A little of this and that...

The roads here are full of every vehicle known to man, some carrying people, some produce, some building materials, some animals and some just 'stuff' but one thing they all have in common...you will never see anything like this in the US! Emergency cones, triangles, and such are non-existent but being the careful people they are, we are all warned of long loads or road hazards with their form of 'emergency' signals. Like this one...

The striped plastic bag tied to the back of this load of bamboo is his way of saying 'be careful'

We love the produce here and recently Randy got twins!!!

I have frequently bragged on the creativity of these Filipino people-they might not have the tools we use but they can 'make do' by using what they have..like these make shift brooms that are used to sweep the rice that has been drying in the road. They are made from a long stick and to the end is tied a 'bouquet' of tree greenery. Clever! and it works great!

The river banks are filled this time of year [and really most times of the year] with entrepreneurial fishermen who are busy stocking their roadside fish markets...his catch for the day was a big one! 

 I have also loved the signs in this country-tarpalin signs are everywhere and relatively inexpensive. These are a few that I recently caught on film for you.

You would never see this in the US-a congrats for a college student, hung by the side of
the road and giving the Glory to God!! 

Loved this wording-in other words, they are expanding the shoulders of the road...hahaha!

I had to get these two-Cristin is the name of our oldest daughter and her daughter's name is Cora...the
trycies often have the family name on the back or sometimes a religious saying
to show their honor to their God.

I am NOT a McDonald's fan...never have been and never will be but here, in the Philippines, I LOVE McDonald's and go there frequently. It is 'summer' now and school is out-recently a group of children were taking a tour, wearing their McD's hats. They are learning the fine art of making hot chocolate.

General Conference in the Philippines is a little different for us. We do not receive the broadcast live [it would be in the middle of the night here] but recreate the weekend the following Saturday and Sunday. Keeping the Sabbath day holy is a very difficult concept for most Filipino's to grasp. They are busy folks and most need to work in the rice fields on Sundays during harvest. For those who can come to conference, we provide a lunch for our missionaries, their new converts and investigators on that Sunday. We have done it all four conferences while in the Philippines and we think it gives the Elders and Sisters a way to reinforce the teaching of the Sabbath day principles. We encourage the missionaries to invite their investigators and new members and after a welcome from the Zone Leaders which includes a reinforcement of the principles taught by explaining that this lunch is provided by the missionary team so they don't have to go purchase food on Sunday, a blessing is held and then we eat. This spring I prepared 20 loaves of bread into Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches as well as a few Ham and Cheese. I also brought 125 bags of chips, 3 racks of bananas, 3 pineapples chunked, 5 gallons of lemonade and water, and 6 dozen each of three different cookies/brownies. Nobody was turned away and many members joined us-we always have plenty of food.

I have mentioned many times about the craft artisans that are here in the Philippines. They are such clever and creative people by nature. Close by there lives a sweet little family. They are very poor but their father, who is crippled from birth with a serious foot deformity, has found a way to support his family. They are members of our church and provide a great artistic service to the missionaries. I don't think there are many who go home without something that Brother Malano has created. His plaques and frames are all made by hand. His children and wife pick the talahib [you remember my love for this beautiful native grass] and he dries and dyes it. Then the creation begins.

His 'office'

A wonderfully talented man.

I had a surprise last week as I was driving to Cauayan. Out of nowhere there appeared a FLOWERING TREE!!! It is the first I have seen in the Philippines and it was beautiful. The flowers were the color of goldenrod, the state flower of Nebraska, our home. 

It will not be long and this will all be a fond memory as we prepare to start shipping boxes home. I guess I am a collector, probably a talent I got from my mom. This experience is one we will treasure the rest of our lives and I want to have enough 'stuff' to help me keep it close. I love the Philippines. I love the people. We only have a few weeks left here then we will return to our 'other' lives and what will we bring with us? Enough joyful memories to last the rest of our lives...that's what!