March Zone Conferences

     On March 8, 9, and 10, 2016 we held Zone Conferences. As always we enjoyed the time with all of our missionaries being inspired, edified, and strengthened as well as enjoying time with each other visiting, laughing, and of course, taking photos!
     We had an interesting experience with our DVD this zone conference. The night before as the office elders were finalizing the DVD the computer crashed and they had to start over and make it into a Slide Show instead of a movie. It was still fun to see the photos and an elder played the piano for background music. Each day the slide show improved but there was no DVD.
     In each zone conference we had business, the kwan challenge, beautiful special musical numbers, heartfelt testimonies from the departing missionaries, and great workshops. President Mangum and I taught about "The Role of the Holy Ghost in Conversion" using clips from Elder Bednar teaching the Worldwide Missionary Broadcast. We enjoyed teaching about this subject and it was great to have Elder Bednar teach with us and ask the questions that we then had our missionaries answer. We had some great discussions. We then broke into zones and the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders  gave workshops to their own zones on using Gather the Flock and the resources available. President Mangum and I enjoyed going to a few minutes of each workshop and seeing the different ways that the leaders taught. They did a great job. The Assistants taught a wonderful workshop on love, kindness, and charity and introduced the new training plan on The Atonement of Christ and Charity. (This has been an incredible training plan that the missionaries have really loved studying and used effectively.) They taught about not judging, forgiveness, service, compliments and gratitude. They had an activity where they broke into groups and had someone stand in the middle and each person had to give a compliment and end with "I love you". It was fun to watch the missionaries participate in this activity. It was definitely out of some of their comfort zones.
       President Mangum finished the Zone Conference by teaching a wonderful workshop. He began by using Elder Holland's video "Lovest Thou Me?" It is a powerful video that makes you think if you really love the Savior and our Heavenly Father more than anything or anyone else. He taught about the Easter Initiative "Hallelujah", Follow Him, Discover How. The missionaries had been asked to read from the four gospels about the Atonement and resurrection. He then taught about the Savior's merits, mercy, and grace that made it possible for the Savior to perform the Atonement for each of us. He had missionaries share their feelings as part of the workshop. At the Special Sisters Meeting with Sister Nelson she had the sisters stand and read a part from Elder Holland's talk that the video clip came from about loving Christ that teaches about what it means to be a true disciple. We decided to do this with the missionaries. It was a powerful experience to stand and put your name in the quote about being a disciple forever.

"What I need, (your name), are disciples—and I need them forever. I need someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs. I need someone to preach my gospel and defend my faith. I need someone who loves me, truly, truly loves me, and loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to do. Ours is not a feeble message. It is not a fleeting task. It is not hapless; it is not hopeless; it is not to be consigned to the ash heap of history. It is the work of Almighty God, and it is to change the world. So, (your name), for the second and presumably the last time, I am asking you to leave all this and to go teach and testify, labor and serve.”

        Each Zone Conference was wonderful but they each are a little different because of answers and comments given by the missionaries and the guidance of the Spirit. We love the time with the missionaries! 

Lopez, Lucena, and Marinduque Zones

Batangas, Lipa, and Mindoro Zones
The rat that came to Zone Conference--I had to leave the meeting to talk to a sick elder and I was sitting in the dark Relief Society Room on the phone when I saw something out of my eye. I thought to myself a cat got in here
but then I looked at it and realized it was a rat. Yuck! I really have a fear of mice and rats; especially great big rats!
I went back in the chapel and sat at the back where I proceeded to tell my story to the office couple. She started pointing at the glass door into the chapel and there was the rat. She said she thought it was going to push the door open. I saw it down the hallway and took at photo with the phone. Later when Bart looked at the photo closely he realized the body was as big as the 12" inch square and the tail almost as long as the next 12" square. Two of our senior elders went out to kill it
but only got it out of the building. The way they tell the story is hilarious! I hope to never see a rat that big again.

Cabuyao, San Pablo, and Santa Cruz Zones

       

A special visit from President Russell M. Nelson and Sister Wendy W. Nelson

February 20 and 21, 2016        

The top photo is in the mission home in front of our family picture. 

The bottom one was at the San Pablo Stake Center.

