Dear Family and Friends, Jan 30, 2010-01-31 Hello from San Carlos, Negros Occidental, Philippines! Not quite sure where to begin for this email. We don’t have the down time like we use to have to write a good email. It isn’t something that comes natural. I have to pray for help and then work at it. Things here in San Carlos are really different from La Carlota. I noticed that right after we moved here, but yesterday really brought back to me. We went to La Carlota yesterday even though George’s baptism date was changed to Feb. We were really glad we did because we got to the church in time to witness the wedding of Bro Bautista and his bride from La Castellana. We can’t remember her name even though we heard it yesterday. We don’t really know her. The family was excited to see us out in the hall. It is their dad that died last fall and we checked for them about doing the temple work for him sooner than the usual 1 year waiting period. Julie Bautista is a sister to the groom and she plans to get married in June at the Cebu temple and we received the clearance they can do the dad’s work also since he had a current reccememd to go to the temple when he died. We were happy to see the branch members that were present. We were able to visit with President Montero about the house we helped rebuild from the funds you have donated. It didn’t take all the money that we gave them so he was going to give it back. He told us he had been praying on ways to help the families during the sugar cane off season for work. He came up with the idea to help buy them a tricycle with cart. They can take turns using it to earn money and they would have it to help get them back and forth to church and activities. We thought that was a good idea so we told him to keep the left over money and we gave him 1500 more to go with it. That made it so he has half the money toward buying the tricycle. We went out and seen the house. I will try to attach some pictures. We were able to stop at the Mosoco family in Moises Padilla on the way to La Carlota. They are doing so good! We helped them at Christmas time. The family is now making Sio Pao(I don’t know how to spell it). We had the RS activity the end of Dec to teach them how to make it. We gave each sister in attendance 100peso to buy measuring cups and spoons so they could start making it. The Mosoco have started a small business. They have a contract with the schools. There is only one other person in town that makes sio pao also. That is Sister Pinky from the branch. She is making them and selling. The skill came at the right time for her family. Her husband was involved with the beating of a crazy man that set a field on fire and is now in prison. They have only her income of washing clothes and the food sells. We were so excited when we received this news about them starting their own business from a skill they learned in a RS activity!!!!!!!!!! We both had our haircut at two different places. They are members of the church so we liked the idea of giving them the money of 50peso each ( a little over $1.00 each).We will need to find someone here in San Carlos. Branch 1 had their YW activity so we were able to visit with several members. We went by our old house and picked up a few things we didn’t have room for when we moved. The 4 Elders live there now. The ride to La Carlota and back is so pretty. We travel through the mountains, along the side of a volcano called ”Canla-on”. It takes us about 2 hours one way. I was sad we didn’t make it out to Sister Urbano to check out her new ramp, door and door frame. We just ran out of time. Last Monday we went to Bacolod for lunch with Dennis Crosgrave the denist(we call him Dennis the denist). He is from England and likes to mingle with us. He is the one we copied some Ilonggo. I wanted to meet with him to see if he had read any of the Book of Mormon the Haviland’s had given him. He hadn’t and he mainly wanted to talk about himself. He also insisted on drinking a beer as we ate our lunch. We probably won’t have lunch again with him. He did pay for lunch so maybe we will. We had a RS / Auxiliary leadership training at 4pm. Sister Allred and Elder and Sister Teh came to do the training. Sister Allred is a counselor in the RS General Presidency. The training was really good. We seen a lot of leadership from La Carlota District and was able to talk with them and they are in the picture with Sister Allred. We were able to talk with Elder and Sister Teh. Sister Teh really like the straw bag I had my scriptures and notebook in so I gave it to her. She said “I can’t take it.” I told her “Yes she can and I’m excited because now I am closer to becoming a Filipino.” That is something I found out I had to be careful how I said I liked something because they will give it to you. I have a nice seashell bowl, crocheted table cloth, skirt and blouse from commenting I liked them! I felt bad I didn’t have one for Sister Allred so I am going to go get one for her and replace mine. I will send it in the pouch mail to Sister Teh and have her take it to her at General Conference time. I think I will get one for the whole Relief Society General presidency. They are really cheap. I will try to attach a picture of us with Sister Allred. I have come across some of my journal I want to send so I will send another email. I have been keeping a journal since we arrived in the Philippines. I am on my second book. Oh how I wish I would have been doing this all my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I would start then stop when I would get behind. It really is fun to go back and read the entries. We know you are all busy but write when you can! We think about and pray for all of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Elder and Sister Adams
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