Random Shots

I wanted to post some of these random shots of recent events where we got to spend a little time with some of the great missionaries from the Philippines Cauayan Mission.

 
A sunny day in front of the Cauayan District Center--it's Elder Zeigler and Elder Huffstutler. (Elder Zeigler is a zone leader and Elder H is one of President's assistants.)

 We were just loading our car after the Tuguegarao South Stake Conference and what did I see? A group of the world's best missionaries looking down at me!

Three of our district leaders: Elder Rostedt, Elder Smith and Elder Dixon. We love these elders!

During a recent visit to an Ilagan Zone District Meeting we got to watch these great elders participate in a listening activity. One companion described a picture while the other companion drew it. Elder Aquiton and his companion, Elder Laurente here at the front of the photo won the contest!


Sister Bigay described the picture and Sister Vaisagote listened and drew at the Ilagan's district meeting.

Visting Ekder Isaac James district meeting in Tumauini. (Elder Horlucas, James and Nielsen)


 Tumauini District with Elder Dionisio, Elder Wightman, Elder Carascal, Elder Daniels and Elder Nielsen. Elder Daniels was making a comment.


Visiting the office on transfer day. There's Elder Phippin, Elder Lisaca, Elder Llorin and Elder McLaughlin. It seems everyone has some business to take care of in the office on transfer day. It's a very busy place!

Elder Cruz and Sister Saez were waiting for their pick up at the commissary. You can see Sister Laker in the background. Our senior couples do overtime as they assist our missionaries. It takes an entire crew to service all their requests.

Sister Webre went home last December but came back this November and took a minute out of her busy traveling schedule to have dinner at the mission home. We loved visiting with Sister Webre and her mother. She continues to amaze us with the life she is leading. We are so proud of her! After dinner they were off to the bus for an all night bus ride to the temple in Manila to witness a very special family's sealing.


 President made a delicious salmon and pasta dish for Sister Webre and her mother. These two were very adventurous travelers! We loved hearing about their trip--in Banue they slept in the Ifugao huts. In Mallig they stayed with a little family Sister Webre had taught in their tiny bamboo house.

 After a recent baptism in Burgos we were invited to a party at the district president's house, which happens to be next door to Elder Cass and Elder Wellman's apartment. We enjoyed having a little extra time to visit with these great elders.

Elder Wooden is one of the zone leaders in the Burgos Zone with Elder Miole, one of President's assistants.

Inside the Burgos Branch President's home. Look at all this beautiful food. They even made nachos which tasted like home. What a thoughtful gift for all the American missionaries! We love our church leaders they are so kind.

The sisters are gathering for the Alicia District Annual VT Conference. These were the sisters who arrived on time. The rest eventually got there. I really missed Sister Breese this day as she and I were the speakers for several years at this event and these are her sisters from Alicia District--the district where she served for both years.

Elder Gottfredson spoke at the Alicia VT Conference. He did a great job. Eventually all the chairs were filled and they had a great crowd. Afterwards there were skits and dancing performed by each branch. I had to rush off to a baptism right after we spoke so I didn't get to see the dancing this year.

President loves to attend weekly planning sessions with our missionaries. Here he is in Gamu with Elder Armoreda.

Elder Oliva asked that President and I join in and play a game during one of his district meetings in Santiago North Zone.

We actually did very well and so President gave me a high five when we were done!

One Saturday we had some business in Santiago and President decided to invite the local missionaries there to meet us for lunch. This was Elder Kaloni's first week and we took him to Chow King and encouraged him to get one of their famous halo halos. (It's a strange drink that everyone seems to love here, with ice cream, ice, beans, unflavored gelatin, rice krispies, etc. The word halo means mix and that's how you eat it. You mix up all these strange ingredients and enjoy.) Elder Kaloni tried it but didn't like it much. Maybe it's an acquired taste.

 On the other hand, Elder Fry loves halo halo as does his new companion Elder Dulaca.

Welcome to the Philippines Cauayan Mission

We seem to be blessed with the best missionaries here in the Philippines Cauayan Mission. They come ready to learn and grow and work hard. This month we received 14 wonderful new missionaries.

From left to right: Front row: Sister Vaisagote (American Samoa), Sister Kushi (Pakistan), Sister Mamea (American Samoa), Elder Wightman (Idaho), Elder Betancourt (Virginia), Elder De Guzman (Pampanga), Elder Coronel (Manila), Elder Dulaca (General Santos), and Elder Findlay (Utah). Back row: Elder Cass (St. George), Elder Berends (New Zealand), Elder Kaloni (Utah) and Elder Indino (Cagayan De Oro).

