In the middle section of the mission office hangs our mission flag or banner. I love the mission logo, which shows the three islands and our motto "Success Through Obedience". When missionaries arrive they sign their name on the left side of the flag, and when they leave they sign on the right side. I thought when it first arrived that we'd never fill it up, but it's going to be full by the time we leave. It's a treasure! We forgot to get signatures of one of the batches coming in so we took the flag around to interviews to have them sign. A couple of days before the next new batch I asked where the flag was and we all got a little nervous until it was found down in Talisay. Then we all heaved a sigh of relieve.

 
This is the office "staff" we have right now, since March 1. They are Sister Moss (finance secretary), Sister Barclay (baptismal records, supplies & mail), Elder Ehorn and Elder Santos, Assistants, and President & Sister Anderson. The picture is taken in President's office at the mission office. In the background you can see the transfer board. All the pictures of the missionaries are placed in the areas where they are currently serving. It helps us keep track of them.

 
The recipe for missionary success, in only six words! How many missionaries have become successful because of this advice given to our past prophet by his father?

 
How about this future missionary? I think he and his sister are such darling kids. All Filipino kids are darling, as a matter of fact! These are Cacho kids. Cachos are a "pioneer" family in Bohol. The parents joined along with their five sons. These kids are 3rd generation church members.

 
This is the waterfall we climbed to see after crossing Balanan Lake. It's not as "high" as some of the falls we've seen here, but it's so beautiful the way the water falls over the rocks.

 
After crossing Balanan Lake in a little boat, we hiked to these falls. The color isn't so good, but it was a beautiful waterfall.

 
Brian and Wanonie visited in October. We went with them and the Wolfs to Balanan Lake. I'm missing in the picture because I'm on the camera.

 
This is the view from our window in the Bethel where we stay in Dumaguete. Hard to find a prettier sight. There is a lot of activity on the "boardwalk". It's a gathering place for people. In the early morning there are exercise groups and lots of people walking. In the evening lots of walkers as well.

 
This is where we almost always sleep when we are in Dumaguete, Negros. It's so nice and clean. The people there know us as we're there every three weeks and they always welcome us back with a big smile on their faces.

 
I almost forgot about putting pictures on the blog. Hadn't realized it's been since August! This picture was taken at Christmas. Kids "carol" for you at Christmas, and they want to be paid a peso or two. Mostly they come up to your car while you're waiting at a red light, but thse girls were in the parking lot at Makro (PI version of Costco) when I went shopping. They almost always have an "instrument"...this girl was using the plastic bottle. If I remember right there were some small pebbles inside to make some "music." Sometimes the instrument is a wooden stick with a nail in it that has washers to jingle.

 
After transfer meeting, and Elder King is off to his first area traveling in the back of this little truck. Who ever heard of needing seatbelts?

 
With the district choir following district conference in Toledo. Lots of the men who sang are our missionaries. Some of them had alreaady left when we took the picture.

 
Faithful Saints from Lamac came to district conference in Toledo together in this truck. It's a pretty rough road down the mountain, but they are all so happy to have a way to come to conference. Lamac is only about an hour from Toledo, which is a coast town. Many of the children in Lamac have never seen the ocean! Transportation is just too expensive.

 
We loved having Kent and LaRene here for about a week in January. In this picture we had climbed down some 350 steps to visit Casaroro Falls. It's a fun hike! On the left are our Assistants, Elder Mohring and Elder Hankins. Both have gone home now....it's the story of our lives, constant change!

 
Our zone leaders at the end of zone leader council, including Sister Domingo who is on a special training assignment for Sisters. We love having zone leader council...there's a really special spirit here when they all share their testimonies and experiences, and make their goals.

 
In March Elder Mark Garcia returned from his mission in Butuan. His family was so happy to greet him, and we're so happy that even though his Dad isn't in the picture, he was at home in Siaton waiting to greet him. The Sister on the right is a branch member, Sister Trinidad who recently returned from her mission.

 
For about three weeks we had painters here painting the outside of the mission home. Their scaffolding was fascinating. The painters made it themselves by lashing bamboo poles together. They climbed the poles like monkeys!

 
This is the home for the orphans in Valencia. It was old, but very clean and attended by a nun and some other helpers. They will move into a new home "next door" very soon.

 
On January 12, 2008 Sister Burton invited me to join the Zamboanguita Primary activity of visiting an orphanage in Valencia, Negros. It was a desire I'd had for a long time, and what a delightful visit! The children were well behaved and performed numerous dances and songs for us. I wanted to take a couple of the children home with me!

Valencia Orphans