Pansajan Falls

What an odyssey this was! On Saturday March 26th, 2016  (Easter weekend) we decided to go out with the missionary couples to the Pansajan Falls.

The adventure we lived that day will always stay in my mind forever since we were lost trying to find this lodge for three hours. All because of one wrong turn from the very beginning but in the end we were able to get to know the two couples (Bradshaws and Webbs) a little better. The scenery there is so beautiful and breathtaking. I only felt bad for the boatmen who had to literally carry our boat in some of the dry parts. We got soaked and our iPhone died too. That was the only unfortunate thing that happened!

Osaka, Japan

From the March 12th to the 17th, 2016 we were in Osaka, Japan for the DTA cluster meeting.  Bishop Gerald Causse presided over all the meetings. I learned that the Asia area is divided in four parts. The Area offices are located in Japan, Hong Kong, New Zeland and Manila. All the areas overlook different countries of Asia except for Daniel's area is just the Philippines because the membership is the largest in Asia.






The first day we went to the hotel and ate at the Launch. The next day we went to Church and had our own little meeting in English with the other DTA's It was great! That evening we ate dinner together as a group.


The cluster meeting started the next day on Monday.  Bishop Causee went over some scriptures about the priesthood and we also shared some thoughts on the role of the agent or the DTA.














 It was wonderful. than we separated and had our sisters's session and like always it was amazing! We received the book by Elder Nelson: Accomplishing the impossible.






We went to an activity that day
where we saw deers and beautiful scenery. We also went to another activity and dressed up with kimonos on Tuesday. From left to right: Georges Bonnet,  Daniel and Veronica Almeida, Debbie and Gary Porter, Carey and Adam Aalders, Bishop Gerald and sister Valerie Causse, Joseph and Toni Crandall and Brent and Debbie Buckner.

On Wednesday, we went all together to take the bullet train to Kyoto where a lot of these pictures were taken. We saw a bamboo forest and two temples. We got a ride on a carriage and went shopping. We also got to eat authentic Japanese food on this trip of course.

The most amazing  thing that has always amazed
me is how orderly, neat and clean the cities in Japan are. How nice, sweet and soft spoken the so polite the people are there also.
We stayed at the Marriott in Osaka which happens to also be the tallest building in all of Japan. The very top has an observatory on the 60th floor.

Over all it was an incredible cluster meeting. I sent Adam and Carey Aalders who were in charge a thank you to express our gratitude for their love, dedication and hard work. They had very talented and incredible and thoughtful people working for them who went out of their way to make sure we were all taken care of. No detail was overlooked including the wonderful high quality gifts such as chocolates and treats, a  cute apron and special towel, a nice picture and picture frame, and one of a kind beautiful pottery made by Elder Taiichi Aoba.

We were  showered with so many gifts and activities but mostly we felt of their genuine desire to please us. from the moment we stepped into Japan at the airport to the time we had to go home, we felt so welcomed and special. The standard was set very high on this occasion.

Four blessings in one day!

I went to Idaho, from February 23 to March 8th exactly two weeks. I also managed to make a quick trip to Nebraska for one day to meet Oliver and connecting that flight to Nebraska in Salt Lake and my connecting flight back home to Manila in Orlando. Sweet! The trip was amazing because on March 6th 2016 I got to witness the blessings of three of our grand babies: Asher, Ruby and Norah. I think four blessings in one day must be a record!

 I couldn't be there at the same time for Oliver's blessing in Nebraska but I was there in spirit.  Vale did come to Nebraska for the blessing.  while I was there,  we were able to spend some time together in the car from Omaha to Beatrice and back the next day. We got to spend a Saturday morning eating at the Mexican restaurant in Beatrice and having some playtime at the park. It was short but sweet.

I am so glad I decided to make this trip also because I needed to see the apartment in City Creek to get it ready for a fellow who needed to move ASAP I thought I found the perfect tenant who was willing to pay rent for six months in advance and he seemed very interested. I learned from this experience that unless something is sign verbal agreements don't mean anything.

In Idaho I was able to prepare a class in Spanish for Cristi and her mother in law who is the Relief Society stake President and makes an amazing conference for women every year in her stake with classes, workshops and a lunch. I am glad I was able to help, sad people didn't show up for those classes in Spanish because they are my people and can't imagine why they wouldn't want to participate. I remember never mission out on activities like this one.

I also was glad I got to help Bianca during the night so she and Joseph could sleep. It turned out to be wonderful to be present at this most amazing time in the lives of Bianca and Joseph and Brooks and Cristi at the time of  those blessings.  The Merkley family all came. It was months and even years that they hadn't been all together since they have a son in the East Coast.

It also was wonderful to spend some time at the home of Cristi and her cute family so they know who I am. (Mami Vero) I even got baby sit Asher and discovered that he will not take a bottle ever! It is amazing that I was able to " kill so many birds with one stone" (I hate the thought of killing birds but its a saying.)

I was so happy when I got to the airport in Salt Lake and sat with all those people on the train who were new to city. Salt Lake has been my home for ever and it felt good to be back. I was only there to make my connection the next day. Within a few hours I saw Mandy and Spencer and Andres and family, went out to dinner with Spencer parents and even met with our tax people the next morning to finish our taxes.

I feel so blessed because to top it all since I was using my miles, the itinerary had me spend the night in Orlando of all places so I got to see my mom, Mari, Manu and even Paola who was visiting. Amazing! The only part missing here was Daniel. That would have been perfect but I take what I can. This photo with the three cousins was taken the very morning I was to leave town on March 8th 2016.