It's Mango Season!

Dear Family and Friends!

When I sit down to write this, I often start by looking through my pictures to remind me what we have been up to! Well, there are too many! Can I summarize?

The general news is that the weather is still gorgeous! We can go for a bit in the car and house without turning on the air con! Only for a bit, but still! There is often a wonderful breeze! And it is mango season! Whenever we turn right out of our driveway, heading north, we will eventually come to the portion known as the Mango Highway where there are rows of grass thatch covered stands offering a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, but the BIG DRAW is the mangoes! Best to buy them green, then watch them ripen in a big bowl on the counter! Impatience is a virtue just this once, because it's best to eat them before they look completely ready! 

We continue to try to attend a different branch or ward each week. We have six districts and one stake for a total of 45 units, give or take a few. Two so far, sing the hymns in Tagalog! That is fun!

Pictures so you can see the language and try to guess the hymns:

The Espanto Family is a missionary family! As of last week they have sent off five missionaries, and by the end of February will have sent off six! One daughter served in the Temple Square Mission a year or two ago, and now her sister is at the Provo MTC preparing to follow in her footsteps! Same mission! So look for her! We assured her that she will be adorable in a coat, hat and scarf! The cold weather is as scary for them as the heat and rain were for us. Part of the adventure! The younger sister will serve in Australia. Three English speaking missions in the same family is a rarity. Six missionaries even more rare!

I have been finding pockets of time in two to three hour blocks where I can chase off with the Sister missionaries! This has been so fun, and a huge blessing for me. Again, the language barrier is just that, a barrier. But I'm saved by Taglish (a lovely mix where just enough English is thrown in to keep Dennis and me in the same ball park with those around us) and the missionaries explain more what the topic is as they ask me to testify or add some thoughts on the subject! (Most Filipinos understand English.) I probably just repeat the same things they've already taught, but hey, in the mouth of three witnesses, right?! Perspective changer. 

These two darlings are investigators. 

They live in a compound with their grown children. Usually 3 or more houses. This is the Filipino way. 

First jeepney ride. Sister Pinto and Sister Hart were our companions. 

Matching purses a Christmas gift from Sister Winters!

This sweet young mom was baptized on Valentines Day. 

With angel Sisters Larkin and Aggasid. 

Sarikris is a newer convert. She and her younger brother are the only members in her family. 

She is planning for a mission this year. 

The sister in blue is a member, and fellowshipper of the recently baptized sister in the floral. 

Her husband is investigating. Sister Cardenas is the missionary!

Nearby duck pond like no other!!

Live crabs for sale!

Closer look!

On Saturday we had two singular experiences. There was a baptism of a twelve year old young woman, fellowshipped by the branch president's daughter. We were going to be in that area later in the morning so we were lucky enough to attend with two of our senior couples, the Wrights and the Gorringes. It was in Mabayo. I few months ago I put a picture of their baptismal font on our blog. Now you can see it in use! There was a canoe going past, and they were curious enough that they turned back for a second pass, then stopped to watch and listen. This young girl will change generations. Can you just see her children and grandchildren rejoicing at this new potential?

Next, joined by the Whites, we went to the nearby sea turtle preserve and were captivated heart and soul as we set thirty or forty baby turtles, one at a time, in the sand to clamber their way into the surf! How amazing to see them swim with all their might, raising their baby heads up for a breath every few seconds, as they were taken out into the ocean to do what only instinct would lead them to do. The few that will survive come back to this very place twenty-five or so years later to lay their own eggs in the sand! Heaven's spectacular designs are fascinating at every turn!

The green flags mark the transplanted nests, brought in from the beach for protection. 

When they hatch, volunteers gather them and send them out to sea. We got to help!

On your mark, get set, GO! A race to the water. 

He didn't say cheese, but was so cute anyway!

Wayfarer

Last night, after a long day of mission president interviews, we stopped in to see the Winters in action! They are bringing music opportunities to the saints in Lubao! They have developed a program and incorporated the generous donations of a foundation in the States, to offer piano and conducting lessons to nearly a dozen youth! We were mesmerized and warmed to the core as we watched their energetic love for music and teaching, bless the lives of these young people in ways they never would have had the opportunity for otherwise! It was so powerful! Goal? Provide pianists and choristers for the branches, while touching lives and uncovering and developing talents. Strengthening youth and raising sights. Another example of senior couples spreading their love and making a real difference! 

We send our love!

President and Sister Dahle

Can you imagine the reach of this class?

So positive and energetic!

Elder Winters

Recently returned family!

Return of the Green Team!

Dear Family and Friends,

We have again succeeded in the sending off of missionaries; 16 great ones. And yesterday welcomed in 13 new ones! Of all the fun things we do, that is the most fun. We have read their bios and the few that are confident in their English write letters to us in advance, so we knew a little more about them. All their faces are familiar.  

