Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Bohol, Cebu Philipines Mission


Saturday, August 3,  2013

We left the house about 8:30 am to drive across the island to San Carlos to catch the ferry to Cebu island.  It rained all the way and finally stopped as we entered San Carlos.  We had been concerned about the weather and the effect it would have on the ferry ride.  Thankfully the ocean was calm and we were able to get to the island without incident.  We then began the drive over the mountain to Cebu. The road over the mountain is not marked and so we missed it and had to turn around to get back to the national highway.  As we drove the rain began again and we were able to travel without the normal people, animals and people in the street due to the rain.  After we arrived at Harold's Hotel and checked in we drove down to Ayala Mall to enjoy a TJI Friday's burger. Then back to the hotel to sleep.  What a long day!

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Attended church at the Temple complex.  The ward remembered us from our last visit.  It is a very nice ward and we enjoyed the meetings.  We were both still tired from traveling so we took naps prior to our four thirty meeting with President Dumas and his presidency.  We answered their questions and prepared for the fireside we were to speak at which began and 6:00p.m. We spoke about education and the Perpetual Education Fund.  After the meeting we enjoyed refreshments and visiting with President and his counselors and their families.  They are such wonderful people. I loved visiting with the three sons of President. They are such darling boys.  I sometimes feel that with the changed in PEF we are almost ineffective and thus wasting time that we could be with our family, but the people here are so thankful for our service and treat us like we are angels.  It is hard to not be gracious and  kind to them. 

August 5, 2013

Drove up to the community of Carcar so Dan could find some Geocache.  Of course it was difficult to find them and we were only able to find one of the three.  I do not feel comfortable wandering around on property that might be private in a foreign country so I am not as supportive about going off road too much.  When we got back to Cebu in the afternoon we went back to Ayala Mall and had a late lunch.  We also went to buy some new ties for Dan since his are getting really grungy.  We also went to the grocery store to buy some snacks and things we cannot find in Bacolod.   We went back to the hotel to relax in for the evening. Tomorrow we will attend the temple which I am really looking forward to.  Each time we are in the temple I have had such a wonderful experience that I am so thankful for the time we can spend there. 

Wednesday, August 3, 2013

Our seventeenth grandchild was born last night. Jackie and Caleb and baby are doing well.  We have not been able to see or talk to them yet, but received a message. Today we met with the Cebu East Mission President, President Tanner. He and his wife just began their mission here, but that is half the story.  A mission president is called to serve for three years.  The Tanners had retired and began to serve a mission in Croatia. They had been serving for  15 months, when they received a call from President Uchtdorf, from the first presidency and was called to serve as mission president in Cebu East Mission. The Tanners returned to Utah for three months to resettle their affairs and train for their new assignment before coming to Cebu.  I just cannot imagine how I would ever cope with a situation like that.  I am anxiously awaiting the time when we can return home, and would be heartbroken if that became such a short time.  I really believed time would pass quickly and that the service and opportunity to help others would be so satisfying that I would not really be too sad about being away from my family. Especially with our new baby's arrival I wish I could just get on an airplane and fly home, but that is not an option.  Thankfully, Dan will not be asked to serve as a mission president so I will able to return home in April.  After we left President Tanners office we drove to the Ayala Mall to have one more TGI Friday's Hamburger.  Tomorrow we take the ferry to Bohol to meet the two district presidents there.  We  have heard it is beautiful there and look forward to that new adventure.    

August 12, 2013

What a beautiful couple of days we had in Bohol!  We stayed at a very small resort called La Pernela on Panglao Island which is adjacent to Bohol and has a causeway to drive over to the little island where Alona Beach is found.  We had to drive out into the country over dirt roads to get to the resort, but it was worth every bump.  We could hear the ocean crash from the patio where we ate some wonderful meals all cooked by the owner and manager Marivelle. The room was clean and included a hot shower.  The pool was right outside of our room and each afternoon we would just sit in the pool to unwind.  We enjoyed visiting with Marivelle and her staff and they were so hospitable.  The entire few days were tranquil and restful. We met the two district presidents on Bohol and presented the ideal of having church service missionaries to assist with PEF.

Sunday was Calape District Conference and Elder Villanueva from the area Seventy and the Tanners were both there.

Sister Tanner the Mission President's wife was spoke about a wood cutter who had an apprentice.  One day they left to find some trees to harvest and the young apprentice saw a beautiful tree up on a hill that was so tall and beautiful.  It had many lush branches. The apprentice pointed out the tree and asked if that would be the perfect tree for lumber.  The wood cutter taught him that even though that tree was indeed beautiful, it was not the right tree for them.  After traveling on for a while they came to a large grove of trees. The wood cutter pointed the grove our and asked what the apprentice saw. The apprentice said the trees where tall and beautiful.  He also noticed the trees were so tall the branches were only at the tops of the long trunks.  They deducted that the grove would be perfect to cut for the lumber they needed because the trunks were tall and without the added branches would not have any knots so the lumber would be strong.  Then the wood cutter taught the apprentice another important lesson.  He taught that the roots were intermingled so that the trees supported each other giving them more strength so that the trees could continue to grow tall and strong.  Then Sister Tanner related the grove of trees to us as members of the church.  As we grow tall and strong and intermingle our branches and our roots we gain strength from each other and thus strengthen our wards and our families and thus our individual selves so that we grow tall and strong as individuals and as a group.  This strength is not only found in our hearts and our minds, but in our actions. 

President Tanner talked about the importance of families.  He said that our families would bring our greatest joys and our deepest sorrows, but were the greatest gift our Father has given us to make our way through this life. He also counseled we tell our family daily of our love for them.  What a great message.  I am sure my children and grandchildren know how very much I love them and I have tried to express that through my words and actions, but I am not sure I have verbalized that love enough.  I have determined to do better.  To tell each of them I love and appreciate them every time I speak with them.

The Tanners are a wonderful couple and their missionaries love them greatly.  The missionaries told us that they love the Tanners because President Tanner is humble and strong and loves his missionaries.  They also said that Sister Tanner was delightful and they knew she would be there no matter what they required. I have grown to love the Tanners in the short hours we have been together.  We also so the Talbots from Snowflake, AZ.  They are so special also.  I think the we will remain close to these good people the rest of our lives. 

As we were leaving Bohol the weather was overcast and the waves were large and choppy.  We were concerned that we would struggle during the passage, but as we left port the waters calmed and we were able to travel on calm seas.  I am so thankful that our Heavenly Father calms the seas for each of our passages and I am able to travel with waters without becoming sea sick.  What a great blessing this is for me personally.

 

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