March 8th - May 10th

 

Christmas Day with the Bondoc and Ferandez family!

NOW - Saturday with them!  Baptism of the Lolo (grandpa) Rey Bondoc, his daughter Mabel Fernandez, her daughter  Jasmine Fernandez (14), & a nephew Carl Fernandez (18).  It was so sweet to see Rey Bondoc's grandson, who is a recent convert of 9 months, baptize his grandfather.  Lots of sweet tears of joy were shared.  The spirit was so strong.  Don't you just LOVE seeing people dressed in white?  I do!

This sign cracked me up! Where the trees gather! That is something I'd like to witness.

What a beautiful place we live! The buganvilla are still in bloom and I LOVE the many colors they come in.

Zone Conferences this week! Paniqui and Tarlac South Zones

Camiling & Santa Ignacia Zones.

Angeles & San Fernando Zones

Tarlac North & Mabalacat Zones plus our Service missionaries. So many missionaries!  What a great week of training, testimonies, the spirit, and missionaries!

Dinner at the Lucita Golf Course for Senior Missionaries! HBD Sister Langford!

What awesome sisters!  Sister Finau from Tonga & Sister Rodriguez from Cavite. Going to miss Sister Rodriguez when she goes home in a couple of weeks. She is a gem!

We had a visit from 3 previous missionaries - Ken Tabaquiero, Dan Arquiola & Dwight Labasa.  It is always so good to hear of some of our "RMs" doing good things!

I was just reviewing the service missionary purpose statement.  It is truly a statement that I hope to fulfill the rest of my life.

Help others come unto Christ by serving with loving kindness as the Savior would.  Minister in His name to the one through the power of the Holy Ghost and live as an example of faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, covenant keeping with God, and enduring to the end.

It's been fun having Courtney, Matt, Drew and Zach here! The boys got tired on the ride. When a trike ride was offered they were very interested.

Baby Turtles making their way to the ocean after hatching just 5 hours before.

Haircuts in the Philippines!!

  So fun! I'm glad our family could all come and visit us!! It's been fun showing these kids what missionary work looks like and see how they interact with the people here!

Isn't this photo awesome?? 

Like Preach my Gospel says: Baptism is a joyous and hopeful Ordinance. 

Transfer week once again! What an awesome group of missionaries.

Elder Barnett returning to Canada, and the to BYU in hopes to play some football there. Elder Barnett is returning home as a converted, all-in, disciple of Jesus Christ.

Elder Babanto, what a powerful testimony he has developed. What a blessing to hear him share that testimony!

Elder Balopeños.  A week before he entered the mission field his father passed away while attending church.   Elder Balopeños entered the mission field with a heavy heart, yet he has served with diligence and faith.  His mother and the rest of his siblings will be sealed in the Davao temple after it is dedicated.  The Davao temple will be dedicated in April.  That will make 5 working dedicated temples in the Philippines!  Bacolod temple will be dedicated in May - that will be 6!!!  The work is amazing here in the Philippines.  We are blessed to witness the hastening of the Lord's work.  Elder Balopeños has been a big part of that work.

Sister Hoeft from Tonga.  We just LOVE serving with wonderful polynesian missionaries.  Sister Hoeft's dad passed away before her mission.  He has been a guardian angel to her as she has served.  She told us about an old man, a tatay, that she was able to find and teach that reminded her of her father.

Sister Rodriguez (one of the best dressed missionaries in our mission).  What a sweet blessing she has been to me as she has shared some sweet, tender feelings of serving as a missionary.  She returned to our mission a day after being released to witness a sweet couple, that she found and taught, get married and then baptized with their 2 children.  She brought her parents along.  (reminded me of being with Brooklyn in Atlanta when we attended a baptism of hers.)

Sister Robinson from Ft. Collins Colorado. It's been so fun to serve with Sister Robinson. Her growth the past 18 months has been such a sweet blessing to witness. We were blessed to serve with her. 

Sister Noquillo.  What a sweet missionary!  We have a good connection with her as her mother served in the Boise mission 20 years ago.

Sister Jimenez.  About 4 months into her mission Sister Jimenez's younger sister passed away.  It was amazing to see the hand of the Lord blessing her with a companion who had also experienced loss as a missionary (Sister Fernandez lost her father).  It was a tender time for Sister Jimenez, but also a defining point on her mission, as she was able to more fully understand and teach the great plan of salvation to interested friends.  We are proud of her as she is serving as the only member of the church from her family. (Actually her mother joined the church right before she came on her mission, but has not been active as her mother feels her responsibility to provide for their family and finds it hard to not work on Sunday.  Life as a Filipino is so challenging.) She is excited to be home blessing her family.

Sister Nening! She is from a small island in the Philippines.  She joined the church about 3 years before serving a mission.  Her mother has been an over-seas worker for years, working now in Saudi.  Once her mother can get back to the Philippines, she wants to get baptized!  What joy this brings to Sister Nening.

