Jared and Guilia's Wedding

February 26, 2014

Today we attended Jared Garcia and Guilia Nobleza's temple sealing in Cebu temple and then their reception at the Stake Center on the temple complex.  We were so excited to be included in their special day.  Jared served his mission in the Bacolod Mission and was the Mission Assistant when we arrived here. We loved him instantly because he was such a fine young man and he helped us get acclimated. Guilia is the daughter of Elder Nobleza who is an area Seventy who lives in Bacolod.  Elder Nobleza is also the general manager of BDO Bank. Out of the thirty people invited to the wedding we knew all but 5 of them (who were the young friends of Guilia. The temple president, President Pacaduan conducted the ceremony.  We were so happy to meet Jared's parents and be able to tell them what a wonderful son they raised. 

When Jared returned home from his mission he was checking out Facebook and he saw Guilia's post of one of his friends pages and sent her a friend request.  And... they hit is off instantly.

After the wedding we were escorted to the reception and asked to sit at the presidential table.  We tried to politely decline and were asked to sit with the family at the presidential table along with Bishop DI and President Escobar.  We felt like we were imposing by sitting at the special table but the leaders told us we needed to sit these so we do not offend.  I will never get over the humble feeling of being cherished and treated like angels by the Philippine people.  The receptions was so different as they began with a hymn and an opening prayer.  The parents of the groom thanked everyone for coming and gave some advice to the young couple.  The brides parents had asked several people to also give advice including Dan.  The reception also included special soloists, dance productions, and dinner.  During dinner they showed videos of the couples lives prior to courtship, during courtship and during their engagement. They also included the flowers being thrown and the cake cutting ceremony as we do in the U.S.  Another common tradition is when people hit their glasses with a knife so there is a tinging sound the bride and groom kiss (on the mouth, is how they said it).  The couple were embarrassed as the two fathers kept the tinging going constantly. Guilia  asked everyone to add that the parents of the couple be required to kiss when the audience clapped as they clap often. Then after a little while they decided since Elder Sinema and I were at the parent's table that we should kiss also.  Oh my do they know how to have fun.

Some of the advise given was interesting.  Bishop Di said that when coupled disagreed that they had to trade off being the one who explodes and the one who listens with each disagreement.  Not sure how that would work. President Escobar said that the couple had to kiss seven times each day and never go to bed without saying "I love you" to each other. Dan said that life was full of opposites: happiness and sadness, light and darkness, good and  evil and that if we always endure to the end and help each other through the oppositions, life will be a wonderful experience. A lovely sister who was Guilia's teacher said that if the couple always remember that each of them are a son and daughter of God and that as such they are expected to be worthy of that title by remembering the covenants they had made with each other and their Heavenly Father as they were sealed that would be able to keep in mind the responsibility to keep the promises they had made.  After the closing song and prayer, the dancing began: the father and daughter dance, the son and mother dance, the bride and groom dance and then all couples were asked to join in to the dancing.  Dan made a valiant effort before saying that I should go and ask Guilia's Grandfather (widowed) to dance. He is probably in his mid-eighties and uses a cane so we carefully made our way to the dance floor and finished the dance.  He was so thankful that I would offer to dance with him.  His granddaughter kept thanking me over and over for being so kind to her grandfather.  The best part of the evening for Dan was the whole reception was over before 7:30 pm.  What a lovely experience we had and will always remember

February 2014

February, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

Two months until we return to our homeland! I am not excited much! We had our chest x-rays today so that we can get our exit visas. We also have our reservations and tickets ready for our departure. We have made all of our doctors and dentist appointments and I have made appointments for my hair, manicure, and pedicure, so I will be back to normal.  We are packing a box to ship home with our Philippine nativity, and some clothes we never used (too heavy for this hot climate).

We have heard from our replacements and they have already served two missions in Africa and England.  They are from St. George, Utah.  They were hoping to overlap, but we will be leaving on April 7 and they arrive on April 10.  They are more intelligent than we are and only signed up for an 18 month mission. Dan has been sending them instructions and other helps to set up their stay here and we spoke on Facetime.  They are very nice and will do a great job here. They also have previous experience with the employment services so they will be able to assist in setting up the new Self Reliance Center here in Bacolod. 

