Dear Ones,  Another week flew by.

Last Saturday we were supposed to take a morning flight to Cebu in preparation for a MOA signing (Memorandum of Agreement).  The night before we received a text from the airline saying our flight had been cancelled and we had been re- booked on the 2:30 flight.

Our driver arrived at our apartment complex at 11 we left at 11:20.  He started out in what we felt was a strange direction.  Our driver said was headed to EDSA one of the main highways through Manila. It is generally backed up and that day was no exception.

The Airport is about 12 kilometers from our apartment (about 8 miles).   We arrived at the airport over 2 hours later -- 40 min before our flight.  Fortunately they opened a new counter just as we arrived inside the airport and we were able to check out bags.  We made the flight.

The driver who was to meet us in Cebu and take us to the hotel had not received the message of the cancelled flight and was no longer at the airport.  Another driver was found and we headed to the Marco Polo our home for the next couple of days.

Vicente Sotto Hospital Moa signing

We of course ran into weekend traffic in Cebu and it took us 2 hours to get to our hotel -- probably less than 12 kilometers. We had a lovely dinner and walked round exploring our new surroundings just a little.  We also tried to find a place to attend church the next day where we would be able understand the meeting.  The church website gave us the address of a Ward about 30 minutes away.  The door attendant called a cab and a woman whose job it was to help us negotiated with the driver.  The driver spoke little English

Elder Webb talks about LDS Charities

but the woman said he knew how to get where we wanted to go, that she had given him instructions.   After driving around for over an hour with the driver speaking with his helpful (not really) direction giver on the phone speaker (I believe it may have been his wife) while Elder Webb tried to remember what he had seen on the computer and convey that to the driver, we finally said take us to the temple.  The taxi driver, pleased that he knew where that was, smiled triumphantly, turned the car around and drove us to the temple grounds in less than 15 minutes.  We arrived in time to attend Relief Society and Priesthood of one ward while we waited for Sacrament meeting of the next ward, and -- notwithstanding the information on the church website -- they spoke English!  We had a lovely time meeting people and learning about their lives.

Elder Webb signing the MOA for Neo-Natal equipment with a remote hospital.  

The first couple of days at the Marco Polo Hotel we were unable to hook into the internet service and our phones would not work.  Our communications with our partner who was to have come in on Saturday and didn’t were nonexistent. I began to wonder if we had the right day.  No texts in; no texts out.  We checked with the hotel to see if Iris was booked in and she was.  Monday morning came and we started working on a backup plan.  We also called in the hotel tech. to find out why we could not get the internet.  He arrived, solved the problem and we finally got a text from Iris notifying us she had just arrived at the airport in Cebu and would head to the hotel. 

Sister Webb and other women at the managers conference.  The Filipinos love to have a good time.

It was the first day of school and the roads were just as bad as they had been when we came in on Saturday.  Long story short, Iris arrived dropped off her bags; we made it to our meetings with two different hospitals and were able to sign agreements allowing us to donate Neo Natal equipment that will help save children's lives.  One of the hospitals is very remote.  The doctor drove five hours to meet us in Cebu.  He invited us to attend the grand opening of their remodel in October.  We said we would.  One must take a two hour ferry ride from Cebu to a neighboring island to get to that hospital.  This sounds wonderful to Sister Webb.

Elder Webb channels Jimmy Buffet singing "Margaritaville" 

We arrived back in the office Tues afternoon.  Sister Webb is working on a water project in Baguio.  There is very little potable (drinkable) water in Baguio.  The McClures, a missionary couple assigned to that area, are proposing a partnership with the University there in Baguio.  A waterbag that purports to clean water with a few chemicals that absorb hazardous material allowing the waste to be shucked off may be the answer to the problem.  It looks like an easy fix short term but it must be sustainable to work.  There are 16,000 school children drinking polluted water.  There is no infra structure for Baguio so there is no way to bring water to the schools, at least not for a number of years.  Some of the schools ship in water, some pump it from the river some have running water but it is not potable.  The bathrooms are flushed by pouring a pitcher of water in the toilet.  Some smaller schools do not even have toilets.  That will be another project. 

Sister Webb acts as witness to water project MOA

Elder Webb is working on a number of other things not the least of which is the school chairs for the schools in Bohol.  We were finally able to get someone from the Department of Education to make the trip to our office to identify the school chair that fits their qualifications and the needs of their students.  Yesterday Carol, who works for DepEd, showed up. She had to cancel several appointments because there are changes going on in all the governmental organizations as a new governor fill the seats of different departments with his people.  She has been sitting in on those meetings.  Fortunately for us, she will remain on staff and will make a way for us to meet the new undersecretary of Education.  She identified two chairs and was off again. 

Well, take the above; add in a lot of prayers, scripture study, a little exercise and a farewell dinner for the Garretts, who are ending their mission,  and you have another week gone by.   

Good bye dinner as Elder and Sister Garretts prepare to return home in two weeks.  We will miss them.

Elder Webb is preparing his lesson for High Priest tomorrow and Sister Webb is planning Sunday dinner that will be shared with other missionary couples in our Ward.  It is Father’s Day.  A special day and yes Elizabeth, Dad will be wearing the tie you made for him when you were in the 3^rd grade.  It has out lasted all other ties and has traveled many places. 

We love you all,

Mom and Dad

Elder and Sister Webb

Grandma and Grandpa

Norriss and Carol

 

Elder and Sister Webb with our dear friends and great service missionaries Elder and Sister Soleta and their daughter Ella