Cleaning the House - part I

So on Sunday I go to our new ward and meet them. Great people, just like any other ward in the world.

I mention to the Elder's Quorum President - Pres. Padol, that I'm gonna need some help this week getting my house all cleaned up before my family gets here. The owner is supposed to do it, but I seriously doubt that the people she hires are going to get it thoroughly cleaned to our tastes in that short of a time frame. He says sure, and announces it at the end of Sunday School - 7 AM on Tuesday - we'll meet here @ the Church then @ 8 we'll go to Bro. Ward's house down the street. They like early here I guess.

Later I quickly plan a lunch menu w/ the Relief Society President - Sister Espy. Of course, it's chicken and rice - what else would it be?

So this morning, I get up @ 6:30 so I can get over to the house by about 7:30 to make sure the guards know to let in a couple of visitors I'm having over to the house. Chances are though, that this being the Philippines and a bunch of Mormons, what was supposed to occur at 8:00 probably won't really begin until 9.

So at 7:52, 3 people show up at my gate. Wow - people came I thought - and on time! They hand me a list and say a few others are waiting at the gate and the guard needs my signature before he'll let them in.

So I sign and wait. 3 minutes later ... well, watch the video.



When was the last time you had a turn out like that for a ward party, let alone a spur of the moment service project lasting the ENTIRE day in the middle of the week for a member you met 2 days ago?

Man - I love the Philippines - and Philippine Mormons!! :-)

I'll be posting more of the actual walk-through and cleaning videos later - they're much longer/larger.

CTR - Choose the Rave

So last night (and this morning :-) ) I wrapped 4 things I love to do into one fun evening: meet new people, network my business, preach the Gospel and dance.

8:00 PM: I'm hungry - just got out of a movie (Taken starring Liam Neeson - very cool flick, but now Ærowyn will NEVER go anywhere alone for the rest of her life). I Find a little place called Mu Shu.
8:15 PM: Order the Grilled Tuna Steak. It's delicious. I also eat some fresh mangoes I bought off a street vendor. Yum!
8:15 PM: While waiting for my order I strike up a conversation w/ two other honkies next to me - turns out they're Columbian and they met here. Weird.
8:30 PM: I finish my meal and sit w/ the Columbians - Jenny and Pedro. They ask me all sorts of questions about the Church. So I basically teach them the 1st and 2nd discussions (the expigated versions).
8:45 PM: Amelita arrives. She's friends w/ Jenny. She's a California-born, half Canadian half Filipina going to nursing school here. She's got Ototoro tattooed on her wrist - so I immediately know she's cool.
9:00 PM: We all talk about tons of stuff, not the least of which is the Church. Her family regularly mocks her because "The Mormons speak better Illongo than you!" - which of course we do :-P
9:30 PM: I'm starting to get tired - but they all insist I stay - for @ 10 pm the restaurant we're sitting in turns into a night club. I'm intrigued and agree to stay.
12:30 AM: A young buck named Dustin from Vancouver, WA gets really excited about my skill-set and wants to have coffee tomorrow to discuss a possible business relationship. I mention that coffee on Sunday is kind of a double-whammy negative for me, and he feels really silly (he already knew I was LDS). So we're meeting later this week.
2:15 AM: I'm starting to get REALLY tired. I've been dancing, talking and dancing since 10 pm and I'm not used to this anymore. I'm guessing these young, single people are kind of tired too - of seeing pictures of my family and hearing how awesome they are and how excited I am for them to arrive on Thursday! So I bid them adieu.
2:30 AM: I call Kristy and chat w/ her about my fun evening, then take a shower and crash.
8:00 AM: I get up and go to Church.
12:30 PM: I crash for 3 hours.

It's a good life!