Keeping the torch lit June 30, 2016

The transfer of mission presidents is very simple.  A new mission president and wife are called in the last couple of months of the year.  They receive their assignment at the first of the year and begin in earnest their training and preparation.  Near the last week of June, they will enter the MTC for about 3 1/2 days of teaching and training by the missionary committee of the Church, the First Presidency and Twelve Apostles. After the MTC, they begin traveling to their missions--arriving so that they begin their work on or about July 1st.
The moment the new mission president's foot touches the ground within his mission boundaries, he becomes the president and the previous president is released.  After meeting together for a few hours, the new president and wife receive the phones, the files, the house and chapel keys, etc. and the transfer is complete.  The spirit of the Lord is there, and the power of revelation and guidance is over all, and it is a peaceful and sweet event.

When our missionaries are about two cycles from completing their missions, we send them what we call their "Torch Letter."  The letter has practical information about preparing to complete and leave the mission field: what airport they want to fly into, getting their chest xrays done, attending Career Workshop.  We also include a great article by "Finishing with Your Torch Still Lit," and we encourage and emphasize the importance of keeping their missionary and gospel torch burning strong until the last moments--being able then, to pass the torch to the next missionaries coming in so that the work of the Lord continues on.

President Rahlf and I are grateful to pass the torch to President and Sister Hiatt.  They arrived June 30th--so excited to be here and to continue on the great missionary traditions that have been here for many, many years. They will be wonderful and dedicated in their calling and all is well... all is well!


The plane has landed in
Tuguegarao and we are
watching for President
and Sister Hiatt.

Mabuhay!

A happy greeting between us
as the torch is passed

 

The old and the new--

both with unsurpassing love

for the Cauayan Mission



And finally!  After 1073 days,
we at last get President Rahlf
into a tricey for the ride
to the hotel!

 

 

 

"This race of discipleship is not a sprint; it's a marathon.

As long as we continue to rise up and move toward our Savior,

we win the race with our torches burning brightly.

 

For the torch is not about us or about what we do.

 

It's about the Savior of the world."

                                                                          

                                                                         President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

 

 

New Leadership Training June 29, 2016

On June 29, we spent the day with 14 of our missionaries who have been called to serve for a time in a leadership capacity within the mission.  A mission is organized into zones--which in our mission is the same geographical area as a Stake or District.  Within the zones are districts, or smaller groups of missionaries. There are leaders over the district, and then leaders over the zones.  We also have Sister Training Leaders, who have responsibility and care over the sisters, including having exchanges with them during the transfer cycle.

We had a wonderful day together with training from the assistants, the Cauayan Zone leaders, our senior couples and President Rahlf and me.  We are grateful for our missionaries who willingly accept these assignments of love--because that's what leadership is all about. 

 
Preparing for the day

 

Gathering in the mission home



Teachers for the day

Sister Training Leaders Sister Biolena and Sister Velasco
Cauayan Zone Leaders Elder Posadas and Elder Pandaog

 

Assistants Elder Antenorcruz and Elder Navarro

 

Role Practice



Sister Turley, Sister Porter, Elder Olsen, Elder Perkins, Elder Kane, Elder Ishibashi, Elder Sorronda
Elder Romo, Elder Bice, Elder Oredson, Elder Rebojo, Elder Pangilinan, Elder Llanda, Elder Cloma


"True leaders know that leadership is not about them but about those they serve.
It is not about exalting themselves but about lifting others up."
                                                                                                                                         Sheri Dew

The Hour of Your Mission Departures and Arrivals June 22, 2016

"Lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is come; and your tongue shall be loosed, and you shall declare glad tidings of great joy unto this generation."
                                                                                  Doctrine & Covenants 31:3

For our departing missionaries, it feels like that "hour" flew by!  It is hard to believe that the months and years of full-time missionary service are complete...although a lifetime of missionary work lies wonderfully ahead.

We are deeply grateful for this group of about-to-be RMs.  They have walked and taught and searched and prayed and yearned and smiled and been willing servants of the Savior as they declared "glad tidings of great joy unto this generation."

We thank them for choosing to be missionaries and for the deep footprints they've left here. 


