44 Days in... without Purse nor Script.. (Okay I have the Script(ures))

P Day today and I have been in the Philippines 44 days.   This past month, we had a change in the Area Presidency.  I didn't realize that two of these men were in my ward.  I have only been here 4 Sundays.  I had only met Elder Bowen twice in Church then he was gone.  I am not sure where he was reassigned to, but Elder Haynie and his wife, Deb were assigned to serve in North New York Mission and he will be overseeing the Halifax Mission where President Richard Low and his wife Gayle are currently serving.

After three weeks here, I finally got the Orientation Class...4 hours of instruction of the do's and don'ts in this mission as well as meeting several of the department heads.  The last presentation was by Elder Haynie, who has such a great love for the Philippines.  He studied everything there was to know about this country and gave us the history of the Church in the Philippines.  You could tell of his love for these people.  There was only one other couple with me. 

Elder Hainey, myself, Sister and Elder Connell and Dina Alves

They have Steveston Pizza here!! Steveston is a village outside of Vancouver where they had filmed Once Upon A Time televison series.  I was unaware they had a 'famous pizza' which made it's way all the way here in Quezon City.  A week or so ago, a few of the senior missionaries decided to head there for supper.  I have to say it was one of the best pizzas I have ever tasted. 

I may have mentioned in an earlier entry, that many of the Filipino people walk in between the vehicles, usually at very busy intersections, selling their wares.  We were on our way back from Church and there were some street (literally) vendors walking in between the vehicles.  Sometimes you see one or two blind people, being guided with their hands out, begging for money.  We have been instructed never to give money, but if possible, carry a nutrition bar or something like that to give them.   

 The Friday before Elder Haynie and his wife left, they came around each office with home made cookies and to say good bye to all of the staff.  I believe there were many pictures of them that day.

Driving back from shopping one day, we saw this tow truck with a make shift hammock in the back with a guy sleeping in it.   You would think the noise of the traffic and honking horns, (which is very frequent on these roads) would wake him up, but he was right out of it.

There are also quite a few homeless people living under the freeways wherever there is shelter.  Some live in broken down cars with make shift tarps or plastic to keep the rain off them.   The cars may have a windshield but a couple I have seen, had no doors.    They may not have a house to live in, per se' but they are the ones who are mostly selling their wares on the streets.

We had quite a bit of rain this past week and I couldn't help but notice the river rising.  For about three days, the rain was quite intense from the monsoon caused from the last typhoon that hit Japan.  

The water is always that color and normally doesn't have a current.  But when it rains, all of a sudden there is a current and you can see quite a bit of debris floating in it.  I took this picture yesterday and you can certainly see the rising water, that has taken a home or two and I am sure they don't have home insurance.  

The good news is today, the water has receded and you can see what is left of the riverbank.  That little hill in the foreground is in the cement factory.  In front of that are people's homes.  

Last week, I took a break to see what the weather was doing outside and there were four missionaries sitting outside the Family History Center.   These elders had just completed their two years of service and were heading home.  Of course, you have the 'Where are you from' questions and when they heard I was from Lethbridge, they told me one of their elders was also from Lethbridge.  Just as I we leaving to head back into the Family History Center, Elder Atwood was coming out of the Distribution Centre.  I knew right away it was President Atwood's son.  President Atwood is my Stake President.   What a small world.  

Filipino people are NOT a lazy people from my observation.  I start my work between 7:30-8:00 a.m. Tuesday to Saturday, and even if I am there at 7:00a.m. in the morning, there are ALWAYS people in either the Distribution Centre or the Family History Center.  Some of these people travel for hours to get there when the building opens, so they can get names to take to the Temple.  Most of our volunteer staff take 2 hours to get to work each day.  Their mode of travel is usually the Jeepney.  So they are up really early in the morning and sometimes they don't get home until really late at night, depending on traffic.  Last week, we were sent home early because of inclement weather.  I thought, really.... it's just rain.  But they send the regular staff home so the care-taking staff can get the buildings cleaned before they go home.  Most of the areas surrounding Quezon flood very fast and this past week, it got pretty bad in some areas.  Even driving back to Eastwood, water was quite high on some of the roads, half way up the tires in some areas. 

