Lane turns 65

Magangdang Hapon,

How are you this fine day in March? 

There obviously is a sharp contrast between young missionaries and us.  It is not because of location but rather due to our unique call as senior 'rescue' missionaries.  We serve primarily with members.  And in the coming months we are focusing most efforts on just 42 leaders who need to be fully trained and capable to continue the rescue.

This letter will detail what happened last Tuesday.

Lane celebrated his 65th birthday and is now officially a "senior".  We are very grateful that we have already served 2 senior missions.  Most people his age are thinking of retiring.  Now, here we are considering going back to work next year.   

On his birthday we arose at 5:45 and rushed out the door, eating cold cereal in the car.  I handled a large glass of milk and kept sprinkling in dry cheerios to spoon feed Elder Howell as we veered in and around traffic.  We drove 1 and 1/2 hours to arrive at the pier in Batangas City.  It is not The dock, or The port.  It is The pier.  We stored our car there and negotiated the 2GO 'super-cat' boat tickets and terminal fees (about $9 U.S. one way).  


By 8:30 a.m. we were underway to the island of Mindoro (slightly larger than the Big Island of Hawaii).  The super-cat is the fast boat which we prefer to the slower ferry.  It is a quick 1 hour ride with free snack service and this ride included 50 minutes of "Ironman II".  

Computer work and snacks on the super-cat boat ride.



Lane on the i-pad, with movie IronMan II (no audio).

View from my window seat.

Then they kick you off and start an entirely different 50% feature film on the return ride.  This was our 4th or 5th trip.  We can't remember.  Once, during large ocean swells they chose to play a DVD of open heart surgery.  STRANGE.  But we love it.

View as I ride behind the tricycle driver.  Lane is tucked away inside the side car.

Upon arrival at the Mindoro district center we met with the PEF Specialist until noon, then hired a tricycle to take us back to the pier.  

Leaving the Island of Mindoro, Calapan City.


Terminal building.  Very lavender.



We usually spend the night on Mindoro but this day we couldn't linger because we had another long drive the following day in another direction.  When we were back in our car we drove to Lipa City and located a little known bowling alley that the mission president recommended.  We meandered upstairs through a dilapidated mall and discovered the darkened location with 20 lanes.  They whipped on half the lights and a few fans.  We had fun bowling 3 games.  It was just the two of us, and the attendant, who kept running to check the pin-resetting machine or jostle the ball return.  It was a real kick.

We drove home before dark and I served up Lane's favorite, chicken divan, then chocolate/chocolate chip cake with fluffy white frosting.  It was a long full day.  7 hours of travel and 2 hours of training plus some recreation.  

Now, don't you feel like you've spent a day in the Philippines with us?  

I try looking at my companion every morning and saying, "It's a great day to be on a mission in the Philippines!"  God loves us.  I trust him.  He can trust me too.