Dan and I are already making plans for after we come home.  We have trips to take to see all the grandchildren and children, one to Hawaii, Sedona and Boston already in the works.  Plus, Dan needs to purchase a car and a lap top (his is on it's last legs), we need to finish our back yard with the built in kitchen and some furniture, and then decide what we want to do with the rest of our lives.  We do want to work in the temple so we will be looking forward to that in the fall after all the trips are over. 

This week I was given the assignment to put together the preferred job and school documents for the Bacolod and Iloilo missions. We thought it would keep me busy for the entire week, but it took about 8 hours total.  Dan keeps saying we struggle to cram one day's work into seven days.  I guess we are not your normal old people.   We have finally heard from those priesthood leaders in charge of the new program and still do not really have any idea how they will proceed or if we can assist in getting things up to speed before we go so we just continue to make things up as we go and try to keep busy.  I feel very guilty watching the other senior couples run around crazy while we sit in our office with air conditioning and try to keep busy.  It is difficult to be in this transition period and feeling like we can be doing more.  We have loved being able to help the young adults here, but know it the new program were in force sooner we could have helped so many more.  It will be exciting to keep in touch with the young people as they progress and finish school and become employed.  Their lives will be so much better with a more secure future.

Today was Super Bowl Monday in the Philippines and unfortunately it was a sleeper of a game and we did not have any internet to entertain us.  At lunch time we went to the mall to eat lunch and buy groceries (yes the markets are in the mall).  While we had internet during lunch we found out that many of our Tacloban transfers were being returned to Tacloban so we quickly went to the Stake center in hopes of seeing them and giving them our love before they leave.  We are so thankful for the many missionaries that came to Bacolod and infused our mission with enthusiasm and spirituality for the last three months.  We were talking to many of the mothers on Facebook as we sat with their daughters waiting for the Mission President. We will miss Sister Hogge, Sister Nelson, and Sister Campbell (Australia) so very much and I am not sure how many others are going back.  The only reason I know about these sisters is Sister Hogge's mother sent us the heads up that she was returning so we went to hug her and ran into the other two sisters.  Although I sometimes wonder why we were sent here, the young sisters always thank me for the love and support we give not only them, but their mothers.  Our Mission President does not understand a mother's love and concern so if it were not for me the mom's back in the US would not know much about their children.  One of the Senior elders said the mother's should butt out of the mission business and it is not their business and I just let him have it.  The mother's of these young missionaries who were in Tacloban did not know for days if their missionaries were dead or alive during the typhoon.  I told him if he had ever lost a child in death he would understand their need to know how their missionaries are doing. I also told him that their children was their business.  Oh my trouble making again.  No I have not changed much at all.  Sorry to those who thought I might mellow out a bit (Bishop Stewart).  So after taking photos, exchanging emails, taking belongings to ship home to the US (it is too expensive for the young missionaries to send so we will do it), and giving hugs we came home to spend the rest of our day relaxing.  We will be the lucky ones ( not sarcasm) to drive the young sisters to San Carlos tomorrow so we will get to visit more with Sister Smoot who has been here 6 month and is now transferring.  We had lunch dates set with her and with Sister Hogge this week and transfers cancelled them. We are thankful for the opportunity to serve the young missionaries.  They sometimes keep me going. 

Well, that is it for February.  I know you all sit with bated breath waiting for these letters so I will get them ready and into the mail.  I love you all so very much and am counting the nine Sundays until our return home

Lots of love and hugs. 

