It's Time to Train Our Trainers

The first thing President does to prepare for our next transfers is to identify who will be the trainers for our incoming batch of missionaries. He doesn't take this lightly, he studies the bios of the incoming missionaries and prays about their needs. Then he studies the pictures of our current missionaries and through many hours of praying, pondering and praying some more he determines who will serve as trainers. We are so proud of this group of trainers. We loved having them come in for a day of training and feel certain that they will do a wonderful job in helping our new missionaries adjust to the area and to their new role as a full-time missionary.

 Elder Buness, Elder Legarde and Elder Smith (Elder Smith was invited to the lunch because his companion will serve as a trainer)

 Elder Bundy, Elder Pareja and Elder Golightly

 Elder Ardon and Elder Woodruff

Sister Ramos and Sister Klein

 Sister Amis, Sister Manguil and Sister Peckham

Our new trainers: Sister Manguil, Peckham, Amis, Ramos, Klein, Woodruff, Pareja, Bunness, Legarde, Bundy (Elder Delector and Elder Landeen will also be training but they have served as trainers before and opted to skip this training meeting.)

December ZLC

As usual we gathered our wonderful zone leaders for a day of training and counsel the first Wednesday of December. These are truly a great bunch of missionaries. We love working with them. President commented that they are an extention of his arm--they represent his office and the mission. We think they are doing a great job.

Elder Nielsen leads us in our opening song. Their enthusiastic singing fills the room and it's heart warming!

Each zone leader reports of their area including their successes and concerns. Other zone leaders offer their suggestions if help is needed.

It was fun to have the zone leaders in the Christmas decorated mission home.

Front row: Elder Gloria, Bluth; second row: Elder Ziegler, Williamson, Rocaberte, Lasay, Needs. President, the Assistants and I did some training on various subjects. Before we served lunch. It was Elder Miole's last ZLC and in his honor we served Sloppy Joes because he learned to love them when Elder and Sister Breese used to make them when they served together in Angadanan. Back row: Elder Macaisa, Oliver, Galang and Hamblin.

Front row: Elder Ilagan, Miole. Back row: Elder Amoreda, Wooden, Lundy, Caoayan, Averion, Nielsen and Elder Huffstutler.

We love and appreciate all 22 of our great zone leaders!

Family Home Evening with Two of Our Favorite Families

We recently invited two recent convert families over for Family Home Evening. President made his famous Rudiyaki chicken for them and I baked sugar cookies and served them with ice cream. I've never met a filipino that didn't LOVE ice cream. After dinner the Assistants shared a Christmas Lesson, we sang some Christmas carols and then we played a couple of games. One was a game where we had about 12 symbols of Christmas on a tray. We talked about each one--things like a candy cane, etc. Then we left the room and removed a couple of the items. The first person to guess what was missing won a tootsie roll. After than we divided everyone up into two groups. We sang the song, "Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer," and handed them each a bag. We told them to use the contents inside the back to turn one of their members into Rudolf. Each group was in a different room. When the time was up each Rudolf had to come out and model their outfits for us. They were so cute. It was a lot of fun. We ended the evening with dessert.

Thanks dear friends for bringing laughter and fun to the mission home!

Our Christmas Gift to Others

We are putting on a devotional Christmas Program throughout our mission. We work with the local missionaries serving in the stake or districts. So far we've done the program in both Santiago Stakes and both Tuguegarao Stakes, also in Ilagan Stake and Burgos District. We tell the story of the signs of Christ's birth as recorded by the inhabitants in the American Continent. For years their prophets had foretold of a night without darkness as being the sign that Christ was born in Bethlehem. The unbelievers set a date wherein all believers would be killed if the signs didn't come to pass. Just prior to those mass executions an angel of the Lord appeared and said, "do not be afraid, for tonight the signs will be fulfilled."

We sing songs and have narration. It's so much fun and our gift to the local members and their friends. We love seeing the expressions on the people's faces when they hear four-part acapella for the first time or see our costumed characters stand and tell their stories. Many have never heard a violin and they get excited when Elder Shaner starts to play.

Santiago Stakes

Elder Kaloni (Nephi) and Elder Amoi (Samuel the Lamanite)

Our beautiful angel--Sister Forcadas

President surprised the missionaries with a little snack from McDonalds before the performance began.

We needed a little food in our tummies to give us the energy to do our best.

We're so glad Elder Shaner brought his violin with him. It adds so much to our programs!

Afterwards we had fun visiting with the missionaries and members who attended.

