Dear Ones,

We hope your Christmas was filled with love for family and that you felt the Spirit of Christ and His love for you and that you have come to know him just a little better this past year.

The year end is fast approaching and we have not written because we have had little time and lots to do.  We are afraid this letter may seem more business than past letters but it is the best we can do as we look at the past month.  December was full of meetings, projects, Christmas lights, gatherings, lights, meetings, choir music, Christmas parties, meetings, and lights, trips to the airport and newborn kits and new missionaries arriving.
 

Somehow during all our other activities Sister Webb and MaeAnne put together 300 newborn kits.  These were made possible with the help of donations of blankets from Willow Creek 7^th and the Eagle project of our grandson Josh. 

Area Office Christmas Party.  They Area Presidency having their pictures taken with the choir

Filipinos love a good party.  This is the finance group skit.

We had a Partners Dinner and Temple Lighting on December second.  Each year we take the opportunity to thank our partners for their help in making the year and our projects successful.  At the end of the evening we all head for the temple complex where we sing a Christmas Carol and at the appointed time the Temple Christmas lights are turned on.  Our partners and friends seem to enjoy the evening with its yummy food and music even though it takes them up to 2 hours or more to reach our location and then another 2 hours to get home.  This evening the traffic was particularly dreadful and many of our guests were struck for hours eventually turning their cars around and heading home. 

We had our Church employee’s party with skits, music and food.  We filled the Aurora Chapel for a devotional and then retired to the cultural hall for department skits and entertainment.  Our Area Office Choir is always a big part of our activities.  Sister Webb enjoys singing with the choir.

The first whole week of December blew in with the air of new adventure.   We went to the Christmas Bazaar, Purple Centers, and then to the School in Silang that needed more nuts and bolts for the chairs we delivered last month. 

Week 2 we picked up our Neo Natal specialists from SLC (Heidi McSweeney and Lis Anjuwierden) on Monday Dec 12.  We arranged meetings Dr. Calibo the head of Newborn care with the Department of Health on the 13th.  The DOH office of neo-natal affairs has been closed to working with LDS Charities since 2011.  Some offense was taken and an on-going project was closed down. Our overture to Dr. Calibo was a big deal.  The meeting went well. 

On the 14^th Elder Webb picked up our replacements, Elder and Sister Stroud.  Sister Webb stuck with Heidi and Lisa for Neo Natal meetings and shopping. The Strouds and Heidi and Lisa became our new constant companions for the remainder of the week.  Elder Webb drove a van through the streets of Manila.  He deserves an award for that.

Singing Christmas Carols

Blankets and newborn kits were given to Fabella as well as the gift of song.

We were told there were 278 babies with 10 women prepped for delivery. From some reason there were more women than  the number we were given.  

This is the Kangaroo Unit.  It seemed like every other mother had twins.
This mother received to newborn kits from LDS Charities.

On the 15^th Sister Webb and 8 other women (including Heidi and Lisa; Sister Stroud and Sister Ott, both new Welfare missionaries; our friend, Sister Crockett; and Sisters Bowen, Haynie and Schmutz, wives of the Area Presidency) went to Fabella Hospital to hand out the newborn kits.  We sang Christmas Carols in the 7 different wards of the maternity hospital. Sister Webb had asked Sister Crockett, a former member of the Tabernacle Choir to lead the group of women in Carols.  The only other request Sister Webb made was to include Away in a Manager and I am a Child of God.  Sister Crockett played her Ukulele except when we sang “I Am a Child of God” which we sang acapella. There was a reverence about this activity that everyone felt.  People came from different rooms of the hospital to listen as we sang in 4 sometime 5 part harmony.  We were told it did sound like the angels were singing.  It was an unusual group, our voices blending in a heavenly chorus as if we had sung together before; another time another place.  It will be hard to duplicate that experience.  One young mother came to us afterwards and asked us to pray for her baby who was sick in the NICU.  Sister Bowen offered a prayer.

Sister Webb Saying good bye to Terry at Mabuhay House

Mabuhay House is a recovery center where children and their families stay after repair work has been done.  There are many birthday defect corrected at this center as well a vision problems.

Jona Mae arrived in April with an
advanced cancer in her left eye.  She has survived
the surgery removing her eye and the treatment which
followed.  She is a bright spot in the day.  A positive
little things who loves life and the people in it.

The 16^th we had a meeting with the New Secretary of Health.  We fought our way down town to the office of the Secretary only to be told her flight from Cebu had been cancelled.  Heidi and Lisa were hoping to get her support in our dealings with the Department of Health. Saturday we put Lisa and Heidi back on the plane for Utah. Sunday we sang in the Choir at church.