Christmas at Cebu Temple

Tagbilaran

December 29, 2013

Thursday we took the ferry to Cebu so that we could go to the temple and prepare for[JS1]   taking the ferry to Tagbilaran  for a visit and a rest! Friday, we went to the temple.  We were of course early and so we were the witness couple again.  The amazing thing about that is the temple sits all the new attendees in the front row and as I sat down the woman who was placed next to me is one of our PEF participant's mother, Sister Navarro.  It was her first time to attend the temple and she and her husband and children were being sealed for time and all eternity. She is the mother of Dionalee from San Carlos. She is also the grandmother of the baby Dan had blessed our first year here. She was so happy we were there with her family.  It was totally random us being there because we had planned on going to the temple at nine in the morning, but because we were very tired we did not get there until the eleven o'clock session.  Sister Navarro was so happy and in tears that we were these for her first time. I felt truly blessed that we had gone to the later session so we could be there with the Navarro family.  I have grown to love so many of the people here and the Navarro's are a wonderful family who believe we were sent by our Father in Heaven specifically to help her daughter and so many of the members of her ward. 

After going to the temple we drove over to the port to buy the tickets and pay for the car to take the ferry to Tagbilaran.  We found the right place and so Dan went in to buy the tickets while I waited in the car.  I just closed my eyes and rested for a little while and fell asleep for must have We found the right place and so Dan went in to buy the tickets while I waited in the car.  I just closed my eyes and rested for a little while and fell asleep for must have been quite a while because when I woke up I played a little Tetris on my phone. After a little while I noticed it was getting dark, so I decided I needed to go find Dan before it was totally dark and we were separated.  I asked the workers in the business in the direction Dan walked and was told to go around the back of the building.  Then the security guard at the back of the building asked if he could help me.  I told him my husband went to buy tickets for the ferry and he showed me where it was but it was closed! I knew Dan was still inside so he asked the security at the door to allow me to enter.  Dan had been inside since 2:10 and it was going on 5:30 by the time I found him.  That is how long it took him to buy the tickets. It was crazy.  At Christmas time in the Philippines everyone travel home to their families so the ferries are packed.  We had to travel through a different port also because the port we traveled through last time is still closed due to the earth quake.  The ferry ride we were able to take took four and a half hours to reach the island. We are used to the two hour ferries so this was really quite long.  By the time we got off the ferry and started to drive to the resort where we were staying it was very dark and our little Toyota doesn't have defrost so it was a long and arduous journey to the resort La Pernella which is quite a way from the city.  But it is a beautiful and tranquil place.  I do not know how Dan made it since the windshield on the passenger side was totally fogged up and  I could not see at all.  What a blessing he remembered how to get to the resort and that he could see.

Today is Sunday and we attended church in Tagbilaran 2nd  Branch and it was so wonderful.  The members just love the missionaries and make us feel so special and welcome.  We were even asked to take part in the Sunday School portion of the meeting telling about the PEF changes.

The wonderful changes include no counter payment with the tuition so the young people can borrow 100% of their tuition now.  Also, there is an incentive of 40% that students can repay through their performance: grades, having a mentor, graduation and securing a job.  So many more will be helped with the new changes.  If we were going to be here I bet we would double the 200 applicants we had the first year we were here. 

Well, the rest of the week will be quiet and relaxing and I look forward to the rest.  We will return to Cebu on Saturday and then on to Bacolod on Monday.  We planned to spend New Year's Eve here in the country hoping I will be able to sleep, since last year there was such extreme noise from about 11 pm until 4 or 5 am.  The Philippino people believe that the noise will frighten all the bad spirits and events away.  After the year they have had with earth quakes and typhoons, I expect the noise to be even more severe in Bacolod to ensure a better calamity free year in 2014

---

 [JS1]

Zinnie's classroom and the big Banyon tree

Sipaway School Program

Malipayon nga Paskwa!

December 21, 2013

Malipayon nga Paskwa! Merry Christmas!

The last couple of weeks, I have had the ultimate highs and lows.  Let's begin with the low and build up, shall we.  I was so depressed thinking about how little we have to do and what little we have to offer now so I needed to get a boost!! Of course I am sure those who know me well can just see me deciding in my "over the top" manner deciding the best way to get out of a funk is through service.  Yes I know, "just say NO!" especially to myself! Well, I decided to make a pillow case for each of our 260 young missionaries.  We went to the textile store and bought fabric and so began the marathon cutting and sewing event. Needless to say, my funk left as I buried myself in the mounds and mounds of Christmas fabric.  What fun I had doing that! One of the missionary mom's wrote a cute little poem to go with the pillow cases:

            The Elders and Sisters were nestled all snug in their beds While visions of baptisms           danced in their heads. With a new pillowcase that was made out of love-- The dreams        that they dreamt were straight from above.

