Week 4...3.25.15

Week 4...3/25/15

Wow, I am almost missing the week! The big thing in week 4, was that we moved to another apartment!, we are still getting settled, but it is starting to feel like our home! They still haven't come and hooked up the internet, so Richard can work from home, so most mornings we find our selves getting up at 4;00 to get to the office early, so Richard can reply to all his messages, and make calls to Salt Lake, in hopes they are still at work!

Our Apartment is nice, much smaller than our temporary one was, and also more quite! Before we could hear the sounds of people, constant lights, loud music, and the fancy dogs barking! Now we hear the sounds of trucks, horns, jeepneys, motorbikes, buses, sirens and trikes. It is amazing you can hear all that from the 30th floor! It doesn't keep us from sleeping tho-. We have a beautiful view of the country, and even the temple spires, some high rises in the distant, and a gorgeous sunset, if you are there to see it!

My kitchen is small, with one sink, no hot water, a nice fridge, a little stove, microwave, toaster, and a coffee pot, that promptly found a place to be stored! Also the lighting isn't good! Help Travis! My wash room is off that, and has a washer, and racks for drying clothes, and some of the owners storage in a corner, and some cabinets, not very big! When you walk in the front door, there is a glass table top and a bench for 2 and 2 chairs on the other side of the table, A white couch, a console with a TV on it and 2 storage stools at either end of the console, small! a little hall, a small room, where Richard will have his office, a nice bathroom, no tub!! more hall our bedroom, small with a bed and closet, and a nice bathroom off that! Small! We do have warm water in the bathrooms, never gets hot, but a pleasant shower! That's it! We love it, there are only 2 of us, and we are doing great!! It is like newly weds, and their first apartment! Last night I fixed tacos, and it was like,ok, we can do this!

Felt pretty normal, boiled water and did my dishes! and we were happy campers!

It has been a very busy week, especially for Richard, it is constant work, and calls for him, I had no idea the IFR was responsible for so many approvals and decisions! There is so much on his plate at all times! For me, it is a vacation, not really, I keep plenty busy too! I have made contact with all the mission Presidents wives about the CLS program, and trying to encourage and support them in this program! Yesterday, Glen and I interviewed and educated 2 Elders, going to the US Embassy, as to what they will need to do there! One Elder was going to the Boise, Idaho mission! I told him they eat potatoes there in Idaho,no rice, and that it is cold! I thought he was going to cry! The other one is going to Hawaii! He looked like he was 12 years old! It is fun though, we ask them the questions that the embassy will ask them, and we help them with how they will answer, and it is all in English and they are pretty nervous! Let me tell you about Glen, he is Filipino, very enthusiastic, works in travel, of course, and works with Richard a lot! We have a great travel team that we work with, to make everything happen! Missionaries going home early, coming in and etc, always helping with their travel plans!

I went to the Mabuhay House again, with a few of the Sisters, and some Missionaries that are at the MRC, recovering from illness! It is getting more familiar to me, and the cases were older, and were mostly cross eye, and 2 club feet! They are so happy, and love when we come, and the adults love it as much as the children! We sing with them , play games with them, and do an activity with them! They love to take a lot of pictures. It is a humbling day, reminding me of Heavenly Fathers love for all of us! I got a quote from one of our missionaries that said,"ITS NOT HOW MUCH WE HAVE, BUT HOW MUCH WE ENJOY THAT MAKES US HAPPY!"

We went to 2 wards on Sunday.One Filipino, and one English, and enjoy them both! We were invited to dinner at the LaCanienta's afterwards, and it was fun and delicious! He is the executive secretary for the Area President, and we have become quite good friends! They are fun! He is Filipino, but is from Texas, and his wife is American, about 9 years younger than him, and probably the youngest Sister in our Zone, 53 Years old! We have a good time with them!

I forgot to tell you about our travel on Sunday and Monday! The traffic lights didn't work on the C_5 highway, and we had to go across to get to our church, and to get to work! The cars wouldn't stop, so you could cross the street of 4 lanes of traffic, so Richard rolled down the window, stuck his arm out and halted the cars, one lane at a time as we crept across the highway! I held my breath! It was like Moses parting the sea! We had to cross the highway 3 times like that! Scary!! We were so glad when the traffic lights worked again! Where were the pulice when we need them???

I am getting my hair cut today, and I am nervous, Hope it all works out ok! Wish me luck!

So much always going on, but to much to record! We are so happy for Elma and Rex, and their mission call to Singapore! We will have 6 months behind us when they leave! WOW! Hope you are all enjoying life, and making the best of it, and please know we, love you and miss you all, and you are always in our prayers! Thanks for your love and support, we love it, and can feel it, and need it!

Love to hear from all of you!

Love, Nada