           I believe it was in December that we heard that we would be hosting President Russell M. Nelson in our mission. Of course, it was exciting news but also a little overwhelming to think that we would be meeting and spending time with the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles! We were excited to think that our missionaries would have the blessing of being taught by President Nelson and then we received news that there would be a Priesthood Leadership Meeting, a Special Sisters Meeting for the Auxiliary Leaders, a Young Single Adult meeting, a special San Pablo Stake Conference but NO meeting with the missionaries! We were so disappointed that our missionaries wouldn’t have that experience. In talking with the San Pablo Stake President, who happens to work for the Church in the Philippines Area Office, we found out that when they were making the schedule for President Nelson he was asked which he thought would be more valuable—a YSA meeting or a missionary meeting. He chose the YSA meeting. It was disappointing and sad to me. President Mangum said that if there could only one of the meetings, the YSA meeting would give more people the opportunity to be taught by President and Sister Nelson. I have to say it was incredible to see the excitement of the Young Single Adults and what some of them were willing to sacrifice to come to the meeting. The building was packed and the meeting was wonderful.

            There was a lot of activity at the Mission Home, Office, and grounds as well as the two Chapels were President Nelson would be attending. It was sometimes humorous to watch the Facilities Management getting everything ready for the visit. As we received our final schedule we found out that we weren’t invited to the Special San Pablo Stake Conference but were assigned to go with Elder and Sister Bowen (Shayne Bowen of the Seventy and 1^st Counselor in the Philippines Area Presidency) to a different special Stake Conference in the Santa Cruz Stake. I was disappointed once again that we wouldn’t be able to hear President Nelson speak to the San Pablo Stake. We also found out that I would be speaking for 7 minutes at the special Sisters Meeting. It was overwhelming to me to think about speaking with Sister Nelson as well as Sister Bowen, Sister Tobias, and Sister Amstead (Manila Temple Matron). 

            The long awaited day finally arrived. President Mangum went to one chapel for the Priesthood Leadership Meeting with Elder Nelson and I went to a different one for the Special Sisters Meeting with Sister Nelson. We both had wonderful training and were blessed to be able to be taught by President and Sister Nelson as well as spend time with them. President Nelson is amazing; he has so much energy and had an iPhone and iPad he was using at age 91! (I kept thinking about how hard it was for my parents to even use the remote control sometimes or for Bart’s parents to answer their Face Time.) President Mangum asked if the rumor that he still snow skied was true and he said he hadn’t been for 10 days because he hadn’t found any snow in the Philippines--unbelievable! He was so kind, genuine, and personable. I was impressed with Sister Nelson’s grace, poise, and respect for others. I learned so much about being a woman of God as I observed her interact with the sisters and Priesthood leaders.

            After the first two meetings we met at the San Pablo Stake Center where the Sisters Meeting was held and had a light lunch before the Young Single Adult meeting. The chapel and cultural hall were filled with beautiful Filipino Young Single Adults. It was thrilling to see. At the YSA Meeting Sister and Elder Tobias and Sister Bowen bore their testimonies. Elder Bowen spoke, then Sister Nelson, and President Nelson was the concluding speaker. Sister Nelson taught about the gifts of the Spirit and how each spiritual gift we receive we take one step closer to our Heavenly Father. She asked the question “What would you want to do and what would you be willing to do tomorrow if you knew you would be meeting with the Savior face to face?” It’s an overwhelming thought to me; I have so much to improve. She ended by telling them that their true self is spectacular and they should never settle for less! President Nelson taught many things to the young single adults about marriage, schooling, and spiritual preparation. He taught the importance of learning who we really are. He told them they that they need to expect and prepare to do the impossible. He taught the importance of learning to access the powers of heaven and how we need to ask inspired questions as we pray. He talked about the importance of following the prophets. He left a beautiful blessing on the Young Single Adults. It was very powerful and I know that he is a prophet of God.

            The missionaries serving in the San Pablo Stake had the blessing of attending the special San Pablo Stake Conference and singing prelude as President and Nelson came into the Chapel. We were in Santa Cruz with the Bowens for the special Stake Conference there but we were told that the chapel, cultural hall and other rooms were overflowing. It was an amazing and spiritual experience for them to come listen to the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The special Santa Cruz Stake Conference was an inspiriting meeting as well. Elder and Sister Bowen are wonderful speakers and great to be with. That night our sweet night guard was saying what a rare experience that was for the Filipino members to have President Nelson come to their stake. I said yes and then told him it was rare for the members in Utah. We seldom see an Apostle at a Stake Conference in Utah any more. 

