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!

Evening with Elder & Sister Burt enjoying a evening of Cultural Dancing and Dinner

We went to Puerto Princess a town two hours from us .Then we met up with Elder and Sister Burt and went to dinner and watched some Cultural Dancing. It was a fun evening the dancers were from a University there. Following are a  few pictures of the dancers.

When  I was a child at home we did this dance for fun . Memories

They were a little bit better than we were!

Beautiful Filipino Women

More Memories of a Great Family

Although it was a time of sadness and sorrow with the passing of our Grandson Thomas it was wonderful to have some time to enjoy and be with our family.

Thomas Dedicated the grave for his son. Before dedicating the grave he spoke to the group and shared some of his thoughts and feelings and testimony. He did a great job. We are so proud of him and Kayla for their faith and spiritual strength through this really difficult time. We love you!

Our family has been so blessed to have Teija as the " big sister". We totally destroyed her home for the week we all descended on it but she was so kind and a great host. We sure love and appreciate you ,Teija! Thanks for everything you do and have done for the family and especially for Kayla and Janae over th past few weeks!

We went for a walk on some trails near Chas and Teija's and here are some pictures we took.

Kasen and Leighton enjoyed it.

So did the rest of the cousins.

Even the newest ones.

Some of the newest ones are too big to carry! It was a great time for Grandma and Grandpa to meet all the new ones we hadn't seen yet!

Of course when there's family there's food! here's some of the girls enjoying a little down time after dinner.

This is Thomas's mother and his two sisters on the end. It was great to get to know them a bit better. Thanks for all your love and kindness towards are family.

Carson enjoying the last bite!

Family Pictures

Lily and I were walking around the cemetery in Baker where we buried little Thomas and we were talking about how how fast time goes by. It seems that it was just yesterday that it was just the two of us and we were newlyweds now look! We sure love our family and are proud of all of them.! Wish Baby Thomas could have been in the picture too. But we know we'll all be together for Eternity what comforting knowledge.

The entire family ... almost.





The Chas and Teija Hutchins Family

The Amron and Lana Gwilliam Family

The Aaron and Marissa Gwilliam Family

The Ezra and Lindsey Gwilliam Family

The Ammon and Tyanna Potrie Family

The Thomas and Kayla Nelson Family

The Tyler and Janae Trogdon Family

Us and the newest twins - Tara and Jenna!

Two Cuties!

Tender Mercies

It is so amazing to see all the tender mercies the Lord gives us in our lives. It seems that so often in the business of our lives we miss or overlook all the the times that our Father places special people or circumstances in our path that help us to know that He is always there guiding us and blessing us in so many ways even while we are struggling with the difficult challenges of life. Kayla and Thomas were blessed with many of these tender mercies. To live in such a caring and loving ward who helped  them so much even though they are only there for a short time. A wonderful lady who came and cared and took pictures, kind medical staff, all the little things that" happened" so that we could come and that all the family could all be there as well.Even after we got back here on Sunday morning the Stucki's took us to church and just randomly took us to the ward where it so happens one of the converts from my mission lives and we got to meet his wife and daughter.There are just so many times that things happen that are just too good to just be coincidence. God is so very much involved in our lives and as the perfect loving parent guides us as we try to muddle our way through.                                                                                                                                 We got back to Palawan late Sunday night and spent Monday getting settled back in and trying to adjust to the jetlag again. Tuesday we had zone conference in Puerto Princessa so we took a load of missionaries up there. It was a really good conference and a great way to get us back into the work and pumped up for this final segment of our mission. Wednesday we went  with the branch president to an area along way from Narra where there are quite a few members. There used to be a branch there but it was closed because too many people were not coming to church. We visited one older couple who still faithfully come all the way into Narra often walking 5 kms to where they can get transportation into town. I thanked him for his faithfulness and dedication; he just shrugged and said," I made covenants a long time ago and I keep them". Thank God for members like that! Wish more could catch that vision so the Lord could bless their lives. Yesterday we went with the missionaries and got to do some teaching with them. One of their investigators is a fisherman. He goes out fishing every morning at 1 o'clock so he can be back to sell his fish at the market by 7 or 8. What a life- bad as logging! He strings out 1000 hooks with bait on them and it takes him and his wife 2 hours every evening to bait all the hooks so they are ready for morning. They were pretty happy yesterday because they had caught between 60 and 70 kilos of fish that morning. That brought them about 3000 pesos or around $75 gross. That was a good day.

Time For Family

We have been back in the Philippines now for a week. We went to be with our daughter Kayla and Thomas our Son In Law as they had a still born child. His name is Thomas Kyrum. We buried his perfect little body in Baker, Oregon where John's grandparents and Uncle Bill are buried- his fathers brother. It is hard to see our children go through such a difficult trial. We cried together as we held his precious little body so perfect yet there was no life. But he will always be a part of our family their son; our grandson! We know where he is . We know Gods plan for each of us. Can't wait to see him some day and become acquainted  with him. We know he is a chosen son of God. He has so many loved ones on the other side I know he is well taken care of. Thomas and Kayla have been so strong through all of this trial. I know its because of their strong faith in our Savior Jesus Christ. What comfort this sweet sentence gives (I know that my Redeemer Lives). We are so blessed to know what we know and have the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation. It doesn't mean all is well all the time but it helps us get through the hard times such as losing the life of a child. President Monson said : "From the bed of pain, from the pillow wet with tears, we are lifted heavenward by that divine assurance and precious promise;" I will not fail thee,nor forsake thee". Joshua 1:5. We have seen so many tender mercies towards Thomas and Kayla that we can not doubt the Saviors love for them. We have witnessed so many blessings in their lives as they have gone through their heartache,sorrow and sadness. We thank all those who made their burden lighter and helped them through the darkness into light. Thanks to all my children who have shown their endless faith and love to one another; we love you all so much! We are thankful we were able to go home and be with all of you. You are our joy in this life! We are thankful for your support on our mission. We have been so blessed by being here serving our Heavenly Father.It is our desire that others will  come to know of His love for them so they to can be comforted in their times of sorrow and  all the hardships these great  people endure all their lives. We love them and are ever concerned for their eternal welfare. This life is but a short time may we all endure to the end, then we shall be given all that the Father hath. Can we want for any thing greater than that? I think not!