A MISSION TO REMEMBER: Wedding Plans

In between our busy schedule with setting up apartments in Manila, Pasay, Mandaluyong and Muntinlupa we have been helping Eric and Barbie with their wedding plans and also helped him get materials together so his dad could help him build a side car for his motorcycle. They have it finished now and it works really well. Anyway we took Eric to get his marriage license and boy what a hassle! It's no wonder no one in this country gets married - it's too much trouble! As I mentioned before we took him to Trece to get a certificate that stated neither Barbie or him were married; that wasn't to bad but then we had to go to Tanza to get the marriage license. So we go to the city hall and go to the information desk to find out where we go. They send us to something called the LCR office. Well we work him in there with his wheelchair and they say:" oh, you have to go to the LCR extension office (could have told us that at the info desk,right?!) So we go there and they ask him a few questions and they say:" you have to go to the DAR office ( whatever that means) and it's outside down the street turn right then the next right past the new building and it's on your left". So I wheel him down there and there is a sign on there door says " the DAR office has been transferred to Trece" - you're kidding me?! No one knew that!? So we go back to the LCR and they say:" what you really want is the Popcom office and it is there"Great!!! So back we go and get in there and more questions and then they say you have to come with your fiance and take a marriage seminar on Wed. morning at 7:30. So we go back Wed. morning ( luckily Barbie has day off because it's Holy week- Easter) and when we get there the place is locked and no one around so back we go to the LCR and ask what's up. Well while we were there a guy steps up and says:( when he sees Barbie and the kids) "oh,if you've lived together for more than 5 years you don't need a marriage license, you need an affidavit from a lawyer certifying that you have lived together for more than 5 years and you don't need the seminar". Right! That bit of information might have been helpful awhile ago! It's like nobody has ever dealt with this before! So we go to a lawyer's office and of course the lawyer won't be in for an hour. In the meantime Eric has to go to the bathroom but none of these offices have a wheelchair accessible bathroom so we find him a cup and then leave him to take care of things. Long story short we finally get his paper work and get him back home. The next hitch is that over a month ago Pres Balderama applied for a license to perform weddings but still doesn't have it so we start looking for someone who can perform the ceremony. We even decide that if we can't find a bishop who is licensed we'll just have the wedding at the mayor's office and then a reception at the church. But then we find out that there is a process for that too and besides it's election time and the mayor is too busy to do it anyway.Gotta love this country! I thought Canada was bad! So with 2 days left before their wedding date with Pres Stucki's help and lot's of prayer we finally find a bishop in Makati who can do it. Hooray! But they still need a marriage certificate... Turns out that wasn't too bad and on Saturday, April6 at 3:00 pm we had a simple but lovely little wedding and Eric and Barbie were married! They are so thrilled and happy and we are happy for them. If you need something ask the missionaries- they can help! There was another wedding reception going on at the chapel where they were married for a couple who were married in the temple so about 15 or twenty of their guests come to our couple's wedding and were very kind and welcoming to them and congratulated them. So that was kind of neat.

A New Family, The Nudos

Eric and Barbie and Saira Mae. Saira Mae is Barbie's daughter from a former relationship. She's a beautiful little 8 year-old and is also getting baptized.