This was an intense week of meetings! Sometimes I feel sorry for the local Area leaders that work with us because they have to spend so much time training us and getting us up to speed. Then in 18 months, we leave and it starts all over again. I hope we get to a point, soon, where we feel we are worth all their trouble. They seem to have a lot of patience and energy and always give their best.

The above pictures are from a meeting with the board of health. They want to use our meeting houses to bring Covid vaccines closer to the people. We are hoping to work with them on other vaccination projects as well.

The other thing that was really interesting was visiting the Mabuhay House. We had met with the Charity Vision founder and son before we left Utah, so we were anxious to meet their local organization which is housed at the Mabuhay House here in Quezon City. Melody Ledesma graciously gave of her time to orient us and show us around. They house the patients who have had cleft lip, club foot and vision related surgeries. Melody seems to have a true compassion for the patients and their families and this is a perfect place for healing. We will be involved with this organization a lot, I think!

The first picture shows the staff, plus us and the Leiningers. You can see the Romney’s handprints- they visited, went to a vision screening and spent a few days with the Mabuhay staff. You can also see two of the patients and the last picture is Melody giving us an intro to what they do there. What a fabulous NGO!

On Saturday, I just had to go somewhere to walk. A bit of nature was needed. That’s a bit difficult here in the metro area, but we drove about a half hour (to go five miles) and visited the Memorial Circle (which honors Quezon) then walked over to the University of the Philippines. It was very hot and humid until we actually got to the University campus. There it was shady, lots of green space and no cars! But since I was exhausted after walking over there and all around the campus, we took a tricycle back to our car. My first!

On Saturday evening, we had a bit of R&R when we went to President and Sister Willets’ house. They are mission leaders of the Quezon City Mission, and live right behind the Area Office. They invited all the senior couples over for snacks and Jeopardy! It was a riot!