We took our first Day Trip with the missionaries and Pres. Wong and his wife.  One of the councilors in the temple Presidency.  We really had a fun time.  We went to Villa Escudero.  We had lunch in the river below a waterfall.  We waded in water almost up to our knees.  They had the tables all bolted down on cement in the water.  You had to go to the buffet and then  to the tables.  It was hard to walk in that deep of water and hold your plate to.  We sat with our feet in the water.  And one gal said that there were fish swimming around her feet.  It was different.  And I think that was the first time that Bob and I have really eaten the Filipino food.  We didn't eat everything but tried most.  (I have a sore throat today)  I don't know if it was from being in the water.  They took us to and from the falls in a Cart pulled by a Carabao.  Some of us couples went out on the river on a flat boat that the two of us had to paddle.  Bob and I didn't do so good.  We keep going off to the side and could not get out in the middle.  I keep telling him just to get me back to the dock.  Everyone was yelling to us to try and help but we couldn't hear them very well.  I was glad to get back.  And our missionary friends had a good laugh.  We are all still laughing about our boat trip. They had put me on the back and Bob at the front.  And they all said that he should have been in the back to control it better.  But it was fun to try.  One of our group is an old scouter and does the canoes all the time.  And really wanted to help us.  But worse than that was our pit stops.  Oh my!  The first one had no toilet tissue.  And you had to take a plastic gallon bottle of water in with you to flush.  You have to make sure that you carry tissue in your pocket or purse even when you go to the nice malls.  We also stopped at some fruit stand on our way back and got some really good fruit.  Bob got juice all over is pants. And one of the ladies said, Oh they will wash.  Sis. Wong said NO that it would stain and would not come out.  She was right, I treated them with special soap.  And it did not come out.  They are now his stay at home pants.   We went on Saturday because the temple was closed for General Conference as we got it a week later than you.  We have been watching from the computer, but we all got together Sunday and watched four sessions and had a potluck lunch with the  Temple Presidency and the missionaries.  We all dressed in our church clothing and had a  very nice day.  We are feeling more comfortable with the place and the people that we serve with.  This first month was hard for me I think Bob did a little better.  It is so different and getting the things in our apartment where we could work with.  It took about three weeks of shopping on Mondays to get the things we needed.  We had one set of towels things like that.  And we just couldn't go get the things we needed.  We only go shopping on Mondays as a group.  And we set a time to meet back and so we don't always have a lot we can get done.  Finally we have gotten most of what we need.  You only want to buy what you really have to have.  Because you can't take it home with you.  We purchased a couple of small tables for our computers.  It was buy one take one free.  So we got them.  It makes it nice.  But we will have to just give them to someone when we leave.  So you try not to buy to much.  We also got us a printer that will have to stay.
This mission keeps us very busy.  Which is a good thing.  We have been taught much, but still have much more to learn.  Each day we learn more.  And we feel like we are really being of service now.  Getting out for our day trip was fun as we were able to see a little more of the Philippines outside of Manila.  Manila is such a busy place.  And to be out on the streets driving is something else.
When we would take Grandma Grace for a ride she would always hold on to the handle above her head.  And all the new missionaries do the same here.  We just had a new Sister and a New Couple come last week.  And they are all holding on tight as we travel to church and around.  We just laugh as that is what we were doing a month ago.