Typical morning at the Family History Centre about 7:30a.m.

Last week we had a group of 40+ members from Vietnam here to do their temple work for their ancestors.  On Tuesday, when I got to the office, I was approached by a sister missionary who had travelled with these members from Vietnam, to give me some information of another sister's husband who had passed away.  Lately I have been working on the 110 year cases and researching their lines to give them clearance to have that work done.  Tuesday, I wasn't given the correct information.  Same thing happened when they brought more information for me on Wednesday.  It was frustrating for as they were only going to be heading back to Vietnam on Friday.  Thursday,  I was given exactly what I needed to research that man's name and get clearance.  As I was clearing the name for approval, I got emotional.  Not sure why.. maybe it was the thought that this woman was finally going to be able to have her husband's work done and be sealed to him.  

The next day, one of the other senior missionaries shared what happened at the temple the day before.  Apparently, the brother who was proxy for this man, could feel that brother's  presence and especially at the alter, when he was proxy to be sealed to his wife.  I guess it was quite a spiritual experience for all who were in that sealing room.  Then I understood why I got so emotional the day before.  He had been waiting to have his work done and was ready.  

Also, another thing I noticed here... all of the boys and young men and priesthood, wear white shirts and I mean white white. Although many of the church members just barely get by financially, these boys have white shirts.  

I have had a habit of losing things around here.  Several weeks ago, I  lost my blue sweater.  Next day I thought I should go back to the restaurant to see if it was there, and sure enough, it fell out of my purse when I was taking my umbrella out.    Then several says later, on a Saturday, I took a taxi to the Family History Center, and sure enough, I left it in the taxi.  I was so upset .. I am very limited on clothes here and sweaters are good to have in an air conditioned room because, believe it or not, it does get cold.  

Well today, topped it off.  I went to go the ATM to take out some money for the week, and usually the ATM next to our building, works great.  Today it didn't let me do the transaction.  So, when I was toodling around running a couple of errands, I noticed that there was the same bank ATM next to the grocery store.  Unfortunately, it was not working so I went to use the one next to it.  BIG MISTAKE.  I slipped the card in and the screen kept saying...'reading card'.. for about 3 minutes.  I tried to cancel the transaction but it just kept saying it was reading the card.  The guard came over to see if there was a problem.  Of course there was a problem.  The ATM ate my card.  So, I called the number on the ATM and talked with a lady who put me on hold for several minutes.  When she came back, she said they were going to do what they could and it would take 20 - 25 minutes.  Then the screen went black, and from somewhere in cyberspace, the ATM was getting rebooted.  After a few minutes it said the ATM was temporarily out of order.  I waited about 40 minutes and decided to call again. I got a different operator and had to explain everything again.  She put me on hold.. came back and said they were rebooting the machine.  I told her they had already done that, and in that second, the normal screen came back on ... BUT..... you have it: NO CARD.  I was still on the phone with the lady and she said it should be working.  I said, it looks like it would be, but my card was still in there.  She advised they would have to have their service people retrieve it, which may take a few days.   When they retrieve the card, they will send it to the main branch of the bank, and I would have to pick it up there.   I gave her my phone number and email and then I told her, that as long as my card was in that ATM, they would be losing money.  She didn't understand.  I said, "with my card in there, nobody will be able to use their card because mine would be blocking it."  Sure's shootin, right after I hung up, a lady came to use the ATM.  

Strange, I am not quite as upset about this card as I am about my sweater.   That said, I messaged Jaime at the bank to let her know, and I will wait to hear back from her what we can do.  In the mean time, I am apprehensive using these ATM's over here.  

Today's Quote:  "The arrival of a Typhoon is no time to dust off the Gift of the Holy Ghost and figure out how to use it." Elder Larry Y. Wilson.