Monday of week 4 we were training the Strouds.  Tuesday we took the Strouds to Gentle Hands Orphanage introduced them and delivered Christmas boxes of oranges and apples.  Wednesday evening we had dinner with Elder and Sister Bowen (our Area President and wife).  We shared stories and games and sang Christmas Carols during the evening.  Their home is lovely and filled with the Christmas Spirit.

Thursday, we left for Baguio for a Christmas Break.  Friday we bought clothes for Elder Webb who left all his in the closet at home. We had lunch and dinner with our friends, Dayti and Ray Salvosa.  We actually shared our testimonies of the Book of Mormon.  Ray said he had one in his home but that he had never read it; he said he would read it now.   Saturday Elder Webb played golf with Ray, President of the University of the Cordilleras.  The played on the Camp John Hay Golf course.  Elder Webb had a legitimate “Tin Cup” moment that Ray will remember forever!  He and Dayti have become good friends and are gracious hosts.

Elder Webb and Ray Salvosa at the entry to Camp John Hay Golf Club dinning room

Baguio Golf Course

Christmas Eve we had dinner at the Manor, an historic hotel in Baguio.  We invited Elder and Sister McClure to join us. Every night in December the Manor has a lovely garden program.  About five o’clock a choir begins to sing and one can enjoy Christmas music for about an hour.  At six the nativity story is told complete with actors in period costumes, then a light show from the Christmas lights in the garden.  Then fireworks.  

Elder Webb saying goodbye to Tess our hostess Christmas Day

We love the fact that Christ is the big part of Christmas in the Philippines.  Everywhere one looks one will find a manger scene reminding those who pass by that Christ is the King.  We see one when we leave our apartment building; there is one in every apartment building, one across the street on the lawn at the Catholic Church, in office buildings and in malls.  Gifts are just a small part of Christmas here, and they are very modest gifts at that.

We never made it to church on Christmas Day.  We were struck in a traffic jam during the entire meeting.  We managed to move from the far right hand lane past two lanes to our left in order to make a U turn and head back to the hotel.  We also got word that we were to head back to Manila in case we were needed in the typhoon relief effort.  A bit of an awkward situation since we had agreed to go to a Christmas Day dinner with the Salvosas.  We gave our apologies, but Ray insisted that we go for a couple of hours since our host had gone to so much trouble for the Americans.  We did join in, but had to leave early.  It was the same group we joined last year.  Tess, our hostess remembered us and our first names.  Pretty impressive since there were about 70 of us there.  She is a lovely lady.

Christmas Day Dinner at Tess' home.  Here we are with the McClures and the Salvosas and their children

Charity Graff the director/owner of
Gentle Hands orphanage

We left for Manila heading down the Baguio Mountains while it was still light and spent Christmas Night in our own apartment.  The storm took a turn to the south and missed Manila entirely.  The relief effort in the south is well underway but we have received no assignment to help with this one.  

Before Christmas at gentle hand orphanage with Elder and Sister Stroud.  We delivered boxes of Oranges and Apples for the children.  They were having a Christmas Party of their own.

Yesterday we visited Mabuhay House  again introducing the Strouds to our partner.   Carol spent time talking with Terry who runs the recovery house.  So it’s training the new missionaries and finishing up loose ends.  The missionaries are the only people in the office.  The employees are taking a few personal days off.  Today is a holiday starting at noon, tomorrow is Rizal Day a national holiday, then Saturday. As in the states Monday will be a holiday because New Year’s Day is on Sunday.  So the week between Christmas and New Year’s is not very productive.  Why is it so hard to relax and just enjoy the time? 

Children at Gentle Hands Orphanage. The older children help the younger children feel a part of things.  It is like a big
family.  Charity was able to place 25 children in families before the end of the year.  Siblings are placed together.  It is a
wonderful organization.

As the New Year greets us we have mixed emotions.  We are anxious to return home to our loved ones, there is no doubt about that.  But, we have spent nearly eighteen months anxiously engaged in serving the Lord's children. We have worked most days with a purpose and meaning that give us joy.  We have met many good people who have given us a new appreciation for the life of God’s children here in the Philippines.  He loves them, and we have grown to care about many with great affection and deep respect.  We will miss them, and our purpose for being here.

We are looking forward to seeing you very soon.  

We love you.

Mom and Dad

Elder and Sister Webb

Gma and Gpa

Norriss and Carol

Dear Ones,

November came and went and we did not have time to write.  Here is a quick catch up.

We began the month with a visit from Quentin L. Cook along with Bishop Waddell of the Presiding Bishopric.  Waddell is a very tall man, besides being an fine speaker. As we were leaving the Area Office devotional we were invited to shake hands with our visitors.  When I finally stood next to the man all I could say was, wow you are really tall.  Like the man doesn't know it?  I am quite sure I lost any chance of being assigned a cushy job our next mission.