            Sister Sinema spoke not a word, but worked with her might-- Pillowcases for all, to share in His light. She was heard to exclaim as she finished them right— Merriest Christmas to    all and to all… “Now, Sleep tight”.

            Andersons, Chins, Neffs, and Rasmussens flew, throughout Negros Island in earnest        pursuit, of delivery just like all good angels do, bringing joy of the season to all through           and through!

What a fun time I had with that and thankfully they have all been delivered and I can now make it through!!!

In our travels we have learned many new and exciting PEF changes that will make our last 100 days as exciting as our beginning days.  We once again can offer four year degrees, incentives for repayment through good grades, on time payments, having a mentor, and getting employment!!! The incentives can repay up to 40% of the participant's loan! What a blessing!!

Also, during the meetings one of the priesthood leaders told how the Philippine people  have very powerful hands.  Here is the example of that: as you walk in front of a car  to cross the street to stop the car all you have to do is wiggle your fingers and the car's will stop!! It really does work!

Another of the great power here is found in the police department! Pay attention Paul! During the holidays and especially at New Years the police do not want their fire arms to discharge in celebration so they seal the barrels of their weapons.  Paying attention yet? Well, here is how it is done! The police all line up in their squads and wrap their gun barrel with masking tape and the squad leader signs his name over the tape.  The tape, apparently  is so strong that is stops guns of discharging into the air during the celebrations!!! Now TPD this is a new strategy you can use.  Oh maybe it is just the masking tape here is stronger than in the US.  Doubt that though!!

In Quizon City the government has made a new law to protect children.  Wait for it, wait for it. Children are prohibited from sitting in the front seat of the motor scooters and must be wearing a seat belt.  (no they do not have to wear a helmet) the seat belt will protect them! Now the scooters actually do not have a back seat, nor do they have seatbelts, so......

Finally, Thursday we traveled across the island to San Carlos and then by pump boat to the little island of Sipaway to be guests of honor at the elementary school's Christmas program.  One of our PEF specialists is the head teacher and teaches fourth grade, at the Kinder through Sixth grade school.  We had also made a small donation to buy the poor children slippers for the program.  We arrived and saw all the smaller grades, lined up in orderly lines in costume with makeup.  They stoop there orderly for about 45 minutes until the program started.  No one moved at all.  They just patiently waited. Each grade level performed a dance and they were so cute!! After the performance the students were given gifts before returning to their classrooms for lunch and small gift exchange.  We really enjoyed the day even though we were so hot being in the outdoors all day!! I will post photos! What well behaved children! Later, Zinnie (the teacher) told us that she had told the children that Santa Clause was coming to the good boys and girls, and you guessed it,  they thought Santa had shaved and Dan was Santa!!!

The next day we actually got to be Santa and deliver the young missionaries mail with the Neff couple.  They do not drive and normally haul everything with them on the jeepney, so we offered to help as we have car and can carry as many packages as possible. We will deliver with the Neffs on Monday or Tuesday also to get all the Christmas mail delivered before Christmas. 

The time is fast approaching for our return to America and I am so excited!! I must say this has been the hardest, yet one of the most rewarding things I have done in my life.  Missionary life is very difficult ( mostly being away from our family) but we have served and loved many wonderful people here and will remember this time fondly. Not fondly enough to do it again though!!!! We love you all and wish you a Malipayon nga Paskwa!

