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

Epistle #13 of 20

Happy Thanksgiving Day!!!  

We started the day with a visit to the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.  It felt like Veteran's Day, Memorial Day and Thanksgiving Day all rolled into one.  Elder P gave us a report of WWII in the Philippines.  He spoke of the Pacific Theater, General Douglas MacArthur, Corregidor Island, the Bataan Death March and the years of sacrifice by soldiers and civilians.  16 senior missionaries posed on the travertine steps.  I used my camera to photograph the photographers.  

OH GOD WHO ART THE AUTHOR OF PEACE AND LOVER OF CONCORD DEFEND US THY HUMBLE SERVANTS IN ALL ASSAULTS OF OUR ENEMIES THAT WE SURELY TRUSTING IN THY DEFENSE  MAY NOT FEAR THE POWER OF ANY ADVERSARIES
-the American Battle Monuments Commission

Thank you to Edward L. Jones, a technical sergeant in the US Marine Corps, who sacrificed all on June 1, 1945 in WWII, and rests in a beautiful field far from his home land of Michigan.  He is one of 17,206 heroes interred here, while a staggering 36,279 are missing and memorialized.   

Thoughts for today.  10 things I'm grateful for as a missionary:

~ health, strength and desire to serve

~ a tropical winter

~ Turkey dinner with President P, the AP's, office elders and all senior missionaries

~ my first attempt at homemade stuffing was very tasty

~ our safe travels on the Philippine roadways

~ for A/C in our home and car

~ filtered water

~ my companion never gets a transfer

~ emails from home

~ my faith that God is in charge 

Do you have time for a short story?  Be forewarned, this is old lady humor.

Hey, a funny thing happened when we visited a small branch in the Bongabon District last Sunday.  We woke early for the 2 hour drive and a 9 am meeting.  I hit the snooze button and enjoyed a few more minutes of sleep, making Lane nervous about a timely departure.  I thought, I'll show him...I very quickly threw on my full slip and waited for the iron to heat up so I could press my clothes.  In the meantime I attached my magnetic missionary badge to the slip and announced to Lane that I was ready…haha! - - - - Two hours later we were seated in the congregation when the branch president asked us each to speak.  I spoke briefly about faith and our mission purpose.  Just then I reached up to illustrate this by pointing to my name tag…Uh, where is it?  It was still attached to my slip.  I quickly corrected the name badge placement and finished.  You may think that it's sad to get old and forgetful.  Well, I thought it was funny. 

On this Thanksgiving day we give thanks to Heavenly Father for family, friends and faith.  Hint:  It's THANKSGIVING everyday! 

We love you forever!

Momma Carolyn & Dad Lane

Elder & Sister Howell

G&G

Epistle #12 of 20

Hello dear family and friends, from the tropical Philippines!

We have just seen a weather report that says it is snowing all over the Mountain West.  Our apologies for the following pictures and mission report.  

As reported in our last "Epistle", we have been traveling in two missions north of Manila (about 5-6 hours drive from San Pablo).  Two hours of this involve a torturous snaking through Manila, on a road called "EDSA".  There are lines painted on the road, but most travelers just ignore them.  It is "everyone for themselves", and any gap between vehicles invites a cut-in by a Jeepnie, or a swarm of motorcycles (which we refer to as mosquitos).  

Angeles Mission (pronounced Ong-hel-us) has 12 Stakes and Districts and is spread over a wide area.  Olongapo Mission is a narrow, long strip running up the western coastline, separated from Angeles by a mountain range.  Olongapo has 1 Stake and 7 Districts.  The most prominent peak in the mountain range is a volcano called Pinatubo.  When it erupted in mid-June, 1991, climates around the world were impacted for nearly two years, due to volcanic dust.  

It is worth a visit to the Internet to get a picture of this event.  The USA had two nearby military bases, Clark and Subic, in the Philippines at the time, and both had to be evacuated.  Our military never really returned, so the bases are now run as Freeport centers or as smaller Filipino bases.

