Moving Day for Ramon Elders

Sister Shaner and I were delegated to help the elders in Ramon move to a new apartment. The assistants and Elder Samar and Elder Golightly came along to help. We were so proud of Elder Allen and Elder Oliva who had everything packed and ready to move. We tried to leave their old apartment spic and span--so I spent most of my time cleaning and mopping. In the end, they are now in a beautiful new apartment with four elders instead of two elders. Ramon is a lucky area to have four great elders.

 Elder Huffstutler, Elder Miole, Elder Allen and Elder Samar load the trucks.

 Elder Golightly carries the clothes rack, Elder Oliva and Elder Huffstutler grab fans.

We loaded both trucks to the brim but made it in two trips. I failed to get photos of their beautiful new apartment.

Visiting Santiago North District Meeting

On Tuesdays we always visit a district meeting. We are always so impressed with the care that our district leaders take to prepare spiritual lessons that focus on our Mission Training Plan. This week we attended a district meeting in Santiago Zone with Elder Oliva as the district leader. We were very impressed with his great meeting. Way to go Elder Oliva! Best of all we could feel the presence of the true teacher--the holy spirit in the meeting.
They were talking about helping a new investigator to see the big picture and understand the purpose of their lessons.

 Here two of our new sisters work (Sister Tulikihihifo and Sister Len Wai work with Elder Griffin and Elder Cuartel to solve a puzzle).

Elder Amoi, Elder Saracauga and Elder Allen try to put the puzzle together.

The object was to create a square using the puzzle pieces, but whenever we did it there was always one square left over. In order to use it you had to really think outside the box and use the shapes in an unconventional way. The groups were finally able to solve it when they got to look at the answer key. It's like that for many of us--we are more successful if we use Preach My Gospel, instead of our own ideas when teaching.

Senior Couples--What Would We Do Without Them?

We can't say enough about the value of senior couples. We currently have four wonderful senior couples.

The Gottfredsons serve Alicia District focusing primarily on Alicia 1 and 3 and Jones. Elder Gottfredson offers lots of leadership support to those units. Sister Gottfredson teaches piano lessons to numerous students in that district. They also teach a strengthening marriage class. In addition, they assist the mission by overseeing our Career Workshop and offering a one-on-one goal setting session with our departing missionaries. They also handle all the mail in our commisary.

The Mills serve in Burgos District focusing primarily on Gamu and Caligian branches. Sister Mills is teaching music conducting and piano lessons. Elder Mills is working closely with the branch leaders. They have been teaching a missionary prep course for Burgos district. They also oversee our mission's CLS program. (Companionship Language Study) This is a new program for our filipino missionaries to help them learn English. At the end of their mission they will be tested by an International Organization who will determine their level of English proficiency.

The Lakers serve in Naguilian Branch. They offer leadership and member support. They have been teaching a New Testament Institute Class every Saturday. When they aren't in Naguilian they are found in our office as Elder Laker is our mission Finance Secretary and Sister Laker is President's Secretary and he calls her the office's Sargeant at Arms. She handles so many things that it would make your head swirl if I tried to list them.

The Shaners serve in Roxas District focusing now on Mallig Branch. They offer leadership and member support. They have helped the branch to get a strong Young Men and Young Women organization going. In addition Elder Shaner serves as the mission presidency's executive secretary. They also are our housing coordinators. With close to 70 apartments that we rent and maintain you can imagine that their phone is always beeping! This job keeps them running most hours of the day. Elder Shaner also edits our mission newsletter and Sister Shaner teaches piano in various branches. I think to date she's had 30 or more graduates of her piano course. The Shaners have been teaching a mission preparation course in Roxas each Saturday.

In addition, all of these wonderful missionaries help with mission activities and training. The sisters just finished our wonderful LDS Music Workshop. We took the program to every stake and district in our mission. We are now gearing up for our Christmas Devotional which will focus on the account of that first Christmas taken from the Book of Mormon. The evening will be full of music, and costumed speakers. We will join with the missionaries in each area and do the devotional 10 times during the month of December. It should be a wonderful way to celebrate the holidays with the members and guests.

Each Sunday we gather for a meeting where couples can share their successes and ideas and also seek advice from each other. Once a month we begin with a dinner. We truly enjoy each other's company. Not only are these fantastic missionaries they are also becoming great friends.

                                                      The Shaners and the Gottfredsons

                                                                           The Lakers

                                                                         The Mills
Our Assistants, Elder Miole and Elder Huffstutler, often come to our meetings when their schedule allows.

Imelda's Birthday

This year I asked Imelda, our housekeeper, if she'd rather have a day at the spa with one of her friends or if she'd rather have the cash to spend while she's in Manila in October. She is going to go with her branch on a temple trip. First, she didn't know what a day at the spa entailed. I told her about the massages, facials and pedicures and she just giggled. It didn't take her but a minute to decide--she wanted the cash! So on her birthday I made a cake and we surprised her with a group of senior missionaries and the assistants. We sang Happy Birthday and then ate cake and icecream with her. Later she took the rest of the cake home to share with her family. I gave her a bag with a coin purse with her birthday money. I think she liked it!

