Hellos and Good-byes

Hello!

 A few weeks ago we had the 

wonderful opportunity of seeing 

some sweet friends again! 

Elder and Sis. Howell came to the

 Manila Temple.  We were in the 

MTC with the Howell's plus our 

daughter's had served as mission 

companions in the San Diego 

Mission! The Howell's came with 

a group of Latter-day Saints

 from Malaysia!

These wonderful people came to do their own temple work and also work for their families!

It was wonderful to get to see them again! That was a fun hello but a few days later, we were saying good-bye to our mission leaders, Pres. and Sis. DeLaMare and the Hables from our Branch.

  We had a big party but the cute guy in the yellow shirt fell out of a tree and broke his 

elbow so their family was home tending him! We also found another connection with 

Derek and Cathy.  Cathy's dad had played football at BYU with Elder DuPaix!

 It is a small world!

Ben DeLaMare and Elder DuPaix. What a fun kid who kept our Senior Zone young!

Janice and Doug McAllister with the DeLaMares

Sorry Pres. Bohn! Didn't mean to catch you eating!!!

This is the cute Little Family! We have gotten to work with them in
Sunday School and with the music at Church!

Charity Windsor and Melinda Bailey

And I made GF lemon bars to celebrate the event!
Several of us are gluten intolerant in our Branch!

 Elder and Sis. Harris are our office couple! They work so hard to keep the mission going. 

 We will have to tell them good-bye at the end of July along with Elder and Sis. Miller.

 

We had also had to say good-bye to our cute legal externs! Shantel and Alex were only 

here for six weeks but you become a family when you are away from home!

 Then came some of the hardest news of our mission. Elder and Sister Hadlock had to return

 home from their mission early as Sis. Hadlock's cancer returned after three years in remission! 

We don't like good-byes!

 Sis. Hadlock, The DeLaMares, Elder Hadlock 

They were serving as our Humanitarian Country Directors.

Our last Zone Conference of Monson's Warriors before Pres. and Sis. DeLaMare returned home.
Good- bye :-(
 

Baguio Adventure and Training!

Our Baguio Trip began at 4am! We met at the PAO and got a van with Luie, 

our wonderful driver! It was a beautiful drive, especially seeing the 

sun rise over Mt. Ariah.

 

 We stopped for a CR break and found a good one - a seat AND paper! Awesome!

 We saw this little tike as we left NLEX and headed into Urdaneta. We couldn't 

believe all the baskets they had packed on, and inside, their family!

 Another tike we drove past was full of young men, at least 5 or 6. Roger rolled 

down the window to take their picture and they shouted out, "Hello Joe!" He said

 that in Viet Nam, the locals always said the to him - GI Joe.

 Next stop - Lion's head. It was awesome. Everyone was stopping for pictures in the 

canyon going up to Baguio.

Sorry, a moving car just does not do justice to the homes that are built straight up
 the mountain. We understand more fully why they worry of earthquakes here!

Baguio is beautiful and cool! It is so high that even pine trees grow there! 

As we drove up to Camp John Hay. When we drove up, I couldn't believe it!

 I felt like we were in Park City!

 The inside reminded us of Westgate!
For a little bit, we could imagine 

that we were close to home -
just on vacation!

 After we checked in we did some touring. Haide, her son Vaughn, and 

Elder and Sister DuPaix in front of the Presidential Mansion.

It is the summer home I'm sure!!!

 We decided we were all tired of being taller

 than Haidi!

 Luie than took us to a shopping area high on the hills of Baguio, overlooking the canyon. 

There was a photo op where you could put on the native clothing and take pictures. 

There was the cutest little girl there with me!!!
She wasn't very excited about having me in her picture though!

 Elder DuPaix with his cute little Native wife, Sis. DuPaix.

After we left, we bought some strawberry jam and peanut brittle and then went to

 "Easter Weavers"to see how they actually make the clothe. It was toltally amazing. 

These looms are almost 100 years old.

Sat. Morning we went to the Chapel for our training. Most of the meeting 

houses have outside basketball courts. These cute young men were having 

a great time - and none were members of the Church!

We had a wonderful training with the Stake Public Affairs leaders in the Baguio area. 

After much urging from Elder DuPaix, Sis. Bailey and Sis. DuPaix finally sang a 

duet with Haidi accompanying. We sang "Teach Me to Walk".

Our Baguio Training batch! Wonderful women, almost all of whom are involved 

in the teaching profession.

Shopping before heading back to Manila.

Sis. DuPaix buying oranges at the wet market. (Wet verus dry goods!) 

They were really good!

The funniest sight - McDollibee. Quite the combination of McDonald's and Jollibee 

who are the biggest competitors for the fast food marker here. However, I don't think 

he was selling burgers!

