The Lost Plates of Jack and Leiana

 After a month and a week in the first apartment, we moved to a bigger apartment in the same complex but different building. We are basically across the pool from our original apartment. The new apartment is twice as big as the old one. Still 2 bedrooms but now we have 2 bathrooms plus a laundry room. It is so nice to have a washing machine again. We now look towards the rising sun instead of the setting sun. this apartment has blackout curtains, though, so we aren't awoken by the early rays. At least I'm not. Can't say about Jack. The front door is next to the refridgerator. It has a full size kitchen with lots of counter space. on the other side of the front door is the laundry room. Notice that beautiful washing machine. The livng room has an "Uncle Mike" couch. It is extremely comfortable. As you sit on it, the back cushions slip down behind the seat cushion. You are constantly having to adjust it. Mike gave us that couch, which Lauren loves and took to her ap...

 Probably one of the most touching moments in my mission so far. We took the departing missionaries to the airport to head home. After long drawn out good-byes, shortened only by the security guards telling us we had to move our cars, we settled in to wait for the new missionaries to arrive. Their plane arrived early and we were excited to greet them. As we looked up, we saw the departing missionaries looking down on us from inside the airport, sending symbols of love to the new missionaries. I could imagine the ones who were leaving looking down on us, knowing the struggle and delights these new missionaries would face. The pictures don't capture it, but we tried. 

 We are learning that Iloilo is a beautiful place. There are so many flowers planted here. There are walkways with them growing abundantly. The sunsets are also spectacular. I will include a few pictures below that we have recently taken.  The sunset taken from our apartment window. The moon through the bamboo at our apartment Bird of Paradise Weird flower that looks like a mix between a jelly fish and octopus. Variety of flowers along the riverwalk near our home. It's the Iloilo River that flows behind it. There are also a few statues and murals along the espanade. They celebrate their history here.