Kiribati

How is everyone doing this week? Our Missionary is doing awesome! Like I told you last week, she didn't get transferred, and her new companion is from Kiribati, here is a description of that country:
 Kiribati ([kɪribas] kirr-i-bas^[4] or ˌkɪrəˈbɑdi;^[5] Gilbertese: [ˈkiɾibas]), officially the Independent and Sovereign Republic of Kiribati[19], is an island nation in the central tropicalPacific Ocean. The permanent population is just over 100,000 (2011) on 800 square kilometres (310 sq mi).^[6] The nation is composed of 32 atolls and one raised coral island,Banaba, dispersed over 3.5 million square kilometres, (1,351,000 square miles) straddling the equator, and bordering the International Date Line at its easternmost point.

The name Kiribati is the local pronunciation of Gilberts, which derives from the main island chain, named the Gilbert Islands after the British explorer Thomas Gilbert, who sailed through the islands in 1788.^[7] The capital, South Tarawa, consists of a number of islets connected through a series of causeways, located in the Tarawa archipelago. Kiribati became independent from the United Kingdom in 1979. It is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the IMF and the World Bank, and became a full member of the United Nations in 1999.

Hope said that she will send pictures of her new companion next week: Her name is Sister Ieremia, Hope says that she is so talkative and outgoing. I feel that these two are going to "Tear it up" in the Philippines.

Me and sister 'Ulu'ave were temporarily companions waiting for our companions for 4 hours on Tuesday morning haha it was a party all we did was lounge in those chairs in front of the fan and eat snacks :) hehe

Looks like they are waiting in old airplane seats!

With a girl named Zyrenne (What a pretty name)

With the Bituen Family

With the Garcia Family

The Laoag 5 missionaries and our ward mission leader and Dan Bituen on the front right 

Paul, Mark and their Mom Joan and Sister Ragasa
Paul and Mark are two of her baptisms, These were two conversions that Hope got to be a part of from finding them, teaching them and then to baptism.

Brother and Sister Ragasa and Sister Liza 

TWINS: Wearing their Filipino Pants

Love the looks on their faces

With Sister Salvador

This was taken at Liza's baptism, her Brother baptized her!

When I asked Hope how her heat rash was doing this was her reply: My heat rash is still rashy. and ugly. So if you would be so kind to pray for her, that the heat rash isn't so bothersome for her, we would greatly appreciate it.

Well that is it for this week folks, I pray that you are happy and safe. Thank-you so much for following this blog. i am just thankful that Hope is doing so well, she seems to really be enjoying her mission, and as her Mom I am so thankful that she is doing good.

Until next time~ God Bless~~~

Kalesa

Did every one have a Happy Easter? I sure hope so.
It was such a beautiful Easter Sunday for our family, the day was beautiful and just perfect!
Hope is doing great! She didn't get transferred, I really thought that she would get transferred this week, but her companion was the one who got the boot!I then asked her where her companion was being transferred to and she relied this: She is going to open a new area in Allacapan it's in Cagayan (the top Provence) I know that Hope will miss her very much.
She was one of the Speakers in her ward on Easter Sunday, her topic was on Easter and Jesus.
I told her that Mike and I were going to go see the Dead Sea Scrolls and this is what she replied with, too good not to share: Yay! Road trip! is it and up and back trip? Who are the dead sea scrolls? Is that a band?
I just about died of laughter when I read the question "Is that a band?" So funny, I can definitely tell that she is focused on her mission, and that is exactly where her focus needs to be.

Well here are the pictures from this week, enjoy!

She and her companion came across this sign.

She laughed so hard when she saw this

Companions sitting in a Kalesa

A Kalesa: Another form of transportation

This was her district as of Saturday, before transfers took place.

She mentioned that she teaches all of these people! All except for the beautiful women in the plaid skirt in the front.

Birthday Party for the Sister from New Zealand: Sister Tavana

Well that is it for the pictures this week. Thank you so much for following this blog, It means the world to us. Have a safe and productive week.

Doing Good

We heard from our Missionary last night, all is well, she is really sad because it is once again time for transfers and she doesn't want to leave the current area she is serving in, she said that she will be finding out on Friday of this week.
She really has come to love the people of Laoag, I know that she has made life long friends a world away!
She then spoke about how much she enjoyed conference and she said this in her email: oh so did you like the talk by Michael John U. Teh at conference? He was the area President last year, I met him! also the Area President right now in the Philippines said the opening prayer in the afternoon session.

Then when I asked her about her health she said this:  I have a cold again and a cough that sounds like a dying whale but it's a dry cough so don't worry.

If you could put her in your prayers to get feeling better we would so appreciate it.

Well, here are the pictures from this week, ENJOY!

Zone Picture

Sister Ragasa on her birthday,I think Hope and her companion are invited to her home every week for dinner.

Taken with some recent converts

Apparently there was a fire show across the street so the missionaries went out to watch it.

Yep, The spoon trick

 Check out my Filipino pants! I just love them! 
Don't you just love those pants and the fan? I know that it gets really, really hot over there, and that fan has been her saving grace.

The Filipino Squat

This Zone Picture was taken yesterday, they had an activity at the Mission Home.

Well Folks, that's it for this week, thank-you so much for following this blog, And I hope that every one has a safe and wonderful Easter this coming up week-end, and remember to take the time to remember why we celebrate Easter. I love candy just as much as the other guy, but do take some time and reflect on our Savior and what he did for us so that we could all enjoy eternal life. 
Until Next Time: May God Bless You All.

Market

 Hope is doing wonderfully, instead of her having her Preparation Day on Our Sunday, it was on Our Monday this week. She is doing well, she is loving the work and the people. Yesterday we received a letter in the mail, and I would just like to share something that she wrote: "I never realized how helpful the gospel is in my life.I always knew it was wonderful, but being on a mission has really opened my eyes, and I see how blessed I have been in my life!"
 What some awesome words from such a beautiful girl.
I know that I don't normally share what she writes in her letters but I wanted to share that.
 This past week she sent some great pictures, I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. I really like the one where she is sitting at the market at night with other missionaries and people. I guess market goes all day and into the night, she said that when she got there the smell of the fish was not a good smell at all.

In front of a beautiful fountain.

With Sister C.

I was on exchanges with sister S. and we taught that lady named Rosell. I wrote about my experience with that lesson in my letter that I'm sending today. but I don't think I wrote who it was so when you read that letter it was this lesson I am referring to.

This is me and jhevevic she is in Laoag 4's area and when I was on exchanges with sister S. a few months ago we taught her and ever since then she tells them to bring me  back so yep I have an un-expected friend :) she is awesome!

Mommy Dolly (A member in Laoag 4) she fellow-shipped when i worked with sister S.

It was at night. people just sit there all day and try to sell stuff. and by night time the whole place reeks like fish and nasty things. . Not delicious to the nose!

OH DEAR!!!

Well Folks that's it for this week, I pray that every one has a great week, and thank-you so much for following our blog. May God Bless You and Keep you all safe, and remember General Conference is this week-end.

Until Next Time