Updated Mailing Address

Elder and Sister Stamps
386 Malibong, Urbiztondo
Pangasinan, Philippines 2414

Sister Stamps reports that they had two baptism this month. They are busy still and tired but love what they are doing.

Baptisms!

Farmers plowing the fields for the second palay planting

It's Different...

It’s different when:

The gecko in the corner sings better than the karaoke down the block at 1 am.

The karaoke is so loud that the dogs quit howling and the roosters quiet down.

You can sing better than the guy on the karaoke.

The ants quit biting because you have too much talcum powder on.

You go down the road ten miles and have a crises because you forgot your cellphone.

You get lost because the map is older than you are (and you are old.)

Your glasses get lost under your computer.

The lock on the front gate can be picked with a nail but won’t work with the key.

Mcdonalds is 8 miles away but it takes two hours to get there. (the bridge is washed out).

You turn on a light and the rooster thinks it is morning.

The country air is refreshing (unless the neighbors have pigs).

When someone has a party and the tables and chairs are set on the highway.

You have to ask for the threshing machine to move off the back road so you can pass.

You meet a large truck on a back road that is ten feet wide.

You go through a mile of mud and bamboo to find the pavement again.

The food at the market looks good and smells great but you are afraid to eat it.

Friends give you ten pound of bananas from their trees.

The mangoes are big as a softball on the tree next door.  

The papayas are the size of basketballs and fresh.

You can buy fresh juice from the pushcarts.

The push carts are all on bicycle side cars.

Most people are friendly and will say hi. Even if they have never met you.

All the chairs are made of bamboo or plastic.

When we come into a home we are always offered a seat of honor.

Some floors need to be paved.

When in someone’s home you are always offered a drink, usually a coke or orange pop.

No one can name the other guy, but everyone wants to know what we think of the president.

You can’t turn the car around because the bamboo and banana trees are too thick.

The whole neighborhood comes to see how you will turn around this time.

You get stuck on a tree root.

When you put the jack under the car, the ants keep biting you.

The next time you drive that road, you remember the tree root but forget the bamboo fence.

Scratches from bamboo don’t show on gray paint.

Bamboo has thorns which are hard on tires.

People are bathing the kids at the community well at 6 am.

The kids are back to the well by noon to cool off.

The mansion by the road looks better than anything back home.

Behind the mansion is a nipa hut made of bamboo and grass.

Some trucks are bigger than the ones back home.

The trucks own the road.

You get cut off in traffic by someone on a bike. He owns some of the road too.

Everyone walks on the road. It’s their road too.

No one goes very fast. Except late at night when the road is clear.

Gas is sold in pesos per liter.

You wade through water a foot deep to get something to drink.

You wait in line to buy water.

You sweat a gallon of water each day.

It is a crises if the aircon dies.

You are saved because the car has aircon.

You are glad when it rains cause it cools down but, but you forget the umbrella.

The school rooms are open air with center courtyard in front.

No one is upset because a guy plays hookey from school.

Everyone in a store or office is soooo polite.

You know more about local politics than that back home.

Everyone speaks English but no one understands it.

You understand more of what is being said when they mention your name.

No one will answer a phone but they will text you back.  (it is much less expensive).

Computers are rare.  Tvs are common. You can tell who has electricity, they have tv at night.

The cheap pharmacies have the best medicine. Everyone buys there.

You have to go to the dealer to get an oil change.  

The dealer is two hours and 25 miles away.  (no one travels fast).

Life in the slow lane is usually pretty good. Most people here like you…..

You can lose weight and not even know it.  Life is good.

Life in Pangasinan in October

We are having a quiet day. Yesterday was Sunday. Today we are doing laundry and study. It is good to see family on Skype.  Tomorrow we will visit some members.  We are still looking for a larger building for the branch.  We had 138 people show up.  The meeting hall is rented. It was built to accommodate 38 people.  Life is interesting here.

 Much here seems like it was in the states years ago.  Most of the people are happy with a simple way of life. The people here are in better physical shape than most Americans.

We are at the end of the rainy season. The rivers have gone way down. There are small fishing boats on them. 

The fruit trees produce a lot of fruit. Mangos and papayas are seasonal.. Bananas grow year round.  The first rice harvest is mostly over. The second crop is being planted. The fields that won’t have enough water for a second rice crop will be planted in corn. This area is a rich agricultural province.

 When we are driving, we see many fine homes with beautiful ornate fences in front. These homes are all concrete. These don’t burn down or blow away.  They are well painted and are quite spacious.  They often have fruit trees in the yards. Most houses are built near roads.

 Other neighborhoods have “nipa” (bamboo) huts in them..  These are simple and functional.  A common feature in any area is the well with a hand pump.  Near a community pump, laundry is washed, kids are bathed and older kids come to cool off. 