            After the Stake Conferences we met at the Mission Home where President and Sister Nelson came in for a few minutes before traveling to Manila. They were kind and personable asking about our family. We had a sweet conversation with them, particularly Sister Nelson, as we shared our experience of losing daughters to cancer (President Nelson had a daughter that died of cancer too). She asked about our son-in-law’s new wife and we expressed our gratitude for Wendy. She shared sweet feelings of a second wife and the closeness you feel to the first wife. It was a sweet experience to share a few minutes with these devoted disciples of Christ. Some of the feelings I had are so sacred that I can’t share but I will share that as President Nelson said good-bye to us we had a glimpse of what it must be like to have the Savior look in your eyes. I felt like President Nelson knew everything about my sins, weaknesses, insecurities, but all I felt was pure love radiating from his glowing face. It was a priceless experience and I’m not sure why we were so blessed to have this opportunity but it is something we will always remember and be grateful for!

Top: Special Sisters Meeting
Left center: Imagine my surprise when I got emails about my picture in the Church News.
Center: President Nelson and Elder Bowen shaking hands at the Priesthood Leadership Meeting
with President Mangum in the background.
Right Center:  The Bowens are inside the Chapel door shaking hands before the Santa Cruz Stake Conference.
Bottom left: Young Single Adult Meeting
Bottom right:  San Pablo Sake Conference from the Church News

Easter

     Easter is a wonderful time to reflect on and remember the great love our Heavenly Father has for each and everyone of us, His children. He gave the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ to each of us. Christ came to earth to show us the way to live and to give us the gift of the Atonement so that each of us can return to our Heavenly Father's presence. Jesus Christ not only suffered and died for us but 
He was resurrected and lives and because He lives we will all live again! 
     As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we are blessed to have the understanding of the fullness of the Savior's gospel. I am so grateful for the Savior's suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane as well as on the cross of Calvary. I am grateful for the resurrection and the hope that it gives me to know that Jesus Christ rose on the third day and that He lives today. I'm thankful that I will live again and have the hope of seeing my dear daughter, parents, sister, brother, friends, and loved ones once again. I'm thankful for the hope of eternal life with my Heavenly Father, the Savior, and my family as I strive to follow the Savior's example and strive to live a Christlike life, keep my covenants, repent, and use the power of the Atonement daily in my life. I love my Savior and know He loves me too. I am thankful for my Heavenly Father and for His love and for the great gift of His Son, Jesus Christ.
     If you haven't seen the beautiful video "Hallelujah" on mormon.org take the time to watch it and feel of the Savior's love. In the video it shares these words: "If I let Him. If I love Him. If I follow Him. He can take away my sins, my sorrows, my pain, my past." "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:22). I'm very thankful for this incredible gift. Hallelujah!

https://www.mormon.org/easter/hallelujah


     Enjoy the other Easter links as well; they are all wonderful and testify of our Savior and give us reason to rejoice this special time of year.

February 2016 Departing and New Missionaries

February 22-23--We said good-bye to 19 missionaries; 7 of the 19 were sisters who were great missionaries and so much fun. We greeted the seven sisters as they got off the bus (except for one we picked at the Manila MTC). The elders are great too and we have served with them the majority of their missions. One elder had been a wonderful Assistant for 8 months and two had been great office elders at separate times for several months each. It was a very international group with missionaries from Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Tonga, the United States, and of course the Philippines. Many of them have great musical talents that we will miss as well. We enjoyed spending time with them and loved hearing their memories and heartfelt testimonies. I have such personal memories of each of them for various reasons. It was really hard to say good-bye. I know I always say that, but it's true! We were able to meet one of the elder's family when they picked him up. We always enjoy meeting the families of our missionaries.

February 24-25--We greeted 14 new missionaries including a brother of one of our missionaries that left in October. This group had only 2 sisters but they are both impressive along with the elders. We enjoyed the time with them and were touched by the strength of their testimonies as we had a testimony meeting the morning before they left for their first areas. Several of the missionaries are the only members in their families and they are demonstrating great faith serving without family support. We already love each of them.

February 2016--What a month!

     February was a busy month! It is supposed to be one of our slower months but it certainly didn't work out that way. We had our last zone interviews, Mission Leadership Council, a senior couples activity, a Worldwide Missionary (re)Broadcast, District Leaders Training, Missionary Check-up, Train the Trainers, Transfer Week, district meetings, baptisms, interviews, and the highlight of the month was an amazing visit to our mission from President Russell M. Nelson and his wife!!!!