Joan

 

Christmas message

December 2013

Dear Family and Friends,

We are nearing the end of our mission here in the Philippines and I am so thankful for your love and support.  In the Philippines the Christmas season starts in the "ber" months: Sept. Oct. Nov. and December are the celebrating months.  I have to say I have loved hearing the Christmas music each time we have gone to the grocery or into the mall.  I even put up my tree early this year (Halloween) since I doubt I will ever do that again.  Since it is Christmas I wants to tell you a wonderful and glorious story of someone I love very much, so here it is:

There was a beautiful young woman living in the City of Galilee.  She was kind and wise beyond her years and very much in love with her fiancé.  He was a carpenter and well respected for the masterful work he would produce with his gentle hands. They were to be married soon, and Mary became concerned I am sure when she found out she was expecting a baby.  Not just any baby, but the Son of God.  She and her humble love, Joseph had been told of this miracle in revelations from God. Unfortunately, the end of her pregnancy was fast approaching and they had to travel to Bethlehem to pay their taxes.  Mary was very uncomfortable riding on the donkey, Joseph led through the day and into the night.  They arrived in Bethlehem late in the evening.  Joseph left Mary and the donkey in a stable to search for lodging (they did not have the internet reservations system we have today). Joseph began to worry as he traveled from place to place, unable to find a room for his sweetheart. Anxious but unable to find a  hotel, Joseph returned to the stable where shortly thereafter, Mary gave birth to her firstborn son.  She gently wrapped the baby in swaddling clothes and lay with him in the manger watched over by Joseph. Slowly, and incredible thing happened as the animals calmed and an angel of the Lord came upon shepherds in the field.  The shepherds were terrified and they had never seen an angel before.  I think I would have been afraid also.  But the shepherds heard the gentle voice of the angels say, "Fear not: for behold I bring you good tidings (news) of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." Then out of the heaven a multitude (that means many) of the heavenly host (a really cool angelic choir) joined the angel and sang praising, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."  As the angel and the choir ascended into heaven the Shepherds decided they had to check this out, I mean really how many times do angels come and tell you to go and find a baby just born in a manger. So they came with "haste" the story goes, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger.  Soon the word spread across the land and three wise men came with gifts for the baby.  Everyone marveled at the sight which they witnessed that evening but Mary kept the things she had witnessed and experienced and pondered them in her heart.  This young baby would grow to share his earthly fathers love for creating beauty and teaching others of His Father in Heaven's gospel of peace. 

As Christmas comes this year and I serve the last few months, the wonderful young people of the Philippines, I want those I love to know I believe the Savior, Jesus Christ is my elder brother who loves me and he loves you.  He know our hearts, our desires and he has and continues to  bless our lives through repentance and through the redeeming, enabling power of his atonement.  He lives, it is through him that we find peace and real happiness in this earth life full of trials, troubles, sorrow and of joy and happiness.  His has indeed blessed each of my children and cradled them in his arms while I have been physically far from them serving him.  I know that through my service others have been blessed beyond measure.  I know he is the head of the true gospel and he alone leads and guides that church daily through a modern prophet Thomas S. Monson.  I know the Book of Mormon is holy scripture that testifies of Jesus Christ and that if we read and study that book along with the Bible we will know the things we should do and how to live our lives so that when we meet again, our Savior, will cradle each of us in His arms and say, "Well done, my good and faithful child, enter into my kingdom and rest."

May you each have a wonderful, spiritual, glorious Christmas season full of love, laughter, and hope for the future.  I love you, I cherish you, I am blessed to know you and to call you my friend, my family, my love!

Mormon Helping Hands for Typhoon Victims

Thanksgiving 2013!!

Thanksgiving, 2013. 

It is Sunday and we are home from church today as Dan has thrown his back out, so I thought I would journal a little about my thoughts. It has been a busy couple of weeks.  We have traveled to Manila to hear about the new PEF Self Reliance Centers and loan changes.  I am so excited that bachelor's degrees are back and that we can be useful the last five months of our mission.  We were so concerned about the drop in our PEF applications both Dan and I wrote letters to Elder Gay about the circumstances here in the Philippines and the lack of jobs without a bachelor's degree and PEF listened.  Of course after going from over 200 applications down to 2 applications, we must have known what we were talking about.  The program will combine the Employment Recourse Centers and the PEF offices into the PEF Self Reliance Centers with computers for writing resumes, job searches and other training and classes.  We do not know where the Galo center will be, since there is not room in the Galo building, but it will be exciting to watch and be a part of the planning even though we will not be around when it opens and starts to build the self reliance here in the Philippines.

