November 3rd - 10th

We are still looking for a set of horns so that Elder Bingham can do a European mount.

We will miss Sister Mesa -  from the Philippines City of Smiles Bacolod. I will miss her beautiful speaking voice sharing messages of hope to me.

Sister Miraflor - I will remember her as she spoke of baptism with tears running down her cheeks. She learned to "step out of her comfort zone as a missionary." We are so proud of her.

Sister Ponintini from Tonga. She arrived in our mission 6 days after we did. It has been amazing to watch her learn Tagalog, reach out to others, and laugh and joke in an uplifting way with interested friends and members. Watching her jump rope with young Filipino children is a great memory! What a great missionary. 

The Dela Cruz, the service mission leaders, with Elder Rosales with us. We are proud of Elder Roslaes for serving in a Christ-like way. Was Christ a service missionary or a teaching missionary? We need both.

Sister Cawaling - I have good memories of riding our bikes and sharing the gospel in the Anao area.

Sister Gunderson - from Texas. It's been a blessing to serve with her. We met her after just being here for a couple of days in Santa Ignacia - visiting the countryside there. She introduced us to humble homes. As I worked with her and Sister Ramos in San Clemente we rode bikes on the backroads, shared the Book of Mormon with 3 different people, attended a birthday party and were overwhelmed by children (great memories). Sister Gunderson survived dengue - she's a fighter.

Meet Sister Peterson from Arizona. What a great missionary. Our mission will not be the same without here. She has been a leader in all sense of the word. We are so proud of her for serving under difficult circumstances, and LOVING it!

Elder Clemente has served a faithful service mission. We have really enjoyed this talented missionary. He has a gift for art and family history. He also has been a great support to our teaching missionaries. Thanks also to Elder and Sister Dela Cruz.

Elder Cox from Central Washington. We have awesome memories from serving at an Elementary in Nambulan up north and climbing Mt Arayat down south.

Elder Kotes (Elder Kooteti) from Kirabati/ Marshal Islands. (we just hope that he makes it home from Manila - last we heard he was still waiting for his flight. He had an issue getting on his returned flight yesterday. Oh my - poor guy. Instead of getting home Friday the 9 he will arrive home the 12. What a lonely few days!). Elder Kotes has had to learn not only Tagalog but also English. He was thrilled when we were able to get him a Book of Mormon in Kirabati - he hasn't learned how to read English yet. I have a great memory of his sharing stories from the Book of Mormon with me. He was so excited about what he was reading and learning. I also love his stories of being an underwater welder & fending off the sharks.

Elder Galo - one of our faithful assistants for a couple of transfers. He is from Cebu. I will miss his English slang. He loves to fumble through the Book of Mormon finding lots of fabulous scriptures to share with us. He shared in his final testimony that the Savior sent him out to catch fish, but that Elder Galo was the one who got caught in the net of the Savior. 

Elder Locin. I hope that someday I can meet his mother. She sounds pretty amazing from the description that Elder Locin gave me of her. He is from Negros Occidental in the Philippines.

Elder McConkie from St. George Utah. I am sure that we will see him again!

Elder Galabo from Cagayan de Oro. I am really going to miss his enthusiastic laugh.

Elder Rayos. His father passed away right before Elder Rayos served his mission. He is 27 years old. He sang, I feel my Savior's love in Tagalog for us right before departing Wednesday. It was touching. He LOVED being a trainer at the end of his mission. I can hear his saying "Sister Bingham" now!

Elder Bustillo - the survivor. You should have seen his incision when he had his appendix removed at CLDH.

Elder Hunt. He is from Australia - that is where his family lives now. But his mother is from Samoa and his father from Tonga. He was a rugby player before his mission.

It is a wonderful experience to attend the Urdaneta temple with our departing missionaries. We love how the temple is becoming more accessible to the people in our mission. New converts can attend and perform baptisms and confirmations for their deceased ancestors shortly after their own baptism. It is inspiring to see so many own endowments being performed. I love the Filipino accent that is spoken by ordinance workers. They are inspiring to me. The ability to attend is something that I count as one of my great blessing here. Thank you President Nelson for delivering such powerful messages from the Lord on the promised blessings of power, mercy, strength and protection that can be ours.

These 29 missionaries will have to fill the places left with the 17 departing missionaries. Oh my heart!

I just wanted to share a welcome home picture from Sister Ponitini. She returned to her home country of Tonga yesterday! Look at her lei!

I will share a couple more elcome home pictures since they tug at my heart and make he so happy. The following are of Elder Cox, he returned home to Central Washington Friday.

Elder Cox has a cool story. His twin brother wasn't active when Elder Cox left on his mission, but now the brother is!