We Got Mail!

Missionaries love mail and packages--it just really makes them smile!

                                             

With Christmas not too distant, I wanted to send a reminder post about the best ways to send packages.

For the majority of us, the best method is to use USPS Priority packages. They come in several sizes.  You will pay a fee on your end.  But we also have to pay a surcharge to pick up the packages, and these now cost 100 pesos each. Your missionary will be charged that 100 pesos for each package they receive.

DO NOT send packages using USPS Global Priority.  It sounds like it would be the right way, but Global Priority actually ships using FedEx and the charge to pick it up on this end is outrageous.  So not only do you end up paying a lot to ship it in the first place,  your missionary pays a lot to receive it here.  The mission cannot cover these costs, so it comes out of the missionary's support. We will work with them to take out a little at a time, but it still must be paid by them.  

Another method is LBC Express, although the locations are quite limited in the US, and are mostly in the west or on the west coast.  They deliver right to the mission office and there is not a surcharge on this end.  You can go to their website, or call 1-800-338-5424 to find if one is located near you. 

LBC is readily available in many other places around the world.

For those that live near Ogden, there is a company called Z World Express that ships to the Philippines. It is located at 1153 N Main St in Sunset, UT;  phone (801) 774-974.  It may take up to two months for the package to arrive, but you pay a flat fee for a box 18x20x22 and you can fill the box with as much as you like, regardless of weight.  We paid $100.00/box when we used this company last June.  I don't know if the prices are the same.  It would be a good idea to call first and get your questions answered before you go.  

DO NOT send packages through UPS or FedEX.  These charge on both ends, and the charge to pick it up here is very, very expensive.  For example, we received a box that was approximately 8x5x3 and weighed maybe 12-14 oz.  The contents were worth probably $25.00 and it cost 5600 pesos or over $100.00 to pick it up.  

Send Christmas boxes by at least the end of October if you want it to arrive before Christmas.  Even then, it's not always a guarantee.  Ship early!  We will store it at the mission office or home.  The address of the mission:  

                                      Elder or Sister
                                      Philippines Cauayan Mission
                                      78 Burgos Street
                                      3305 Cauayan City
                                      Isabela, Philippines

A sweet reminder:  Please remember your missionary's companion when sending Christmas or other packages--some of our missionaries never receive any packages or letters at all.

Please feel free to email me if you have any questions: loricrahlf@gmail.com

Reunion!

October 15
Exactly 30 days ago, we welcomed 14 new missionaries to the Philippines Cauayan Mission.  After four weeks in the field, we bring them back in to the Mission Home for additional training and help, some reminders of what we went over that first day, a great lunch, and best of all, a chance to reunite with their group.  It's a wonderful reunion, with time to share experiences and stories, maybe some surprises, get advice and counsel, and strength from friendships shared with fellow missionaries.  We love this day!

October 15, 2014
Four Week Missionaries and their Trainers

Companionships

Sister Canlapan and Sister Murdock

Sister Arcinas and Sister Matanatabu

Sister Lyles and Sister Pavino

Sister Hunsaker and Sister Sanchez

Sister Dotillos and Sister Clarin

Elder Zabala and Elder Haacke

Elder Walstad and Elder Abadines

Elder Delos Reyes and Elder Hamp

Elder Olson and Elder De Guzman

Elder Eudela and Elder Murdock

Elder Higgins and Elder Lavelua

Elder Canrero and Elder Thorpe

Elder Zhang and Elder Flores

Elder Molate and Elder Brandon

 So good to see you again!

September 24, 2014 Batch

Guapo?

Sister Strength

Manila MTC Group

Provo MTC Group

"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 and Covenants 31:3

Corn on the Road, New Leader Training, Fingerprints in Manila and other Stories

Sights of October
We love harvest season and the drying of corn and rice

on the National Highway and other roads across the mission.

Wednesday, October 1

These missionaries have accepted leadership assignments

and came in for training. We're thankful for their

willingness to serve for a time in an additional responsibility.

Back to Front
Elder Young, Elder Larson, Elder Kocherhans, Elder Evitt, Elder Brandon, Elder Lavelua
Elder Rocamada, Elder Espino, Elder Larona, Elder Zabala, Elder Saba, Elder Abadines, Elder Delos Reyes
Sister Barney, Sister Warr, Sister Tenepere

President Rahlf and I have a young friend in Cincinnati who has just been diagnosed with leukemia.
This is a "We're cheering for you, Ben--stay strong!"  picture that we sent to him.

It's been a long, but very good day.  

October 3-4
When it gets within a month of departure, our missionaries
take a quick 24 hour trip to Manila to get fingerprinted
for their exit visas…and the most important thing of all,
Krispy Kreme Donuts!

November 5th Departure Group on the way to Manila...
Elder Roy, Elder Teitibwebwe, Elder Cousin, Elder Odom, Elder Sogari
Sister Berghout, Sister Frame, Sister Davis, Sister Tebwaruaki,
Sister Itamaera, Sister Bureeti, Sister Funaki, Sister Naware

…and home again
The Krispy Kreme franchises in the Manila Airport love us

October 8

Mission Leadership Council

Once a month, we meet with the MLC to discuss the needs of

the mission and missionaries, have accounting and training,

and counsel together on how best to carry forth this hastening work

of salvation.

Back to Front
Elders Williams, Tuiloma, Young, Volpe, Cousin, Bangal,Evitt, Bahr, Odom, Johnstun, Baker, Huemann
Sisters Nawere, Lange, Lamac, Warr, Matautia, Tenepere, Barney, Camansa, Calisaan, Meinzer,
 Cabada, Hafen, Carr, Lasay, Ilagan, Maddock, Elders Iuli, Camain, Tietjen
Elders Merza, Taer, Saba, Espino, Castillo, Rocamada and Talines

STL Ilagan Zone

STL Bambang Zone

STL Cauayan Zone

STL Tuguegarao North and South Zones

STL Santiago North and South Zones

STL Solano Zone

STL Alicia Zone

STL Burgos and Roxaz Zones

ZL Burgos Zone

ZL Alicia Zone

ZL Cauayan Zone

ZL Tuguegarao South Zone

ZL Bambang Zone

ZL Tuguegarao North Zone

ZL Ilagan Zone

ZL Santiago South Zone

ZL Solano Zone

ZL Roxas Zone

ZL Santiago North Zone

Assistants

October 12, General Conference
Cauayan Zone having lunch at the mission home between sessions of
conference on Sunday.

Conference and food makes for happy, filled missionaries!

We continue to learn and grow and go forth in faith.

Thank you family and friends, for your prayers and support and love.

We are happy and privileged to be the Lord's missionaries!

"Make us thy true under shepherds,

Give us a love that is deep.

Send us out into the desert,

Seeking thy wandering sheep."

Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd, Hymn 221