A DICKEN'S CHRISTMAS WITH PRESIDENT TAYLOR

  It won't be long and President George Taylor and his wife will be leaving the Philippines. He has been the MTC President for 2 years and done an outstanding job.
  As his gift to the Senior Missionary Couples and others, he has prepared a rendition of Charles Dickens classic 'Scrooge'.

 

This is a family tradition at his home in Utah. He plays all the parts and does it very well. He generally only does it for family and friends. We feel very lucky.

I have never seen a one man show of this production done before. My best recollection of this master piece is 'Scrooged' with Bill Murray. I am sure I have room for improvement when it comes to culture.

DELIVERY OF SUPPORTIVE WHEELCHAIRS TO COTTOLENGO FILIPINO

  We spent some time a month ago here with a group of college students to do assessing of children for our intermediate or specialty wheelchairs. It was a great opportunity and we are planning now to go back with the completed wheelchairs and fit each child individually.
  In our weekly planning meeting back then, we discussed how we did and what can we do in the future to make it easier for the caregivers in this facility. Elder Bautista suggested that we give them some of the supportive wheelchairs for use in the facility. This is not a common practice. We assess and give a wheelchair to an individual.
  However, it felt right. We took a morning and got 5 supportive wheelchairs from the Ft. Bonifacio Marines warehouse and delivered them. These wheelchairs have been in our inventory for a long time and finding a great use for them made it very worthwhile.

 

This orphanage and school in located in the foothills in the Rizal Province. We love every time we go here.

 

 

The five wheelchairs are going to be put to great use. As the children arrive at the school, they can be transported in these wonderful chariots to the rooms where they will learn and be taken care of.

 

 

You can see that they have a head rest and a seat belt to secure them. A very safe wheelchair for this environment.

 

 

Elder Bautista joins me in this adventure. The Catholic Father of the organization loves what has been donated to their group. The children will benefit greatly as well as the caregivers and teachers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DELIVERY OF WHEELCHAIR HELPS THE GENERATIONS

  I have had technical problems with our Blog over the past month. After having consulted many individuals and IT people in our building, I finally got the resolution when my son Rich was able to take the controls through 'Go to Meeting' and has resolved the problem. Thanks to Rich and others who have tried to help my cause.
  Now that I am back in business, I will have a lot of posting coming your way. Thanks for the patience in keeping up with us here in the Philippines.
 

 

I have had many requests from ward members for someone in the Tayuman Ward or a relative or a close friend that needs help with mobility. This request involved an inactive man in the Elder's Quorum. He came asking for help for his Mother and Grandmother. He is in front of his home located on the edge of Laguna Bay. He lives here with his Grandmother of 86 years. I had taken pictures of her, but Wham, they disappeared. They live in this 10 by 10 hut on stilts. In the event of long term rains, the water comes up to under the hut. I assessed her and found a walker would be her biggest help right now.

 

His Mother is 64 and the focus of this picture. She lives about 60 feet away on higher ground. This allows a more conventional home with concrete floors. It is too small to allow the wheelchair to go inside, so we also give her a walker for inside use. Others in the picture include Elder Raiwalui and Elder McDonald, along with other family members. The wheelchair given actually fits both the mother and the grandmother and can be used by both for trips beyond their home.

 

Sister Hadlock is always finding children to have fun with. This little boy made her day.

 

 

 The mother demonstrated that she could do well with the walker, but she tires quickly. She now has the option for near and far. Far meaning to go to the doctor. The French's accompanied us when we returned to give the walkers.

 

 

Four generations will benefit from the items we were able to help with. But a big by product is that the Brother in the Elder's Quorum came to church the next week and sat with me. He is a good man, but like others, needs to feel wanted and feel the love of our Father in Heaven. This past week he was able to feel both.