A text and an email came through at about 5:30 a.m. saying, "They are on their way!" It included a bus number and very approximate time of arrival. A convoy raced into town! We mill around the bus station, talking to our other missionaries that are there transferring, or over-seeing the transferred (bless the zone leaders and assistants), always keeping an eye out for THE BUS. When it rolls in we scan the windows for those faces and greet them so excitedly as they come down the bus steps. I grab the Sisters in a giant hug. I want them to feel welcome and loved from the very first minute...I wonder how many are actually offended and appalled?! Oh dear! 

The scenery on the ride home is actually pretty great, so that's good. And this time several of our riders were talkative and funny! No need for the 'what's everyone's favorite dessert' questions. As we drove into our compound one Sister saw our house and asked if some of them were going to live there. Mmmm....

First ride to the mission home. 

The New!

The Trainers

Assistants, Office Elders, and a brand new Sisters friendship. 

This morning, January 29, 2015, was the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Bloodless Landing. If you are a history buff, or even mildly interested, you could google it. We drove up to San Narciso beach with the Winters and the Gorringes for the ceremony. We met a 97 year old veteran who was in one of the canoes that rowed out to let the attacking American war ships know that the Japanese were already gone, and no need to fire. This sweet man from Iba gave us a whole sack of mangos he had picked from his tree. He reminded me of my dad. I had a lump in my throat half the morning.

Salvadore Soriano Tabile. Age 97. 

War veteran and participant in the Bloodless Battle. 

Which is more interesting? The mural or the conversation and onlookers? :)

We are statuesque, are we not? 

My cute sister!

Well, this time we had warning about the Green Team cleaning men. Remember before? I hid in the bedroom and poked my head out wondering what in the world was happening! Today, I threw the bedroom door open and let them have at it! No less than five filed into our bathroom! What can they all be doing in there?! After 30 or 40 minutes Dennis and I really began to wonder! I think we should be worried about the spiders we have been watching all these months between the glass and the screen of the bathroom window. We will miss them.

Part of The Crew

I sort of assumed they would only be doing the serious sort of cleaning jobs, so imagine my surprise when our gardner, turned cleaner, headed for my nightstand with a dust cloth. Alarming! But that was nothing compared to my shame when he started swiping at the lamp shade and sheets of dust came cascading down, laying a disgusting carpet of grey all over my journal and scriptures. It suddenly became really hot in there, and I would have run out of the room, but another cleaner was on his hands and knees in front of the door! Conspiracy! I am now writing this at my little desk in the maid's quarters where I do not expect to be found...except by the ones cleaning the underside of the eaves and waving at me through the windows. :-) Next time I will just stay at the beach.

Shame

You can run but you can't hide. 

Ahhh. Finished product.  Note the pillows. 

We have something to look forward to every week. I like that. I like change. We really, really like young single adults, especially the ones wearing name tags stating Elder or Sister, Philippines Olongapo Mission, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is good. 

Thank you, thank you for your notes and letters! And for considering our invitations to join us here.

With love,

President and Sister Dahle

The president. Crashed. 

And this brings my mother to mind. 

Seven Months, But Who's Counting?

Dear Family and Friends,

Seven months ago today we celebrated our 35th anniversary at the MTC! Our most memorable anniversary EVER! Does that number 'seven' sound great to anyone else? So nice to have that much time behind us; steepest learning curve in the universe! 

We have had three grand zone conferences! It is the best, best ever to meet with our fellow missionaries! We used Sister Esplin's conference talk on the sacrament as a spring board for our spiritual instruction segment. Then, the training was based on foundational principals that we received from our Mission Presidents Seminar in November. We also had the missionaries practice using the council system by having them work as companionships, then districts, then combining in zones to do some problem solving for two different concerns we have had for our mission: "Considering our culture of obedience, where are we, where do we need to be, and what do we need to do to get there?" Also, "Use of time and key indicators." They were dynamic! The zones came back with solid, real solutions and plans. President Ballard's talk at our MTC Seminar was the impetus for using the council system in this setting. The missionaries came having read that and Sister Esplin's talk. Powerful!

Inspired by Elder Bowen. Designed by collaborative effort, led by President Dahle! Part of Zone Conference training. 

Has everyone seen "Meet the Mormons?" It hasn't been showing at a theater near us. Shocker! However, we received a copy in the mail yesterday marked "RUSH," and tonight there will be a Premier Sneak Preview in our living room for all available Senior Couple Missionaries! Yessss! Date night! Pop the popcorn!

Another six week cycle is coming to a close with the exciting job of planning the next transfers resting squarely on President Dahle's shoulders. There is so much involved in this Rubik's cube of all Rubik's cubes! That little square of six different colors? Child's play. :) Perhaps I shouldn't use that comparison. In the transfer process there is a synthesis of facts about needs, timing, strengths and skills, even personalities, that has to occur. Combine that with the choosing of leadership and trainers and the numbers going home and new missionaries coming in? Wow! All of this guided and confirmed by the power of the Holy Ghost, earnestly sought by some initial counseling, then fasting, prayer and hours of pondering. For the twelfth time this hour, I'm so glad Dennis is the president, and my companion!

