Fire! Fire! Fire!

Long Week!  We began by moving 4 apartments on Monday.  The Elders get their own Jeepney or truck and we help where we can.  It is a priority to get the Elders and sisters to better housing.  They moved out of -- I don't even dare say. 

 

President Revillo asked us to continue with our Stake Assignment as well as take on the Schlager's job so we are pretty swamped now.  Dean April fooled me by making the phone ring and saying "yes Pres."  When he hung up he said Pres. wants us to take the whole mission, Johnson's included.  (They take 1/3).  So I thought we were going to do it all and was gulping all day when he finally said April Fools. 

 

Our lesson went well on Self Reliance and after a family (investigator) came up and really wanted to meet us.  Turns out they are refugees running from Muslims in Pakistan.   Irfan, Shazia, Aanish, Tabeel and John Benedict.  They live in a Catholic mission -- one bedroom.  They have been praying so hard for God to send them help.  They are desperate.  They've escaped with their lives, sold everything they had.  Bridget had some good ideas for help.  We can't help them get out of this country, but we can help them find happiness here.  We are going to help them with a few odd jobs, washing our car or ironing to give them a few pesos.  We will definitely keep in touch with this family.  They are beautiful!

 

Friday we struck out on our own to help Sisters in Tagieg find a new apartment.  There was a fire in the building across from us and we could see fire trucks below -- they wave all the cars through and then there is a fire truck stuck in traffic.  I don't understand why they don't pull to the right and stop.  Anyway, then our fire alarm went off, so we grabbed our water and lunch and walked down 28 flights of stairs.  Anyway -- We spent 3 1/2 hours just trying to find the sisters.  The directions were wrong.  Finally we find them.  They had been broken in to once before.  President wants all sisters safe a priority.  The apartment they found won't work, so we have to look again.  Dad will have to fix a broken doorknob on their door.  Then we found the Elders and delivered a Refridgerator etc. We passed some colorful little chickens.  They die the baby chicks bright colors here.  Easter? 

 

Saturday morning we woke up unable to move.  Our legs are toast after walking down 28 flights of stairs!  But we made it to women's conference.  Dad washed the van in the parking lot while I was in the conference.  He asked a Jeepney driver to help him. (He was asleep in his Jeepney)  He climbed up on top of our new van and worked and worked getting it clean.  Then Dad asked him if he could get in his Jeepney.  I wish I had been there to take a picture.  He said his head touched the ceiling.  The driver laughed and laughed.  The Stake President was out there also, laughing at Dad.  Then we went to a ward party.  They were hiding Easter Eggs -- just white boiled eggs.  They were hiding them all over the church -- clerks office -- all the rooms, one kid was burying the eggs under plants outside the church.  I said you might grow a chicken and he laughed.  I'm not sure anyone will find those ones.  Ha!  Dad began talking to an investigator and bore his testimony in Tagalog that he knew President Thomas S. Monson was a true prophet.  She did not speak English.  The ward mission leader came over and said that was exactly what she was struggling with.  It is such a miracle Dad was able to say what he said.  Then we went to a baptism.  I was surprised to see all teenagers and mothers there -- and the Bishop.  6 boys were standing around the guy getting baptized.  All excited for him.  All members.  The 3 teenagers we met last week also.  Also lots of teenage girls.  The Elders invited us to speak and Dad said he knew church was true in Tagalog.  I told them they looked like an Army of Helaman with their mothers. They really did.  It was amazing.  Great fun, good feeling! We came home so tired we couldn't move, went to bed at 9 p.m.

 

So our apartment is so funny.  We live in Tower 1, we park in Tower 3, level 2.  In the elevator we press 3 to get to 2.  The fire escape does not end on ground floor ... it says to find another fire escape when you get to the ground floor.  We drive in a round driveway across the lane, not from the right lane -- opposite direction than what makes sense.  Ask me why I'm confused.  As we go down a one way street the wrong way they are laughing at us crazy white people.  So funny.

 I woke up with swollen eyes (allergies) but look who we found in Marikina 1st Ward!

Most of the dogs here are guard dogs and not loved, but this was a little loved dog that looked like Cena, so I had to take her picture. (Masi)

These are hand made rugs, most are not artistic, but this sewer used some skill, so I bought 6.  They are nice to kneel on the floors are so hard.

 Happy Easter Autumn.  Instead of colored eggs, they have colored chicks!

 This baptism was awesome.  6 of his friends were members and many more youth at his baptism.  They all had their smart phones out.  This is Joshua!

 This is the little family of teenagers that just joined the churchl.  The littlest girl is oldest and first year college (koleheo)

Anyone hungry? You can buy these at the food store where I shop. 

You've heard of Nightmare on Elm Street.  This is Nightmare on Aurora Blvd.