A December to Remember! Part 1--Mission Tour with Elder and Sister Bowen

The month of December was incredibly busy, incredibly full and just plain incredible.  We began with a Mission Tour, presided over by Elder Shayne Bowen of our Area Presidency.  He and Sister Bowen were to arrive in the Mission on Monday, December 8th, but Typhoon Ruby interrupted those plans and their flight was canceled.  They rescheduled to come into Tuguegarao on Tuesday morning instead, but the wind and rains canceled that flight as well.  Undaunted, they jumped into a van and made the 10 hour drive from Manila to Cauayan, arriving at about 6 PM.  In the meantime, we had adjusted from Plan A to B to C to a final mixture of Plans C&D!  But all ended well, and the Mission Tour went forth smoothly.  It was a spiritual feast and a time of great instruction and learning.  We are deeply grateful for the dedication of Elder and Sister Bowen, and for the time our missionaries were able to spend with them.

Zone Conferences Thursday, December 11 
Morning: Cauayan, Roxas, Alicia  in Cauayan

Cauayan Zone
4th Row:  Elders Sevilla, Rumbaoa, Waldron
3rd Row:  Elders Allred, Tadeo, Larron, Seuili, Martizo, St. Gelais,
Bautista, Camain, Tietjen, Baquiran, Manabo
2nd Row:  Sisters Bates, Solis, Tenepere, Matautia,
Elder & Sister Shorter, Sisters Seumanu, Tioti, Breinholt
!st Row:  Sisters Molisi, Ilagan, Osteniane, Sister & Elder Bowen
President & Sister Rahlf, Sisters Kirchhoefer, Pita

Roxas Zone
3rd Row:  Elders Resterio, Eudala, Franzuela, Murdock, Walstad and Abadines
2nd Row:  Elders Heumann, Laxamana, Frank, Tabudlong,
Sisters Carr and Romano, Elders Llacona and Labetoria
!st Row:  Sisters De Guzman, Paetau, Sister & Elder Bowen,
President & Sister Rahlf, Sisters Canlapan and Murdock

Alicia Zone

 Afternoon:  Bambang, Solano, Santiago South and North in Santiago

Bambang Zone

Solano Zone

Santiago South Zone

Santiago North Zone

 Friday, December 12:  Tuguegarao North and South, Burgos, and Ilagan Zones

Tuguegarao North Zone

Tuguegarao South Zone

Burgos Zone

Ilagan Zone

 Friday night dinner and evening with the Senior Couples

Elder & Sister Morgan, Elder & Sister Leslie,
Elder & Sister Shorter, Elder & Sister Honeycutt
President & Sister Rahlf, Elder and Sister Bowen

Along with the Mission Tour, Elder Bowen presided over the creation of the new
Alicia Stake on December 13-14th.  He was accompanied by Elder Pajaro.  

This week of December brought many blessings to both missionaries and members alike.  Elder and Sister Bowen taught us well; they lifted and encouraged and helped us to understand what happens when we work with power.  We are grateful for our time together.

"Obedience is the first law of heaven.  It is an act of faith.  As you obey, you increase in faith,knowledge, wisdom, testimony, protection and freedom."  

Obedience brings power.