Gathering in the mission home
for the "To Be Continued" Meeting

 

Look at these smiles!
I love this picture...


from the back:  Elder Acosta, Sister Abalos
Elder Saguire, Sister Alim, Elder Einfeldt, Elder Reynolds
Sister Glick, Sister Tupou, Elder Swenson, Elder Lott
Sister Mariano, Sister Ferguson, Elder Treyes


 

After dinner, we have presentation ofCLS certificates

 





and Career Workshop Certificates.
An accomplished group!

Now, let the traditional tie/material cutting begin...

Before

After

 

 



Wednesday morning
Leaving words of counsel and encouragement for our
new missionaries that will arrive in a couple of hours.

Checking out the Transfer Board
right before we leave for the
airport.

The journey awaits...with some very happy families at the other end of it.
May God bless and watch over you always. Until we meet again...

 

 

When we returned to pick up our

arriving missionaries, we were

greeted by this wonderful sight! 

And here they are!!
Six Sisters and two Elders and
we are so happy they are here!

 

June 22 Arrivals
Sister Neeti, Elder Alecha, President and Sister Rahlf, Elder Retuta, Sister Pavino
Sister Flores, Sister Caduada, Sister Garcia, Sister Abalos

Lined up and ready to go over to the
chapel to meet first companions

Companions met and ready to go!

Trainer Elder King and Elder Retuta

Sister Caduada and Trainer Sister Sauder

Trainer Sister Garcia and Sister Pavino

Sister Neeti and Trainer Sister Teabwabwa

Sister Abalos and Trainer Sister Baker

Sister Flores and Trainer Sister Aguanta

Elder Alecha and Trainer Elder Sorronda 

Trainer Sister Delinila and Sister Garcia

Happily off to their areas..
the hour of their mission has come!

 

 

What an incredibly full and special day. 

The sun never sets on the work of the Lord. 

 

"For behold, the field is white already to harvest; and lo,

he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might,

the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not,

but bringeth salvation to his soul."

D&C 4:4

 

 

Specialized Training: The Atonement of Jesus Christ June 14-16-17, 2016

During the third week of June, we held a two hour specialized training with small groups of all our zones.  As our last opportunity to teach and train, we wanted to focus on the sacred doctrine and event of the Atonement.  Our discussion with our missionaries will be one of our lasting and special memories of our mission.

The following are some of the quotes that we used in teaching:

“One does not speak lightly of the Atonement or casually express appreciation.  It is the most sacred and sublime event in eternity.  It deserves our most intense thoughts, our most profound feelings, and our noblest deeds.  One speaks of it in reverential tones; one contemplates it in awe; one learns of it in solemnity, now and throughout eternity.”     - Elder Tad R. Callister

“…the Atonement of the Only Begotten Son of God in the flesh is the crucial foundation upon which all Christian doctrine rests and the greatest expression of divine love this world has ever been given.  Its importance in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints cannot be overstated.  Every other principle, commandment, and virtue of the restored gospel draws its significance from this pivotal event.”     -Elder Jeffery R. Holland

“Atonement means taking two things that have become separated, estranged, or incompatible, like a perfect God and an imperfect me or you, and bringing them together again, thus making the two be ‘at one.’       -Stephen Robinson

“He came to pay a debt He did not owe, because we owed a debt we could not pay.”        --Unknown

We felt the Spirit attending each session and are grateful for our missionaries' desire to learn and gain greater understanding.


After the training, President Rahlf and I shared some departing counsel,  including a warm welcome for our new mission president and wife, Elder and Sister Hiatt.  They are going to be so wonderful!  Then we cut ties and handkerchiefs, etc. for our mission quilt.  There will be 578 missionaries represented in this grand and glorious keepsake! (Some of our missionaries will participate in this traditional event on Departure Tuesday this week). We also celebrated April, May and June birthdays. 


Before and After Pictures

Tuguegarao North


Tuguegarao South

Roxas Zone

 Burgos Zone

Ilagan Zone

 Bambang Zone

Solano Zone

 Santiago North Zone

Santiago South Zone

 Alicia Zone

Cauayan Zone

Senior Couples

 

 

 

 

 

Birthday Celebrants



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We closed each of our meetings with our testimonies and our traditional closing song: 

"As I Have Love You". Our hearts are full as we acknowledge the tremendous privilege it has been to serve and testify of our Savior in the Cauayan Zion Mission, among Cauayan Zion Missionaries. These are memories for all of eternity.

 

 

As I have loved you,

Love one another.

This new commandment--

love one another.

By this shall men know,

Ye are my disciples.

If ye have love, one to another.

Hymn # 308