Last Sunday we got up nice and early and travelled the two hours to Mariveles for church. After an hilarious detour (the GPS guided us in our giant van to a nice little Assemblies of God church in a tiny nook and cranny type maze of skinniest streets), we arrived at a chapel that looked like a temple! It is on a hill with an amazing view! It is beautiful! Oh, for the day when the temples dotting the earth can extend to the most southerly tip of the Bataan Peninsula in the Islands of the Philippines! 

The Mariveles Chapel

The View

Now that's a pass along card!

Young Women! The 2nd branch YW President is 18. So are her counselors. 

President Dahle takes every opportunity to shoot a hoop and make a friend. 

Out on the basketball court tonight there is Institute Basketball! Local members and their nonmember friends regularly meet here to play. President Dahle has been teasing them that they need to come and be taught the gospel before they can play. Tonight, our basketball playing assistants, Elders Albano and Taylor, have organized just that. First they play, then the Institute teacher will welcome all 15 or so sweaty YSA members and investigators, for a rousing lesson! 

The lizards say "Hi!" They've been working on their survival-in-the-house skills since daydreaming Lulu lost track of time and stayed in the kitchen sink too long. She got so cold she couldn't get out. Couldn't even wiggle her little pink toes. She was rescued by Elder Taylor, when he carried her gently on his fingertip to the great outdoors and the warmth of the sun to thaw. Her hero!

With love,

President and Sister Dahle

Earthquakes in diverse places!

Dear Family and Friends!

The scriptures foretell earthquakes in diverse places, which in most minds means, "Anywhere but here! Not to me!" That, dear ones, has changed. At 3:30 am on Sunday morning we were jostled awake by a little tremor that lasted no more than about 20 seconds. 5.8 on the scale. When we checked on the internet, that site placed a star at the epicenter...right here! Probably so inconsequential that your news didn't even mention it. That's the way we like it! 

When we were set apart, Elder Oaks mentioned that the Philippines has a penchant for natural disasters, but that it had been awhile since there had been much in our part of the islands. 

"So you are probably due! Hahaha!" Shhhhh. Not in front of our mothers! :-) 

In other breaking news, our Christmas package and cards came! We were like kids! The package was full of photos of grandchildren, their original fine art, lovely letters written in variegated crayon complete with illustrations! There were kindest sentiments from their parents. And a stack of twelve envelopes, one to open each Fast Sunday for 2015. And presents! Spoiled much?! Thank you sweet family for remembering us in this way! What a lot of effort for you, and what joy it will give us all year.  Several others braved the spelling out of our ridiculously challenging address on Christmas cards. We inhaled your encouraging words and the news of your families. Not to forget the e-cards that came before Christmas, as well. Thank you all!

We spread it all out and feasted our hearts.

It has been a hospital week. Those are the hardest. We ended up taking this adorable Sister to the Missionary Recovery Center, which is located across the street from the temple in Manila. We were feeling bleak about her prospects of getting well enough to come back to us. Biking accident and some nerve trouble. But, today we had the news that her foot has awakened and has decided to serve as a foot again! We will have her back by the weekend! Rejoice! Miracle! Christmas continues!

The weather outside is delightful. High of 90, low of 72.

There is a tiny branch out in Bagoc that has been hanging on like the last leaf. President decided to put an ambitious pair of missionaries there and suggested to the Branch President that he call one as his counselor and the other as his clerk. They have been tearing it up and are having a blast! From the original active twenty or so, they report that last week there were over fifty at church and they separated during the third hour for the auxiliaries for the first time in years!  Best fun ever! We are in the business of building branches. Finding the less active who have once felt the fire of testimony and inviting their return. Teaching part member families. Looking for new investigators who are ready, and pointing all to the temple. 

We have also had the completely joyous news that another senior couple has been assigned to our mission! High kicks and high fives! We have been praying for this. We will have the Gardners and the Woods by the end of March! 

Can you sense that we are being blessed so greatly? He is doing His work!

With love,

President and Sister Dahle

Follow-up Training. Just look at them!

Anybody want to guess what they are doing?

RULDS2?

Fast Food. Pick a pot, any pot!

Traveling basket shop. We've heard a person can sleep inside there! 

Planning a shopping excursion! Don't they look fun?!

Double decker pig bus. I imagine they pay extra for the up top. 

Trip to Manila:

Safety factor? Minus 67!! Those are plates of glass he's steadying. 

Bet he'll be a little quicker to call shotgun next time. 

Another hazardous job!

Please pass the butter! Somehow we can  all fit, although it can be harrowing. 

The lane lines are more like guidelines!

Treated to an amazing sunset on the way home!