Burgos District

Our cast consisted of Elder Wooden as Nephi, Sister Joame as the angel and Elder Amoreda as Samuel the Lamanite. (A lot of people thought I type casted the angel!)

Elder Salvador, Sister Tabudlong and Elder Galang--the Burgos program was on a Sunday so no McDonalds--we had to snack on peanut butter and jelly instead!

Enjoying a quick break before the members started coming in the doors.

Elder Penaranda, Sister Janda and Elder Andaya are enjoying their little snack.

We love these Burgos members. They are so friendly.

One of them insisted I wear the Ifugao headdress for the picture!

We have enjoyed a good turnout in every one of our devotionals so far this year! We're so pleased that the members have been so supportive. They are so quick to thank us for our efforts! Watch for more pictures of other devotionals!

New Missionaries and Their Trainers Come to Cauayan

Three weeks after they stepped off the overnight bus from Manila our new missionaries came back to Cauayan for more training and this time they came with their trainers. We always love to connect again after they have arrived to provide some additional orientation, and check on how things are going with their 12 Week Training Program. It's always a fun-filled day.

We always "begin with the end in mind," and have them write down how they want to be remembered at the end of their mission. Then we had an activity where  each companionship chose 3 words that will be used during their cycles together as a guide. They made a poster to hang in their apartments and shared their 3 words with the rest of the group.

Elder Cuartel with his new missionary--Elder Kanloni.

Sister Vaisagote and her trainer Sister Bigay. Their 3 words? "Obey with Exactness!"

Sister Barcela is training Sister Mamea. They are serving in Roxas.

"Promise Blessings Await," are Elder Dulaca and Elder Fry's 3 words. Elder Fry is Elder Dulaca's tatay in Cordon.

Elder Coronel and his tatay--Elder Amoi.

"Serve Him First," is Elder Mousley and Elder Indino's motto. They are serving in Tuguegarao.

Elder De Guzman with his tatay--Elder Reher who plede to "Walk in Faith!"

Elder Salvador and his anak--Elder Findlay.

Elder Reyes and Elder Betancourt are serving in Naguilian. Their three words are "All for Him."

Sister Kushi and her trainer, Sister Saez.

Elder Cass and trainer, Elder Wellman's poster said, "Open Your Heart."

Elder Dionisio and his son in the mission Elder Wightman.

We couldn't feel better about this new batch of missionaries. They have amazing trainers and they are here to serve the Lord. We can't wait to watch them blossom as  they forget about their own needs and get lost in serving others!

It's Beginning to Look at Lot Like Christmas

Brother Batara our night guard loves decorating the mission compound with lights and we have always loved  Christmas lights. So the day after Thanksgiving Brother Batara got busy. It's so fun to walk around the yard each night and see so many of our neighbors lined up at the fence enjoying the Christmas lights.

Sister Laker decorated this tree, which is on the outside entrance to our office. At night it is very visible from the street and is so beautiful.

I love nativity sets and have them on display all over the place. This one is on the counter in the office.

This set was carved by a carver in Laguna. It is special because it's a filipino version. Instead of wisemen there are merchants with rice, mangoes and bananas, instead of shepherds there is a rice farmer with his carabao. The facial features are typically filipino. I think every culture can think about the gifts they would bring to the Christ child.

This photo doesn't do justice to this exquisitely carved set. It was carved by Brother Cajumban, one of our former assistant's father. Each piece is a work of art. We have loved adding this set to our collection.

This inexpensive set was purchased in Banaue, it's much simpler in design but I love it just the same.

My folks bought me this darling bear nativity set a few years ago. I'm so glad I brought it because missionaries and visitors to the mission home really enjoy seeing it!

This was the first nativity set we got close to 40 years ago. I love it's simplicity and glad that I brought it here to enjoy.

My sister made this beautiful nativity wall hanging and gave it to me right before we came to the Philippines. We have hung it up every year here and I plan on bringing it home with me.

The walls are decorated with holiday wreaths.

The poinsettias are everywhere!

The stockings are hung on the stairs with care.

This tree is in our office and is enjoyed by all who stop by.

This tree is displayed in the living room of the mission home. It has hundreds of tiny white lights and cobalt blue and gold ornaments. We brought this tree with us from the US but will probably leave it here for the mission home. (It's very hard to find good quality artificial trees here!)

Yes it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas except that out in the yard we had this surprise...

I purchased this potted orchid last May and have been so mad that it never bloomed. Last week I checked on it and saw 7 GIANT blossoms--just in time for Christmas. It's hard to tell here but they are the size of a small salad plate. Now blooming orchids--that's not something I usually associate with Christmas--I guess unless you live in the Philippines.