End of 2014 Year, Talents of Brooms,Wood Carving, loving Christmas Family

Dear Family and Friends

   We are "catching up" on the end of the 2014 year blog of our Missionary Service and times in the Philippines.

  During our holiday trip in the mountainous Baguio city, we first wanted to see the famous wood carvers of the area.  On Christmas Day,  we drove in the clouds down the mountains.

 See the cow grazing below?  look hard...

A Beautiful home...

This looks like a mountain on the Napali coastline in Hawaii...
 

 We went to a Benguet roadside shop- The Badi Rockshed and bought great vegetables.  We bought from Brendalyn Stall and gave Article of Faith cards.  Elder Bell spoke with another vendor and made a referral to the Missionaries in Baguio.  

Then we walked next door, where a woman was making a Philippino broom out of coconut leaves. Sadly, she sold them for a $1.00 (she could charge more for her work).. 
We gave her an Articles of Faith card.

   In our apartment, we use them all the time on our tile floors. I wish I could take it home, but it won't fit in the suitcase...

 Here is a pic on the web of a similar broom.

Here is a stick broom, that Philippino people use frequently.   I want Elder Roberts to make when we get home, I'll use it to sweep leaves of of the gravel, etc.


    We had heard that a particular Branch President carved items of an LDS theme.   The other Sr. Couples and Pres. and Sister Monahan chose to use him last year. 

 We stopped off at a shed by the side of the highway of Pugo town.  Branch President Joel B. Dango and his family climbed up from the hole behind them...

We climbed down the hole on cement-filled tires for steps,  to his woodshop on the level below.

   He was a master carver, all he needs is a picture of something, and  he can carve it.

 

 

Here is a presumed idea of the Liahona that he is carving.  The home is on the hillside to the left, the next level down.

 

  Here is his view down the hill to the valley..

 

We gave him and his family some Christmas treats and pre-ordered some carvings.  His cell # 09099540746.

 We drove on down the mountain.  At the town of Agoo (said Ah go oh), we saw the Eagle of the North, built for deceased dictator Ferdinand Marcos. The guard was a humorous guy, we thanked him, wished him a Merry Christmas, and gave him an Articles of Faith card too.  He gleefully accepted it.  Sister Shamrell is here in the pic too.

On the way home, we saw a tanker in the ocean.

We were thankful to God for our safe and interesting Christmas Day. 

But we were grateful,  to speak with our families in the evening, which is their Christmas Morning.

Janelle and Justin's family,,,  Allie and Tim

James and Karen Family    Karen, Katelyn, Brinlee, Jackson

Elizabeth, home from Czechoslovakia (then going to Thailand)  and Rusty

Peter and Amber's family        Brenick, Reilly

Jeremy and Andrea's Family        Ender, Kyara, Tomas

Brett and Marisha's family        Austin

Michael and Janalyne's Family          Mikenzie

Wendle and Briana's family....   Wendle

Brice, Tyler, Evan

Matt and Natalie's Family....     London Marie

Annalyn and Evan's family.....      Ashley

Brice and Lauralee's Family

We spoke with Sherri and boyfriend Clark, and Alissa, Cameron and Matthew.. We also spoke with Sister Roberts Dad and Mother, David and Virginia.

This was sent to us....of the "cold 15 degrees"  Roberts family picture with most of the family in it.

Here is very cold Wales UT,  our home.  Aaahh, here is a bit of Christmas homesickness...

 May you and your families have a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.  
May our testimonies  of Jesus Christ increase this 2015 new year, and our love for each other and God be true.

Love, and may God Bless Us Every One,
Elder and Sister Roberts