Email and pictures sent May 10, 2009

Hi friends and family, Today is Mother’s day on this side of the world. We went to church at the La Carlota Branch. The sisters were very friendly to us. They would say”Happy Mother’s “ then lend over and give a kiss on the cheek to each other. Many of them did it to me also. It was very touching. Sacrament was suppose to start at 9am. It started at 9:30am. The Filipano’s have their own time. They all seem to understand each other. The program was a nice Mother’s day program. Brother Custodio was one of the speakers. He is the man that stayed at Aunt Leah’s for general conference. We took a picture of him and one of his counselors when Earl and Leah were here. A young lady had a musical number prepared but the music wouldn’t work so she ended up singing without the music. She did a very good job. The Filipiano people really like to sing and really sing out. They sing before EVERY meeting. They get upset if they don’t get to sing all the verses. The person that is leading the song sings the first line and then says “ Ready sing”. They generally don’t use music. Katherine A is in this branch and she made some really pretty flower arrangements for the pulpit. They didn’t give out any plants that we have to take care of or they will die . It was really nice. For some reason people like to call on me to say the prayer. I’ve been trying to say it in Ilanggo. Today I was called on to say it in Sunday school and RS. Last week I said the prayer in RS. I told them I was trying to say it in Ilanggo and hope they would forgive if I didn’t quite say the words right. The president said “Just say it in English” Okay I can do that. Yesterday we helped with a RS visiting teaching social. They asked me to teach the sisters the importance of doing visiting teaching with the right attitude and reporting back. The Elders also gave a presentation and had the sisters practice doing it the wrong way and then the right way. It was a lot of fun and they had good food. They aren’t shy about eating and having seconds until the food is gone. They don’t eat on paper plates. People bring glass plates. When they don’t have enough plates the people use lids, empty pans and bowls. One time I took some rice to a luncheon with foil over it. The foil was used as a plate to eat on. They use their fingers to eat with so they might have a few forks or spoons for the Americans to eat with. Most of the food we have liked. Dallin wanted to know what was the “grossest” food we have had. I can’t remember what it is called I have included a picture of it. It had some different vegetables mixed in a sauce that was flavored with fish seasoning. Two of the Elder’s made use dinner before the one Elder was transferred and they made two dishes . The other one was good kind of like sweet and sour sauce with meat and vegs. Need to end for now. Hope everyone had a nice Mother’s Day! this first picture is a fmily we are working with. 2. The group being made a branch on May 17 3.Sis Norma that knows Leah and the two girls helping us with language Ann Ann & Kring Kring 4. dish we didn't like 5. our first group of missionaries