"Medical" Topics from Provencial Hospital

Update on Ricky Engresso

He is home and in great spirits, still believing he will be healed. He has started to have feelings in his lower body, albeit pain, but feeling at least. He also has movement in his toes! We still visit at least every other week. You may make out in this picture the wheel from his wheelchair just outside the door, and his Gospel Principles manual which is sitting on his copy of the Ang Basahon ni Mormon and Hymn Book.

The Elders and Sisters of the Dumaguete Zone, from Bayawan to Sibulan, chose as a service project during their Christmas Party to go caroling at the Hospital. This Picture is taken on the front "porch" of the hospital.
The Sisters were also lined up on the "porch". It took about 30 minutes to make the arrangements even though we were pre-approved to come on by.

Every where is the influence of the Catholic Church from the schools to the hospitals, even this public hospital. Many folks as they come through the front door stop for a little prayer at this vestibule whether it is gated closed as in this picture or if it is open for entry.

This begins the journey from Brother Doroy's house to our car to transport him to the hospital. Brother Doroy is 82 years old and speaks English very well. He is a farmer and lives up in the Bukid (mountains) above Sibulan. We found out he was ill and went to visit a few times before he decided he better go on to the hospital.

He is being transported on a hand truck, old dolly, which a neighbor allowed us to use. The neighbor is in the front. The man in the blue t-shirt is President Joselito Lumanog, Branch President in Sibulan. Above in the ball cap is Brother Edgardo Espina who is First Counselor in the Elder's Quorum as well as Branch Mission Leader. He has the effects of polio from when he was young, but you can't hold this dear brother down.

We finally made it to the car and rolled Brother Doroy up in a blanket and stuffed him in the backseat. The walk out was about 1 kilometer and we had to cross one stream, also, one small hills.

We put him in the hospital on Thursday, and he died on Saturday morning. We knew it was his time to go.

Going to Young Women's Standard Night tonight.

Love to all!!

Christmas Day in the Philippines

After delivery of 11 loaves of bread on Christmas morning and with one loaf left we felt that feeling to go and visit Sister Barada in Siaton. We found her doing laundry and trying to stay positive, as we found out that it was 3 years ago on Christmas Day when her husband died after being attacked and stabbed by a drunkard. We found, also, as we responded to the impression of the Spirit to visit Sister Barada that we were rewarded with joy and peace while enjoying Sister Barada and her three children, and the beauties of creation on God's green and serene earth.

This beach was just down a path from Sister Barada's house.

After shedding some shoes and rolling up some trousers for Elder it was off to wading in the surf and scouring the sand for sea shells of which we found dozens.

Too soon it was time to walk back up the path to the National Highway...

...and Sister Barada's balay. (house)

While driving back to Sibulan, we stopped at our favorite pit stop in Siaton, when this multi-cap drove up. Our first thought was that someone got married on Christmas Day. We could find no proof by way of a bride. Only these young men, and upon closer inspection all the ribbons are made of the receipt rolls from a cash register. Sooo funny!! But, then again, so appropriate that for some folks the revelery of Christmas is in the shopping and the buying not in the Christ child and the celebration of His birth.

Hoping your Christmas was merry, and Wishing you a Wonderful New Year!

Elder and Sister Parsons

Merry Christmas -- Malipayong Pasko

'Tis the Season to be Jolly

These are the decorations

for the Sibulan Christmas party

on 19 Dec 2008

The Sibulan Branch Primary
in their pose for the Nativity Scene.
Notice the angels in a single white sheet,
and the sheep below -- also in a single white sheet.
We did not have enough materials
for individual sheep and angels, therefore,
let your imagination help, please!
One wiseman has a crown
and another has a headband
(Bet you didn't know one wiseman wasn't interested
after all those miles on his camel.)
Joseph with the white sash is Ged Galvez
whom we taught and
he was baptized by his Father
3 weeks ago

Another Nativity Scene which
we saw in front of a local native crafts shop

Here is a tree displayed
inside the same shop made of
a burlap type of cloth
scrunched and colored
to give it the right shapes
-- kinda cool!

Then, we caught this one

in the process of being made of corn husks.

It is being displayed outside a grain store

in the marketplace

Another tree is shown

from a local fast food joint, Jollibees,

which is seen as you leave the drive thru window

This one is in the window of the Petro Station,

made of cans of engine oil.

and finally, the one at our house!!

Merry Christmas to all,

and to all Good Night.