We came down the canyon, which reminded us of Provo Canyon, complete with a 

lovely waterfall. It was June 1st, Grandpa Rasband's birthday and I thought of the many 

trips we had taken up Provo Canyon to visit his Mom in Heber. I think he would have

 enjoyed our ride!!!

Hanging bridge over the canyon! There was a nice resort on the other side - 

if you dared to go across!

Coming to the end of a wonderful trip! A beautiful sunset! Then the thunder, lightening 

and rain set in. Our driver was amazing and kept driving even when some of the big 

trucks gave up! It is one of the worst storms we have driven in! We were very happy 

to arrive home safely!

Farewell to Luie and Jerose! Off on a new adventure!

The past four months, Marluie Daclan was a part time employee in our Public Affairs

 Office. He worked on several special projects and we came to depend on him to help

 especially when we needed some help with phone calls or translation!

Luie and Jerose were married in Dec. and now are expecting a baby in Nov. 

We planned  a farewell party for them!

Of course we couldn't leave Sis. Farnsworth out of the festivities. Haidi made sure 

she had a seat of honor.

We ordered pizza, the perfect snack! We also had rootbeer floats and Jerose made 

"mango float" for us all!

We were excited to give them a few gifts for their new baby. The first for him or her! 

We are excited to find out what they are having.

They were most excited about the bedtime story book! Every baby needs a book!

Luie favored us with some beautiful violin music.

Our batch picture! (complete with Sis. F.)

Good Luck to Luie and Jerose as they move to Cebu to go to school and begin 

their new family. We love you and miss you!

American Cemetery Memorial Service

Each Memorial Day, a service is held to honor the soldiers who fought in the conflict.  

At the conclusion of World War II, enemies of freedom were defeated following a

 tremendous sacrifice of life. Many call the veterans of World War II the greatest 

generation because of the magnitude and ferocity of the war and the sacrifice that

 was made in order to achieve freedom.The Philippines suffered as much as any country. 

They were drawn into the war 10 hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor as the Japanese 

launched a surprise attack on the Philippines. The American-Philippine forces were

 compelled to surrender in April 1942.What followed is remembered by all as the 

Bataan Death March where over 10,000 men died. The nation suffered tremendous 

destruction and loss of life during the war. American forces under the command of

General Douglas MacArthur landed in Leyte on October 20, 1944.  The liberation of the 

Philippines then began. Fighting was fierce.  Americans and Filipino guerrilla forces 

 suffered great losses. The Philippines was finally freed on September 2, 1945 when 

a formal surrender was signed by the Japanese which ended World War II.

The sun shone brightly on the morning of the 26th of May as people, 

young and old alike, converged at the Manila American Cemetery in

Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, to celebrate Memorial Day. 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offered a wreath of flowers,

 along with other organizations, in respect for the heroes who sacrificed their

 lives for faith and freedom. Hadlocks, DuPaixs, Baileys, Frenches and Tenneys.

Our good friends the Ferrins, the McAllisters, and Alex and Shantel, 

the summer legal interns.

Men and women veterans of the war, wrinkled with age, stood proudly alongside

 ambassadors, government and military personnel, and representatives from various 

organizations to remember the fallen.

The Philippine Army Band enthusiastically played military marches and at the 

conclusion of the service played taps to a hushed crowd. 

The Honor Guard then gave a 21 gun salute.

Mayor Lim, who we met recently, was there to honor his own father who 

fought and died in the war.

This sweet little native was rescued by American soldiers. He and his wife are in their 90's.

Ambassador Thomas, Dallin Windsor, 

a brand new Life Scout, and Elder DuPaix

 Dignitaries and ambassadors from Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain and other countries attended the service.  American Ambassador Harry R. Thomas Jr. presented a wreath and gave a Memorial Day message honoring those American and Philippine soldiers who served their countries.

The Ambassador from New Zealand with Elder DuPaix who served 

his first mission there.

 

Elder and Sis. Hull on their last day of their mission.

We were very touched by these words from our own Public Affairs Director:

Haidi Fajardo (Philippines) reflected, “Both of my grandfathers fought during the war. 

Lolo (grandfather) Kikoy was a guerilla leader who had to escape to Bohol at one time

 since my grandmother had to give birth to my mother and the Japanese army was

 pursuing them.My other Lolo, Col. Dominico Flores, died as he fought against the 

Japanese leaving my dad and his seven other siblings fatherless. The Memorial Day 

is very meaningful to me because of my grandfathers’ stories of valor and sacrifice. 

Alongside the Americans, they offered their lives for freedom. When I saw the veterans

 last Sunday, both Americans and Filipinos, standing side by side just like the old days, 

a deep sense of patriotism swelled within me and my heart goes out to those who fought 

 valiantly. The Memorial day was a beautiful, solemn and sacred affair."