Happy Birthday Imelda! Thank you for your hard work in keeping the Mission Home clean and beautiful!

I ALWAYS Love Thursdays!

Every Thursday our housekeeper Imelda changes our sheets and I always look forward to jumping into bed on Thursday night enjoying the sweet smell and feel of clean sheets.

It is on Thursdays that I can sometimes break away and work with sister missionaries--which is one of my favorite activities.

And it is always on a Thursday that we get to greet our new missionaries. Last Thursday we greeted 14 brand new, wide-eyed missionaries. This is one of our biggest batches and we were very excited to get to know them. Seven came from the Provo MTC and seven came from the Manila MTC.

Top Row: Elder Bundy, Sister Peckham, Sister Wilkins, Sister Tulikihihifo, Sister Len Wai, Elder Pareja, Elder Marshall, Elder Datario. Center Row: Elder Opalda, Sister Manguil, Elder Defacto, Elder Carascal. Front Row: Elder Woodruff and Elder Benosa.

Our Transfer Meeting--With so many new missionaries we had a very large transfer meeting (only those missionaries involved in the transfer come to the meeting). We had the most beautiful rendition of "Nearer My God to Thee" sung by one of our batches from the Provo MTC that just celebrated their 1 year mark in the mission.

Elder Ilagan and Elder Reher did a piano duet for I Need Thee Every Hour and it was absolutely gorgeous.

We are excited about our new missionaries. We could feel their eager spirits raring to go Preach the Gospel. We look forward to working with each one of them.

Sometimes I HATE Wednesdays!

Let me clarify that statement--every six weeks I HATE Wednesdays. Why? Because that is the time we have to part with some of our most beloved missionaries. Their time here is up and we send them home. I always shed some tears and get a lump in my throat.

This Wednesday wasn't any better. We said goodbye to five dear missionaries.

Here they are settled on the bus ready to head to Manila. They look pretty optimistic before their 12 hour bus ride!
From Left: Elder Bautista, Bean, McGuffin, Sister Pulu and Sister Roncal.


Waiting at the bus station for just the right bus/

Before the head to the bus station we gather for one last family prayer in the mission home.

Sister Saez and Sister Barcela came to the departing missionary fireside to wish the missionaries farewell.

Missionaries gather at the podium after the fireside.

Elder Llorin, Bluth, Averion, Lasay and Abitona. What they are powerful missionaries!

Elder Robinson, Amoi, Reher and Sister Hoopes came to say goodbye.

Some of our last batch see each other for the first time in 6 weeks. Sister Morales, Elder Juco (Elder Miole--Assistant) and Elder Juzgaya.

Elder SUlla (love the sweat rag on your head!) Elder Acu, Laurente and Macaisa try to look tough, but we all know better.

Also new from last batch, Elder Phippen, Robertson and Sister Vea who were at the Provo MTC together. It seems like yesterday they arrived here. This past 6 weeks has flown by!

Each missionary had time to pose with President in front of our beautiful mission logo. Sister Roncal is so darling. We love her and the rest of this batch.

Sister Roncal organized a singing group made up of her and her former companions. They sang at the departure fireside, "If the Savior Stood Beside Me."

Sister Pulu asked Sister Bigay and Elder Miole to sing a duet. It was Elder Mioles first time to sing in front of a group. I've always thought he had a great voice. When it was over he sat beside me and whispered, "That was my first and last time to do that." We sure hope both these missionaries continue to share their great talents.

Career Workshop

Every 12 weeks we sponsor a one day Career Workshop for the next two batches of departing missionaries. For the past couple of years we have used the services of the Employment Center from Santiago Stake. We so appreciate the many wonderful volunteers who have helped us in the past.  Recently President Carlos wanted to turn our workshop over to one of our great senior couples and so this time Elder and Sister Gottfredson led the workshop. We had about 15 missionaries come to participate and all were engaged and enjoyed the day. They left feeling like it was well worth their time. The program has been designed by the church and is available to all adults throughout the world. Elder Gottfredson used the existing program and helped missionaries to see what valuable work skills they had acquired on their missions. He taught them how to market these skills when they are applying for a job.

Elder Rosal and Elder Bautista work together during one of the activities.

It's hard to believe that Sister Dhikao and Sister Villamor are going to be leaving us in the near future. Oh, how we love these sisters!

Sister Pulu and Sister Roncal are both leaving with our September batch. We can't bear to think of them being gone home!

Sister Montejo and Sister Adino practice sharing their "I am" statements with each other. These are two very powerful young women!

Sister Gottfredson was very impressed with Sister Certicio's ideas and goals.

Elder Schmidt and Elder Bean share their ideas and have some laughs along the way.

Elder Gottfredson is a master teacher and everyone learned so much from him.

