Sewing Again

Ate Lorraine concentrates as she sews up her projects

I noted as Ate Lorraine sewed up projects, she kept doing them for other people. She wanted her daughter and friend and others to have the things she sewed. She is a loving, giving person and what a pleasure to be in her presence!

Ate Lorraine and I on our last sewing project

Just Having fun

I really don't have many original ideas. Most of the things I do or make is by watching someone else or scrolling through the internet. I found this puppy on the internet and couldn't resist making him up for my friends. I ran out of towels long before I ran out of friends. The Philippines is a very loving, friendly, hospitable country.

Roll a hand towel from both sides into the middle, fold in half, rubber band almost half way down for the "legs" and then rubber band the front portion for the nose and tongue. Stick on eyes, a nose, tongue and ears and tie a ribbon around his neck. Presto - one friendly puppy.

The Domino Effect

Sister Stewart's Answers

Dominoes [April 19]

Watching dominoes fall and hit the next and next down the line as it spreads can look pretty amazing. Some rows are dramatic and some are just straight lines that fall.

Today I was one of the little dominoes in a miracle that happened at the Dental Clinic. Sister Stewart asked me to come in on Thursday so she could talk with someone about how reporting would be done.  I came in a little early and after she finished the first patient of the day, I took over. Supposedly this would free her up to get some items finished before her meeting. She did straighten up the lab, check her messages and email and one or two other things and then the computer guys came over and they had a really important impromptu meeting about how the computers needed to work. I felt glad that I had arrived early to let this happen. But that wasn’t the miracle.

Sister Stewart went to meet with her ladies and one of the stepped out to take care of something else. Sister Stewart asked Gilda if there wasn’t a required x-ray registration class anywhere in the Philippines besides the one schedule much later in the year. Gilda said no. Sister Stewart persisted and asked what it could hurt to ask again. Because the x-ray software had failed on Monday, Sister Stewart happened to have the current phone number of the man who could tell them about the classes. Gilda called and amazingly there was a class being given today! In fact it had started at 8 am. Sister Stewart asked Gild to get permission for the dentists to come anyway.  Then Sister Stewart urged Gild to call the dentists to see if they could drop everything and go. Sister Stinchfield said that wasn’t enough warning and they couldn’t do it. Dr Whitehead though very sick said if I have to be there I will. Because it was his code day, Gilda arranged for a driver. When Sister Stewart went to get money to pay for the driver, Dr. Stinchfield was waiting in the Clinic but he was looking for a drive to Makati, Manila. It was decided the two doctors could go together today and tomorrow. 

I found out the license for the dental clinic to run, has to have two qualified and registered x ray licenses or the dental clinic cannot operate any panoramic or nomad x rays. The license will be renewed next month just before the Stewarts leave. This was a miracle that the clinic could keep running smoothly without stoppages.  

I told Sister Stewart that she has angels on her right and on her left helping with each little piece of the whole. The same thing that prompted her to ask me to come prompted her to persist in asking Gilda and also prompted the two doctors to attend the classes regardless of the inconvenience. 

Dinner with Friends

Laura Nausin prepared a dinner outdoors so our friends would know we were home.

The Lambsons are on their way to Idaho to live closer to their grandchildren

Michelle March came with  her husband, and son just back from BYU Provo

Kerry Christensen and President March chatting while getting a picture taken

Laura Nausin author of the dinner and Rosanne Nieto (who will be leaving for Italy soon)

Ken Carter's mom and Grandma Nausin

Bonnie Carter and Vickie Nausin

Stephanie Lambertson and Teemaree Capener

Tracey Panek, Jeffrey, and Larry Panek

Kelly Kruse

Pam Hosking, me, and Patrice Christensen

We all had a nice enjoyable evening chatting and eating good food.

Back in the States

Grandpa and grandsons - the best book was Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss 

Jayson is a smart interesting boy. I brought 4 puzzles without a picture box and he was able to put them together in about half an hour.

Caleb has this habit of opening a song book, singing and leading the music. He is a bright full of energy kid.

