The trees and bushes bloom continually and the blossoms are beautiful.
Serving a mission in the Philippines has been one of the highlights of my life. Being able to serve is a privilege. There is so much need here and I just pray that my little part may help someone's life be a little better and happier. The people are wonderful and appreciative of all that we do. The Career Workshop is a church program the helps people be more self reliant. It is very successful and often people will come back and thank us, after they get a job. We also do American Accent classes because call center jobs pay more and you can work after age 35. Many people with a college degree expect to earn about 10,000 pesos a month ($250.00). Philippino people are hardworking, industrious and always cheerful. I love the way that they always say "Good morning, M'am".
Brother Jarius Perez has been very busy with humanitarian responsibilities, Mary Ann Balen is our very capable assistant manager, and May Mueblas and Aljane Mae Mahilom are our OJT (on the job training). They are bright, cheerful, fun and frequently burst into song.
Our classes are very well attended. Usually a lot more non-members than members. Ponciano, a member, in the front wearing a white shirt has six children. He used to have a sea shell business that was out sourced to China. Now he would like to have a call center job. Kimmy in the middle back by Sister Keller has computer training and took the American Accent but is just home looking after her brother as her parents are working. Em the tall young man by Sister Keller was a server in a restaurant but he was quite a good imitator and did well in American Accent. Wilson is beside Sister John. When I asked him during a lesson "what is the perfect age". He said 100 years because then the government gives you some money. He worked in Saudi Arabia but would like to be home with his family now. Life expectancy here is about 68 years. Another question that I ask is "if I gave you 10,000 pesos what would you do with it?" They all would use it for good eg. help fix up my families house, give it to the poor so the children wouldn't be hungry, buy a TV for my Mom because ours is broken and she liked to watch it, save it or start a business. Then I have asked "if they could talk to an important person who would it be?" One young man said--"God, I would like to ask for more peace and less war"
Ninieta (left) really tried with the AA but had tooth pain (loose dental bridge) which gave her problems. But, when she looked at her before and after AA program videos she said "Wow, I even look prettier." Tessie (by Sister Keller) was a real fitness fanatic which is quite unusual. She loved zumba and weight lifting. But she was just wanting her children to support her.
Many times you just want to motivate them and give them some confidence and hope. That was Domo. He just seemed so much more optimistic when he finished. One of our clients in an earlier post, Efren, finally got a job. I prayed so hard for him and when he came in recently my heart sank. But, all was going well, he had a new haircut and he was just wanting to check out something for the company.
Jerome Peralta, in the blue shirt, came in to the office faithfully and really took advantage of the programs. Then yesterday he came in with a treat for us (cookies) and was so happy that he had a call center job with Ease Solutions out of Singapore. A friend recommended him (networking) and he used "Me in 30 Seconds". Neil is a nurse/caregiver. He was working in the hospital when the earthquake struck and they had to evacuate the patients down a ramp--even one from emergency with a ventilator. They had to use umbrellas outside to protect patients from the sun. He said that he was very stiff and sore the next day.
But, life for senior missionaries is also lots of fun. The Bellands (very top) and the Ernstroms (above) work in the mission office looking after the missionaries and finding housing etc. This is Ernstrom's fourth mission and we asked what motivated them to do so many- "Well, it is a little addictive. How can you just sit at home when you know the need."
Below are the Gales and this was supper at Café Georg to celebrate their anniversary.
This was kind of a different job fair. IBRO was recruiting people that wanted to sell loads for cell phones. There are Smart, Globe, and Sun cell phones here and it is all pay as you go so everyone has at least one cell phone and they need a "load" regularly.
Ponciano, Kimmy, Gad and Jerome. The group members in our classes always seem to bond very well--doesn't seem to matter the age, sex or status. They help each other with job ideas and even go to testing and interviews together.
Rul Lim, wanted to graduate with the four above but he had to work.
Nash is older and he has 13 children. He owns property, is into real estate and teaches culinary arts classes. He took the Career Workshop and American Accent class because he was working on some project at TESDA a large technical school in the area.
Florence in the red top is a nurse, has taken culinary arts, accounting and massage therapy. She was preparing for the exam so that she could qualify to work abroad.
Ruth is a temple worker and wanted to improve her English.. May and Aljane took the class too--"wacky", of course.
We do a Career Workshop for missionaries, every six weeks, before they leave for home. The mission president wants these very special and talented young people to use all the skills that they have learned and be motivated, successful and able to serve.
This was the Lapu-Lapu leaders training. We did several of these--not sure how successful they really were.
Institute is institute where ever you go. It was a bustling street corner and the building was old on the outside but when you go up three flights and into the institute you immediately know where you are.
This "Caravan project" was to sign up students on ldsjobs and get them an LDS account.
Snacks are a motivating and important part of Philippino life
Another big class
Bishop Daclan and his youngest.
Our choir sang for "Music and the Spoken Word" at a Stake fireside. Then all the ward wanted in the picture.
The Mabolo ward primary put on the very special for the primary anniversary celebration.
Mabolo Relief Society
One of the requirements to leave the country, if you are there for six months, is to be finger printed. The mission decided that it was easier to bring two people from Manila than fly all the missionaries there before we return home. However it involved a lot of waiting around and during that time I got to know Elder Laureano (right). He is a musical prodigy, they tell me, and I believe it. He and the elder beside him sang a couple of songs a capella while we waited. Later we went to a missionary choir presentation he put on. He had written some of the music and arrangements, directed and conducted the choir and also played the piano. He earned money for his mission by teaching piano and playing in the hotels. He is from Davao on the island of Mindanao.
I learned something else--the missionaries all carry a pair of reading glasses because when they are teaching people often people can't see well enough to read the scriptures so they come in handy.
Family is very important to me and I want to be with them throughout eternity. That is why we do our family history. That is why we have temples. I am grateful for this opportunity and thankful for the encouragement and support of my family.
.JPG)
