Here are a few pictures we took on our way to Naga and some around the area we are living in.

Plane we flew on from Hong Kong to Manila

Long lines in the Hong Kong Terminal waiting to fly to Manila



Propeller driven plane to Naga

Our apartment is on the top floor to the right, the Assistants to the Mission President live in the apartment on the left.

This is our kitchen, dining, livingroom area

This is our bedroom

Very light traffic showing most popular mode of traffic (Jeepney, Tricee (motorcycle with side car), Bikes, cars.  (another one that is not in this picture is a Pudjack - it is a bike with a side car on it and is pedal driven)

These are people waiting outside in 95 degree, high humidity weather to get their drivers license.  We were  part of this group.  We waited 6 hours and they closed for lunch, so we had to come back and wait another 2 hours. 

Jerry and the Security Guard for the Mission President seated in the waiting area to to assist Jerry and me in getting our drivers license

In Hong Kong we had to go through another security check (shoes off, carry-ons searched, had to walk through an x-ray machine).

At the Manila Airport, we had to claim our luggage and go through customs.  They don't allow but one 50# bag each, and the other ones we had to pay duty of 3,850 pesos.  When we went to the window to pay this, they made us stand on a scale (why, I don't know), and then we went through another security check point where the men had to go through one isle and the women through a different isle.

The airplane we flew on to Naga from Manila, was a prop-job.  We were driven to the plane in a bus, and then boarded from the tarmac, climbed up some stairs and found our own seat to sit in.  The flight was 55 minutes.

The whole experience of getting to Naga was interesting, to say the least.  It makes me so thankful for our wonderful USA .  Jerry wound up getting his actual drivers license, but they would not let me have a "real" drivers license.  On my Utah license it says it is a "Class D" license, and in the Philippines a class D license is used for students learning to drive.  So, I have a "learning permit".  I am supposed to go back in a month and sit through one of their training films, take a written test, and then drive for them.  GO FIGURE!!!!

We have a small Gecco (sp) living in our apartment.  He apparently eats bugs, and there are plenty of bugs for him to eat.  So, it is a GOOD THING to have him - I can't imagiine me ever saying it was good to have such a thing living in our home away from home.

We toured 165 miles of our area Saturday the 24th.  It took a full 8 hours to drive it, so imagine how slow we had to drive.  Pedestrians do not have the right-of-way here - they step aside for cars and any other kind of traffic that may be coming.  Markings on the roads mean NOTHING.  If you can see to pass, then do it.  You have to watch for motorcycles & cars, cause they pass on the left and right and traffic stops in the middle of the road if they decide to at any time.  I could go on and on, but for now, I think I'll close.  We have a lot of pictures showing the beautiful country, and we'll post them next time.

Elder & Sister Campbell



This group of Elders and Sisters were in our group to be trained in the various jobs that we'll be responsible for when we get to our Mission areas.   The front right couple are going to the Washington DC North Mission; The couple to their right are going to Missouri St. Louis Mission; directly behind them is a couple who will be serving in the Salt Lake City West Mission and directly across from them is a couple going to the Salt Lake Central Mission (both of these Salt Lake Missions are NEW TRIAL MISSIONS; Jerry and I are on the back left side of the picture; our instructors are on the right (he is standing and she is sitting).


The picture to the right is the District we were assigned to on our first day in the MTC.  Jerry was called as the District Leader.  The couple on the left are going to the West Indies; the next couple are from Hawaii and are going to serve in the Philippines Manila Temple; one of our instructors in the gray sweater; the next couple is going to the Ohio Kirtland Mission;  then Jerry and me; and the last couple are going to Nauvoo.
Here is a map showing the MTC Campus and I am pointing to the building where our room is located.  This building also houses the book store, the travel offices, dry cleaning and administrative offices, as well as the mail room and the doctor's office.  The LARGE building is where we had classes for our first week, and ate in the cafeteria where the food was fantastic!!!  The time we spent at the MTC was absolutely wonderful.  We were Spiritually fed every day, whether it was attending the devotionals or by our instructors.


Jerry is standing in front of the door and is swiping his security card so that we can gain entrance to our apartment building.  Our apartment was small, but adequate.  It had two large closets for our clothes, a queen-sized bed, couple of desks for studying, a nice bathroom and sink area, and an ironing board and iron.  It had air conditioning, but for some reason it ran all the time and never cooled the apartment off.  The temperature stayed at about 76 degrees.  Thank goodness, the hot weather had not arrived yet.

We left the MTC on Thursday, June 14th, after having completed our training.  We stayed at our son Erik and family's home until Monday, June 18 when we are scheduled to fly to the Philippines.

Here we are on June 4th getting ready to enter the MTC in Provo.  Erik and Shannon dropped us off at our apartment around

10:30.  We were met by two young elders who escorted us to our room.  From there, we were taken to a room for our orientation.  There were 45 couples and one single sister who were in our group of Senior Missionaries.  They gave us packets with our name tags and then we were issued picture ID cards that we have to use each time we enter a new building.  Once everyone had been issued their ID cards and other items, we reassembled in the "big" room and were broken into 9 Districts.  Then District Leaders were assigned; Jerry (Elder Campbell) was assigned to be District Leader for Room 242, which included 4 other couples.  One of the couples is going to the West Indies, one couple to Nauvoo, one to Kirtland and a Hawaiian couple are going to the Manilla Temple.  We found that there will be three other couples going to the Philippines - they will all stop in Manilla, while we will continue on to Naga.  It was such a relief to know that we would have other couples flying with us from Salt Lake City.       Here's a picture of Elder Campbell and me pointing to the area we'll be serving in.                          

We have had a most rewarding week here at the MTC.  The Spirit that we feel here is so strong and wonderful.  We've been taught how to teach investigators as well as less actives.  FYI, the food here is absolutely fabulous, but it's an all-you-can-eat buffet with salads, and about anything you can imagine.  And the deserts - well, Elder Campbell can attest to them - THEY'RE AWESOME!  I think that says it all.    We want to thank all of you for the wonderful support and love that you have extended to us as we've been preparing to serve the Lord.

We'll try to give you updates as often as we can - probably just before we fly to the Philippines and then when we actually get to Naga.