Tuesday, January 22, 2013

TRANSFER DAY

 



It's been nearly a month since we last posted on the blog. It seems like just last week. Time flies when you're having fun. Fun may not be the right description of what we're doing, but it is definitely a blessing to us to be serving the Lord. The time is flying by so quickly -- it's hard to believe we are in a new year and almost through the first month. This week is going to be a very busy week, in that it is transfer week, saying goodbye to missionaries who have completed their commitment, and new arrival week. Today, we drove from Naga with 6 Elders in the van to Ligao, where we left 2 of the Elders and picked up 3 others.  We continued driving on to Daraga where we left all of those Elders and picked up 4 Elders and 2 Sisters - then back to Ligao to drop off one of the Sisters and picked up 2 Elders.  We left Naga at 8:30 this morning and arrived back here at 2:15 p.m.  Tomorrow, we'll be taking some Elders and Sisters to the airport to bid them farewell.  Then, Thursday morning (very early), we'll drive back to the airport to pick up 15 NEW missionaries.  After their orientation and a luncheon at the mission home, we'll load six of them into our van and drive them to wherever their areas are and then back home again.  We generally don't get home until around 9 or 10 at night.  It's a very long day, but so worthwhile. 

Below is a photo taken following a luncheon at the Mission Home. 

President & Sister Bliesner to the right & Elder & Sister Campbell 



From Left:  Elder Salas, Elder Dautin - AP's to President Bliesner, Elder Williams - Financial Secretary, Elder Manalo - Secretary to President Bliesner

 

This is our Pamplona Branch Church House

 

 

If you recall the flooded road we traveled, with the water rushing over the highway, this is a picture of the same area just a short time later.  Notice the rice fields off to the right.  There is about a 6 foot drop-off on both sides of the highway, so had we continued to "float" with the current, we could have been in big trouble.  Just thought you'd like to compare with the pictures we sent last blog.

 

 

Oh, my goodness, we never tire of seeing the Mayon Volcano with the steam coming out of the top.  We love driving past it.

 

 

This is a picture of Carol, Sister Bliesner - President's wife, Sister Miskin & Sister Lawhorn - the other two Senior Sisters who are with their husbands in our mission.  We visited a wildlife park 11 days ago, which has a Bengal Tiger, Wort Hogs, ordinary white chickens (go figure - can't imagine why they would have them in a wildlife park), monkeys, goats, ostriches, crocodiles, lots of exotic birds, and several other animals and snakes.  It was a fun get-away kind of a day where it was just peaceful and most enjoyable.

 

 

Right here in the city of Naga, this railroad crossing sign stands saying we should stop, look and listen.  Well, if you do all of that, other drivers get a little anxious or annoyed and zoom past you.  So, we don't stop, look or listen.  As you can see, the tracks don't look very well used, but believe me, we can swear to the fact that there is a train that goes on it EVERY morning, VERY, VERY early with it's horn honking loud and clear.  There are people who actually live near the tracks, as you can see in the background.  We met one of the sisters who lives that close; we asked her how she could stand that loud noise every day, and she said that she doesn't hear it much anymore.  Don't know if she's going deaf or what, but we could NOT live that close, though we do live across the highway from it.  The sound of the horn seems to be coming right through our bedroom in the mornings.  Good thing we get up early anyway, or we would probably be pretty upset!

 

 

Same street, only coming from the other direction.  The house to the right is the same one as in the other photo.  Well, they actually have a "modern" RR Xing sign that they have recently put up, and an arm that extends over the road to keep cars from being hit by the speeding train.  How up-scale can you get!!!!

 

 

Now, we waited and waited for someone to be interested in renting the apartment in our last blog, but alas, it did not happen.  Well, we were driving around one day and saw this sign advertising an Open House.  This one, as you can see, has a roof and is closed in.  Don't see any windows, but that may be good, so that the flying insects don't get in to bother the tenants.  Hmmmm, would you be interested in this one?

 

This little hut is actually larger than most of the "homes" of the members we home teach in our Pamplona Branch.  The two families we taught two weeks ago each have 8 children who range in age from 15 to infants.  It's a sad, sad thing to witness how poor these people really are, but it is also enlightening to see how happy and content they can be.  They were most gracious and welcoming to us.  Jerry left them a message, and they listened intently, though we're not sure they actually understood all that he said, but Jerry's companion interpreted what was being said, and he relayed to us what they were saying, so all seemed to be going well.

 

Keep all of the missionaries throughout the world in your prayers.  They need them!

 

Much love to you all,

Elder and Sister Campbell