On our return to Bacolod we helped transport the transfer missionaries from the Tacloban Mission.  We received 16 transfer missionaries who had experienced the devastation of the typhoon. They had seen death and destruction and yet were so anxious to get back to work.  They were sad to have left the wonderful people and mission president they love in Tacloban, but so excited to get back to serving the Philippino people.  We also met three missionaries fresh out of the MTC in Manila slated to go to Tacloban. We were able to spend the first day after their arrival just visiting and assisting them getting used to a new area and president and then they had the same orientation new missionaries get before sending them with their new companions out into the Bacolod mission area.  We love the young missionaries already and they have the most valiant spirits.  Only one of our missionaries here in Bacolod lost family members.  Sister Bendoy lost nine family members in Tacloban and decided since she would be returning home in December she would go to be with her remaining sister and brother.  Her sister lives in Manila and so she and her brother (who survived the typhoon) will go to be with her in Manila.  What a tragedy for her family.  Overall, there were only thirty members of the church killed and minimal damage to the roofs of some of the buildings, but not one missionary was lost.  What a miracle.

Friday we assisted with repacking rice and clothing into family size packages. The leaders thought it would take us all day to pack three kilo bags of rice and several articles of clothing per family member, all day to do.  But there were so many volunteers we were done by lunch time.  I can't explain how thankful we were to be able to help with the assistance for the families in our mission area who were affected by the typhoon.  Another group of members have been building homes in Escalante also. The leader of that group is a medical doctor (anesthesiologist) from Bacolod Stake, Dr. Marty.  We love her and  can't begin to know where she gets her energy.  She has a thriving practice, has been to Manila for a conference and helped build six homes in the last two weeks.  I wish I had her stamina

As excited as I am to be getting close to our return home, I will miss the wonderful Philippine people.  I have made such dear friends here and will always appreciate the example of faith that they have shared with me.  The people here are so friendly and genuinely happy to see us.  Even the security people at the grocery store are so thrilled to see us.  I want to remember to make other feel as special as these humble people make us feel. They are generous with their meager belongings and always have a smile of their faces even when they are dealing with death and tragedy. 

We will have Thanksgiving with the senior missionaries couples this week prior to traveling to Cebu for Dan to train the priesthood leaders there, and then the next week we travel to Iloilo for the same meetings. Two weeks later we will travel to Bohol (the area affected by the earth quake) and can't wait to see our friends there. That will end the year here, and begin the last four months of our mission.  Before we came on our mission I thought we would be some of those senior missionaries to serve multiple missions, but I must admit that although this had been the most rewarding thing I have ever done, it has been the hardest thing I have ever done.  I hate being so far away from my family and unable to just hope on a plane and get to them to visit or assist them with their struggles.  I know the Lord has blessed us and our family in so many ways, but I am so excited to return to being a full time grandma. 

November 5, 2013

November 2013

We had a glorious few days preparing for and participating with the visit of Elder Neil L. Anderson and Elder Clayton of the Seventy, Elder Ardern and Elder Echo Hawk of the Philippines Area Presidency.  Thursday after work, Halloween in the United States,  I decided to put up our little Christmas tree because it is actually late here in this country and I can do that without offending anyone.  After I finished decorating I plugged in the lights and my one year old lights did not work.  Thank goodness the tree is only about four feet tall.  I took everything off and went and bought more lights.  Of the two long strands only one worked so I just made due.  Only in the Philippines.  Everyone here says it is more fun in the Philippines and that is because everyone just goes with the flow.  No use getting upset about anything because it will probably never change. 