The senior couples came and helped with mock interviews at the end of the day. After our graduation ceremony the missionaries headed back to give their all in the remaining days and weeks they have left as missionaries in the Philippines Cauyan Mission.
(Top: Elder Valdez, Bean, McGuffin, Griffin, Bautista, Schmidt, Rosal and Velez. Middle Row: Sister Dhikao, Villamor, Montejo, Certicio, Adino, Roncal and Pulu. Front: Sister and Elder Shaner, The Gottfredsons and the Carlos'. Not sure where the Lakers and the Mills were during picture taking time but they helped a well.

We have no doubt that these missionaries will be ready to take on the world when they return home. We are excited to see what lies ahead for them.

Leadership Training--Becoming Master Teachers---From the Beginning

During our leadership training we presented our mission training schedule for the next four weeks. We are focusing on teaching our brand new missionaries, helping to see the purpose of our visits and setting goals with them.

 This was just one way we role played during our training session. Missionaries had 45 seconds to share their vision with the new investigator. Then we moved down the row and practiced again.

 After 2.5 hours of training we gathered in the Mission Home for spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, peach/blueberry cobbler, which gave everyone time to visit with each other.

Elder Acu serves as a district leader and Elder Gloria is one of our zone leaders.

Monthly ZLC

The first Wednesday of each month finds our zone leaders gathered in the Mission Home for their Zone Leader Council. Every other month their meeting is followed by leadership training with the addition of all our district leaders. This month happened to be one of those months with leadership training following.

Our zone leaders all arrived early! This is quite a feat since some came from far away and to be here by 9 am means they have to leave home early in the morning. President believes it's good to make some sacrifices as leaders and this is good for our missionaries.

We always begin with a little snack, I made a ton of banana muffins to go along with bananas and juice.

Then we got down to business. President always has a number of concerns or training items to present to the council and then there is time for zone leaders to ask questions or get help from their fellow zone leaders.

I always look around the room at all their faces and am so proud of each one of them. These are wonderful, strong, powerful young men!

 We often read and study scriptures together to bring the spirit to our meetings.

 Elder Molino, Alfonso, Schmidt, Reyes and Nay are just 6 of our 22 zone leaders.

                                      Elder Hamblin and Elder Rocaberte find the scripture.

                                    There's always a lively discussion where leaders share their ideas.

                           President talks about some of the recent successes of our mission.

A Few Recent Baptisms

We always get excited when we get to attend some of the baptisms in our mission. There hasn't been a week go by without baptisms in the Philippines Cauayan Mission. It is always exciting as that is our first charge as missionaries--to bring souls unto Christ. The first step in that process is to teach them Christ's gospel and invite them to be baptized. Then their exciting journey begins as they begin a new life. It's always a thrill to witness this first step in their eternal journey.

We love this wonderful family. Elder Miole and Elder Huffstutler, our assistants to the president, taught this great family. We have had them into our  home for Family Home Evening and we were thrilled to be able to witness their baptism!

Elder Golightly and Elder Samar taught this family. Their father and older sister were baptized earlier. Now it was time for three children.

Elder Needs and Elder Macaisa taught these three darling college aged girls. After their baptisms they shared their new and budding testimonies--wow, these are powerful young women.

The YSAs (Young Single Adults) joined together and sang a beautiful song at the baptism of the three girls (from the above photo). I loved that they all came in full support to welcome these wonderful new members.

 

Elder Rosal and Elder Sarcauga taught this young man. I believe he is 20 years old. Unfortunately I got there a few minutes late and missed the photo opportunity when he was dressed in white. But we were able to witness his baptism. He is a fantastic new member!

 

Working with the Sister Missionaries

It's always such a treat for me to break away and spend an afternoon working with some of our sister missionaries. My goal is to do that at least once a week and when it happens I come back just filled with love for our great sister missionaries and filled with so much love for those they teach. Unfortunately I don't always remember to take some pictures.

Cabatuan Sisters

 Sister Cajigal and Sister Klein serve in Cabatuan. I was so impressed with Sister Klein's ability to communicate with those they were teaching. She was quite new on the day I tagged along and there she was teaching in tagalog! These two are very good teachers.

As we walked down a little lane to visit an investigator, I saw this huge carabao wallowing in the brook. It was so hot out that I almost jumped in with him.

Alicia 3 Sisters

 Sister Panganiban and Sister Vea were teaching a family that happen to live near our beloved brother. This amazing man has been a member of the church for 10 years. His legs and on arm are badly crippled from polio that he contracted as a baby. He puts strips of rubber tires on his knees and he can walk on his knees. When we visited him that day we found him out wedding his okra garden--on his knees. When he first joined the church he had to walk on his knees to church. I was at least a 45 minute walk over all kinds of rough terrain. He never missed a Sunday. Later the elder's quorum banded together and built him the bike you see in the background. A bike gear is positioned high enough so that he can spin it with his good hand. Now he is able to drive to church. Despite his condition he is such a happy and positive man. He lives in a modest home with his 90+ mother, whom he cares for every day. What an inspiration this man is to all of us!

Sister Panganiban and Sister Vea are teaching this beautiful mother and her son. They plan to be baptized this month. Sister Vea is brand new coming from American Samoa. This was only her second visit to this family and I could just feel the love she had for them. She gets it! The best missionaries forget about themselves and love the people. What a dynamic team.