Nov 2023 POM

After traveling over 24 hours we arrived at the mission office and they had this sign for us, so sweet.

We had our picture taken with President and Sister Albrecht in front of the office.

Rice patties coming into Zambales.

They took us out to eat at Papagallos on the beach, it was so good and what a view.

Papagallos beach view.

Trash men every Friday.

We ate at the mall at Chow King, it was pretty good.

The drivers for MLC meeting.

Alan testing some of the missionary bikes in front of the chapel.

We drove down to Bataan to check out the Lauritzen's apartment.

We stopped and got banana chips, honey, coconut water, and mangos, mmm.

4am we woke to a toilet overflow, they told us we could flush paper in the toilet, but FM said nope! Duane put a pot on their stove, on top of the glass and walked away as it exploded.

Gary Arnell sent this that morning and we both feel the prayers of our family and friends.

Zone conference, I made Banana chocolate chip cookies for all the missionaries.

It's so nice to have our own Christmas tree in our apartment..

Oct-Nov Pre-MTC and MTC

JT's boys got to come and see us for a day before we left for the MTC.

Played pinochle with Deb and Tom and I got double aces.

We left Cedar airport with the Nufers and made it to SLC and a shuttle to the MTC.

Lots of luggage to move to our rooms.

We got our name tags at the front desk.

That's where we're going map.

World art in the T4 bldg.

2 sisters going to our mission in Olongapo, Sister Driscoll and Beazer.

Our morning teacher, sister Fliton.

Got subzero ice cream with the family.

Loving the Christmas decorations.

Playing rummikub with G.

Dale fell on a microwave while taking it to the trash. When they checked him out, they found a mass in his sinus and operated. Looks like everything is going to be okay.

The 3 couples from our ward going to Olongapo. Us, Nufers, and Lauritzens.

Sister Monica Stewart and her husband, Turbat Mikhlai were our ministering partners. her story of translating the Book of Mormon into Mongolian and meeting her husband was amazing. They will do great things on their mission over there.

We watched the G and A wrestle, it was rough, but the really improved. We watched T play basketball. We went to the mall and got ice cream and hit Bath and Body and got some lotion.

Deb, Rhonda, and I tried lotions for Rhonda to buy, it was really fun!

Ate at JCW's and then Jamie and Josh dropped us off at our hotel. We weighed our bags for the airport Sunday and slept.

After church Whit and family came to our hotel to say goodbye.

Last picture at the MTC.

October Tennessee Trip

We brought yellow squash from our garden to feed to Whitney's chickens, they ate it all. The next morning Whitney dropped us at the Provo Airport.

We flew from Provo to Nashville and picked up our rental car. It was a Malibu with shimmy problems, we found a gas station and filled the tires and it was a little better. We hit Walmart in Mount Juliet and got pillows and a mattress topper and then we headed to Cookeville and Sam's Club. We bought chips, chocolates, chicken lasagne, and this dip. They were all very good and we enjoyed them with mom and Alicia.

We went for a 4 mile walk every morning and then drove to Rose Mary's house to buy fried peach and apple pies. Alan had one for breakfast every morning with his barley water.

Rose Mary's house

Rose Mary with Jamie and Ashleigh when they visited mom last July. She is a Mennonite that came over from Switzerland when she was 5 years old. She bakes bread, rolls, cookies, and fried pies and sells them from her house. Alan had fun speaking German with her and she was surprised that he spoke it.

Daisy loved having us scratch and rub her.

We're so glad mom has her to keep her company. Wednesday we took mom and Alicia to Cookeville for mom's DR. appt and took them to eat at Golden Corral. We all enjoyed it.

Mom made pickled okra last summer and we polished off about 1/2 the jar before we left for home.

It was overcast and rained a few days, but the weather was pretty good.

We all put this wooden puzzle together one night, we also watched NCIS Hawaii a couple of nights, and of course we played Rummikub, Phase 10, and pound the table. Alicia came over 2 days and played with us.

Mom had the ceiling of her garage blown in so the floor of her livingroom and kitchen will be warmer in the winter.

We went to Allardts' pumpkin festival, this beetle caught my eye and the motorcycle got Alan's attention.

We went to church and had mom take our picture for our mission plaque.

After church we went onto Martha Washington Rd. and visited dad's grave.

Monday morning after our walk we went to Rose Mary's one last time and then to Muddy Pond General Store to get some bags of chocolate covered cranberries and orange slices.

We left around 11:30 and stopped in Cookeville Sam's for lunch. We turned our car in and waited for our flight, it was pretty crowded in the terminal. It felt great not having any connection we had to make though. 

Our stewardess had everyone push their call buttons to light the candles on a birthday cake and we sang happy birthday to a boy named Steve. She was making jokes and was very friendly.