 After the long flight from the US (for those attending the Provo MTC) and then the all night bus ride from the Manila MTC (where those from Provo meet up with the Manila batch) our missionaries are exhausted when they arrive. (They arrived about 6:00 am)

 We always do a quick introduction to get to know the missionaries better.

 Despite their weariness these missionaries were excited about the events planned for the day.

 We quickly take photos to send home and for the transfer board and then we eat a BIG breakfast.

 We conduct a brief orientation (they will come back in a few weeks for more orientation). Then we give them an hour for rest and showers. Every nook and cranny of the mission home was used to give these missionaries a little space to relax.

 Some took advantage of nap time.

 I don't think it took them more than an minute to fall asleep.

Now how's that for a dedicated missionary! He fell asleep with the Book of Mormon in his hand!

We look forward to getting to know these missionaries better in the near future. We can already tell that they are here to work hard and assist in the Lord's work in this very special part of the vineyard!

Here we go again--it's time to say goodbye.

It seems like each 6-week cycle is flying by and we are always faced with saying goodbye to missionaries whom we revere and love. This time we had to part with 10 of our very finest missionaries.

 Goodbye to 5 Great Elders and 5 Amazing Sister missionaries.
Left to right Elder Schmidt, Griffin, Velez, Valdez and Rosal.
Sister Dhikao, Adino, Certicio, Montejo and Villamor. Thank you for you wonderful contribution to the people in the Philippines Cauayan Mission!

 The Alicia Zone sang a beautiful hymn (it was a request from Sister Dhikao).

 Sister Montejo and Sister Adino sang a duet. We will miss their lovely voices.



 Many elders and sisters came for the Farewell Fireside (the rule is you can come if you can get back to your area that same night.)

 Elder Mousley, Phippen and Marshall got to see each other--they were friends from the MTC.

 Same batch--Sister Morales, Juco and Juzcaya.

 Elder Needs translated for the Mills during the meeting.

 These are great missionaries who came from all over to show their love and support to those who are going home.

 Missionaries and members alike came from all over to hear their final testimonies.

 Our two darling sisters from Alingingan.

 We sang "Till We Meet Again" as these missionaries stood and faced the audience. Lots of tears were shed.

 Our departing sisters during the closing song.

 Sister Peckham and Manquil came from Tuguegarao.

 This sister came from our farthest town to tell Elder Griffen thank you for finding her, teaching her and baptising her. She cried the entire night.

 These missionaries departed on October 31--Halloween. The senior sisters all joined together and wore silly hats and passed out halloween candy after the fireside.

 These darling sisters came to say goodbye to Sister Montejo.

 Sister Dhikao with Sister George and Sister Rafique--they became very dear friends as they all served so far from home.

 Elder Woodruff is about to begin his second cycle. Elder Dixon was happy to see so many of his mission friends.

Elder Coleman and Elder Smith were able to attend.

Recent Baptisms!

Whenever there are over 25 baptisms on one Saturday we wake up smiling and don't quit smiling until we fall in bed later than night. But the same is true when we only have a few baptisms. Any baptism makes our hearts dance and puts  big smiles on our faces. Unfortunately we can't witness every baptism but we do go to as many as we can every week! It's one of our favorite activities in the mission.

In Santiago--

I did an earlier blog post about visiting a precious family for Family Home Evening. Well this is the tatay (father of that family) and we were fortunate enough to be able to attend his baptism. Many of his children and grandchildren are preparing for their baptisms later this month.

 A large group of Santiago missionaries sang at the baptism.

 Tatay bears his powerful testimony to those who attended the services.

 Sister Morales and Sister Hoopes taught this darling young woman and they also serve in one the Santiago Wards.

In Cabatuan--

 Sister Klein and Sister Saez taught this great young man. He is already looking at serving a mission in a year or two.

 What is better than to have a baptism on your birthday? Sister Saez couldn't have imagined a better birthday and the members of the Cabatuan branch surprised her with all kinds of yummy treats following the baptism.

 See what I mean about smiling on Saturdays?

 The sweet sisters in Alicia asked us to pick up a birthday surprise and deliver it to Sister Saez. We could barely fit them in our car!

In Burgos--

 The four sister missionaries in Burgos Zone showed their support to the elders serving in Burgos by singing at their baptismal service.

 Elder Cass arrived two days prior to this baptism. Wow, to have a baptism your first week in the field--how great is that? He spoke and blew us away. He did much of it in tagalog. He was totally impressive!

 Elder Wellman and Elder Cass at the baptism of this amazing young father.

 His wife grew up in the church and now the couple has their sights set on being sealed in the temple!

In San Mateo--

 Sister Ramos and Sister Cajigal are our dynamic duo---they are two very powerful missionaries and have loved teaching this young man.

 The sister missionaries joined with some of the young women in the branch to sing at the baptism.