 

 

A NEW MEMBER OF THE CHURCH

   Something I have discovered among the Senior Missionaries is how useful they feel when in the mission field. After many years of service in a home ward, they are not utilized as much and feel less needed.
  Most often they feel they can be only be of help in Temple Service, Genealogy or as local Service Missions, but many hold themselves back in these responsibilities for a variety of reasons.
  May I suggest that you younger members of the congregations take an opportunity to build a relationship with a mature member of the ward. You will be amazed at the response you will get and the wisdom you will acquire. Many of these individuals also need the friendship and caring.
  In the mission field seniors are an extremely valuable asset and make a big difference in the success of the work of the Lord. If you are one of these seniors I speak about, consider a mission. It can be local, close by or far away. The need for Senior Missionaries is great and the need is increasing every day.
  Well, back to the topic of this blog.
  A few weeks ago in church, I was asked by Bishop Urbano if I would confirm a new member of the church. Absolutely! I love these opportunities. But in my enthusiasm, I hope I am not taking away from the experience that another Priesthood holder would have to grow their testimony.

  The person to be confirmed was the father of this family. His name is Jethro Villa. He has been taking the discussions with the young Elder missionaries and has grown rapidly in the Gospel. My first opportunity with the family was when Sister Villa bore her testimony. She is strong and committed to the gospel. Her goal is to be a Senior Missionary someday with her husband.
  I always take a moment before I give a blessing and ask that the Spirit will instruct me to say those words that are appropriate for the individual. As I began the confirmation, a marvelous spirit began to direct the words that I said to him in the blessing. The blessing given him was to prepare himself for those Priesthood assignments that are coming. That he has been foreordained to be a leader in the Priesthood and direct affairs in the Lord's Church. I could visually see him conducting a meeting from a pulpit as the presiding authority. This is a man destined to become a leader in the future. The prayer cautioned him to prepare and be ready for those coming events. I saw his wife and children there in an obvious position of support and love. I could also feel the love that he had for his family.
  After the meeting I found him and told him of my experience and told him to write down his feelings and thoughts when he got home. I instructed him also to review what he was going to write when he feels the challenges and difficulties of life when Satan is trying to slow his progress. He promised me that he would.
  We have had a very strong connection since that day. These feelings should exist with every man as he works in his Priesthood Quorum.
  To me it is evident that we have a responsibility to others to help them in every way we can. Their growth in the gospel depends on it.
  

CHRISTMAS PARTY, PARTY, PARTY !!!!

  The Christmas season starts early in the Philippines. We started to hear Christmas music and see trees and ornaments for sale back in September. They love Christmas and really prolong the season
  The traffic in the Manila area really spikes during November and December as people outside the area come to do their Christmas shopping. Decorations are everywhere as people express their delight in the season.
  One of the negatives is that they go into debt to buy gifts and throw parties for friends and family. One can not be out done by someone else's party. Hum, kind of sounds familiar. But most's income here makes it very hard to pay back later.
  This party is with a ward in the Quezon City South Stake. They had about 300 members come both active and in-active. It's a great time to invite everyone for a fun time and fellow shipping.

 

As the evening began, all the children were invited up front to have a better view of all the proceedings. The church party's we have attended are all about fun, dance and singing. This one falls into that mold.

 

 

Each organization put on  a presentation. This is the Young Women doing a dance to their favorite music.

 

 

This is a role play from "Twilight". The singers really did a great job. Karaoke is popular here and we hear a lot of beautiful voices.

 

 

This is Jimmy Albos (works in the Real Estate Dept in our office) and his wife playing the roles in "Grease". They were really fun to watch.

 

 

Members of every age attended including this older man in traditional Filipino attire. You can see that he has lost a leg, but that didn't deter him from coming.

 

 

As is usual, Sister Hadlock has found a wonderful family with a beautiful baby. We had a great time and enjoyed interacting with all the families. Many of the families had either a Dad or Mom that works with us in the Philippine Area Office. It's fun to see them outside the office and to get to know their families.