Thanksgiving

It really doesn't seem like it's October and that today is Thanksgiving at least in Canada. We skyped with Aaron today and he and Chas were watching a baseball playoff game  between Boston and I think he said Baltimore. Anyway I had no idea it was baseball playoff season. This continual summer here is just so different- so strange to not have any real change in season. It's always hot; some days are just hotter than others and sometimes it rains and sometimes it doesn't. Elder and Sister Burt came here for Thanksgiving dinner and it was really good. We made mashed potatoes, roast chicken, gravy, green beans and salad and Lily made a pumpkin pie for dessert. Haven't had a meal like that for a long time. We have so very much to be thankful for! We feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family. We are so proud of each of them and are so grateful they are living the gospel and  doing their best to raise they children. All three boys have received new callings and we wish them well and are so grateful that all of our children are willing to serve in the Lord's Kingdom. There is nothing like it. Our hearts continue to ache for all of the wonderful people here who struggle so much just to survive and we wonder why we have it so good. We know, though, that those who make and keep covenants with God are blessed in every aspect of their lives. It is so wonderful when we are able to assist in helping people come to that understanding. The Gospel really does bless lives. We had to chuckle at President Uchdorf when in his talk he mentioned all the things members of the church do and asked " why would anyone want to join this church"? Isn't it wonderful to be so involved in something so great?!  So very much to be thankful for!

Conference

Well because we are ahead here time wise we end up getting conference a week later so we watched it today. It was soooo good! It is so wonderful to be led by living prophets! We feel so blessed to be able to serve at this time when the Lord truly is hastening his work. We were really happy today too because two less active families that we invited to come to church came for the first time and really enjoyed it. The gospel is such a wonderful blessing! We also were asked to speak at a funeral this weekend. A sister in the Narra branch had cancer and died this past week. She was only 55. Had no money for treatments or hospitalization so she passed away at home. She was the first missionary to serve from Narra branch. We are really enjoying the work here on Palawan; kind of a change of pace from Manila but we love it and love the people here.

Creepy Crawlies

One of the great blessings of living in the tropics is we get to enjoy many wonderful creations that we are not used to. Here are some pictures of some recent visitors to our house.

This Tuko was in our kitchen one evening and scared Lily almost to death. We actually had another one about 3 times bigger than this one but we were so anxious to encourage it to leave we didn't think to take a picture of it.

This one didn't want to go so he grabbed the curtain and wouldn't let go!

...ask the missionaries- they can help! These creatures don't seem to bother the Filipinos at all.

We saw this black scorpion outside our house one night.

And of course there are the spiders! This one was almost hiding behind our fridge.

Pictures of Palawan

            This really is a beautiful and unique part of the country. Here are some pictures of our area.

This is a rather unique coconut tree (left). It grew in a spiral - Kinda looks like a snake

Not sure why it grew that way.

Here's a whole herd of ducks that have been turned into a harvested rice field to feed.

To Market! To Market! How they manage to keep them in there I'll never know

This carabao just finished taking a nice mud bath

This one is still enjoying one!

Ahh! Roll to the other side!

This is the Rivera Family's two homes with the carabao wallow in the front yard.

Delivering flowers to an event of some kind.

Threshing rice. As you can see most of the work is still done by hand...

... or with carabaos 

The harvest is usually a community effort with all the farmers helping each other.

Bringing in the sheaves...

A fairly uncommon white carabao. They don't bother with nose rings here they just make a hole in the nose when the calves are young and then they can just put the rope through!

We spent a weekend with the Rizal branch and here is a picture of them. They are a wonderful group of people!

If the jeepney is full you can always ride on top! This is a very common site. They will ride for hours like this!

Sit where ever you can find a spot!

Hauling grain!

And they twain shall become one.

Two big beautiful mango trees that grew together.

We went to branch conference in Brooke's Point and here is a picture of some of the sisters...

...And some of the brethren.

Gotta be Mormons that own this tricycle!