Sunday Evening Typhoon Update

The typhoon came ashore north of Baler in the Auroroa Province about 2 AM on Sunday morning as a category 4 storm.  Over 10,000 people were evacuated from the areas nearby.  This is not a part of our mission, but we share boundaries here with the Angeles Mission.  All of our missionaries that were in flood-prone areas were evacuated Saturday afternoon.  The storm caused flooding, landslides and overflowing reservoirs.

All of our missionaries are safe and accounted for.  The storm is moving slowly, but has decreased in intensity.  We still expect periods of rain and flooding in places over the next 2-3 days before Lando officially exits the Philippines.  There are still some power outages and there will be some clean-up, but we are grateful that the damage was very limited in our mission.  Thank you again for your prayers!

Typhoon Update

Sunday Morning, 7 AM:  The storm made landfall at about 2 AM in the coastal area of Dinadiawan/Baler at a category 4 and is now slowly making its way westward and then will turn north.  It came in further south and is expected to be over the southern part of our mission today as a category 3.  It is predicted to weaken as it turns northward over the next two days, but we still expect to continue to have heavy rain, strong winds, flooding and loss of power.  The storm is very slow moving.  I will post another update later today.  Thank you for your prayers!

Typhoon Kappu

As you may be aware there is a tropical typhoon, Kappu, heading towards the Philippines. Our missionaries have been alerted to prepare for a storm. Their preparations will include but are not limited to preparing for possible flooding, checking their 72 hour kits, having emergency cash in small bills, and charging their cell phone.  We have a line of communication in place. 

The storm is expected to make landfall at about 2 AM our time on Sunday morning, October 18 at a category 4.  It looks to change to a category 3 as it moves inland.  The track of the storm right now has it entering at about the center point of our mission around Cauayan, and then traveling through the center northward.  We expect wind, rain, flooding, and probable power outages. When the storm has passed and all missionaries are accounted for, we will let you know.

We use a site called Weather Underground to follow the tracking of the storm. I will post updates as possible on the FB page as well as the blog.  Be aware that I won't be able to do that if we lose power.

Thank you for your prayers--for the missionaries and for the Filipino people.  This is harvest time and there are many whose rice crops are not quite ready for harvesting.  We are anxious for them.

National Family Week with Alicia Stake and Alinguigan Branch; New Trainers; MLC

These last two weeks we joined in a National Celebration, met with missionaries who will be training our new Elders and Sisters that arrive on October 7th, and held our Mission Leadership Council.  Lots going on in this Hastening Mission!

The Philippines have celebrated National Family Week for the past 23 years.  It's held the last weekend in September.  President Rahlf and I were able to attend the festivities with the Alicia Stake, and then later on in the day, with the Alinguigan Branch.  


Alicia Stake
The Honorable Mayor of Echague was a 
guest speaker.  She was very impressed
with the activities and the Church's love 
and focus on families.

Each Ward had their own color and booth for
the festivities of the day.
Our missionaries were able to join in with their ward.
(Sorry I wasn't able to get pictures of each unit)

Celebration at Alinguigan
A great day-long activity, beginning with a 
service project in the morning and a program
in the afternoon.

New Trainers Meeting

Our next Arrival "batch" is a group of 15 Elders 

and 4 Sisters.  We have some wonderful missionaries

who will be their Trainers.

And they're excited!

Mission Leadership Council
We have our MLC the first of every month to discuss
the needs of the mission and missionaries.  This month
our focus was on Area Books, Planners, and T Outline.
We also have training and lots of role practice...

One of the most important things we teach as missionaries is 

that families can be forever.  

The message of the Restoration 

of the gospel of Jesus Christ blesses families.  

What a glorious truth we have to share!

Our mission dedicates this blogpost to all of our families. . .

personal, branch, ward, district and stake.

Thank you for your support, your love, your prayers, your emails, your packages, your care.

You give us strength and we are grateful.  Eternally!

"Go forth with love to tell the world the joy of families--

that we may be with those we love thru all eternity."

                                                                                    Hymn 263

Hope of Israel! Arrivals October 7, 2015

Wednesday October 7

What a beautiful morning as we happily greet our newest missionaries at about 10:15 AM.  Welcome to the field--we're so glad you're finally here!

After a brief welcome and introduction,
we have lunch and some time to talk.

After lunch we have
personal interviews
and a brief orientation,
and then it's time to
meet those important
first companions.

Ready to walk over to the chapel for the first Transfer Meeting

New Companionships
ready to go forth in faith

It's a very good day in the Mission!



"Hope of Israel, Zion's army,
Children of the promised day"
Hymn # 259

"My mission belongs to the Lord.
With all my heart I give my energy and my time
to the Master because I love Him.
Therefore, I'm going to look at every day not as mine, but as His.
And I will treat each minute of His time with
respect and focus and the dedication that it deserves."                                                                               Elder M. Russell Ballard