    February 1-6--We finished our zone interviews during the first week of February as well as had our Mission Leadership Council. After MLC we rode a ferry to Mindoro where the next day we had our last  interviews and Bart did some temple recommend interviews as well. Sunday we attended Church in Naujan which is held in a rented meetinghouse. The Branch has grown so a few months ago they changed the meetinghouse location. This building has been a bank, a restaurant, a clinic, and a resort. In the back are two empty swimming pools--an adult and a children's pool. The classes are held in Nipa Huts. The day we attended it was raining hard and the rain dripped through some of the roofs but the lessons were nice and there was a great spirit. Because it was raining so hard some of the members were unable to get there that Sunday so the missionaries said there are usually more in attendance. A great young man was leaving on his mission a few days later and he started the testimony meeting by sharing his testimony. After he spoke there was never a break in the stream of members sharing their testimonies. It was a sweet experience. This island had a lot of damage from a typhoon in December and many of the people are still recovering. After the block of meetings President Mangum set apart the missionary and did a few more temple recommend interviews before we boarded the boat to return home. The waves were bigger than usual as we traveled back.

A classroom (with the pools in the background), wet rice fields, the outside of the Naujan Branch meetinghouse,
the waves on the ride back, the Branch President and new missionary, the sweet Relief Society sisters. 

    February 7-8--Sunday we returned to the mission home late and missed having dinner with our senior couples. The next day all of the senior couples enjoyed a fun day of visiting and seeing some of the sights in our mission. We went to the home of the Pakil Branch President to see his woodcarvings. It's a quaint little area with a few homes, animals grazing and running around the yard, and an overhang where he and his sons carve their beautiful carvings. He specializes in LDS Artwork: Liahonas, Book of Mormon prophets, Joseph Smith, and the Savior but he also does a carabao, Jeepney, and chess sets. We enjoyed our time there and the Branch President and wife enjoyed all of the orders they received! We then drove to the next little town called Paete that is also known for wood carvings and paper mache' products. It was fun looking in shops as well as watching the artists at work. We visited another woodcarver's home who does wonderful Filipino Nativity sets. He is also a strong member of the Branch there. Our missionaries keep these woodcarvers busy. We then drove to Lumban which is known for their beautiful embroidery crafts. It is amazing to see the women hand or machine embroider their beautiful items. We finished the day by driving to a fun little town called Liluw which is known as the shoe capitol. There are shoe shops lined up along the sides of the main road as well as a giant flip flop mounted on top of a building. Along with shoes they have a very nice restaurant called Arabella's. It serves really good Italian food and delicious cheesecake that is beautifully served. Most of the couples had never been to these towns and the scenery was beautiful and the time together was great. We were also able to discuss mission items throughout the day mixed in with the relaxation and fun.

     February 10--The Worldwide Missionary Broadcast was actually in January but because of the time difference and unreliable internet service in our mission we needed to wait for DVDs from the Area Presidency before we were able to show the training to our missionaries. The missionaries met as Zones on February 10 to watch this historic missionary broadcast. It was a wonderful meeting taught by the members of the Missionary Executive committee. The broadcast was entitled, "Teach Repentance and Baptize Converts." Elder Neil. L. Andersen, Elder David A. Bednar, Bishop W. Christopher Waddell, Sister Bonnie Oscarson, Elder Whitney Clayton, Elder Brent Nielsen, and Elder Dallin H. Oaks each taught.  There were a couple of talks and the rest of the training was with a group of missionaries who had the privilege of being taught by these Apostles and Church leaders. The focus was basics from Preach My Gospel and the scriptures. The leaders are all powerful teachers and the missionaries really enjoyed the training. Now we just need to apply what we were taught!

    February 11--Our District Leader Training was an all day meeting with 4 of our District Leaders, our Assistants and President Mangum all doing training and teaching. It was a great meeting.

    February 18--We had the January Batch Missionary Check-up in the morning and Train the Trainers in the afternoon so it was another whole day of meetings. We always enjoy getting together with the newest missionaries to see how they are doing and to teach them. Both President and I teach as well as the Assistants. President Mangum and the Assistants taught the missionaries about the First 12 Week Training program and how to be effective trainers.

Baptisms, after a District Meeting, and a couple we saw baptized on Christmas Day 2015.
They just recently went to the temple. It was great to see them at a Sacrament Meeting we attended. 

