I don't know, ask him.

As we mentioned once earlier, when we first got here the Mission pres. sat down with us and said, "I want you to go to Carigara and lift them and help them become a stake." When I asked for more specific instructions as to what to do he said "don't ask me ask him." At first we were a little frustrated about it but it didn't take long before the spirit's gentle nudgings began to show us the way. We created a welfare system that will give to the poor and give them opportunity to work for what they get and also a system that will employ more and more people as the months go by. I thought that was all that was needed. Now we know better. As we have visited the branches in our district we have noticed that the branches who have return missionaries as branch pres. or elders quorum pres. or any other leadership position are way ahead of the branches who don't. It became clear that the way to complete our mission and goal is to find a way to perpetuate a fund that will see to it that every willing young person who desires to go on a mission can go. They just can't get the money needed and many give up and don't go. It is so different than the U.S.
We are dedicating the theater project to missionary work and especially sending new missionaries out to the field. Only 4% of the available young men are able to go on missions, can you imagine what 40% would do to lift the Church here in the philippines. For a short term stop gap measure we are asking our own family to help by sending money. We are asking our extended family as well. They have responded with a great outpouring of love and money. This will only go on for five months then the theater project will be able to keep up with the rest. This is a most exciting project.

This is Regine. She wants to be a pen pal to Josie

Scenery in Barongay above the church in Carigara

Shelling Peanuts to plant at the farm.

CR for BM (Elder Dalley's caption)

Bucket Brigade to pour cement.

Sifting Sand to Make Cement for the CR project.

Elder Dalley Pitching water. He was the waterboy at the Service Project.

Jack Fruit as a main dish

Jack Fruit is an interesting fruit. When it is ripe it is sweet and when it is green they cook it with onion, garlic, and red peppers in coconut milk as a vegetable or main dish. It was surprisingly very delicious. This is one that we liked very much and went well with rice. It took a long time to cut up though because the seeds had to be removed one at a time and there are very many.

Sister Arpon peeling Jack Fruit

Special Sacrament at Balaquid

Sister Missionaries in Balaquid

Nipa Special Sacrament in Balaquid

Branch Pres. of San Isidro and wife playing a game at the Valentine Party.

Dancing at the Valentines Party

Honoring Pioneers at the Valentines Party

Honoring the Pioneers in Carigara District

Valentines Party

Adelma at the Valentine Party

Valentine Party Decorations

Serving lunch (rice) on a banana leaf. We had fish, corned beef, and vegetables.

Elder grating coconut to make coconut milk to cook the vegetables in

Sister Daganosal (Relief Society Pres.) cooking lunch in the Nips kitchen

Adding the "hollow blocks".

Mixing cement by hand

It helps to have a good crew.

Cutting rebar to strengthen the walls

Digging a hole for Elizabeth's CR. It had to be filled and a new one dug.

On the way to Sogod standing on the tallest bridge here.

Spreading the Ideas

Elder Dalley and I, Pres. Cinco and Richard have been traveling lately to spread his ideas for welfare to the various Districts in our mission. Biliran District is especially excited. The mayor there has allowed the members to use a piece of land that is about 6 hectors (13 acres). It is a beautiful piece of land with rolling hills, mango and coconut trees and a lot of foilage. It is up on higher ground so you can look off and see the ocean in the near distance. They are having a District activity today (Feb. 13, 2010) to clear some of the land so the tractor, the mayor will let them use, will be able to plow. They are planning to plant some fruit trees, native to the area, and vegetables. They will also build a small nipa hut there for the caretaker to stay in. They were able to get good used clothing for each branch to sell on consignment to help pay for the expenses the farm will incure and to begin to save to buy rice, oil and other commodities that people will sell for employment.
We have visited Maasin and Sogud already and they are very excited about the idea also. Each of these two districts have a piece of land they are planning to plant to begin their project. We have an appointment next week to talk to a District in Samar. It is exciting to us to see their excitement for the project.
Elder Dalley and San Miguel Branch are at our Farm today (Feb. 13, 2010) planting peanuts. The squash we planted two weeks ago took only one week to come up and the squash we planted last week should be showing through today.

Sugar Cane field near Ormoc City

Trucks loaded with Sugar Cane

January is the month for New Year's resolutions. Ours was, once again, to get more exercise so we have been walking more. We found a street that went out toward a barongay that wasn't so populated and felt more comfortable walking there. We always pass this certain house and find a turkey purched on top gobbling as long as the roosters are crowing then he gets down and goes about his business. This picture is dark but it was still a little dark when we took it. We decided he must think he is a rooster too.

Turkey Rooster

January 2010 was our one year mark in the Philippines. My hair has not been cut during that time except for bangs. My hair grows quite slow but it is long for me. Others would probably have much longer hair.

One year without a hair cut