P-Day Visit from Elder Sulla

Elder Sulla has a reputation for being a great cook. Currently he is serving as zone leader in Burgos. President had heard about his famous chicken lollipops and last time he saw Elder Sulla he asked him when he was going to be able to taste them. So it was decided that Elder Sulla and his companion, Elder Nay would come down on P-Day and make them. We got the ingredients and invited a few closeby elders to come for lunch. They truly lived up to their reputation. Wow, they were delicious.

 Elder Sulla is a great cook and a great elder!

 Elder Dionisio and his companion Elder Reher happened to come to the mission office for some business and were quickly invited over to share in the good food.

 Elder Betancourt goes back for some more!

Elder Reher was glad he stopped by the mission office just in time for lunch!

We loved, loved, loved those chicken lollipops! Thanks Elder Sulla.

General Conference

It's April and President Carlos is busy doing his quarterly interviews with the missionaries. He decided to conduct Cauayan's Zone interviews before and in between the sessions of General Conference. During the break on Sunday we had the Cauayan Zone come over for a spaghetti dinner. This is such a lively and fun group of missionaries that we really had a lot of fun spending a little time with them!
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 Elder Volpe dines with the zone leaders: Elder Ardon and Elder Coleman

 After dinner and before the next session started, we had a few minutes to play a rousing game of Spoons.

 These folks were competitive, and quick!

It's always such a treat to spend a little time one-on-one with these great missionaries!

After we were physically feed and rejuvenated by the game we returned to be spiritually fed by the great talks. We all marveled at the amazing talks and felt like so many seemed to focus on missionary work.

It's Youth Conference Time!

Summer vacation for students here in the Philippines is April and May. It's the hottest time of year! School resumes the second week of June. So every district and stake is busy hosting youth camps, youth conferences and temple trips.

We were recently asked to be the Devotional Speakers for Burgos' Youth Conference, held in Santa Ana. This is quite a drive and we couldn't leave until after our new missionary/trainers orientation. That meant we had a lot of driving to do in a short amount of time in order to be there first thing in the morning for the devotional. President asked the Assistants to come and help do the driving and help us do the devotional. It was such a fun trip and we loved spending some time with those great youth from Burgos District.

 Look at these beautiful youth! We had so much fun with them.

 Here they are preparing for their cultural event by practicing the tinikling! Watch out ankles!

 Our course, the youth were more excited to see the Assistants than they were to see us!

 They came to the devotional in their Sunday best and were very reverent and attentive.

 Each  unit had their picture taken and this was the youth from the little branch of Gamu. I was surprised with how many youth came from that branch. It was only for those 14 and over.

After the devotional, President ordered the assistants and I to take a 2-hour P-Day and play a little at the beach. This was such a treat since all the beaches in our mission boundaries are inaccessible. The water was so clear and we had a blast just wading a little. We so appreciate having such good, dependable assistants!

The Philippines Cauayan MIssion was BLESSED!

Our mission was blessed with a visit from Elder Brent Nielson and Sister Nielson, who is in the Philippines Area Presidency. They came a day early for Tuguegarao North Stake Conference which enabled them to meet with all of the missionaries. Doing one session for our southern half of the mission and another the next day for the rest of the mission, they taught so many amazing principles. They focused on a talk by Elder Bednar on the Atonement which teaches that the atonement offers both redemptive power (the power to overcome our sins and be forgiven) and enabling power (which can help us to become better than we could do on our own). He also taught us that we get what we go for and he enlightened as to what we need to do to more fully establish the church here in the Philippines. For close to three hours we all sat at their feet and soaked in the spirit and the wise counsel.

We love Elder and Sister Nielson and appreciate their generosity and time. We were richly blessed by their visit.

Friday Meeting with the missionaries serving in Bambang, Solano, Santiago, Alicia and Cauayan.

 Saturday morning meeting with the missionaries serving in Tuguegarao, Ilgan, Burgos and Roxas.

New Missionary/Trainer Orientation

We invited our latest batch of new missionaries back for a little more training. They came with their trainers and we had a wonderful time together. This batch was so excited to see each other after been in the mission field for a few weeks. They had so many stories to share with each other! With 24 great new missionaries we are so excited about this mission!

 A group from the Provo MTC

 Batchmates from the Manila MTC

 More from the Manila MTC

 Sister Phillips is training Sister Broqueza

 Sister Acoba with her trainer Sister Wilkins. These two are starting to dress alike!

 Nanay Sister Diola with her anak Sister Perlas

 Sister Fanugao with her trainer Sister Gardoce (I had the privilege to work with them one afternoon and I was so impressed with them. They are a powerful duo!)

 Sister Flory is training Sister Alicando!

These two new trainers were swapping stories--Elder Betancourt and Elder Marshall

 Sister Daelo and her new missionary--Sister Carbaquil

 Companions were completing an activity

They had to select 3 words that could be used in a poster to be there guide during their training period.

 Elder Hepworth with his trainer Elder Valdez

 Elder Doney and his trainer Elder Delector

 Elder Sarcauga is training Elder Ceguadrau

 In the front  row is Elder Volpe and his trainer Elder Allen and then there's Elder Bangal with his trainer Elder Betancourt

Elder Maagad and Elder Linnell are inspired to work hard because of their LOVE of CHRIST.

 Elder Volpe and Elder Allen were very creative with their "Many are Waiting" poster

 "Forget Yourself and Go to Work!" What a great slogan Elder Doney!

 Sister Stabenow and her trainer selected "Listen with Love!"

 Elder Bahr's motto is "Never Back Down!"

Elder Hepworth's is "Never Give UP!"

 I love this motto: Trust in God by Elder Labetoria and his trainer Elder Odom

 Elder Bangal and his trainer came up with this great motto: It's about them!

 Keeping "Him in Mind" will certainly help Elder Rumbaoa

 Someone has great talent for doing lettering. Is it Elder Manabo or his companion? This motto is Come unto Christ!

 Elder Dariagan and his companion believe that OYM is Fun (Open your mouth!)

 Raising the Bar is what Elder Belaro and his companion are planning on doing during their 12 weeks training period.

 Inspiration, hydration and communication is important to Elder Rocamada.

Elder Ceguadrau explains his very philosophical poster.

Sister Carbaquil will "Work For Miracles!"

 Sister Fanugao and her trainer Sister Gardoce are going with Walk with Purpose

 Sister Broqueza and Sister Phillips pledge to serve with smiles!

 It's pretty simple isn't it? Just Love One Another and the work will go forth. Thanks Elder Masacayan!

 Sister Alicando and Sister Flory plan to "Seize the Day!"

 Elder Camain believes we should Love One Another

 "Just Work Hard" will get the work done, won't it? Elder Cabaltica's great motto.

 Sister Perlas and Sister Diola will Serve with Love

I'm not sure why we don't have a photo of Elder Heumann, he is such a enthusiastic and prepared missionary. We love him to death! We will have to get some photos of him! We feel so good about this new batch of missionaries. The work is in good hands. It will be hard to say goodbye to them in a few months!