Walking Alongside Jeffrey's shoes

Saturday [April 13] was a really unique day for me. We left fairly early to the Area office, so Jeffrey could organise and get ready for his meetings. I went with him because after his first meeting we had to travel quickly to make the second meeting that both of us were to attend.

Haidi Fajardo, Jeffrey, Pablito (Bong) Baybado

Elder Grimshaw, the new AALC, Dic Johnson the ALC are both new to the Philippine Area office needed to meet and understand issues that Jeffrey has been working on. A working lunch was set up to get everyone up to speed. It was fascinating watching all the interactions between them.
Haidi has a soft touch in getting people together.  Bong is an influential man as a representative of the Catholic church who is secretary to a few groups and brings issues to the Bishops that they need to consider. He is on a committee that represents the interests of 42 different religions. The religious organisations are banding together because religious interests are being eroded through different laws. I love watching them talk about what needed to be done and which Senators they needed to talk to. It felt like I was watching history unfold because the actions of these few people are going to have consequences to millions who live here.

Antipolo ward Single Adults with the Albos family on the right. 

Jeffrey and I left the lunch early because we had to weave our way over to Antipolo because Jeffrey had been asked to speak to a Young Singles ward. Of course the subject was marriage, though Jeffrey skipped right over that and talked about the reason we have prophets (to prepare us to see the face of God) using different scriptures to support what he said.
It was so cool to watch him teaching this group of young adults the importance of living their religion while defending the freedoms of religion in the afternoon. There is no reason to ask for religious freedoms if no one is living a religious life.

Dinner Guests

Elder and Sister Whitehead with Sister MaryAnne Whitehead

On Friday the Whiteheads came for dinner and we enjoyed such a delightful night of conversation with them! They are kind, thoughtful talented people and luckily live in my daughter-in-laws relatives neck of the woods. There is a chance I will visit them again!

Ate Lorraine and excellent adventures

Ate [pronounced Ah-tay] means older sister, or a sign of intimate respect - at least that's what I'm getting from what I hear. Quite a few ladies in our ward call each other Ate instead of Sister. So of course I had to pick it up and use it with the ladies I know.
Ate Lorraine and I have spent some days together on service project, visits to Primary children, out to lunch, and sewing projects. The adventure comes in driving to places!  We are all in one piece without any major vehicle damage and no accidents reported from other drivers. Lots of prayers answered though. I love this lady, friend, and sister and will miss her desperately as I will Jonah, the grandkids, Ernesto, Sister Nido and my ward members that I may never see again.

Visiting with Yushin. He is engineer minded, loves math and has a clear course for his future. He will be eight next week.

We visited Nephiah and Kobe, I don't know the baby's name, but the mom is Sister Pollen and her husband is the counsellor in the bishopric. Nephiah is the one who isn't afraid to say hello to the new people - young or old and is the first child I met in the ward.

Finished!!

My sister Sharon gave me some roll-up crayon and pencil holders and when I gave them away, she made me some more. Several people are fascinated with the convenience and organisation of crayons and pencils. Ate Lorraine wanted to make one as a gift so she came over and I brought out some pillow case left over fabric and she sewed one up!

This is the cry of success when she snipped off the last thread!

Ate Lorraine loves showing me the wonderful flavours found in the Philippines. This restaurant is famous for Tapa - I'm pretty sure that is what we had along with sinagang soup.

Faith

I assisted Elder Stewart and asked a missionary if there were any other missionaries in his family. During up and down and rinsing his mouth out, he told me a little of his story.  He told me that he was the first missionary in his family and in his branch. He joined the church with his family as a 10-year old. He became a teacher and taught 6th graders. He is 24 years old and gave up his career to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. He is a true pioneer.

How do you get bricks up to the second floor? Quirrino Style!

There is something marvellous about young men and women and people working together to accomplish their goals. Missionaries from the Quezon City Mission with young and old from the Quirrino Ward all got together to help with this construction project. I have only witnessed construction work being done by hand both times we have come.

