Up close with the locals....

(r-l) Elder/Sister Jackson, Marcia, Sister Taylor, Sister Fleming, Elder Armstrong

There are a lot of pictures in this post. It is well worth looking at. These pictures were taken over the last six weeks in various activities. I will try my best at identifying all.

(r-l)E/S Jacksons, Me, Marcia, Sis. Taylor, Sis. Fleming, E/S Armstrong

The pictures on the right were from a Thanksgiving dinner at the MTC President's apartment. President and Sister Taylor had a wonderful meal for us and great conversation.

Public Affairs Missionary Elder Dupaix

PEF Missionary Elder Bell

The day after our meal with the President and Sister Taylor we had a Thanksgiving meal at the Quezon City Mission home hosted by President and Sister DeLaMare.  All the seniors in the mission showed up, with the exception of the missionaries on Mindoro island. Fun was had by all.

Humanitarian Missionary Sister Hardick and Marcia

Elders Hardick and Jensen

The picture on the right is of two Canadians. Perhaps that might explain Elder Jensen (Member Leadership Support Missionary) on the right. Elder Hardick (Country Director Humanitarian Affairs) didn't know how much he was cared for!

Sister Hadlock with resident

These next few pictures are from a visit to Hospicio de San Jose. It is located on a small island in the middle of the Pasig river in Manila. It cares for abandoned children, seniors, and AIDS patients. It is supported by Catholic Charities. We were their inspecting wheelchairs with Elder and Sister Hadlock who are the country's wheelchair specialists.

Elder Hadlock, Nurses and Seniors. The one holding
Elder Hadlock's hand loved to sing to us!

Department Mgr. Gilda with an Angel's Trumpet

The remaining pictures are from a planning meeting that we had in the beginning of December. We traveled to the province of Bataan. It was my chance to show Marcia Subic Bay as well. When I was in the navy that was the port that my surgical team (Surgical Cadre 13), it was similar to a MASH unit, was sent to pick up our ship, the USS Bellawood. 

"You talkin' to me?"

This fella was with a group of like minded monkeys looking for a handout on the side of the road as we were around Subic Bay.

"You Talkin' to me?"(2)

"Seriously,  you talkin' to me?"

The two animals are called Caribou. White caribou are supposed to be good luck. We refer to them as waterbuffalo.

The remaining pictures are from "Zoobic." It is a park with many attractions. With some we were able to get quite close as the pictures show.

There was a cage between us

"You talkin' to me?"(3)

There were more attractions there then just the animals. Marcia attracted quite a lot of Montessori students who were their as well.

Marcia sharing the Gospel

Marcia and Montessori Kids

Up close and feeding a tiger

Canines on a feline

These last two pictures are of people from the local native group. They were performing the 'monkey dance.' It was quite impressive...

jsf

New Year's Eve Videos

As promised. The following videos lead up to January 1, 2013. It was quite the show. At the beginning of each video I do say what time it is to give everyone the scope of the display that is being taped. The duration of the videos are from 2 minutes to 10 minutes; the last one being the longest as it takes it across midnight. Enjoy!!

The first video is taken at 11:05 and is 1m 44s.










This next video is at 11:25 and is 2 minutes in length.
















This video, a favorite, shows people lighting up fireworks on our Patio Deck where the pool is. It's at 11:35 and is 2m 30s.












This last video begins at 11:57 and lasts 10 minutes. This wasn't the last video I took. I did take one more at about 12:30. Although the amount of fireworks had slowed down considerably they were still being shot off.

jsf

Happy New Year!

Wow!

A view from the Patio Deck and Pool

Last night was an experience. We had been told when we arrived here that New Year's Eve was a night to remember. In fact one of the employee's at the Philippine Area Office told me last week that "the Philippine people are poor but when New Year's Eve comes they are rich." They weren't kidding.

