December 22, 2013
We attended Church in Balamban.
Sister Sawyer
and Sister Sawyer invited us to lunch at their apartment afterwards.
December 23, 2013
Elder and Sister Sommerfeldt, along with many of the Temple missionaries, were involved in a service project to Bonita Home for Girls. (Some abused, some orphaned.)
After driving to Talamban, we wandered through narrow, one-laned streets, until we came to a small sign that said: Bonita Home for Girls. Now the road got really narrow, and had we not seen the sign, we would never have continued on this road. It literally headed up into a jungle area. Up - meaning some of the steepest road we have encountered. Fortunately, we were in the truck and made it to the top with no problem.
With barely enough room to turn around, we arrived at the Home. Wow, what a location. It is literally in the middle of the jungle, a little more than 1/2 a km. from any other population. What a beautiful setting.
Wow, what a view!
The facility is getting older, but is well constructed, with beautiful staircases, built into the side of the mountain. Great view, quiet, safe!
We were greeted by Sister Juliette
And then by the girls. I complimented them on their pink T-shirts. They said they were their uniforms.
They were excited to have us visit.
Their voices were beautiful as they displayed their many musical talents.
As missionaries, we also sang to them.
A couple of Christmas songs, then "I Am I Child of God."
By the end of the third verse, some of the girls were singing the chorus with us.
We gave them the gift bags we had brought for them.
When they were asked what they needed, we were told they needed underwear.
Thus, each girl had her name on her individual bag, so the size was correct.
The bags included fresh oranges and apples, a cookie, some candy,
a towel, a toothbrush and toothpaste.
Also, included in the younger girls' bags were homemade dolls, made by one of the temple sisters.
The teenage girls received compacts, and hair items.
The little girls loved that Will was so tall, and they only came to his waist.
This little girl was determined to sit on his knee.
Karen, and a couple of other sisters, painted fingernails.
Karen had taken the nail polish. (Thanks Maray for the great idea.)
It was such a pleasure to listen to these beautiful children, and interact with them.
A picture of the group.
December 24, 2013
Last night we shopped for breakfast casserole fixings for 80 missionaries. Today we prepared the casseroles for Christmas morning, when Sister Schmutz will be feeding those missionaries at the Mission Home. All 203 missionaries would love to come, but most serve in areas too distant to make the journey.
In the late afternoon, we ate dinner with Elder and Sister Ernstrom at their apartment. We took a fresh pineapple, homemade potato salad, and homemade carrot cake for our contribution to the meal. Of course, we left 1/2 of the carrot cake for President and Sister Schmutz - since it is their favorite. (Sister Schmutz was great about me using her oven to bake the cake.)
December 25, 2013
Shortly after 7:00 a.m. we were at the Mission Home to help serve breakfast to the lucky 80.
Here is the oven full of casseroles.
With the top of the stove full of cooked casseroles.
Sister Pickett was great about helping in the kitchen.
The missionaries took of their shoes before entering the house
and put them in nice rows.
Later, as Elder Sommerfeldt saw the shoes, he "arranged" them in a nice pile.
You know him!
After the meal, the missionaries sang Christmas hymns around the piano.
They totally enjoyed one another.
The second group have such talented missionaries, and they put quite a concert for us. What a special treat.
At about 11:00 a.m., we invited the missionaries to be on their way so President and Sister Schmutz could call their family and enjoy some time together for their Christmas.
Two sisters did not have a way (Skype or Magic Jack) to call home to their families, so Elder Sommerfeldt drove back to our apartment and got his computer so they could call home. Here is Sister Forbush calling home from Will's desk at the office.
As Will waited, he practiced playing his ukulele.
We saw these shoes from one of the Elders at the Mission Office.
His has definitely put a lot of miles on them.
When we finally went home, we napped for a while and then ate this wonderful
Christmas dinner - leftovers from the fridge.
Some days it's just as good as it gets.
At least we had all of our family there!
We are trying to get ahold of all our family members and wish them a Merry Christmas. If it doesn't happen today, we will try again tomorrow morning, which will be Christmas Day in the evening in the US.
Then, this evening we received our best Christmas gift ever. Sister Hutchings and Sister Sawyer texted and asked Elder Sommerfeldt if he would baptize Cherry on Friday in Balamban. She has requested that. So, we get a white Christmas after all. We will post pictures after Friday.