The most of the people travel on foot or they ride in a tricycle. This is a motorcycle with a side car.  Often people ride in a jeepney.  These are about the size of a 15 passenger van.  The original ones were built from left over war jeeps. The ones today are on truck frames.   There are many cars on the roads. Most  come from Japan.  Travel between cities is by bus.  Traffic moves slowly and in a somewhat unusual way.  Most roads are well paved with thick concrete. These will last many years.  We often drive the back roads. They are always paved. For a look at traffic, look on line for “kuliglig”.

Many houses here have screens but not windows. They don’t need them. If you don’t have air conditioning, the outside air is fresh enough. It may be warm or hot. It will not be cold unless you live in the mountains. Many homes have  a tv. A very popular thing here is karaoke.  If it runs till late at night, at least the dogs won’t be barking and the roosters crowing. This is a rural place.

We are looking forward to going to Baguio City again. Everyone here does. Everyone who is wealthy, or well connected, has a home in Baguio. It is in the mountains north of here.  It is cool. It rains there more often than here.   Many of the beautiful pine trees are still there.  The presidential summer house is there. There are many fine hotels and some tourist places. Some of the roads are steep!!! It is a trip well remembered. It is Rose’s home town.  Two sisters and a brother and their families are there.

We are well. We have much to do yet.  The members are great. It is good that we are away from most Americans.  We can better concentrate on the task at hand.  My language skill need a lot of work…...

Please take care

President and Sister Stamps

Keeping busy in October

President Stamps sent the following email. He's obviously being sarcastic about the heat...

Things are not boring here. Sunday at church [Sister Stamps] took a [video - happens to be posted on this blog] of the branch after sacrement. It does not show the people outside of the building. This place is so tiny compared with the chapels at home. We are trying to get a bigger better place. The one scene through the kitchen shows the back gate and the mosquito swamp. There is no back door.

Monday we went to Urdaneta to meet with the mission president and other senior couples. Great trip. We got to do some shopping in a mall. This sure is a break from the small towns in our area. [A] tricycle driver backed into the side of our car. Now we have dents on one side, the front and back. I hope to get the other side hit so I can get a real paint job done. The trip is 60 kilometers one way (about 40 miles). It takes two hours one way with the traffic. On the way back, it got dark. The worst time to drive is just after dark. The cows are [on] the road and also most of the chidren. The road is a common thoroughfare for everyone. Everyone is on it. The tricycles (motorcycles with sidecars) are still there. Half have lights, half don't. These all travel at 12 miles per hour.  Then there are bicycles with sidecarts on them. These travel at two miles an hour. They have no lights and no reflectors. I missed one by three inches. The kid riding it had no clue. The best part is the big frogs. When we pass over them, they jump and hit under  back of the car. It must put a dent in their day.

Today we are going to a funeral for a member's father. We will learn something else from it.

It is not raining much.  The dry season starts next month. Then we get the hot season. I can hardly wait. It is 85 F. today and muggy.

We are well. Just busy. It is great to skype and see everyone. Take care.

Video!

A video of the chapel and the people that President and Sister Stamps are serving.

All Souls Day

What are some of the holidays and traditions you have [in the Philippines] that we don't know about?

The only thing I know of is All Souls Day. It is the day after Halloween. Sometimes they have a parade. Most people just take the day off. Many go to mass. The Catholic church has so many holidays for different saints. This one is for all those saints without a specific day of their own. Christmas is a big thing here.. not Santa Claus, but the whole season. They are now singing Christmas songs in the stores and in Sacrament [meeting].

Life sure is different here. People are usually kind and happy. They may not have much worldly things, but they are happy.  The sad part I have found is the lack of education for so many and the lackof good jobs.
We are going to help one young man with enough tuition to graduate from high school. He is 16. He is smart. His brother is 18. He went to Manila to work because the father can't. His health is really bad. The older brother will support the family for now. The mother is dead. The older sister is working in Manila. Their house is a bamboo hut sitting on the edge of a mosquito filled swamp.  The others in the "house" I think are cousins.  I really admire this family. They make opportunity out of necessity.
We are well. [Sister Stamps] is tired tonight. We went to san carlos to find an ATM and do some shopping. Tomorrow we will be at the church.  It is not boring here.
Please take care of the family.

September Pictures

We are well. It is hot. We are busy. Take care of [the grandkids].

The Ferrer Family at their baptism

Sister Stamps at Mines View Park in Baguio where she grew up

  

A loaded Jeepney going down the road.

A calesa (horse and cart). Quite popular 100 years ago but rare today.

Some branch members at a baptism.

President and Sister Stamps. Yes, he has lost weight.

Our household gekko. He keeps the bugs out.