Sunday, January 5, 2014
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
Friday, December 20, 2013
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
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
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!
Monday, November 25, 2013
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