We had two missionary couples scheduled to arrive the same day in November.  That was changed to one couple after we received news of an accident involving Elder Jensen who is now recovering from a broken neck.  I promise this report will get better.

We picked up Elder and Sister Ott the new missionary couple who have been called to start a new addiction recovery program here in the Philippines.  They are converts to the church as well as recovering addicts with personal experience in addiction recovery.  We love their honest straight forward proactive approach to the 12 step program the church is promoting in answer to President Duterte's plea for help from the religious communities.  

Our new friends Elder and Sister Ott

Elder and Sister Ott found their ride into Manila from the airport to be a harrowing experience.  That same evening Sister Webb received a call from Brother Ott who was having an anxiety attack.  He said they really needed to be assigned to live somewhere else.  He knew he could not drive in this city. Sister Ott was concerned because everything she saw and felt reminded her of old trigger points in her recovery.  Just about everyone who arrives here from the states for the first time has a similar reaction. Especially following the long flight in coach where one finds sleeping ellusive if not impossible. The Otts are both fully grown adults with 6 foot frames that have lived full lives.  Elder Ott was a pro baseball player.  The seats in coach are made for the petite Filipino frames, used to crowding as many people in a space as is possible.  The Filipinos are pretty amazing that way; there is always room for one more.

Elder and Sister Ott are in a better space emotionally now.  Elder Ott picked up his car after church today and drove to the place they are now living.  We have had them to dinner several times and find they are beginning to laugh at their initial introduction and reaction to life in Manila. Sister Webb has encouraged Elder Ott to drive our car during the times of the day when the road is less congested. They have gone to and from the Area Office and back to the hotel.  Sister Webb enjoys the challenge of driving now and knows it is amazing what confidence comes from familiarizing oneself with the road and the driving customs.  It is the beginning of a whole new world of independence.   

We also welcomed our daughter Felicia and 3 of her children two days after the Otts arrived.  Our grandson Josh organized his Eagle Project around a couple of our projects and we were able to take them with us to three different locations.  It was wonderful.  

Felicia and Sister Webb at American Cemetery

The ride home form the airport was fraught with the same gasps of unbelief and "oh my you can't be serious" as well as "why not take that space" or "is that bus really forcing us into the next lane" or "did you know there are 5 lanes of traffic but only 4 lanes painted on the road" or "watch out the car in the far right hand lane of traffic looks like he may be turning left, yep there he goes in front of three other lanes of traffic." "Oh my gosh, no one crashed into him.  How did that happen. Can you believe that" ?  Many of the same comments we had heard the week before were being repeated as we made our way to Eastwood and our apartment.   We remember saying many of the same things on our first ride into the city from the airport 16 months ago.  All we can do is laugh at it now, because the frustration and time spent on the road is just part of life for the people and businesses that make their way here.

WWII murals at the American Cemetery

Our grandson Josh had prepared school kits to take to one of the mountain schools we have worked with.  This time we were delivering new chairs for the one room school in Silang, Cavite.  Felicia and family arrived Friday.  Saturday we hit Greenhills Mall where everyone had a quick lesson in shopping the Filipino way.  We were in the basement where shop keepers are given a space to hang their wears.  One is expected to bargain with the shop keeper for the best price for items one is considering for purchase.  It didn't take long for our grandchildren to zero in on different items of interest.  They listened to the salesperson try to seduce the buyers and watch the different responses then tried for themselves.  It was interesting to see how selective they were and how happy they felt about the good deals they got.

Josh with Grandma 

Sunday they were introduced at church.  They enjoyed their classes after which we headed for the American Cemetery for an afternoon of reflection.  They all commented on how much their dad, Lt. Col. Raymond Hanosek, would have loved the history and reflection of this sacred spot.

Monday morning came early.  We start out a 5:00 am .  We arrived at the parent school at 8:00 am. The children were quite taken with the visitors from the States  and flirted and exchanged greetings.  We were treated to an exhibit of the morning exercise routine as well as the filling of chores.  We waited for Elder and Sister Soleta our wonderful service missionaries who were going to accompany us as we delivered the chair parts up the mountain.  

They finally arrived and we followed them to a large field where we transferred the chair parts to a Carabao Cart.  Elder Webb transported the chair parts in the back of our van.  Elder Soleta took a few minutes to put one of the chairs together so the teacher could see how it was done.  He will organize the parents to put the chairs together this coming week. Sister Webb counted out the nuts and bolts so there would be enough to complete the project.