Friday we had a planning and strategizing meeting in preparation for the big meeting with our church leaders. We met in the newest and largest Church meeting house in Talisay, the city north of us.  The chapel  is about the size of an average chapel in the United States and will hold about 250 tightly packed, in the chapel itself and about twice that in the cultural hall.  We moved some benches and added enough chairs so all the missionaries could meet in the chapel.  We have 244 young missionaries, five senior couples, and 10 local church service couples.  President Lopez was concerned about keeping the young missionaries and the members separated during the gaps in the meetings as the number of the people would be so large.  We have had some problems with members falling in love with the missionaries and it is a great concern to the president.  So we practiced how we would direct traffic to shield the missionaries as best as we could.  It is difficult because the missionaries and the members who had not seen each other since transfers really wanted to greet each other.  After we did all we could to prepare we went to the airport to pick up Elder and Sister Scott from Iloilo.  He is in the mission presidency there and we had met them earlier in our service and had an instant connection as they are from Snowflake Arizona.  We had planned to take them to the Ruins (the only tourist site here) but it was raining so we just came back to our home and visited until five pm when we drove them to the mission home for their meetings with the Mission Presidency and President Lopez.  It was so nice to see them again. 

Saturday we arrived at the Talisay chapel at noon to begin direction the missionaries to the rooms where they would be waiting for their meeting with the general authorities.  They were all to be at the chapel between noon and one as they would be ushered into the chapel at one thirty after the priesthood training meeting was let out.  Their training was from nine am until noon and then they were served lunch.  The missionary meeting was from 2:00 until 4:00 and another meeting for the youth and young adults was held from 5:00-7:00pm.  The leaders had interviews between and after those meetings.  I do not know how they can continue that brutal pace, especially since they arrived a week ago Friday, had similar meetings in Manila, and Cebu and traveled to Bohol to visit those suffering from the earthquake. 

Dan had volunteered us to stand at the front door of the meeting house to direct all the missionaries so that I could greet each one as they arrived.  It was so very wonderful to hug each sister and shake the hands of each elder and express our love for them prior to directing them upstairs. I can't begin to describe how very much we love these great young people who work so very hard and have such valiant testimonies of our Savior.   At exactly one-thirty we began to file into the chapel.  They were all seated by one-forty.  The couples entered the chapel last and sat in the front row of the chapel.  I stood to look at them and tears flowed as I could see the entire group seated in the chapel.  Oh how I love these faithful young men and women. They are some of the most beautiful and hardworking young people.  What a glorious site.  At two pm the leaders entered the Chapel and took their places on the stand, and Elder Neil Anderson expressed his desire to shake each missionaries hand.  Again the tears flowed knowing that each of these beautiful young people were going to personally be greeted by an apostle of the Lord, Jesus Christ.  Amazingly, the entire 250+ were able to be greeted by the five leaders in only ten minutes.  When it was my turn I quickly thanked Elder Anderson for greeting each missionary and told him it would be a lasting memory for each of the fine missionaries serving here.  I was touch to think I am shaking the hand of an apostle who just shook President Monson's hand less than ten days ago. 

Some thoughts on each talk follows:

Elder Echo Hawk spoke of his call to be a general authority and how he and his wife were overwhelmed with their call and yet their lives have been blessed immeasurably.  He joined the church when he was fourteen years old never expecting  to have the opportunity to not only shake the hand of a prophet, but to sit with them and counsel together.  At a previous occasion in Escalante, Elder Echo Hawk spoke about how when his was a little older he traveled to Salt Lake City to attend conference but could not get into the actual meeting.  As the meeting came to a close his brothers lifted him up on the walls of temple square ( he told us not to do that) and as President McKay came out the side entrance he was waving to the crowd of people, and looked up and smiled and waved at the young man on the wall. Elder Echo Hawk said he would never forget that he had looked directly into the eyes of the prophet, that he knew President McKay was a prophet of God!!

Elder Ardern spoke of our lives as being a test of our character, and in order to grow and develop into the people our Heavenly Father desires, we much press forward in dedication, perseverance, and endurance and to be immoveable in our desire to  live the gospel.  We love Elder Ardern, he is from Australia, but has lived in the Philippines now for a few years and he is a wise and compassionate man.  He is the one who approves all the over age applicants of the PEF program.  He has never turned anyone away. 

Elder Clayton worded his testimony of the Book of Mormon in a way that touched my heart. He said the Book of Mormon,  another testament of Christ is a sacred scripture.   He also said we should never turn the page without learning something from that page. I believe that is true of all reading, even fiction as there is fact and truth in all reading.