She's going to fit right in!

Monday was Sister Grimshaw's first day on the job. Her husband will be taking Jeffrey's place as the AALC (Assistant Area Legal Counsel).  I took her to a service project in the ward.

Sister Grimshaw walking with all of us from the church house to the project site

We were working on housing for the lame, blind, and disabled. She distinguished herself doing a really good job. I kept getting asked if she was going to come to the ward. I hope she heard and felt a motivation to come as she would be a great asset to the ward.

Sand and dirt dust with small rocks have to be continually swept out of the way and away from the drainage system

Whatever job needed doing, Sister Sandra Grimshaw was there in this case filling sandbags. The sand was later sorted to pull the rocks out and mix with water and something to be used to mortar the bricks to the wall.

I am not sure if this young man is a member of the church or not. He hangs around the missionaries and I've sat beside him at church, but I've never seen parents or siblings come with him.  He was very kind and bought Sister Grimshaw and I a common breakfast food "Taho". Actually Jonah identified it for me. It is a yogurt with syrup and little jello balls. Way too sweet for me and for Sister Grimshaw. This boy told me in Bagiuo they serve it with strawberries.

Sister Grimshaw even carries bricks

Conveyor line for bricks going up to the second floor. Sister Grimshaw at the front of the line.

Sister Grimshaw is going to be working in the Humanitarian and Welfare departments at the Area office, so this project is right up her new alley.

Definitions

What is the difference between a miracle and tender mercies of the Lord?
Is it the magnitude?  A miracle is turning water into wine, raising the dead, healing the sick, turning a blind man into a seeing man. Tender mercies are......... mini-miracles?

Today I jumped onto Messenger to see what the ward had to say and found Sister Lorraine wouldn't be coming to do some sewing. In my mind I'm re-arranging what I want to get done....store, washing all the rugs, laundry.......

Jeffrey is getting things together to leave and asked if I wanted to come so I could have the car. I told him I didn't need the car and he said, "Come, and then if you need the car today you will have it."  Ok, so I quickly put on some clothes, brushed my hair and slipped on some shoes. I thought I'd run over to the dental clinic and see how their Monday went and if someone needed help another day this week.

Sister Stewart was so glad to see me as she had a 7:30 am appointment to go play at the Area devotional and wouldn't be back till 10 am. She asked if I came because of an email. I hadn't checked any email so I considered it a miracle that I'd even shown up. So did she. So I assisted Elder Stewart again though I didn't have any scrubs to wear. (Maybe I'l leave a pair in the car) What was it that got me where I needed to be when I needed to be there?

Lunch Guests

This is not really a fair picture because the wind was blowing whirlwinds. The Grimshaws actually looked really good coming off the plane the day before despite traveling all day - with delays. They are a fun, dedicated couple ready to go to work.

The Grimshaws are here to replace Jeffrey and I. We have been showing them around the Mall and how to get to the grocery store. They have received so much information in a short amount of time I wonder how much is sinking in. Memories came flooding back of our first days here and the many adjustments that we had to make. The Grimshaws are doing a really fine job of staying awake in the daytime and learning their way around.  They are from Salt Lake City.

ah........last Intake of Missionaries...........

Now I know I have less than three weeks because my last intake of incoming missionaries was Friday. The missionaries come for 19 days.........goodbye to a fantastic experience watching the Dental Clinic evolve and grow.  Goodbye to seeing little and big miracles happen every day, but most of all goodbye to the hardworking missionaries I love and admire.

Sister Weir explaining the consent form

Dr. and Sister Stinchfield screening a missionary

Sister and Dr Stewart guiding missionaries

Sister Van Wermeskerken taking picture after picture of each missionary's teeth

Sister Carlos coming to check on Batch 663. First day of their mission!

Sister Tucker checking off missionaries as they come in

Relaxing after screening is finished with a light luncheon prepared by Rose Albos 

........... Sister Stewart...........never goodbye..........hand curled up over my heart......