 

     

      

January 2016

Departing Missionaries-January 11 & 12

We spent time with our smallest group of departing missionaries. Although there were only five they were a fabulous group and had all served as leaders in the mission. We enjoyed the normal events as well as a great visit with them after our testimony meeting. The sister was in our first batch of missionaries and had spent her first two nights at the mission home because of the typhoon. She ended her mission the way she started--staying in the same bedroom--but this time she was alone because the other sisters left in December. We miss this group already!

New Missionaries-January 13 & 14

The magic of a mission is you feel sad as you say good-bye to missionaries you love and then the next day your heart opens and you are filled with more love for another group of missionaries. There were eleven in this batch and they are a fun, friendly group and are doing great. 

In January we had a fun visit with two of our beautiful RMs who came back to visit the mission. We also had a surprise visit from one of our wonderful former assistants and his lovely fiancé. Bart had a Coordinating Council Meeting and I attended a training about histories for the mission and Church units. We had our Missionary Check-up for our December Batch and a Train the Trainers meeting. Bart had been really sick and probably should have stayed home but he went to the two meetings. After the second meeting I was giving two of our missionaries their English exams and Bart laid down across some of the chairs in the Relief Society room. A couple of the missionaries saw him and were very concerned asking "Is President okay?" Obviously not. The two Assistants gave him a priesthood blessing before they left. The next morning he felt better and was able to go to MLC. At Mission Leadership Council I taught about charity. The Assistants taught a great workshop on weekly planning that involved all of the council members. Bart taught about mission culture and the purpose of teaching repentance and baptizing converts.  We also had zone interviews in January. Because of the timing of transfers we finished zone interviews the first week of February. We enjoyed visiting with all of our missionaries. During the month we also attended District Meetings, baptisms, Sacrament meetings, and a great Stake Conference. Attending stake conference in Cabuyao is similar to attending in Utah because there are so many members in attendance there are overflow rooms filled. They also have a strong stake presidency and leadership. The talks and music were wonderful.

Top: Mission Leadership Council   Bottom: New Missionaries with the Trainers at the Check-up Meeting

Missionaries, return missionaries, and Coordinating Council members. 

I attended the San Pablo Coconut Festival with some of the seniors. Bart wasn't interested so he stayed at the office and worked but it was fun to see part of the Filipino culture. The photos show some of the decorations, a marching band, and some of the booths where they sell clothes, t-shirts, souvenirs, food, and pretty much any and everything. The little children are looking at "colored" chicks to buy. We left the car at the stake center and walked down to the town but rode a tricycle back--I always take pictures when I ride in the cozy tricycles. They had fresh juice that you could buy 1 kind or mix the flavors. I asked for coconut and pineapple and the sales girl said that those two flavors couldn't be mixed because one is sweet and the other sour. It took our Filipina sister to convince her to make it for me and it was delicious. It was a hot day so the cold drink was extra nice to have. 

We had a fun adventure one weekend in January. We were in Siniloan for zone interviews and afterwards we went with the District President and his wife to their duck farm. We drove out of the town following them as they drove their tricycle, parked the car and walked quite a ways to their farm. It was a beautiful walk and we saw the sunset along with rice fields, mountains, and Laguna Lake. They have nearly 2,000 ducks! It was very interesting to see their farm and hear about the process--as my cute dad would say. They sell fresh duck eggs, as well as salted duck eggs and balut (duck embryo--No, we haven't tried it & we don't plan on it!). The ducks live in a large pen with a cover over the top. They feed them grain and snails (top left photo) for protein. They have a great demand for their product and he transports hundreds of eggs in his tricycle to various areas. They are wonderful people who we love and admire; they are such hard workers and valiant disciples of Christ. The next morning we left Siniloan early and drove about an hour and a half to a remote area where we attended Church at the Infanta Branch. It's a small meetinghouse and Branch but the meetings were great and we were impressed by the faithful members. We no longer have missionaries in the area because it's so remote and with 50 less missionaries there are more effective places for missionary work. The members are understanding about the situation and are doing missionary work without the full-time missionaries. It's a beautiful drive through mountains and along the ocean. We had a great weekend. 

More Christmas Family Fun!

     We're thankful for pictures that help us to share the fun of Christmas with our family.

A glimpse into some of the Christmas season fun.

