that used only little toys that their children already had. Later,the group was divided into small families and they made their own family crests and got to share with the group the meaning of each thing they had put on theirs. My heart was so touched as I watched all of this group....so interested in making the Filipino family strong.....value based.....with strong spiritual bonds. One sister, (not LDS....none of them are), was so excited, because she is the rep from her barangay (like a county) and they are just waiting to be taught the concept of a "family night"! I had such a strong feeling that these people are being prepared for the second coming of the Savior.....they are good and want good things. It is the most wonderful thing to get to know these people. One woman came over to me at the end and said so sincerely with her hand on her heart,"My heart is so touched by this experience today....I can't wait to try it." That's their assignment.......each is to incorporate this into their own families for the next 10 weeks and then they will be meeting to discuss. Their goal is to learn how to do a FHE and then be able to teach it in their own barangays. We have heard back from a few that held their very first Family Night and were so amazed at how much their children loved it.......they can't wait for the next week. It is just so sweet to see this inspired program working and blessing the lives of many of our Father's children.

HISTORIC MANILA HOTEL

Lunch at the Manila Hotel

The Douglas MacArthur Suite at the Manila Hotel/The Original Residence of General MacArthur Prior to W.W. II

The Historic Manila Hotel

The Manila Hotel was visited by us and three other senior missionary couples this week and a lovely time was spent there. We had a Filipino tour guide that took us to the Antiquities Room of the Hotel and then on to the MacArthur Suite which was the residence of General Douglas MacArthur prior to W.W. II. This hotel has hosted dignitaries (Presidents, musicians, and actors) from 1935 to present day. We saw pictures of most of them in the antiquities room. We also ate lunch at the hotel... we had an enjoyable clam chowder with a very unusual but tasty club sandwich. We then drove by the Vice President of the Philippines home and on to a place called Dam Good Stuff, Inc. ...yes, that is truly the name. It specializes in fresh water pearls, jewelry, and other attractive "stuff". They are the wholesaler for many countries around the world. Many pesos were spent there.

U.S. EMBASSY IN PHILIPPINES

Inner Courtyard at U.S. Embassy

View of Embassy with Manila Bay in Background

View from Ambassador's Office Balcony

Ballroom at U.S. Embassy--War Crimes Trial Held Here

Gen. MacArthur and His Troops Raising the Flag

Bombed U.S. Embassy During W.W. II

U.S. Embassy in Philippines

Seal of the U.S. Embassy

We visited the U.S. Embassy this week for a tour just prior to the 4th of July. It is located right on the edge of the Manila Bay and is beautiful. This was our first visit to the bay and this area. One of our guides was a returned missionary from Utah and it was good to have him along. This experience was very touching as we learned of the shelling of the embassy during W.W. II. The original flagpole still stands in the front courtyard with holes in it from the arsenal that hit it. WE also visited sites where Gen. Douglas MacArthur stood and raised the flag once again following our victory over Japan. We also stood in a room where the war crimes trials were held. We saw pictures of "High Pockets" , a woman, at the risk of losing her life, gave the Americans valuable intelligence during W.W. II. We gave the Ambassordor's aid a gift packet of a picture of Christ, a picture of the Ambassador which was taken at the Memorial Cemetery during Memorial Day, a Mormon Tabernacle Choir C.D. and information about the Church in the Philippines. This was a nice experience.