Not much of a view to see fireworks from the pool

Last night we thought it might be interesting to see the firework displays from the pool. Forty story buildings on all sides of the pool have a tendency to block any view that we may have thought that we would get. At 9 or so we went to Elder and Sister Hadlock's apartment which is on the 28th floor. For the first hour we socialized and ate the last of the bad food that we've sworn off for the new year. During that time a few of us tried to see the fireworks that were going off. Although their apartment is the highest of the missionaries the only room that had a good view was their laundry room. At the most three people would be able to fit in their at a time.

Marcia and Sister Edie Dupaix looking out from the 25th floor

Little after 10 we decided to move the gathering down to the 25th floor which is where Elder and Sister Bailey live. Their apartment faces toward Manila and the show was spectacular. We were able to watch from their living room as well as one of the bedrooms. Everyone was amazed at the amount of fireworks that were being displayed. There didn't seem to be any organization to it all. Fireworks would shoot up from all directions. The variety, the noise, and the smoke simply amazed everyone.

 The display was a crescendo as the fireworks were consistant
at the beginning. The closer we got to midnight the more the air
was filled with lights. It never slowed down until after 12:30 or
so.

Fireworks on the Patio Deck of our Apartment
building!

I will try to upload some video on this post but it appears to be taking a loooong time to upload. So if I can I will post one video with this post and tomorrow I will post the remaining ones. Have a safe and Happy New Year everyone!

jsf/mmf

Year in review- "Food- (Soapbox Warning!)

Seafood counter at Robinson's Market

Goat outside on street next to San Pablo Mission Home

This was originally posted on September 3, 2012. My scientist son informed me that my science was somewhat off kilter. I informed him that as my tongue was firmly in my cheek as I wrote it that of course it was a bit skewed- but I did warn people at the beginning of the post.!


"I suppose at some time it is necessary to eat food. Some of us prefer to eat more often than others. Others have a tough time eating. Anyone who may be reading or watching the media in the United States might get the idea that there is a crisis of 'obesity' occurring. Just as an observational note- although the Philippines is not a wealthy country it does have its share of people who are of a 'stouter' nature.

With all the excess weight that is accumulating does that mean that we are 'weighing' the earth down more? and possibly slowing it down? Although it is not a theory that I advocate I do believe it is one aspect of global warming- if you agree with that theory that has not been addressed. Sure people pick the obvious and say that gas emissions, coal emissions, refrigerants and the like are the cause of old mother earth warming up. Any one can say that- in fact according to the media it's a done deal global warming is not a theory but a fact. I have a tendency not to quite believe what SOME scientists are theorizing and lean towards the facts that the earth is old and there are natural events and cycles that occur. I believe that man shows his arrogant and prideful side when he thinks that by his living his lifestyle the earth will be dramatically changed in a detrimental way. I remember the 1970s when global cooling was the criers voice and the headlines in news magazines.

Squid 

I did warn all readers that I was on a soap box. If you have gotten this far good for you because now comes the interesting and bold new theory that I am proposing. Is it possible that due to the 'obesity' epidemic that is occurring around the world that the earth is actually slowing down because of the excess weight that people have? What happens when people get over weight? They slow down- everyone has seen this occur. What happens when you put overweight people into cars? The cars slow down. It is a natural law (somewhere). Since I have proved beyond a shadow of a doubt regarding my 'global slowing' theory I will need to demonstrate how it dovetails and is the cause for our planets temperature rise. Naturally, naturally, when things slow down, especially when exposed to sun light, they heat up faster. If an ice cube is exposed for 1 second in the sun it doesn't melt much. If you were  to leave that same ice cube out for 5 minutes it will no longer be an ice cube but, instead, it will be a puddle. Because the earth is slowing down because of our 'obesity' epidemic our exposure to the sun is much longer and thus the earth is temporarily heating up. Temporarily? Of course. Once people recognize that overeating is causing overheating they will naturally, naturally, want to lose weight, close McDonalds, banish soft drinks and junk food from schools, ban transfats from New York City, and demonize movie popcorn around the world (wait- don't they already do that?).

Remember I did issue a soap box warning at the top of the post....."

jsf