Construction of a house

About 9 months ago we saw some holes dug on an empty lot.  It was the beginning of a new house.  After a month or two we decided to start taking pictures.  We thought that the house would take about 4 months, but it took about 9 months to complete. The main structure is made with hallow block (like cinder block) and re-bar.

 The next picture shows that neatness is not a requirement in putting the blocks together.

 Even the pole out in front of the house (I think for utilities to connect to) is made of cement.

 The next three pictures show that cement is used throughout the home.

 Cement stairs.

 Cement kitchen counter.

 Cement ceiling beam.

 Workers on site.  I believe some of them were living in the house as they were building it.

 Notice that the roof is one of the last parts of the process.

The roof is added along with railings on the balconies.

 Just the final things left, like windows.

 Here is the completed house.  Looks very nice all painted and fenced and with landscaping.  You can not even notice the sloppiness of the hallow block structure that is underneath.

During this past week we attended an 18th birthday celebration and a baptism and went to the temple.

 Sister Vanessa joined the church Saturday.  She is a school teacher at San Ildefonso National High School.  She is a really nice person and we are happy to have her join the Branch.  She was taught by Elders Arcayos and Dizon.

 The 18th birthday is a special occasion in the Philippines.  This is Raiza.  Her family recently joined the church earlier this year and she is taking the missionary lessons.  They had a nice celebration party for her.  She had no idea and it was a big surprise party.  They had cake and games and dinner and a good time.  They gave 18 of the men a rose to give her as they danced with her.  And then candles to 18 of the women to give her as they shared a wish for her.  There was a big crowd from the Branch so it was good.

Zone Conference and Branch Activity

At zone conference, a new emphasis on baptism was implemented for our mission.

As you can see by the banner behind us the new mission goals are: exact obedience, being a Preach My Gospel Scholar, and Weekly Baptisms.  The weekly baptisms part is new. A different mission in the Philippines has been doing this and they have a much higher baptism rate than the other Philippine missions.  This goal is for each companionship.  The work is hastening in the Philippines.  This will have a huge impact on all of the Branches and Wards out here.  We are excited to be helping and to be a part of the Mission.

We usually show unusual animal pictures but this time we are posting some insects.  This is a very colorful little bee we saw one day.

Crazy looking insect that was about 3 inches long.  I'll see if I can look up what type it is and add the name later.

Also on Saturday I went on an Father and Son activity. (They also invited me)  Here I am with some of the participants.  It was a lot of fun except for one unfortunate incident where one of the younger boys got in over his head and almost drowned and one of the teenagers had to pull him out.

 Jethro and Andrew going down one of the water slides.  There were five pools at the resort and picnic tables.  We had stuffed fish that was really good.  We also had a videoke machine.

Some of the young men of the Branch:  Jeroh, Jared, Harvee, and Gilbert.

Happy Birthday Sister Swift

We had a busy week with a temple trip, a trip to the Mission Home, a visit to a Chinese Cemetery, Father's Day, and a birthday party for Sister Swift.

 On the temple trip we had two members getting their endowments for the first time.  The first was for Jared who is about ready to leave on a mission. The second was for a sister in her 80s, but she forgot her recommend so she couldn't do it that day.  Otherwise it was a good trip.  Twenty-one members came, including some youths who came along just for the ride and to see the temple.

 One day we went to the Mission Home for a farewell dinner with the Jones.  One the way we stopped at a Chinese cemetery in Manila.  The Chinese mausoleums were ornate, better than a lot of the homes people live in.  This one looks like a small house with fancy dragon trim on the roof.

 This is the inside of a mausoleum.  Besides the coffin, you have pictures, table, chairs, benches and a small bathroom.  All for family members who come to visit.

 The is another mausoleum.  We did see smaller ones too.  These people had to be very well off.

This one had a garden outside area.

At the Mission home we had a farewell for the Jones, but they actually don't leave until July 5th.  They were the first ones out here in Baliwag and helped us a lot when we arrived.  We've become good friends and will miss them.  They are from Idaho.

