Potpourri

Sometimes we stop on our way home from an event and take a few pictures of the cultural sites, but they aren't in a series of pictures that tell a story, so I often don't use them in the blog.  I thought I should share a few of them and let you see some of the sites too. Here are a few single pictures that have a story behind them and give you a taste of the culture and experience we are having.

This is a "tindahan" - a little store in the neighborhood that sells a lot of essentials so people don't have to go all the way into town for a basic item. Here the woman was showing us her boco - coconuts. The foil wrapped items are pressed rice patty, eaten like a sandwich.  

We stopped in a little basket shop in Agoo (a-go-oh) and bought a few things. When we were done the owner was quick to show us around his shop. In the back this man was weaving baskets, other men were working the reeds. Next door to the shop was an extension with more baskets. They all sell for about $5 - $15.

Mom was frustrated that she couldn't fit all these baskets into her luggage to get them home. I was kidding the shop owner that the baskets looked like a snake might be in one. He was quick to assure me that there were no snakes in his baskets.

Our lola - grandmother, that lives next door to us sent this friut to mom for her birthday. Mangos, bananas, and pineapple. You can see a few of our wood carvings and woven trivets.

This is President and Sister Karganilla with us at their stake youth conference. Sister Karganilla is the stake YW President and is employed at the Church Employment Resource Center (ERC) in Dagupan. Great people!

This is President and Sister Balanon and their daughter from the Bayambang Stake. We spoke at seven youth conferences and had a great experience every time.

This is President and Sister Dungan from the Agoo District.

We spoke at the Mangaldan District youth conference, but didn't get a picture with President Jardeleza. All of the youth conferences had banners printed for each branch or ward and also one for their district/stake.

We were drove by two women that were making brooms, so we stopped and they told us about the brooms. They were busy, but took time to greet us as complete strangers and smile for a picture. The people here are so warm and friendly. They work hard and make just enough money to get by day-to-day.

This is President Cabrito of the Baguio Stake. He is the first person I saw in a scout uniform in the Philippines. A few minutes later I saw almost all of his young men were wearing a scout uniform at the opening of their youth conference. His son is an Eagle Scout and very proud of him. What a great sight!

Every once-in-a-while we see a trike with a load of balloons go by us on the way to a party. It's a real challenge to get the balloons to their destination through the traffic and sometimes through the wind and rain! No one's going to rain on their parade!

We knew this was a sign from heaven, so we stopped for a Big Mac meal for lunch.

This picture made me think what it might be like if the Savior was to come again here in the rice fields of the Philippines.

We currently have four couples in the mission: Jensens - mission president, Engels - office couple, Mortimers - Employment missionaary couple and us - Member/Leader Strengthening couple. We will be sending the Jensens back to their family in Vancouver, Washington at the end of the month and receiving the Monahans from Arizona as new mission president. We will also receive several a new couples in the coming months: the Stamps, in mid-July, the Fulmers, in mid-August and the Dinkels at the end of October. We look forward to meeting the new couples and sharing some wonderful experiences together.

I saw the town basketman at home with his three carts. One is horse-drawn cart and the other two are trikes like this one, covered with baskets for sale.

I had a fun chat with the basket man and his son. Most of the baskets on this cart sell for about 250 pesos - $6.00. You can see the Baguio brooms and the different types and sizes of baskets he makes and sells. He and his family ride the carts around town selling baskets all day or until it starts to rain. He was very proud of his baskets and his son!

Hope you enjoyed a look at some of the sights we see each day along our way in the process of doing the work of the Lord. Great people, great experiences... what a blessing to serve the Lord here in the Philippines Baguio Mission!