Pictures from Jan 4 -14, 2024

Missionary Leadership Council Meeting - January 3, 2024

This is Blessie. She is the one who made all of the quilts for Mary (President Bingham's Mom) years ago! Blessie cried & had goose bumps when we talked about Mary! She lives in our mission. We visited her place to buy a quilt for one of the senior missionaries that are heading home.

Dinner with President & Rres Dulay. Stake President of Mabalacat Stake

The missionaries that have been 4-weeks in the mission. New missionary follow-up training.

Fire is a stake center in our mission.

I don't think there are any answers yet. I think the fire was in the chapel. The chapel is the room on the 2nd floor

My favorite Nacia tree. it’s huge.

Yes- It’s the Savior that saves. I marvel at who He is & what He has done for each of us! I rejoice in this knowledge.

These boys raced us on the street. They were saying to us the whole time - “give me money!”f

Teaching with Sister Zabate & Sister Fernandez the Pascal family & Mary Grace

The bishop of the Birbira ward.

Michael with Elder Llano & Elder Jaud

This is Sister Maybelle Salcedo and her younger brother. She is the legal guardian for her two younger siblings. But she wants to serve a mission so bad! Her branch president is going to take care of her two siblings so she can serve. She will submit her papers in May. There are so many challenging situations here in the Philippines. The people are so filled with faith.

We went to church in the Dapdap branch today. This is the building where they meet. The branch was filled with many members and interested friends - and lots of kids! We heard so many beautiful testimonies. Driving to Dapdap reminds me of driving to Santa Cruz. (Michael doesn't really think so... we can let Courtney & Matt decide when they visit). Always an adventure.

One of the young women that we met at FSY last summer. She is 16 years old. She loves to bear her testimony and loves to answer questions. She wants to serve a mission. She is the only member in her family.

3 Siblings from a family of 9 kids. The Salunga siblings. The young man on President's left is a retuned missionary, Marvin Salunga. He served in the Cebu mission. He was the first to join the church and the first to serve as a missionary. His younger brother, on the right joined the church about a year ago. He served as a counselor at FSY last summer, where we met him. He will apply for his mission in May. The sister is 17 years old. She was baptized in December. She wants to serve a mission as well. We heard her bear her testimony today in testimony meeting. What a joy.

Was the Savior a "teaching" missionary OR a "service" missionary? The service missionaries have been "integrated" into our mission. We met them all yesterday. Elder Rosales, Elder Tanganon, Elder Guiterrez, Elder Clemente, Elder Tiglao, and Sister Rivera. Elder & Sister De La Cruz are the Service Mission Leaders.

Lunch! Filipinos LOVE chicken so I am sure KFC does well here.

Sister Rivera from Victoria, Tarlac. I got to sit next to this sweet sister when we watched the Christ Child at our December Zone Conference. I love sharing a spiritual event with a missionary.

Elder Clemente. He is a wonderful missionary. He is so helpful to a couple of our missionaries in Camiling. He also serves as his ward mission leader. He is good at family history. He has already been a blessing to our mission.

Elder Tanganon from Vargas, Santa Ignacia.

Elder Rosales from Mabalacat

Elder Guitierrez from Mabalacat. He attended our December Zone Conference. It was fun to introduce him to other missionaries. Elder G has a trike (motorcycle with a sidecar). He touched my heart.

Elder Tiglao from Angeles.

The baptism of Brother Vhan. His uncle baptized him. His grandmother was one of the witnesses from medical chair because of her age and failing health. His parents are taking the discussions now. Happy day in Vargas Ward for Sister Gallos and Sister Ponitini.

Baptism of sister Cassidy. She has been attending church for a year. Her father is taking the lessons.

Our security guard - Danilo chopping up a pig for lunch.

Sugar cane trucks. They are so impressive! Can you believe how old this truck is

We have to adjust our thinking when it comes to the size of potatoes around here!

Favorite BBQ place in Tarlac beef brisket.

I was sitting in our Missionary Council Meeting last week and looked up and saw this photo of our Grandkids. They are such a joy in our lives. How did we get so blessed? Thank you for raising these kiddos with love and with faith. They will be such a force for good in the next few years. Isn't it amazing? We have the truth! We know why we are alive. We know our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Teaching a recent convert family (do they look familiar Pugmires?) with Elder Bennett & Elder Ortecio. I used the Friend magazine - thanks Courtney & gave out brackets - thanks Avery! Avery - you should be friends with this 11 years old. She is reading the Book Of Mormon.

Looks like old Mt. Arayat is smoking today! (It was a volcano - maybe you can tell by the picture)

They are called plumeria & they smell wonderful- like Hawaii!

New restaurant we tried with a district for lunch - Eggs & Brekky - This photos are for Annie - It's the closest thing we have found to waffle love!

We pulled into the sugar factory tonight. These trucks are amazing (I know we have already told you about them). Some of them are from the 1940's - WWII. It is amazing the way they manually stack the sugar cane. Can you believe these trucks are are even drivable?

Guess who ran into a birdcage?

I know I always said I want to work in a bike shop - but not in a bike shop in the Philippines.

We missed this wedding this morning but we were there when this couple was baptized.

"God is in every details in the day of our wedding and baptism!" He provided ways to make it possible and successful! I do testify that He always hears and answers our prayers! I am eternally grateful that God sent the missionaries to change our lives, in the name of Jesuschrist amen." -The Alcovindas Couple

I was so touched by the testimonies that they each bore after their baptism today. As I listened to some of our missionaries sing - I like to look for rainbows whenever there is rain & ponder on the meaning of the earth made clean again. I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain, I want to be the best I can, to live with Him again - I was so touched. It was like - This is why we are here! I couldn't keep the tears from flowing when they bore their testimonies. Even now just writing about the experience today I am crying again. I can't even begin to write my feelings and thoughts because there aren't the right words - Tagalog or English. The spirit is powerful. The spirit is real. Because I have felt that spirit I can say - I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is real. It changes hearts. It has changed mine. (Just wish you were all with us today!) Miracles every day!

 

The sister on my right is a sister to the bride/newly baptized. We attended her baptism about 5 months ago. And the cute boy on the right of this picture just stole my heart! He was baptized as well today.

Sister Chua, Sister Thomsen, Sister Zabate, and Sister Fernandez. We enjoyed lunch at Kenny Rogers, Rosters. It was a sad day for Sister Fernandez as she received news that her father had passed away. We met Sister Fernandez (and the rest of these sisters) at the mission office. After a good cry and lots of talking we took these 2 companionships to lunch before driving them back to their apartments. They are all STL's and wonderful missionaries. The gospel of Jesus Christ is always the best answer to any of life's challenges, especially at a time of loss. Whenever you have the opportunity to express feelings and testimony the spirit is present, peace replaces fear and sorrow is somehow miraculously put into perspective. We listened to a talk by President Ballard that he gave about the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum Smith while driving in the car. My heart was touched and my testimony was strengthened. They are all just such an inspiration to me. I love that I am involved in the same work as Joseph & Hyrum Smith. I will missed President Ballard - but am so grateful for his life and service.

Dinner at Rustica with President & Sister Bajarin, of the Camiling Stake. I am grateful for instant friends here in the Philippines.

Teaching in Victoria with Sister Toledo & Sister Coquia. What a beautiful night to share the message of the gospel with families that will listen. Look at this cute boy named Jacob! Sister Toledo did a beautiful job of teaching this older Tatey, Jacob's grandpa, how to pray.

A few pictures from baptisms we attended this weekend.

We said goodby to Sister Manipis this morning! We will miss her in our mission.