 We had a big turn out at the Birthday Party, for Sister Swift, Sister Gemma, and Sister Aisa.  Sister Gemma made a noodle dish.  Sister Swift made the brownies, which you can see in the picture here, and also we ordered ice cream to put on the brownies.  We had it made at a nearby ice cream business and delivered to the church.

 We also had a game time.  This is team one on reverse charades.

 Team 2 on reverse charades.

Here are the three birthday girls:  Sister Gemma, Sister Aisa, and Sister Swift.

At church they had a Sunday School program for to celebrate fathers.  They had some short talks,  a song by the primary,  a video presentation , and gave cookies to all the fathers. There were about 17 fathers present.  Sister Swift made the cookies. We always have more women and children then men at church..    

National Museum

We found a chicken in the church building one evening.

 We came up the front step to unlock the front door and saw this little chicken inside the church building all by himself.

 He got scared when we came in and ran up the stairs.  Some of the youth with us chased him down and put him outside.

 Three typical Philippine cows, including a young one.  They're very large and look quite different from cows back home.

 We went on a trip with the Jones, who are about finished with their mission and going home soon.  They wanted to make one last visit to the American Women's Bazaar and then to the Philippine National Museum which they had not seen yet.

 Statue at the font.

 An gigantic painting that was magnificant.  Elder Rogers and Jones on the left of the painting.

 Art studio of a famous Philippine painter.

 Another painting that we thought was pretty good.

We talked to this friendly museum guide and she told us she's a Mormon too.  Don't know how she recognized us as fellow Mormons.  Maybe because of our white shirts and ties.  Or maybe it was the nametags.

We had a good visit to the museum. 

San Ildefonso National High School service project

This was transfer week for the young elders and sisters in our mission.  For Senior Missionaries there is no transfer week.   Sister Swift and I will stay in the San Ildefonso Branch our entire mission.

 Elder Tinasas on the left has completed his mission and will be going home.  We didn't get to know him really well since he was only here for one transfer.  He worked hard and did a lot of good.  He's from the Philippines.  Elder Uele on the right is staying.  He's the district leader.  He's from New Zealand and is a big friendly guy.

 Elder Diso on the right is transferring to another zone.  Elder Arcayos on the left is staying in San Ildefonso.  They are both from the Philippines.  We will miss Elder Diso.  He worked hard and was always smiling.

 The Broadheads were in town doing apartment checks.  We all met them at the one of the sizzlin' grills you see alongside the street.  You eat outside right on little tables extending onto the sidewalk.  This one is in Bustos and is a favorite of the Rogers.

 We're been seeing some of these tiny lizards around the house lately.  Must be the time of season for lizard babies.

 Closeup of the baby lizard.

 On Thursday we went on a service project to the San Ildefonso National High School.  It's a big public school here.  They were having a volunteer day and one of the Elder's investigators teaches there, so we went to help out.

 This is the classroom of Sister Vanessa, the investigator.  She teaches science.

 Sister Vanessa on the left and me painting tires bright yellow.

 Sister Swift and Micalyn working on the tires.  It looked good and we were glad to help.

 Micalyn, Gilbert, Trinnie, Rodaline, and Camille painting.  It turned out Gilbert had Sister Vanessa for a teacher many years ago when he was a small boy.

 The next big task was to repair desks.  They were old and in bad shape and broken up.

Trinie and Gilbert nailing chairs back together the best we could.  They had been repaired before, many times.

 We got 30 desks back into semi working condition.  They're still in terrible shape though, but it's the best they have.

 Erica, one of the Primary children in our branch with a baby bird she found that fell out of its nest in a tree in her yard.

 She was walking around with it on her head.

We saw this one trike near our house that had a cage-like side car.  Typically we see pigs or goats in these type of side cars, but this one man had his little son in it.  As they commonly say out here, "Only in the Philippines".