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.