Dinner One Day and A Special Delivery the Next

President and Sister Jensen were so generous and invited the senior missionaries over for a clam chowder dinner. We gathered at the mission home and shared a bowl of chowder, salad and fresh baked rolls. It was a real treat to have a great dinner together with our friends. We also were treated to two great deserts, a fresh cherry cake and home-made brownies with thick chocolate frosting. Oh the blessings of a mission!

 The Perkins, the couple front right, work in the mission office, then us and on the other side of the table from us are Sisters Cooper and Walker, they serve at the Employment Resource Center in Dagupan. (They are often flooded in at the apartment.) Sister Jensen is next and President Jensen is taking the picture.

The new mission home. We're still waiting for the missionary department to officially approve the new name of the mission as the Philippines Urdaneta Mission. maybe the announcement will be made at the same time that the new temple site in Urdaneta is announced.

The next day after dinner at transfers - Sister Benvenuto and her new new missionary Sister Olila. They grew up together as friends in their schools and didn't know they were going to serve in the same mission. The president had no idea of their friendship but was inspired to bring them together, Sister Benvinuto as trainer of her dear friend. We gave them a ride to the bus stop and they were on their way for a two hour bus ride to their area.

We went back to the mission office and picked up three elders and drove them to their apartment in Basista. It was evening commuter traffic time, road construction and then a heavy thunder storm, so it was slow going. We found a McDonald's on the way and stopped for a burger and a sundae. We got the elders home and started for our home. We knew the way but it always looks different in the pitch black darkness of the Philippine countryside. We managed just fine until we got to the "flood". The waters had not subsided from the last typhoon three days ago, but we thought it wouldn't be bad because that was three days ago... wrong! We got going and found it was deeper then before and with a swift current flowing over the road. A buss pulled out from a stop and I followed it. I couldn't see the road under the water. The water was muddy and there was nothing on the sides to guide you, so I followed the bus. The water was coming over the headlights and the motor fan was stopped by the high water. We had no choice but to follow the bus. I couldn't see to turn around and felt I might be swept off the road into a rice field. We were the only car and bus on the road, but after what seemed like an hour (really 20 minutes) we made it! Delivered again! We got through the flooded lowlands and 35 minutes later we pulled into our driveway, hearts pounding from the adventure, but glad for the successful experience of delivering the missionaries and serving the Lord.