7/11 Monsoon Season- We are currently in the Monsoon Season here in the Philippines. However they are having a draught. It rains almost daily in some capacity or other but it is still not what they are accostom to and the locals are very concerned about it being so dry. When it does rain, it rains cats and dogs, there are riverlets running down the hill from the Temple washing out the ground covers around in the planting areas, so they have to be replanted. About 15 minutes or so after the rain all of the concrete and asphalt areas are dry, there are no mud puddles, except around the drains, and it doesn’t look like it has rained. One notable difference however is that you can tell it has rained is that the humidity is around 500%. No need to shower just step outside and you are instantly wet even tho the sun is shinning. Surprisingly the humidity is relatively low right now and the temperatures are not all that hot, for what they are accustomed to. The “Feels Like” Temps are only around 95-103 (real temps 85-95 degrees). The locals are in coats, some even look like they are on an arctic expedition, we on the other hand are basking in short sleeve shirts and enjoying every minute of it. Perhaps in a year we will be in the same boat with our coats and such, NOT.

4th of July – Was tremendously missed for us. We reminised about: missing taking the grandkids to the parade buying them drinks and such, the smell of fireworks all day, having 20-30 good friends and family for a picnic, moaning and groaning from overeating, going to watch the Melalukia Freedom Celebration, the “greatest fireworks in the West”, reading about people complaining because “Frank” choose to have the fireworks on Saturday instead of breaking the Sabbath and having them on Sunday, “Frank’s in charge of the world”.

People hear complain about very little, maybe that is because they have so “very little” and they don’t realize just how little. They are always so happy and thankful to see you. We have never felt unappreciated, or been without a friend. I don’t think it is because we are Americans but because we are members of the gospel of Christ, I think we would be welcome even if we were not members.

They have a custom here that brings tears to my eyes when it happens. When they shake hands with you, some of them will bow and touch the back of your hand, while they are holding it, to their forehead which is a sign of great respect to you. This is done mainly by the older generation but some of the youth do it also. I had a couple of kids do this to me the other day in the Temple as they came to do Baptisms for the Dead. Each of the kids from this group have to save P10 peso’s (about $.25 Cents) each, to pay for their passage and meals, in the next 6 months so they can come back to the Temple to do Baptisms for the Dead again. Many of them will not be able to save that much but there will be others who can, who will take there place on the bus. They have a 8 hour journey via bus and barge to come to the temple. They left here Saturday night about 10:00 PM, will arrive home around 6:00 AM and will all be in church at 9:00 AM today, Sunday. There were 36 kids in this group, they spent 3 days here doing Baptisms for the Dead. Each youth did approximately 135 baptisms over the 3 days they were here. They are so beautiful.