Epistle #15 of 20

Dear Family and Friends,

We celebrate Christ's birth with all of you...and with all of our friends here in the Philippines.  This is a Christian nation.  They unabashedly trumpet their christianity.  Beginning in September (they say, "we celebrate Christmas in all the ..ber.. months"), the stores are decorated and broadcast Christmas songs, lights go up on houses, and town halls  (banks, gas stations, etc) have manger scenes--big, BIG ones, and NO ONE even whispers that there should be a separation of church and state.  Although there are many muslims, especially in the southern provinces, EVERYONE sings the familiar carols and frequently texts "Advance Merry Christmas".  

So, in this letter to you all, we share what we have joyously experienced twice, now...the beauty of Christmas with palm trees, warm rains, and happy people.

Here comes a barrage of photos, as proof...

Our Mission Team at the Manila Temple.  Flanked by Franco, our director, and Jib, service center supervisor, are the 4 senior couples serving in the Philippine Area.

This is a GAS STATION's diorama.  When you are Filipino you become incredibly creative.

Set against a backdrop of the Mayon volcano -  

The 3 wise men wear hats made of fans and blue bodies are 50-gallon oil drums.

The heads are sticks, woven to any shape desired.

The robes are really woven mats you might find in any humble home.

More creativity.  Oil cans and coconut half-shells.  They love to make Christmas trees. And they are all so beautiful.

Wire balls, strung with lights.

Artistic....

Simple, effective, beautiful.

Another 'tree' popped up at a road block on the national hwy.

 A neighborhood (Baranguay) displays their own entry display of angels and the Christ-child.

Another neighborhood display.  Look closely.  The paper between the flowers and greenery is newsprint, varnished for protection from the weather.

Frayed coke cans form an amazing star and tassles!

It wouldn't feel like CHRISTmas without a zone conference or two.

Christmas zone meetings with our young Elders and Sisters are always memorable.  Training, a Filipino feast, talent show and testimonies.

Beautiful decorations at one of our hotel stays.

Yes, these are palm trees, surrounding this massive community manger display in Tobaco District.  I have no idea how this name got approved for an LDS unit.  It just seems to be contrary to the 89th Section.

Every year, for 18 years, Beautiful, Sweet Carolyn wishes me a "Marry Christmas" with a poinsettia plant.  This is in solemn mockery of our first Christmas when I told her I was engaged to someone else.  So, she cheerfully, ironically, brought a congratulatory gift of a tiny poinsettia plant to me at Word Perfect in Orem, where I was working.  Thank you, Carolyn.  You are an incomparable jewel.  

So, last year Carolyn actually PLANTED a poinsettia in our garden. A bit spindly.  But it brought a smile to my face, as it always does.

Now, do things GROW in the Philippines?  Is Carolyn too serious!?

This year, there was no need to buy a new poinsettia plant.  This one is the crowning glory of her teasing.

 

What is Christmas, without Carolyn's famous tradition of a Shepherd's Dinner?  This year I came as a....shepherd, king, or whatever!  (Egyptian mummy?  Goofball?)

Sunday night we invited our beloved friend, President B, and his family for a private Shepherd's Dinner at our home.  Three of the family of six sang us a Christmas song they had prepared.  It was an unrecognizable, painful rendition, but they gave it their best, without embarrassment.

Note the cottonball sheep on the "hillside".

Elder Howell's contribution this year was "Lamb-kabobs".  After all, what are little sheep for?

Monday night, Christmas Eve, was a spiritual, warm and friendly gathering of senior couples working in the San Pablo Mission.  Too old to sit on the floor, we sat at tables and commemorated the Shepherds again.  President P (nearest to the camera) gave a moving testimony of the special nature of the shepherds who were visited the night of Christ's birth.  Not everyone dressed for the occasion, but we managed to have 6 shepherds, 5 angels, and one Sister as a starry night.  Excellent!  Creative!

So, Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

With much love,

Mom & Dad

G'ma Carolyn & G'pa Lane

Elder and Sister Howell

Epistle #14 of 20

Hello cherished family and friends,

Today our mission was to locate and meet Ronnie Finkernagel (1/16th German).  RM, married, father of 2.  We had met his active momma at the branch and she gave us his current cell number, mentioning that he lived a long way away.  "Was it Manila?" we asked.  No, he actually lived within the branch boundaries, but in an outlying neighborhood.  So we called Ronnie.  He was welcoming and invited us to come meet him. 

And so we began the harrowing 5 hour round trip up into a mountain village, on narrow dirt roads, passed washed out bridges, detoured or delayed by construction blockages and landslides.  How exciting! 

Entering Bongabon, home to the Bongabon Branch.  Ronnie's home is 18k further.

Ronnie said "When you reach Bongabon turn right at Petron gas station, follow the road going to Baler, I'm living at the foot of the mountain i will see you here, my house is located at the road side with little store in front.  Text me and i will wait you here."

Houston…we have a problem…

Are you sure this is the road?

Road?  What road?

We were certain we had taken a wrong turn but Ronnie's ongoing texts confirmed that we were getting closer.

This is a major National Road leading to the coastal town of Baler.

Road block during a manmade landslide...

Waiting for clearance to proceed...

This bridge was washed out 3 years ago.  No deaths resulted but supplies were cut off and created challenges.

Replacement bridge for compact cars, motorbikes and tricycles.

All other vehicles cross like this...

We have arrived at the Labi neighborhood of 700 souls.

Curious neighbor, I am four and I am not shy.

Great kids.  I offered a Tagalog Article of Faith card but none of them can read because their parents cannot afford the p300 ($10) annually for public school.

Their parents cannot read either.

Hheerree's RONNIE!  Member of the Bongabon Branch.  The ride to church is 36 kilometers round trip.  Often too costly to pay for transportation or gasoline.  He's been off the radar for 8 years.

Once there, we sat and learned that this RM had converted his sweetheart, married her, and named their daughter Lady Mahana and son Lord Mahonri.  You just gotta love a man like that!  He worked away from his family as a security guard in Manila for years.  He told us that he missed his kids learning to walk, talk, going to school.  He decide not to miss them anymore.  Two months ago he stopped his job in Manila and moved back to Bongabon.  

He now buys charcoal from his neighbors, loads it into his tricycle, hauls it into town and sells it.  He also makes and sells very tasty salted garlic peanuts.  He says no one in his neighborhood has a better job than he does.  He is happy.  The baranguay actually numbers about 700 residents.  We learned of his employment struggles and his desire to get to church and be able to baptize his daughter.  We fanned his desire and encouraged him in his commitments.  That is one day we will never forget. 

We loved our mission today!  5 hours round trip.  Finding the one!  Such fun.

We love you always!

Dad and Mom

G'pa & G'ma Howell

Elder Lane and Sister Carolyn