October 12th

The internet was down all morning yesterday so am a day late blogging. I know you have all been waiting with baited breathe to hear news from the Philippines.

The other two senior missionary sisters invited Sister Clark and I to dinner last week. Sister J is filipino but has lived in the US for 24 years. Sister J does all the wooking and her meal was delicious, good ole pot roast, potatoes and carrots with a nice tossed salad. It was a nice evening.

I decided when we go to the temple, one week I do a session and the next I do inititories, I really love going to the temple each week. After going to the temple, two other senior couples and us went out to eat at a place called MOMO. I have told you before how I feel about eating out here, but I was nicely surprised. The meals all came about the same time, they were hot, in fact, I burned my tongue and the meal was delicious, I had enough to take home and have dinner the next night. I guess you just have to look or go to the right restaurant here.

I don't believe I told you, in the Philippines a restroom/bathroom is call the "comfort room" or CR, it totally makes sence to me. I must be really getting into the Talalog because I am having a hard time spelling English words, even when I sound them out.

We watched conference this last week end. Salt Lake sends us cd's of all conference sessions, so everyone in the Philippines always watch conference the week after the US. The mission president and his wife invited all the senior missionaries to the mission home to watch conference. It was great, we watched conference and then had a pot luck meal. I decided to make Taco Soup and baked beans, so off to the groacery store I went, list in hand. It took me over two hours just to find the ingredients I need and two stores (actually I cound everything but one ingredient, so I just left it out). When I had trouble finding something I would think I can substitute something else, but they didn't have that either anyway both dishes were a hit and I was pretty proud of myself. I used fresh green chilis for the first time, fortunately I got the right amount in the soup because my hand sure did burn for ahile after cutting them up. Sister Clark and I had to leave after the meal, we had an appointment with the stake president of the Las Pinas stake and his bishops to map out the boundaries of their stake. We were suppose to watch the second session with the Las Pinas ward but it took us 2 1/2 hours to get there so we missed the session. (45 minutes to get home, I don't know how that works). They are getting so excited about this mapping and we have found the best time to meet with the brethern is when the stake presidents have their monthly meeting with their bishop, etc. They usually do a little business and then we do the mapping which takes about 2 hours. At Las Pinas they also served us dinner. Just great humble people here.

Last Monday I got a call that someone was in the foyer to see me, when I went up, I was introduced to Eva and her husband. Scott and his companion had taught her the gospel 25 years ago, she is so grateful that they brought the gospel to her. I hope to see her again, she says she will bring her children in to meet me. Also when we were at Las Pinas a sister come up to shake my hand, looked at my name tag and said Burwell, I new an Elder Burwell who was here in 1983, I said that was my son Scott, she said yes, in his first area I was assigned to be an interpeter for him and his companion as they taught. I am impressed with Scott and with them that they truly do remember him. They both said he looks like me, has the same eyes, nose and smile and could even tell me somethings about their time spent with him. The sister from Las Pinas husband works here at the church offices and he was thrilled for her to meet me. It just boggles my mind, Sister Eva has had a sincere desire for years to personally thank Elder Burwell for bringing the gospel to her and to let him know she has served a mission, married in the temple and has four children. The Lord has blessed her and answered that desire, now it is all our hope that Scott will be able to come to the Phillipines while I am here and meet these good people again in person.

Elder Quentin Cook, from the 12 apostles, is here this week, everyone is so excited, they have been cleaning, painting, putting some new furniture and everything looks very nice. We will have a devotional with him on Wednesday evening, looking forward to that. Today is the day everyone, well not everyone but lots, so to the monthly world bazaar. There is such an interest in the mapping, Sister Clark and I decided we should stay in the office, wouldn't be very good if Elder Cook wanted to talk to us and we were out shopping.

I do have Skype now, still seem to be working out some bugs, but will be wonderful to hear voices I recognize.