As of today, July 22nd we have almost traveled from the northern most point to the southern most point in our mission.  We say "almost" because there are still parts of our mission we have not been to yet.  The above picture is a lot different from the pine trees we have in Star Valley or the cedar trees in southern Utah.  This is a coconut tree and they are abundant along the roads as we travel throughout all of our mission.

 During our travels, we find sporatic construction taking place on the roads.  Most asphalt is being replaced with concrete.  We have only seen one cement truck, and that has been in the city of Naga.  Most of the concrete for the roads is been mixed in small personal size concrete mixers like you would find people using for small jobs at their homes in the States.

 At one point, we were detoured at a bridge that has been out for 2 years.   We saw this flag girls with two sticks in her hands, one with a red rag for stop and one with a green rag for go.  At this particular place, we ended up going through a small village with dirt roads only as wide as our van.  At several places along the way there were other flag people (men, women & children) making sure we didn't get diverted from the path we were supposed to be on.

Above is a picture of a caribou workiing in a rice field.  They don't have or use any modern kinds of equipment.  Almost everything is done by hand, from the plowing of the fields to the planting of the rice.

We have learned the  art of eating our food here in the Philippines.  If there is a table knife set on the table, it is for decoration only, as you don't use it at all.  The big spoon is held in the right hand and the fork, which is held in the left hand, is used to push stuff onto the spoon.  If any part of the meal needs to be cut, that is done with the edge of the large spoon.  We haven't figured out what the little spoon is for, yet.  It is actually smaller than our teaspoon in the States.  We truly eat international food.  Our Tang breakfast drink is from Thailand, our milk is from New Zealand, and it requires no refrigeration until it is opened.  The milk we bought last week has an expiration date of October.  Our granola breakfast cereal is from South Africa.  Our Delmonte corn is also from Thailand, Heinz vegetable soup is from Australia.  Our tomato sauce, mayonnaise, and pork and beans and most of our soups come in pouches instead of bottles or cans.  The list could go on and on.  The "Strip Fries" pictured below are actually made here in the Philippines.  They are really good, and not very expensive.  They do have Lays potato chips and Doritos, but they're so expensive that we stick with the Pik Nik shoestring potatoes and the Strip Fries.

We are really enjoying getting to know the Elders and Sisters.  Last week we drove to Malilipot where we installed some screens on windows of one the Sisters' apartments.  They have found about 6 "small" snakes in their apartment and were quite worried that they might be bitten during the night as they slept.  One of the Sisters is from Luzon, the northern most part of the Philippines, and the other Sister is from the island of Mindanao, the southern most island of the Philippine chain.  Their cultures are entirely different from each other, and from the Naga Mission area.  All of our missionaries (even those from the U.S.) seem to adapt well.

The "rainy season" has really begun.  When we came here, we were told that we'd be coming at the beginning of the monsoon weather, but it has been really dry, with very little moisture.  The last couple of days and nights it has rained an awful lot.  We asked one of the members of the Branch we attend if this is the beginning of the rainy season.  He said yes, and that it will last about three months.  Everyone carries an umbrella with them at all times, and the tricees have curtains on them that can be pulled shut so as to protect the passenger.

We are trying to learn a little of the local language, Bicol, as it is different from Tagalo, which is the national language.  We would like to say "salamat", which means thank you in Tagalo, for all of your support and prayers.

Elder and Sister Campbell

 These are my cleaning tools:  Soft broom (on your left) and Stick broom (on your right).  The stick broom is used to sweep all corners, rugs & floors.  The soft broom is used as the "clean up" tool to get everything into a dustpan.

 This is a small cockroach that Jerry found in the office (already dead, thank goodness)

 This is our little "house guest".  We're still trying to think of an appropriate name for him, but he is most usually never seen.  Although, we hear him "chirping" loud and clear during the day when we're in the apartment.  He does a good job at keeping the bugs under congtrol.

 We drove to Bulan and met with 4 Elders who live in the apartment on the right.  "Apartment?" you say.  Yes, they do live here.  Jerry had to install a new water pump for them.  We left Naga City  @ 6:00 a.m. and arrived there at about 11:30.  It was a 5 1/2 hour drive (one way), but the scenery was beautiful.  We enjoyed it very much!   It was a very long day, but well worth it.

This is a picture I took of Sorsogon Bay, which is on the Ticao Passage and is part of the Sibuyan Sea, as we were driving on our way to Bulan.  The city of Bulan is right next to the sea.

Until next time,   Salamat (thank you)!   (the "a" in Tagalag is pronounced like the "a" which is in the word "father")

Thought you might like a glimpse of our surroundings here in the Philippines, so we'll start with the rice fields, just a few kilometers out of Naga.

 Rice fields

 More rice fields - pretty, aren't they?

Mayan Volcano which is active & has steam coming out of the top 

 Closer view of the volcano - it was raining a little this day

 Trucks on the National Highway

 Our view as we rode in a Tricee to do some sopping for supplies.  Notice how narrow.

 Another view showing some of the road congestion.  VERY TYPICAL

 Carol getting out of a Pudjack close to the apartment front door.



Jerry and I both rode in this Pudjack, along with a dozen pillows (compressed), 4 skillets, pillow covers, pillow cases, can openers and towels.  We were really scrunched in there, but this little guy pedaled right a long and got us home without any bumps or bruises.  These Pudjacks and Tricees are everywhere, so if you want a ride to somewhere, all you have to do is stand on the curb and they will stop right away.  We rode a Tricee into "town" to do some other shopping for supplies yesterday.  This is all so much fun - I could get addicted to it. 

The supermarket isn't what we know as a supermarket in the U.S.  There are not as many brands, etc. to choose from, and they do have some American things (Jif p-nut butter, Weserrn Family Mayonnaise, Delmonte corn and a couple other veggies, but not a large variety, lots and lots of soda pop - Coke, Pepsi - and a few other things), they have fresh whole chickens sitting out in the center of the room, lying on ice, but no refrigeration on them, lots of eggs stacked from the floor to the ceiling, and there again, are not refrigerated, very large selection of fruits, but the veggies really leave something to be desired - UGH - the celery looks like it does when we would throw it away - wilty, etc.,  several kinds of rice and they will weigh as much as you want and put it in a plastic bag for you.  When you check out, they have two different kinds of isles - ones for small blue baskets and then the large grocery carts like at home.  They really get upset if you go to the checkout with something in hand and not in a basket.  I haven't done that, but have been told, so I am careful, if I even want one or two things, I am careful to get a small blue basket.

We attended our Branch for the first time today in Pamplona - about a 30 minute drive away.  It is kind of funny because we have a Church right in the same compound as our Church office building and apartment, but the Mission President thought the Branch needs more help from people who are mature in the Gospel - I guess we fit that description.  There was one Deacon and the Elders Quorum who passed the sacrament.  The two Elders assigned to the Branch blessed the Sacrament.  There was only one sister who showed up for Relief Society, so she went home instead of staying.  All of the lessons in Sunday School, Priesthood Meeting and Young Women were taught in Tagalog, so once in a while we'd recognize a word such as missionary or Jesus Christ, but for the most part, we were lost as to what was being taught.  Hopefully, we'll learn some of the language so that we can at least understand what's being said.  We do have 23 months to do it, so with the Lord's help and a lot of faith and prayer, I am sure we'll be able to understand some of what's being said.  Well, till next time, Salamat (thank you) for your wonderful words of encouragement and support.  We love you ALL.