WOMEN'S CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

Inmates Listening to a Motivational Speaker

View of the Correctional Facility

Entrance to Correctional Facility

On June 13, we were invited to accompany the Humanitarian missionary couple (Elder and Sister Smith from Washington state) on an assignment for LDS Charities to the Women's Correctional Facility (Women's Prison) in Mandaluyong City. We contacted the Makati Stake President, who wanted to come, along with the Stake Relief Society President and the Stake Public Affairs Director. In the end, President Arzaga, was the only one able to come with us. He was very happy, because the prison lies within his stake boundaries. We were going to deliver wheel chairs and computer printers. It was a very erie feeling going through all of those steel gates. There were quite a number of smaller buildings all connected with courtyards. There were many trees and foilage......a prison in a tropical climate!! We were informed that the inmates in blue t-shirts were minimum security and those in orange clothing were maximum security. There were many women in this prison. They were all very polite to us......when they would see us approaching they jumped up from whatever they were doing and smiled and said, "Good Morning, po" (po shows respect) or they would say, "Good Morning, mam/sir, po". Some were young and some were old. It truly touched our hearts to be there with them. I wanted to sit down with each one and hear how they ended up in this place and give them hope. Many had their bibles out reading them. One inmate we met in the hospital was so sweet. She told me she was from Cebu and had been in prison since the year after her one and only child was born. He is 14 now and she has 2 more years to serve. That broke my heart. I thought of all the things she had missed. She said she just lives every moment for the day she will be able to be with her son and her husband again. While I was visiting with that inmate, Elder Bird was visiting with an older inmate being fit for a wheelchair. She wanted to know if he knew Larry Bird....he was her favorite pro-basketall player! I think he said they were distant relatives!! I visited with her also for some time. When it was time for us to leave, she just cried and cried and kept saying thank you for coming to visit her. I think she has very few visitors. I thought about the Savior's admonition, "I was in prison and you visited me". President Arzaga told us there are 4 sisters in there from his stake. We met one. She seemed so young......in her twenties and she is in prison for 20 years. We learned that when she was 17, she helped kidnap someone for ransom!!! I kept thinking....."aren't we all just a few bad choices from prison?!!!" As we were leaving the prison hospital, we met a group of ladies called the British Women's Organization. They were aware of a little 6 year old girl in an orphanage in need of a wheel chair. She had not been off of a bed since last October. Elder Smith said, "We just happen to have a wheel chair that size and it is in the storage area back at the office." They arranged to give it to them the next day. There are no coincidences......just sweet tender mercies going on all around us! There is a little shop where the inmates sell the things they make there. With the money they earn, they can buy school supplies for their children, hygiene supplies, and more craft supplies. Everyone wanted us to buy their particular home made items........I tried...., but was brought back to reality by my good husband! We were looking for the sister that was a member of the church, and soon all of those inmates in the store were saying they were Mormons also!! I thought, "hmm, they still may have a little problem with lying!!" We loved having this sweet experience. We hope to come back to visit again.

FATHER'S DAY 2011

Elder Bird with Malaya Branch Father's Day gift ties

Elder Bird with Primary children of Malaya Branch

Father's Day was different for us here in the mission field. We have always had some of our family around us. It was a special day, though, to be out serving the Lord, and reflecting more while celebrating less. The tender mercy was that the drive to Malaya was actually pleasant, even for the one driving. A light but continual rain was falling, thus there were less people out and about. The foilage is so beautiful and plush. There were about 60 members and investigators in attendance. It was the first Sunday that the heat was not an issue. A nice little breeze blew right through the building. The primary children had had an activity the day before, and made ties for all of the fathers. There were more ties than fathers, so each had several to wear!! Then they all sang to the fathers. It was very sweet. We are starting to know more of their names. The young boys (8-12 yrs.)started saluting Elder Bird last week, because they think he looks like a military officer. He is so nice and fun with all of them. When we returned home, we had roast beef (from Australia) with mashed potatoes, fruit salad, and rolls (no, not home made or Rhodes)and since I always make him an apple pie for Father's Day....I purchased an apple turnover from McDonalds on Saturday!! Hey, it worked!! We are very grateful for all of the fathers in our lives....my husband and father of our children, our earthly fathers, our 6 sons that are the fathers of our 25 grandchildren, and most of all, our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

PHILIPPINE CURRENCY

The paper currency ranges from a 1000 peso note down to a 20 peso note

In the Philippines, coins of 1, 5, 10, and 25 centavos (officially called sentimo), and 1, 5 and 10 pesos (officially piso) are in use

32,000 pesos pays the rent

All these coins, added together, ALMOST equal $1.oo American

43 Pesos equals $1.00

The unit of money in the Philippines is called pesos. The current exchange rate makes it about 43 pesos to an American dollar. The ATM machines and banks only allow you to take out 10,000 pesos a day ($250) and everything you buy must be paid in cash. This makes it very difficult when you have to pay rent, which comes to about $725 American, and becomes one huge stack of money, since the largest bill in the Philippines is a 1000 peso note. That means you would need about 32, one thousand peso notes, to pay your rent, which would require at least four separate trips to the ATM. Imagine having to buy everything with cash in the U.S. It is also interesting to note, that each time you withdraw cash from the ATM, there are fees attached, such that by the time your mission has ended, you have probably paid $1000 just in fees! That ought to aid the Philippine economy.