Our routine has been much the same as in San Pablo and Naga Missions.  A notable PEF recipient is Richard E.  He came from poverty and with PEF help was able to attend school, receive a degree in Education, and become quite successful.  He has since paid his PEF loan and gone ahead to personally finance his Masters.  Richard is now the Tarlac Stake President and works as a Seminary and Institute Coordinator for the Church.  And, as always, we meet many who have not yet achieved their dreams and struggle mightily.  

Here is a pictorial view of some of our travels...

The Island of Mindoro requires a 3-hour ferry ride.  Before the ferry embarks, enterprising kids swim nearby, shouting for passengers to toss coins.  As soon as the coins hit the water, the kids swarm and dive for the money.  The winner proudly surfaces, holds up the coin with a big grin and then stores it in his mouth while waiting for a chance at the next "donation".  Fun.  Fascinating.  We spent about $2, amounting to over a dozen tosses.

Our best chance to meet many of our PEF participants is to join them on a YSA activity.  This one was a challenging hike of about 2 hours to a beautiful waterfall.  A quick swim across the little lake takes you under and behind the falls.  We joined about 30 kids who made the swim.  And we visited with 2 PEF kids we have previously been unable to locate for many months.

Another perspective...picnic lunch after exploring the falls. 

A palm forest along the way.  One of the leaders scrambled up a tree and brought down coconuts.  With an experienced Whack! of a machete, the top of the nut was exposed, offering fresh coconut water.  (These are not the hard-shell coconuts we are most familiar with back home.)

There are beaches everywhere!   We like to touch the oceans, bays, and straits as we travel.

A beach-side hotel in the Olongapo Mission led us to these delightful kids.  They live in poverty, but do not know the difference.  Two things to observe here...first, the house, which is quite large and well proportioned.  It will never hold up in a typhoon, but it is easy to rebuild. Second, the little girl in white is "signing" gwapo, which means handsome.  We get this all the time!!  :0}

These kids followed us back to the hotel where we came up with a few pesos to buy large seashells they had collected.  One of the shells was a curvy, iconic, double-sided shell that fit neatly over his entire head. 

Elder Howell, after his dip in the bay, tried to time his jump, but never quite got off the ground.

Tropical flowers everywhere.  Beautiful.  

Very few people know of the "other" side of Sister Howell.  Just don't cross her!

(This message has been approved by Carolyn and proven by Lane)

It looks like a lawn, but it is a rice field, nearing harvest time.

The roads are subject to settling with the considerable rains.  Here you see a crack by the side.  Unseen is the 6-8 inch lip that runs across the road.  (And this road was the good route)

Great signage.  Believe it!

This seaside highway between Goa and Tiwi has several places where the hillside just takes over the road.  There seems to be no hurry to clear it.

Baler.  A far-away district that took 2.5 hours of winding mountain roads to find.  But, as usual, it sits in paradisiacal glory beside the sea.  

Bongabong District leaders, after a PEF presentation.  They are all so warm and welcoming.  Some wear shirt and tie, while others wear a Filipino dress shirt that does not require a tie. Casual is pretty well accepted.  One Stake President sat on the stand, waiting for the Sacrament meeting to start.  At the very last minute, he pulled out a tie from his back pocket and wrapped it around his neck, just before the opening song.

Bongabong, Padapada, Cabanatuan, Goa, Tobaco (YES, there is a TOBACO District!)  are some of the city names we have grown to love.  

And, ending with the Manila Temple on a stormy day.  This hilltop temple site is strategically located, overlooking the city.  Because of this, the grounds were occupied by military troops during an uprising shortly after it was built.  Even though the building took several bullets, it was respected by the rebels, who never entered the building.

Our missionary work continues, but we remain mindful of each of our kids and grandkids, and pray for you regularly.  The "sacrifice" we volunteered for on this mission has not been one of comfort, but rather one of being far away while significant life events are taking place.  Let us hear from you when you find time. 

We are grateful to know that God is in charge.  His plan is perfect, as is His love for us.  We thank Him for his blessings upon us and each of you.  

We love you all!

