Our Friday night began with the Elders putting on a flight through, The Three Degrees of Glory experience. It was meant for investigators. We went to support our Elders and were impressed with all they did to put this event on. It was a fun night, so simple and right to the point.
We ended up in the highest degree of glory where our friend Ruth and her husband were the presenters.
Saturday night we were home minding our own business when we experienced an earth quake. I texted Sister Peterson to see if they felt it and she said, "Yes the Philippines has every natural disaster known to man and apparently we are to experience them all."
Saturday we had made three trips to town. We only have two stores we go to and they both don't always carry the same thing so we have to check both. We also forgot the eggs for our third trip.
At the mall entrance there are two security guards and one was practicing our names when we came in the second time. (I think he is there on Saturdays when we go)
I sat on the bench that is for "Seniors" to wait for Veva to get the eggs. The security guard came over to me and pointed to the sign that said, "For Seniors." He asked why I sat here. I then said the only two words I know in Tagalog.
"Ako Matanda!" (I am old).
He said, " Hinde, Hinde." (No, No). Then he said, "Sit in front of the sign so it will block the sun from shining in on you through the windows."
Rats I was sure he was questioning if I was old enough to sit there!
After the Elder's presentation we walked up to the store.
We passed the celebration that was going on.
Did I tell you that Elder Wakolo called his wife,
"The first councilor to the Holy Ghost?"
I don't know why I thought about the Holy GHOST all of a sudden.!
Our president was meeting with the new missionaries and giving them warnings. He then told about when he first came into the mission field, here in Laoag years ago. He said when he got here he was ready to go and his trainer said to him, "You must be tired from your travels so we will stay in today and let you rest." The missionary then crawled into bed.
The next day it rained and the Senior Companion said that they wouldn't go out in the rain that day.
President Peterson told how hard that experience was and it even made him homesick because he wasn't busy.
We are all so sure that NOT one of our missionary here would do that! Our missionaries are geared up all the time.
Our last ride to church with these elders. They are moving on!
We had heard some cute comments from the sisters as they have come into the office and visited with us. We were looking at the Transfer Board that has their missionary picture on it.
(Poly) I used to be so light!....
Another.....I looked so young in my mission picture!
And of course....look how dark my arms and legs have gotten.
Sorry Sister Snyder you will need to get out of the office more if you want those legs dark.
We have a mother, Sister Harris, who is ALWAYS sending packages to her son and to other missionaries. She wanted to do something for Sister Snyder, Sister Peterson and I. She sent us matching necklaces.
One night the elders came in for meetings and were staying next door. Elder Rees came over for medicine. He had just gotten out of the hospital with dengue fever. We told him he needed to eat before taking the medicine, soon we were feeding several of the elders.
Earthquake passed then we get word that we have another typhoon headed our way.
Well of course we do... because we have missionaries coming and going just like last time.
President watched the updates very closely and did not feel that anyone had to come in for protection.
Monday night the missionaries going home started arriving for last instruction before they fly home on Tuesday. (Typhoon due to hit Tuesday morning)
Monday night as the missionaries started arriving we got word that all their flights had been canceled for Tuesday! Now what?
We were told to put them on a bus Monday night and they could get to Manila in time for their flights on Wednesday.
(If they didn't get caught in the Typhoon)
(10 to 12 hour bus ride. Remember COLD BUS RIDE.)
So we quickly went through all the procedures that we could. We were even able to feed them before they left.
On Wednesday the new missionaries were to fly in.
Since Wednesday was Halloween for us, the flights were all booked up.
These new missionaries had to fly, from the states to Manila, about 15 hours. The next day they loaded a bus and headed for Laoag. They hit early morning traffic and the bus ride became a 12 hour bus ride. (Yes on that cold, cold bus).
There are NO warm buses that go long distances. We do have hot Tri-C's and hot and stuffy Jeepneys that go short distances.
When these new missionaries arrived, they looked pretty good for what they had been through.
Don't they all look GREAT!
This is Elder Ballan. We tell him he is too tall to be Filipino.
His trade mark is that he only wears black ties.
I am going to show you pictures of these new missionaries now assigned a trainer and are getting ready to go.
I hope that you can feel the excitement that is here.
These missionaries have spent months being prepped for this and they are now READY TO GO!
They don't want to wait another minute to get out and work.
Yes Elder Reyes is back! He is training a new missionary. They call the new missionary, their son. He has about four sons now. We worry about this trainer. He has too much energy. It is so fun to see him again.
I love this! This is Sister Anderson, from St. George with her companions, Sister Hardy (She is in the Tri-C). Sister Hardy is from Las Vegas and Veva knows her grandpa because he has family in Mesquite.
Remember this Sister? She was here during the last typhoon. It was so good to see her again.
This was funny because the Tri-C driver put one suit case in and then told them to stop. He then stuffed in the new Missionary and continued to stuff suit cases around him.
I am watching this Elder. We had emailed before his mission because he had many questions. He had listed on his paperwork NOT to contact his parents.
When he got here we talked and he said he had cut them off because they did not support him in his decision. They are now on board and he is seeing miracles because of it.
She's back to train another one. Our Singer and Basketball player.
Oh he is still here.
We now have to say, "Goodbye" to our Office Elders. It time for them to move on. They are so excited to get back out in field.
Who gave the elders my phone? They only have the old flip phones so they just LOVE these new fancy phones.
And they are spacing out again thinking of the changes coming to the office I'm sure.
(Stop playing with my phone Elders!)
Here you have our wonderful Elder Reyes Jr. who was made a District Leader. We are so happy for him because this will stretch this shy Elder.
The Elder on the left is coming into the office.
Famous words of Elder Corpuz, I am so...………….Good looking!"
Yes Elder Corpuz the, Soup Elder will leave us.
Amidst feeding, meetings, completing paperwork and getting 40 something missionaries rides to their assigned proselyting areas the president had a family come into the office. They were there right in the middle of this mass confusion. The President stopped and had an interview with the daughter. He then called the family in as he set her apart as a missionary. The family then left and took her to catch her flight to Manila where she will enter the Manila Mission Home.
Elder David A. Bednar of the Seventy had told the president before they came that there would be times that he may want to curl up in a fetal position and just stay there.
It is true, he is a busy man with 5 districts and their branches that he has to presides over as well as the President of the mission with over a hundred and fifty missionaries now. A daunting task for anyone.
And there you have it. We have nothing on the horizon until December. We will probably die from quiet boredom but again were in the Philippines where anything can happen.
The Nelsons say, "Whatever happens,... in the Philippines,...
it will be done the hard way."
Love you all,
Love the Sister, Sisters
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