Family Christmas Party

     On the morning of December 20 (their evening of the 19) we were able to join our family Christmas party. Our connection wasn't the best but it was wonderful to see all of the family together enjoying each other. We visited one on one with some of the family; were able to hear the grandkids sing to us; saw baby Colby in the same Christmas outfit his dad, Collin, wore on his first Christmas; and got to see them unwrap a couple of gifts. We sent each family a wood, hand carved Liahona. One of the Branch Presidents in our mission is a skilled woodcarver.

Family Christmas Party Fun as seen from the Philippines!

We didn't get to watch them act out the nativity but we know it was extra special--
just look at this beautiful group of grandchildren in their costumes. They're amazing!

This is a wonderful family photo!!!!!
There's only one problem, our cute daughter-in-law took it so she's not in the photo.
She's a great photographer so maybe she can photo shop herself in it.
Our family has grown a lot in 40 years--it even grew by 3 in 2015!



Visit with Dad and Mom

A couple of days before Christmas we were able to Face Time
with Dad and Mom and Craig.
Dad hasn't been feeling very well so it was great to visit with them.
 I love the photo of Bart and his dad, both smiling,
and how the picture makes it look like they're together--very sweet!

Christmas Visit

     This year we had the wonderful gift of having Candace, Mike, and their 7 beautiful children join us for Christmas!!! It was so much fun and truly brought the magic of Christmas into our hearts and the mission home. They arrived about 12:30 a.m. Christmas Eve--exhausted from a very long day of 3 airplane rides and a 2 hour ride from Manila. It was wonderful to see them and get to give them actual hugs. We stayed up for a couple of hours visiting and enjoying the time together before the last of us finally went to bed.

     On Christmas Eve we relaxed, played games, put together some goody bags for neighborhood children, some had naps, and we took a ride to San Pablo and rode around the lake. The ride gave them a glimpse into the fun of travel here in the mission. By evening everyone was already tired so we had a little program and grandpa read the nativity. We opened the gifts of pajamas and put out stockings. It was so much fun. The kids went to bed and the adults stayed up and visited for a while.

     Early Christmas morning the grandkids were awake and played games in the back bedroom while they waited for 7:00 a.m. when Candace told them they could go downstairs. I told them they could wake grandpa up at 6:30 and we could go downstairs. So they climbed on the bed by grandpa Bart and sang "We wish you a Merry Christmas . . . we won't go until you get up." It was so fun and reminded me of years ago when Candace and her siblings were young. Candace then lined the children up and they headed downstairs where everyone looked at the treasures in their stockings. Most of them got kendamas, including Gabe who got a mini one (it was so cute to watch him play with it and hear him say "kendama" in his cute voice). They loved playing with them and their other gifts. We then ate breakfast before opening the gifts under the tree. It was a wonderful morning and we loved the time together. We played Scrabble and other games and had another relaxing day. During the afternoon we took the goody bags (with chocolate peso coins and a few real pesos) and went to the neighborhood behind us wishing people a Merry Christmas and giving the bags to the children. At first the grandkids were hesitant but soon they were asking to be the one to hand out the candy. We visited with some of the neighbors and the Larsons were able to see some of the humble homes of the sweet people. The assistants and office elders joined us so we saw them as they shared the gospel with some of the people. That evening the assistants, office elders, and three of the senior couples joined the family for dinner and a program. We had a delicious Christmas dinner and a wonderful program with piano numbers, songs, and a sweet nativity acted out by the children. Calder wrote an original composition "There's No Place Like the Philippines for Christmas" all about coming to see us. It was too cute! Truman showed his skills at doing push ups and the elders sang some Filipino Christmas songs. Once again, the kids started falling asleep early so the family photo has two of them asleep--it's a priceless memory.

  Of course, some of our Christmas fun was being able to join the other children and grandchildren 

on Skype and Face Time to share in their Christmas fun. We are so thankful we could visit them all!

It was so fun to visit with everyone. We got to watch some of them open presents
 and even got to watch the fun of Kaleb and Kat's kids coming into see what Santa brought.
We love our family and loved our Christmas visits with them!!!

     After the Christmas celebrations were over we continued to have a great time with the Larsons being together and sharing a little of the Philippines beauty and culture with them. We also got in a little mission experience by attending a baptism, meeting missionaries, and Zachary and Calder were able to teach with the Assistants for a couple of hours. We're so thankful that the Larsons were willing to have their own Amazing Race across the world to spend Christmas with us. We had a wonderful time with them and shared tearful goodbyes when the week was over.