Road to San Carlos

Today we drove through the mountains east to a small village on the other side of Negros Island from Bacolod.  The drive took about an hour from our home to San Carlos.  As we climbed into the mountain the foliage grew more dense and lush.  The ferns grow into trees and give way to beautiful terraced rice fields and a small stretch of pine trees.  Small streams meander through the valleys and to a waterfall.  We did not stop to see the water fall this time as it started to rain and we will drive there many times to help the students and leaders that live there.  The chapel in San Carlos is huge and by far the most beautiful building may be even on the whole island.  The church must be expecting tremendous growth there to build such a large beautiful building. Currently it is a District with  branches which is much less populated than a Stake with Wards. 

We also saw quaint woven homes that took great skill to weave together.  Some children had built themselves island skate boards made of cane formed into a rectangle base with wheels.  One group of children used banana leaves to sit on.  Also they had made basketball hoops using a branch from a tree to fashion the small square back board and hoop onto.  I must say the people are ingenious and inventive. 

After we arrived home I gave the car a bath and while I was doing that, I began to ponder the many things I love about the Philippines. The list is in no particular order:

1. That the laundry fairy also lives in the Philippines and thankfully the Starks (the missionary couple before us) purchases a washer and dryer while they were here.

2. That we are lucky enough to live on the ocean.

3. That we have a care taker (here they are called the help) who does all the yard work. Thanks Jing!

4.That our ward is so loving and friendly.

5. That we work with  the nicest and most hard working Institute group.

6. That the Bacolod Institute has currently 74 full time missionaries serving all over the world! 

7.  That the landscape here is so lush and green.

8. That most people speak perfect English!

9. That the church is very strong and rapidly growing here with these humble, kind people. That we are blessed to serve a mission here in this beautiful place

10. There is not dust!  I have not had to dust once!