MLC, New Leadership Training, the "ber" months and Sending Packages

Happy September!  And Merry Christmas!  This past Tuesday brought the beginning of the "ber" months, and in the Philippines, that means the beginning of the Christmas Season.  We will begin to hear Christmas music in the stores and malls, and we'll be singing Christmas songs in our meetings.  

Christmas means packages being sent for our missionaries, so I wanted to start this blog post with information about the best methods for sending to the Philippines.  I would ask that as you put together goodies for your missionary, that you please remember their companions--many of whom do not ever receive a package.  Thank you!

For the majority of us, the best method is to use USPS Priority packages, or your country's postal system. USPS Priority packages 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. 
There is an amazing woman Julie Hess that provides a service to get missionaries in the Philippines packages a lot cheaper than any other service. She works through the LBC in Oregon. If you ship her the package, she gets it on a boat to the Philippines for as low as $10 a box no matter how heavy. Here is her face book page you can join:
Philippines Missionary Packages

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 middle 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

Again, 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


MLC
Mission Leadership Council
September 2, 2015
"Accounting, Accountability and Attitude"

Introductions of our

newest Sister Training Leaders

and Zone Leaders included

them singing the first line

of their favorite Christmas song

Becoming a great missionary
takes practice.  The MLC engages
in role practices in order to be able
to teach their zones more effectively.

Joyous Missionaries!

New Leaders Training
September 4, 2015
Each Transfer Cycle brings with it new leadership assignments--
District Leaders, Zone Leaders andSister Training Leaders.  
We spend a day together in training and discussion.

Elder Enuake asked me
if I knew what time it was...

Then he showed me...

We are so blessed to be missionaries during the time of

the hastening of the Lord's work of salvation.

As Elder Bednar stated, 

"The Lord is hastening His work.

And we are privileged to be a part of it."

Our missionaries understand that privilege--we are so grateful for them!

"And ye shall go forth in the power of my Spirit, preaching my gospel,

two by two, in my name,lifting up your voices as with the sound

of a trump, declaring my word like unto angels of God."

                                                                           Doctrine and Covenants 42:6