Dad & Mom

Elder Lane & Sister Carolyn

Seeing and Feeling Water Fall

Philippines Waterfalls

Hello family & friends,

You are part of this mission.  We carry you in our hearts, our prayers and our memories.  

Typhoon season is upon us.  An average of 26 major storms wreak havoc each year.  People in the Philippines are quick to rebuild, befriend and be optimistic.  With this in mind God blesses this land with bounteous harvests of fruits, lavish floral blooms and lush tropical scenery.  

Some may muse that we look like we are simply on a long vacation.  Can we help it if our mission has pockets of paradise, no snow and countless waterfalls?  Here are the 4 falls that we discovered during this year.

March 12, 2012

Taytay Falls

Majayjay, LAGUNA

After this photo, we circled around behind the falls and jumped in. 

First inviting, then cold. We surely felt this water falling. 

April 24, 2012

Itbog Falls 

Twin Falls of Lake Buie, BICOL

An enjoyable hike thanks to a family of expert guides. 

We regretted slipping off our sandals as we attempted 

the Filipino way, barefoot. Still, stunning and adventurous 

for a couple of senior missionaries. Feeling this water fall 

was refreshing on a hot, humid day.

August 21, 2012

Bantakay Falls

Atimonan, QUEZON

My gwapo companion! A strenuous climb eventually 

paid off with this view, a swim and duly feeling this 

water fall as we climbed through the curtain and sat 

on the rocks with new friends.

Friends picnicking at Bantakay Falls

October 24, 2012  

Pagsanjan Falls

LAGUNA

After properly shooting the rapids in dugout canoes 

we don our helmets and pick up a waiting raft. 

Next, a raft ride through the powerful cascading 

water and into the Devil's cave. 

Hard. To. Breath. 

I have never felt wetter, harder water fall.

16th Anniversary at Pagsanjan Falls. 

Carolyn loves her hero, Lane!

As always, we love and miss you!

Momma and Dad

Sister Carolyn and Elder Lane

Epistle #11 of 20

Hello dear friends and family,

Meet Elder and Sister P, young service missionaries.  In May we called them to see how they were doing.  They replied, "not too good, Elder P's thumb is missing.  But it's okay, he'll get it back, in the resurrection."  His older brother had attacked him with a bolo knife and sliced it off.  When the brother learned that charges might be forthcoming he responded with "what!  Is he not my brother?"  

Elder P is 27, repairs computers for a living and was right handed.  His beautiful wife tells us "I will be his right hand."  We love them! 

We mocked up an Independence Day Celebration in July.  Our flags had either 7 or 27 stripes.  But the company was perfect and the food was tremendous, including apple pie and homemade ice cream (the mission president brought his own ice cream maker).

Our director has gained some notoriety for innovative and successful programs in the Philippines.  So, last week we were invited to Manila to assist in presenting at a video conference to various offices around the world.  We began at 8am with Asia and the Pacific Islands.  Later in the day came Europe and Africa, then at 10pm it was Brazil, and then midnight to 2am we visited with Mexico and Central America.  What a day!

There were 3 programs of note for Filipinos to share:

1.  Calling and training local Service Missionaries.  This program was implemented by a senior couple in 2 southern missions (Bacolod and Iloilo).  We followed in San Pablo.  

2.  Use FB to locate and communicate with young people.  The FB Group has over 1,000 members.  Since kids in the Philippines change their Sim Cards as often as they change their flip flops, their phone numbers are hard to keep track of.  And there are virtually no addresses in the Philippines, just Baranguays (neighborhoods).  BUT, FB accounts are always constant, and most kids have one.  So, part of our mission is to go on Facebook nearly every day to chat and send messages to our friends.  Can you believe that? -- A Facebook Mission!!  In this, Carolyn is the wizard and Lane is the observer and commentator.  

3.  An Electronic Newsletter.  The Salt Lake office had received copies of all of Carolyn's newsletter artwork, articles, games, birthday pages and important notices.  To say they gushed over the quality and professionalism and effectiveness of each newsletter would be putting it mildly.  And then to hear it over and over as we connected throughout the day to various offices worldwide was a real head-splitter.  