About half way through Elder Claytons, talk someone in the cultural hall opened the dividing doors so they could hear better. They were closed to secure our meeting and separate our meeting from the lunch being served.  After the lunch was completed the facilities managers had set up chairs for the 5:00 pm meeting and the youth who had arrived early had already taken seats there and were listening to our meeting.  President Lopez went back to close the doors and when he returned to the stage the doors were opened again.  Elder Anderson told him they could open the doors for the others to join.  When he began speaking he told the young people they were invited to listen, but he would be continuing to address the missionaries.

Finally, Elder Anderson spoke he began with a report on the progress of the church in the  Philippines that included: missionaries were first sent to the Philippines in 1961. now we have 547,221 members here, 21 missions, 87 stakes,  83 Districts and 892 chapels.  He told how they met with the Bishop of the Catholic church in Bohol and offered financial assistance to rebuild their churches. He also told of how the church in the Philippines had assembled and distributed 10,000 food kits, 8000 hygiene kits, 500 emergency shelters, water filtration, generators, and clean up teams.  Seventy five member homes were destroyed and the church was helping those saints rebuild, all in setting the example of living the gospel is not what we believe, but how we live and our purpose should always be to render aid where aid is needed. He also told the missionaries that they were angels of the Lord and instruments in His hands.  Finally, he taught of the atonement of Christ.  His words were, "Don't think you understand the whole of the atonement of Christ because I don't get it fully"! Wow! I thought after losing our daughter we had that one down, but I guess if an apostle of God doesn't get it, I have more to learn.

After the meeting, we lined the parking lot to try and keep the missionaries separated from the members arriving for  the next meeting and to help those who had to get on buses to return to their areas ( some over  five hour journeys).  The members of the church were all crowded around hoping to have a chance to see the missionaries who had served in their areas and had been transferred.  What a crowd of people.  When we got them all out onto the street there were no Jeepneys (large open air vans that are used for public transportation) for them.  It took about twenty minutes for the  transportation to catch up with the need but eventually all the missionaries were on their way and we were able to head home.  The members of the church here just adore the missionaries and think they (we) are angels and just desire to shake the hands and visit with the missionaries.  It is the most amazing feeling even after all this time serving.

Sunday there were special stake conferences in four different locations around Bacolod so the general authorities could meet more of the members.  Our stake had Elder Clayton. I really enjoyed his talk both days.  Elder Clayton had several members called up to speak for a few minutes impromptu and that was wonderful.  One was a returned missionary Ray Cobing and another was one of the Sister Missionaries whose parents are mission presidents  in California.  Her name is Sister Becerra. She said her father always told her to "do what the Lord says, not matter what it is"! I love that! Instead of grumbling, or rationalizing doing differently to just do it!

Elder Clayton told us that when he was called to Salt Lake to receive his call as a general authority, he and his wife stayed in a hotel there in the city. He said one of his sons who had a great sense of humor got into his room and put several Mylar balloons and a card in his room that said "Get well soon"! He was puzzled when he returned to his room to find them. So he called the front desk in case they were delivered to the wrong room and was told they were really for him.  So he and his wife opened the get well card and were still confused until they saw their son's familiar writing that said, "Get well quick before they figure out what you are really like"! Everyone thought that was pretty funny.

He concluded his talk with the urging to "Be as good as you can possibly be, and be as kind as you can be everyday, because as we draw close to the Lord with our actions, He will draw close to us!"

What a spiritual feast we enjoyed the last few days.  We are on a high that should last until our release.  What a blessing to see, hear and meet and apostle of the Lord.  We are truly blessed.

I know this is longer than any other letter I have written but I wanted to share what an excited and special weekend we experienced.  I love you and can't wait to be reunited with our family and friends back home. 

Our entire mission needs two photos!

Best Maskara masks

Departing missionaries Oct 2012

Sister Molina

Elders Domingo and Ayala

Our mission parents the Neffs

Three generations

Landslides closed the road to San Carlos!

Bohol before the quake.

Our hotel