Elder Webb and Elder Soleta putting the new chair together.
Chantal holding the umbrella to shelter from the sun

After the chair was put together and all the parts were loaded into the wagon it was time to hike up the mountain.  It's only a couple of miles, but it is uphill and rains the previous day left parts of the path muddy.  Walking was tricky in a few spots and one of the Sister missionaries fell, but other than that it was a straight shot.  

Starting the walk up the mountain side

Josh handed out his school bags.  The children were not all that responsive until they opened the bags.   The little girls were excited to see that some thoughtful person had included a necklace and bracelet in each of the bags for the girls.  That pleased them enough to smile.  These are very sober serious people. They are dignified even in their poverty and we do not often get a smile from them.  They express their gratitude with fruit from their trees and vegetables from their gardens.

chairs loaded into the cart

The walk down the mountain was faster than the hike up.  One sister fell in the mud hitting the ground quite hard.  She insisted that she was fine.

School girls sporting their new necklaces and holding their school kits

The next day we left for Baguio, where Sister Webb was in charge of the Annual Welfare Training for the second year in a row.  We got there the night before and were guests of the President of the University of the Cordilleras.  In the morning we headed over to Ating Tahanan, the girl scout facility we rented for our training.  We put together the welcome bags and the training material and delivered them along with large bottles of water to each room.  Sister Webb made the room assignments so that when our training began at 1 pm everyone was ready to go.  Lunch was served at noon.  Felicia and her kids had a room at the center while we did training. They did their homework and Felicia graded the essays assignments that were coming in from the students she teaches on line for BYU Idaho. It was a good time to catch up, on sleep, on work, on relaxing.

Love this picture of a mother transporting her little ones 

The next morning we headed north towards Benaue and the rice terraces.  We had driven about 3 hours before we had a good look at some terraces.  They were not rice terraces, but vegetable terraces up and down the mountain side.  Felicia said that was good enough for her.  The switch back of the roads does not make for pleasant driving do we headed back down.  We got back to Baguio in time to take the kids to the open fruit and vegetable market where they did a little more shopping.  We also found a bakery where fresh hot raisin cinnamon rolls were being popped from the oven pans.  We bought one pan of 8 rolls for 20 pesos.  We went to meet Elder Webb on the street.  He had been waiting for our call.  We ate the rolls and the kids thought they were so good they ran back to buy another pan each.  Finding something that tastes familiar in the midst of all these new sights, sounds, smells, and tastes can be a delight.  This was.

Meeting new friends

Friday morning we headed back to Manila from Baguio.  Saturday was the last day for this adventure.  We headed to Quirino Hospital's NeoNatal NICU.  Josh and the girls had put together newborn kits and we received permission for them to distribute them.  We arrived and were told only three people got to go in, so Josh, Chantal and Celeste all dressed in scrubs and were escorted into the NICU by Dr. Patrico.  They looked like interns as they towered over the Filipino mothers and doctors.  They handed out the kits, and spoke with the mothers. It is not an easy thing to see these tiny babies struggling for life.  

Josh, Celeste and Chantal look like medical interns doing their rounds

When they came out, there were still a number of newborn kits left so they handed them out in the hall.  The waiting mothers stay in the hall, sitting on the floor or standing until it is time for their babies to be fed or a diaper changed.  There are no chairs. 

Help from grandpa

This was a hard thing for our grandchildren to see.  These are very humble people and they lined up to receive the gifts we brought.  Josh and the girls gave away all the kits they had put together.

Upon arrival home, Chantal, our 17 year old grand daughter went to her room and had a good cry.  This was not an easy thing for any of these kids, but it is something they will never forget.  We are so blessed in America. Our poor struggle, but not like the people we had just seen and met.  

The mothers waiting in the hall to feed their babies wanted to know how much they had to pay for the newborn kits.
They were touched by the gift and very thankful.

November passed with a delayed Thanksgiving dinner held by the Senior Missionaries.  We were treated to a nice reading by Elder and Sister Bowen the area President and his wife.  Sister Bowen and Sister Haynie cooked the turkeys and the rest of us filled in complete with homemade rolls and candied yams.  No rice!  It was fun to have all the old familiar flavors that make up the tradition of Thanksgiving in the U.S.  You can be sure we are very thankful for our home, family and friends.  We are most thankful for our Savior who gives everything we do meaning and purpose.  

Add to the above a few projects and trips to partners along with paper work and more traffic and you have another month gone by.

Thanksgiving Day in Baguio at MARIO's 

We love and miss you all and hope you are feeling the Light of Christ in your homes and families. May you remember that HE IS THE REASON FOR THIS GLORIOUS SEASON.

Love, Elder and Sister Webb.