We took our favorite senior 'sissies' to a newly discovered restaurant.  The food was absolutely scrumptious, tho' the headroom was somewhat lacking.

This week we are working our way north of Manila into the Angeles and Olongapo areas.  We will still continue to serve in San Pablo and Naga.  But we are now invited to go on the road into an entirely new area -- historic Bataan, Clark-Subic-Tarlac military areas, wonderful highways, lush scenery, strange and wondrous "hotels", types of food (like Texas Joe's 'to-die-for' BBQ ribs), priesthood leaders, and more participants -- all new, to us!  

Last month, as a primer for these new mission contacts, we were invited to attend and present at a small conference in Dugupan, near the new temple site in Urdanetta.  With the expert help of these Institute Coordinators, we are now scheduling appointments with 20 new stake and district presidents.  

An entirely new adventure!  Sister Howell, get your power point (she says it's a 'Keynote') presentation ready and I'll get the projector warmed up!  

PERSPECTIVE:
A week ago, just as dawn was breaking and the roosters were crowing, I slowly awoke to the periodic sound of a small thud, repeated every 10 or 15 seconds.  The steady rains outside our treehouse bedroom were soothing.  And the thuds continued.  Finally I gained sufficient consciousness to explore the source.  It was an irritating leak from the ceiling, with drops landing on the corner of our mattress, just inches away from my pillow.  Perhaps a fourth cup of moisture had accumulated, judging from the dampness on the sheet and mattress.  How irritating!  I scrambled to position a container where it would catch the internal "storm".  And then I began to plan how to get the roof patched to prevent such future occurrences.

The same tropical storm was unleashing heavy rains on one of our mission's towns, Santa Cruz, just to the north of us, as well as on Manila, about 30 miles beyond that.   Until now, monsoon rains, damaging earthquakes, landslides, floods and other natural disasters have occurred at sufficient distance from us to be "out of sight, out of mind".  Santa Cruz is a river town where we frequently teach, attend church, and have a large number of "kids" that we work with.  One of these young students, TMD, is an absolutely delightful, smiling and continuously cheerful 19 year old who lives with her auntie.  They have no work and receive only a pittance from a relative for food, but somehow she stays in school, and struggles to pay her 100 peso per month ($2.45) payment.  Whenever we see her, her face lights up and she greets us as if we were her missing parents.  

During the same storm that dripped on our bed we read this text message and began an exchange:

August 7, 11:22AM:
TMD: "H! Goodm0rning elder and sister howell hope your in go0d now...the flood is near in our house so scared...keep safe"
Our reply:  "Are u in danger?  We are praying for u and ur family today.  We have lots of water coming from the sky but not flooding our house...yet."
TMD: "So faR were fine!thank you!good 2 hear that.just be alert time 2 time."
Our reply: "Thank you!"
TMD: ":)welcme.take care!!happy lunch for you"
August 7, 6:26PM:
Our text: "Please text and tell us if u are still dry and in a safe shelter!  Because we love you, E and S Howell"
TMD reply: "Our house is full of water so we decided to evacuate and we are here n0w in a dry en safe place.thank you."
Our reply:  "Oh!  We are so sorry.  Are u with friends?"
TMD reply: "Nope.only my famly en i here."
August 9, 9:59AM:
Our text: "How is ur family and ur house?"
TMD reply: H! How are you my beloved eldr and sis.howell.Our is house n0t ok coz untl now the water is still high is about neck of a human.my famly so far were gud but is it hard 2 buy fo0ds coz were 2 far 2 a mini-store we need 2 walk  bsyd the highway so its scared."

Through our service missionary couple (the P's) in Santa Cruz, we made sure the Bishop made contact with TMD and her family, providing food and support.   Over 1/2 million people in Manila were flooded out of their homes and over 60 drowned.  During the storm, we had a major laptop meltdown and tried driving into Manila for urgent repairs.  Big mistake.  Three trips later the laptop is cured!  

Oh, that pesky little leak in our house?  It somehow stopped.  We are now safe, and sufficiently humbled.

We love you,

Elder and Sister Vagabonds