Hope all of you are well, and enjoying the summer time with swimming, camps, and vacation!
The Philippines celebrated Independence day last Friday, so there are no people at work at the area office! We decided to take a little trip as well! We went with 2 other couples. Loaded up in a van on Friday morning, and took off to Subic Bay! It was a beautiful drive, also a Holiday, so there was traffic, like taking 45 min to get through the toll booths! Our plan was to see the memorial of the death march that happened in Butaan, but they closed it off, because of the Delegates in the Philippines were there in mass! But we saw the cross at the top of the Hill, and the markers of their march! Such a sad story, We drove to a place where monkeys were every where, baby ones, big ones, middle size ones, they are so entertaining, climbing in the trees,across the roads, scratching, and moving branches, so we can see them better! There were so many, all over the place. then we proceeded on to the bats, fruit bats, they were huge, their wing span was like 2 feet! They almost darkened the sky, there were so many flying around way up in the trees!It just so happened that one fell to the ground, on the road, and we could see something moving. A Filipino on a bike stopped and pulled the dead bat out of the road, and there was a baby bat as well! So we were able to get up close! The baby didn't want to be separated from his mom, and crawled over and tucked his head into his mothers neck, and the mother was just cold. It was so sweet, but sad! The Filipino man spread the wings of the mother bat, and they are transparent, and they were so big, and golden in color! The bat has a little fox face and the body looked like a huge hairy rat! The man laid the baby bat on top of his mother,and folded the mothers wings over the baby, and tucked them in his back pack, saying he was going to take the baby to a clinic, or maybe have them for dinner! But off he went on his bike with the bats! The flying fruit bats were quite an amazing sight!
After that we went to our Hotel, where Dad hooked up to WiFi, and worked some on his work, then we walked down by the bay, it was a black sand beach, and reminded me of the beach by where Samantha got baptized! Yes there was garbage in the sand! We met another couple the Neagles and went to dinner there in Olongapo, where we were staying! small world! The Naegleys were from, west Bountiful, and she took Susie and Trav's engagement pictures! It is always fun when you make connections! We all had such a good time, and ate American food at TEXAS JOES!
Dad got up early and worked, and we left at 7;30 for the Subic Safari! Got there just as it opened and right ahead of 2 buses full of Filipino's. We got in a jeepney like thing, that looked like cages, and headed out to the wild, after we bought 2 chickens to feed the Tigers! The tigers came right up to the vehicle, and the guy held out the chicken through the bars, and he would eat it! We were just right face to face with them! they would lift their big bodies and huge paws up and lean against the cage we were in! Oh my gosh, never been so close to a beautiful tiger before! They were quite fascinating! After that we went on a walking tour around the zoo, and saw many birds, animals, rodents, and reptiles! We saw one big Lizard, and we thought he looked just like Fuie!! He had that fat tail like Jakes Lizard did! We saw a funny animal show, and checked out the whole zoo! Can I tell you how hot it was? No, you just have to imagine!! Hot and humid! Then back to the city for lunch> dad and I talked them in to finding a Pizza Hut, because of a good shrimp salad! We finally found one, and got seated, and they were "out of stock" with the shrimp salad! We laughed, so disappointing after all the trouble to find it! We are in the Philippines!
We met up with the Neagleys again, who had made arrangements for a boat tour around the bay! Just as we got out in the ocean, a storm came up, so we headed another way, and it followed us all around the bay! It was very interesting, and what a sight!
I love the beautiful blue sky, and the fluffy white clouds, and the clean air, we could breath! It was beautiful country side, a little different than our mission, as we had coconut trees all over, and I hardly saw any in this area of the Philippines! We loved the fresh air, and were so glad the Area President encouraged us to get away for the Holiday week-end! Of course you are never away from the work, it is just a traveling IFR!
Sunday, we had our Motel Breakfast of pancakes, and headed to the Clark to go to Church. There was a Philippine Area broadcast from Salt Lake that all the branches and Stakes in the Church were watching at 10:00 A.M. Just out of Olongapo, we had a flat tire on the Van! Yaa!
We unloaded the back of the Van, so we could get to the tire, and find everything to change a tire! It brought back so many memories of your dad changing tires in our younger days, when a flat tire was more common! He just kind of took over, with the help of the others! One of the men said, "He is doing all the heavy work, and he is the oldest!" Dad was amazing, and the strongest! They got it fixed, and we were on our way and made it to the church in time, for an Area Broadcast from Salt Lake City! All seats were taken, the church was full of these beautiful faithful Filipino saints, we sat on the last row on the Stage! It was an inspiring conference and the spirit was so strong, as the Brethren from Salt Lake taught us! How blessed we are to be here and learn and progress with these wonderful Saints! After Church, we headed back to Manila, sharing snacks we had left over, and got home at around 2:30! It was a great get away, with some wonderful couples!
We have been ask to call our 9 new mission Presidents, 3 coming to the Philippines and 6 going to Asia Missions, and give them information on IFR, and other things! It takes about 45 min. to pass that information on to them,and answer their questions. We have already talked with 3 of them, and need to get a hold of the other 3. Three of them are Filipino,s , and the Area President invited us to talk to them when they had a Training last week here at the area office! I think they enter the MTC for Mission Presidents right away, like 23rd! Can you believe it has been 7 years since we entered the MTC to go on our 1st mission! Now we are back here again, having a totally different experience!
Dad just ask me how many pages this letter is, so I had better close, and get busy! We have an appointment at 6:00 A.M. with another mission President tomorrow, to work with the time it is in the States, so we get up early to accommodate! We love you all so much, and we are so grateful for all of you! Best Wishes to Emily with girls camp, and we would love to see the production of Savior of the World in Farmington Stake! Wish we could hear Britton do his solo! Loved Julia's letter, she is doing so good! Susie hope you keep feeling well, and can get your rest, and energy back! so excited for another grand baby! Angie, hope all your little ones are doing good and that Hanna is feeling well in her pregnancy! so excited for another great grand baby! Hope Brad and Family got home safe, sounds like they had a wonderful trip! Can't believe Davis only has a transfer left! Thanks for the letter Jason, always fun to hear from our children! Good to talk Ted last week! Doug record Britton for us! Congratulations to Jessica getting a Teaching job for next year! Congratulations to the kids that are playing summer ball, and those learning to swim. Hope you have a fun summer! We love all of you and pray for you every day, and miss you so bad! Keep us informed with all your activities!
Thanks for your love, support and prayers! You are all wonderful!
Love to all,
Mom and Dad
Grandpa and Grandma
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