Two weeks in January: MLC, Newest Missionaries and Trainers Day, and Exit Visas

It is amazing to all missionaries how quickly the weeks seem to fly by.  We are already three weeks into the new year and they have been full and wonderful.  President Rahlf and I began our quarterly interviews--a time that we have to each spend one on one time with every missionary.  It takes three weeks to complete, but it is one of our favorite times of the year.  You have truly wonderful sons and daughters and we love them.

Sandwiched in between Interview days, we have also had Mission Leadership Council, New Missionary/Trainer meeting, and the departing foreign missionaries traveling to Manila to obtain their exit visas.  Every day has a great purpose and we are all grateful to be engaged in this work of the Lord.

Mission Leadership Council

January 7, 2015

Row 4:  Elders Johnstun, Evitt, Williams, Baker, Volpe, Thorpe, Masacayan
Row 3:  Elders Laxamana, larona, Poulter, Iuili, Lavelua, Stephenson, Young, Bangal, Allred
Row 2:  Sisters Spencer, Tenepere, Dotillos, Atienza, Lasay, Guttenbeil, Matanatabu,
Sae, Warr, Brown, Lamac, Murdock, Polson, Barney
Row 1:  Elders Camain, Merza, Espino, Delos Reyes, Tadeo, Rocomada, Tietjen, Zhang

We're in good hands!

January 14, 2015
We had a great day with our newest missionaries--who have now been in the field for a month-- and their trainers.  We love having them come back in to the mission home after they've been out for these first few weeks.  It's rejuvenating for them to see each other and compare notes, plus we have additional training and discussion.  They all look great, and so do their trainers…we love these missionaries!

Missionary life is good!

Elder Monilla and Elder Sardido

Elder Labrador and Elder Frank

Elder Gerardo and Elder Gumayao

Elder Heumann and Elder Antenorcruz

Elder Bahr and Elder Manalili

Sister Osteniane and Sister Abalos

Sister Morente and Sister Alim

Sister Saito and Sister Heve

Elder Pandaog and Elder Enuake

Sister Mariano and Sister Akau

SIster Villanueva and Sister Lewis

Sister Calisaan and Sister McBride

January 9-10, 2015
Manila Bound
This is the next group of missionaries to complete their mission--or part of the group.  All foreigners have to go to Manila about a month before their departure to process their exit visas.  It's a quick 24 hour trip and involves planes, paperwork and always Krispy Kreme!

Elder Doney and Elder Volpe
Sister Crystal, Sister Wellayan, SIster Hirst, Sister Karavanua,
Sister Brown, Sister Warr, Sister Nicoll, Sister Hurst

It's almost a requirement to re-enter the mission to have Krispy Kremes along!

These first few weeks of 2015 have been busy and full for our missionaries.  We hope they have been equally good for you…go forth to serve!

"The Church has need of helping hands,

And hearts that know and feel.

The work to do is here for you;

Put your shoulder to the wheel."

                                                                                               Hymn # 252

A December to Remember Part 3 Families and Cookie Houses

Our mission receives dedicated service from some very special families and we couldn't get along without them.  We host two special evenings with these families to let us serve them for a moment and to thank them for all they do for us.  

The favorite part of the evening is decorating sugar cookie houses.  When we did this last year, nobody had ever seen a cookie house, let alone decorate one!  We had to download pictures from the internet and coach them along.  Not this year!  Everybody was ready to be creative and the houses turned out fabulous.  We have some great designers here!



Our first round was
with the Cauayan 
Mission Presidency
and their families.

The Palay Family

The Pascua Family

The Delos Reyes Family

Our second evening
was with the families
of those that care for
the mission home 
and grounds.

The Batara Family

The Soriano Family

The Quitolo Family

We love each of these families and are so grateful for all they do for us, the mission and the missionaries.  How blessed we are for their service and friendship!

"What greater gift dost thou bestow, 

What greater goodness can we know,

Than Christ-like friends, whose gentle ways

Strengthen our faith, enrich our days."

                                                              Hymn # 293

A December to Remember Part 2 Christmas Devotionals

The week following the Mission Tour with Elder and Sister Bowen, we had Returning and Arriving missionaries on Tuesday and Wednesday.  (see "Days never to be forgotten," and "Joy to the World.")  Then on Thursday, December 18th, we began our Christmas Devotionals to celebrate the joy and significance of being a missionary at Christmastime.
The morning was spent with Christmas music and remembering the greatest gift of all, the only begotten Son given from a loving Heavenly Father.  We then enjoyed lunch and entertainment.  All of the Zones had been changed somewhat because of the December 17th transfers, so it wasn't possible for the Zones to prepare beforehand.  Instead, we gave each Zone a bag with 10 items in it and they had 30 minutes to come up with a skit, using every item in the bag.  

Very, very entertaining Elders and Sisters we have!
Here are a few pictures to give you an idea of the great day we had. (and I apologize--most of the pictures from these days turned out blurry and couldn't be used.  I can only say I must have been laughing so hard at the skits that I couldn't hold my hand steady)

December 18th:  Alicia, Cauayan and Roxas in Cauayan

Roxas Zone

Alicia Zone

Cauayan Zone

Friday, December 19th:  Santiago North and South; Bambang and Solano Zones


Part of the lunchtime entertainment
included a rousing version of
"The Twelve Days of Christmas."
Each table had a verse and they
had to act it out.

This is "Four Calling Birds"

The skits were, again,
very entertaining!

And, of course,

the Haka--

Solano Zone

Santiago South Zone

Santiago North Zone

Bambang Zone

Tuesday, December 23: Ilagan, Burgos, Tuguegarao North and South Zones



Lunch with Brother Pete
just makes us all happy

"Two turtle doves…"

And a little interpretation of
that old favorite
Jingle Bells

Zone Skits and Songs

And a small group 

"Angels We Have Heard on High"

right into Haka #2!

Tuguegarao South Zone 

Tuguegarao North Zone 

Ilagan Zone

Burgos Zone

We concluded each of our Christmas Devotionals by meeting again in the chapel for videos of "Wise Men Still Seek Him," and "O Come, O Come Emmanuel,"  followed by testimonies--a touching end to a wonderful day together.


Loading into the vans after
a really great conference.

How grateful we are for the blessing of sharing the restored gospel of 
Jesus Christ at Christmas time. . . a "multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."