As you may remember, we were supposed to have been home by now. We were supposed to have left by February 22. Well, when we learned the Tabernacle Choir was coming to the Philippines for the first time ever on Feb 27 and 28th , we knew we needed to be here for this landmark event. We have “batch mates” who came out with us and didn’t see a need to stay for the choir. Their feeling was “we can see them in Utah”. And “we wouldn’t feel good about taking seats from Filipinos who want to see them for the first time”. I can understand both of those sentiments, but I really wanted to be here to experience the excitement and the joy that was sure to come as the people listened to the choir. We were not disappointed! We had tickets to see them on Sunday evening, Feb. 25, at the University of Santo Tomas. This was a religious concert, so more of their serious repertoire and none of the big stars singing with them. We were able to invite many of our donor friends- from Catholic organizations, from foundations, etc. We were a bit disappointed that our “VIPs” didn’t have better seats. They had to be up on the top tier with us and the audience up there tended to talk during the numbers, so it wasn’t perfect. Still….it was awesome to be there and some of their spiritual numbers were transcendent.

We tried to go online the day the tickets became available for the big concert at the Mall of Asia arena, but no luck that way. We didn’t even get a response that we hadn’t been selected. We were told by the team at the office that we could just get there super early and they would be able to get us in. Well, I had developed a nasty head cold that week and didn’t feel up to standing in some long line to try to get in, so we had resigned ourselves to not going. Then, last minute on Tuesday afternoon, I got word from Kim Morrison that she had two tickets they couldn’t use and would we like them? Of course we would! That meant leaving as quickly as we could from the San Juan School division convergence, where Elder Huff had to speak, dash home, pack our suitcases, find a place to stay near the MOA and head out there. We got stuck in terrible traffic and were 30 minutes late!!! Ugh!!! It took us 2.5 hours to get there. Being late did have it’s perks, though. We ended up “having” to sit down on the main floor, where the VIPs sat. So lucky us!! The concert was so perfect! The sets, the video background, the numbers they sang, Lea Solanga (even though she really only sang two numbers) the youth who performed with a youtuber sensation,….it was all very moving. And as I predicted, the people here were over the moon about the performance. They enjoyed it so much and it was such a moving experience.

So it was worth it! Worth staying here for, worth beating traffic, worth sleeping on a hard bed so we could get up early the next morning to get out of Manila before 7 am (our car is coded on Wednesdays). It has been so gratifying to read all the news reports about the choir’s visit. Words can’t describe how wonderful it all was. The choir has been an important part of my life …well… my whole life! Hearing their music while living away from Utah for a good share of our lives has always brought me back “home”. I have always felt such a connection to their music. I loved my time singing with the Mormon Youth Chorus and we both aspired to sing with the choir, but didn’t live in Utah during the time when it could possibly have happened. Anyway! It was a spiritual high for many people here, both members and non-members.

TURNOVERS: We also had two turnovers this week. On Tuesday morning, we had a turnover of a donation for the White Cross Orphanage. This is one we found just by driving by it. When I saw it, I knew we needed to investigate. It is a wonderful place! They have such a nice facility with caring workers and a nice environment for these precious little ones. I love their mission and was happy to support them. We donated building materials so they can fix their rice storage facility (which is a huge space) and two new washing machines to replace their inadequate ones. This is the first time our church has donated to them, so they were very happy. The adorable children sang about 3 songs for us (all God-based) and were so happy to get their tiny little ice cream treats afterwards. Their music and sweet faces tugged at my heartstrings. I am sure they have such a better life here than their previous lives. Many are found on the streets, or have been abandoned by parents who can’t care for them. They gave me their book full of sad, sweet miracles. Like the baby who was found under a parked van and was heard crying by some children playing nearby. Anyway, it was a sweet, simple program.

On Wednesday, we started our long road trip up through Central Luzon. We stopped in San Fernando to visit with people from DepEd Region Three. This is a huge region with over 40 school divisions. They are interested in the peer tutoring literacy program and we went with them to visit schools to see what they have in the way of reading materials and to ascertain their needs: what materials would be a good addition to our tutoring cards. It wasn’t a simple answer and I hope we can find some decent materials to make the program more complete. We haven’t been totally satisfied that we are giving them what they most need. Each school fed us food (which didn’t totally agree with me, as it turns out) and we spent the entire day with them. It was worthwhile, but took so much longer than we thought. We made it up to Cabanatuan just a bit before dinner with the Stake Presidency there. A tiring day, especially since I still had my cold and needed to wear my super duper mask all day long. You will see some interesting pictures from our school visits. Like scriptures painted onto their classroom walls and the sport of billiards, and their dirt soccer field.

BALER: After spending the night in Cabanatuan, we headed up to Baler, which is the surfing spot on the Eastern Coast of Central Luzon. That meant more hours of driving, but through beautiful countryside and through mountains. I had forgotten how beautiful this part of the country is. It is the most beautiful part of our mission area, apart from Palawan. We arrived around 2 pm, then Ryan Manrique, our Welfare and Self-Reliance manager for this area drove us up the coast for another hour and a half to see a yet more beautiful coastal area and his Auntie’s new beautiful hotel up there. It was very peaceful up there and the beach was quite nice, with mountains and rock formations to add to the dramatic scenery. Quite lovely! Of course, this added to our drive for the day so we returned to our wonderful hotel (which is right on the beachfront) with very little time to actually enjoy it. My stomach still wasn’t quite right, so I went easy on food that night and we just enjoyed being next to the ocean. The next morning, we went for an early, early beach walk and swim in the lovely pool. Then it was off to our Aurora Hospital turnover, where we gave over $70,000.00 of equipment, including a 2D Ecocardiogram machine. They needed one in order to get a cardiologist to come to the hospital and screen patients so they won’t have to drive 3 hours to Cabanatuan to receive a proper heart evaluation. So worthwhile! There was some weird political stuff going on with their provincial governor, so they had to have the acting governor and vice governor sign the MOA. I tell you! Politics can get sketchy here (anywhere, it seems). We had a quick, simple program and I video interviewed the head doctor so I can hopefully write up a news piece for the local church news. They didn’t have a public relations/communication person up there, so I figure I will have to do it.

After the turnover at the hospital, I insisted we go to the little rural health center that we had a turnover for in November to see how they were doing with the donations we gave them. Let’s just say it was discouraging. We gave them two tricycles which were to help the barangay health workers get to the people to give them medicines, vaccines, weigh the children, etc. Their barangay covers some far reaching areas and they are hard for the workers to get to. Well, when we got there, I saw that one tricycle was used for the healthcare workers use, but the other was for the general barangay workers. NOT okay! Also, the 50″ TV for their new reception area for training, education, etc. was still in the box on the floor! And the birthing table they aren’t able to use because they aren’t actually licensed yet to have births there. Argh!!!! Now I have to write a letter asking them to get with the program and follow the legal agreement or else? Or else what, I am not sure! After our visit there, we had to rush (and I do mean rush) through the mountains and over the rice fields to get to the Science City of Munoz where we met with the people at the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC). We took a tour of this fascinating facility where they do gene testing, semen saving and testing, research and a processing plant where they process the milk, cheese, etc. produced by the local carabao farmers. The milk is very rich: 8 percent fat! But also very yummy (after 18 months of shelf milk, it was especially tasting good). After our tour we headed back to Manila. It was a productive, if a bit exhausting trip of over 700 km. On Saturday, we simply stayed home and got some work done. No car ride anywhere!