This temple is a special place to us.  We have so many beautiful happy memories here.  (still weird when they have a male cleaning the women's bathroom...).  The strengthening enabling power of our covenants has been evident as we have served.  Oh we LOVE to see the temple.  We especially love to go inside every chance we get.  These temples are blessing the Philippines.  The Urdaneta temple has blessed the members and the missionaries that live and serve in our mission.  It's amazing.

We received 18 missionaries on Thursday!  Can you see the excitement and the desire to serve on each of their faces???

Welcome Elder Alburo from Cebu.  He loves the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Welcome Sister Susan Anderson from Florida!  How grateful we are for single sister missionaries that exercise their faith and come and serve with us.  She will serve as our mission financial secretary.

Welcome Elder Belonio, 26 years old.  He is a college graduate with a business administration degree.  Attending a YSA conference gave him the desire to serve.

Welcome Elder Cabeza!  He comes from a family of 4 - they were all born in the covenant and now that Elder Cabeza is serving - they have all served as missionaries.  His older brother also served in our mission.  So fun to have brothers serve with us.

Welcome Elder Childs from Salem UT (lives across the street from Salem pond).  He shared with us that in the MTC the Atonement of Jesus Christ became more personal to him.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ brings him great joy.

Welcome Elder Cochenour (pronounced: Coke an hour) from Arizona.  He comes from a family of 5 older brothers.  His enthusiasm will be such a blessing to our mission - and to him personally.  A great attitude is such a blessing as a missionary.

Welcome Sister Dacillo.  She is the 3rd missionary to serve from her family of 5 kids.  At home her father is a trike driver and her mother sells vegetables on the street.  When she was home she helped her mother sell those vegetables.  She has the longest hair of any missionary we have had serve.   In the MTC she gained a deeper understanding of the Atonement and repentance.  The MTC is an amazing place!

Elder Gabayno - 24 years old.  Has a college degree in computer information/technology.  He is now ready to serve!  His family was sealed in the Manila temple in 2007.  He is the first missionary to serve from his family.

Sister Hansen from St. George. Wow!  She is an awesome missionary!  As we listened to her share her thoughts and feelings about being at the Provo MTC I felt like she was already a seasoned missionary.  She loved her personal study time in the MTC.  That is a blessing of serving - personal study time.  PMG chapter 2 says:  The scriptures are a heavenly gift. One of the great blessings of your mission is having a scheduled time to study them every day.  Gospel study is one of the most rewarding kinds of spiritual work you can do. It is invigorating both mentally and spiritually.  

"I have my Savior, Jesus Christ and that is all I need."  --Sister Hansen

Sister Laban from Samoa.  She is the oldest of 5 children.  Her father served a mission in the Philippines years ago.  She has attended the church school in Samoa and lived on the church campus.  The Church is amazing all over the world. The Manila MTC strengthened her testimony.  Not only did she learn Tagalog in the MTC, but als patience and diligence.  Great Christ-like attributes.

Welcome our 2nd Sister Legaspi.  She joined the church when she was 17 because a friend recommended her to the missionaries.  That friend that shared the gospel with her in now on the other side of the veil.  She expressed such a beautiful desire to share the gospel with people here in our mission - it was so touching.  She is so hopeful that her family will also accept the gospel.  It reminds me of Lehi - after partaking of the fruit - his one desire was to have his family partake!

Welcome Sister Mariteragi from Heber City UT.  Her father is from Tahiti - maybe one of these days she can teach me how to do that Tahitian dancing!  She is the first missionary in her family.  In the MTC she learned that the Savior is always there for each of us.

Sister Serroco was born in Samoa but lives in Australia  She joined the church when she was adopted by step-parents in Australia  She had a desire to serve a mission because of the example of the missionaries that taught her the gospel.

Elder Orbiso from the Tacloban Mission.  His grandparents are members and his family has been sealed in the temple.  He expressed the great blessing of coming from a loving family. "The Lord prepared me for this mission".  He also has some awesome piano playing skills.

Elder Robbins from Middleton ID.  He is excited and ready to serve!  We loved that he shared with us that the Savior is not only a great leader, but also a great follower.

Elder Sabaco. 1st missionary in his family.  He comes from a broken family - and told us that it is the "saddest thing."  He knows that Jesus Christ will help him as a missionary.  The Holy Ghost will guide him.  He is excited, nervous, and happy.

Sister Serroco.  Her father served in Cebu and her mother served in Manila. "Before my mission, I sometimes forgot to remember my Savior.  The MTC helped me to remember Him."  Her dad has been working as an overseas worker for the past 17 years - she is 22 years old.  These situations are hard.

Elder Shuldberg from Medford OR.  His brother is currently serving in Ethiopia.  He loved Sunday's in the MTC and the opportunity to be "fulltime in the scriptures."

Elder Villoso from Samar in the Philippines.  He is the 3rd of his brother's to serve.  His brother is serving in a neighboring mission - Quezon City North.  He loved what he learned in the MTC about his Savior - that He lives and loves us.

Wow!  What A LOT of missionaries!  We now have 188 full time teaching missionaries and 3 service missionaries.  Plus 10 senior missionaries.  The Lord is stretching our hearts for sure.

Dinner with the Tarlac South Stake Presidency and their wives.  President & Sister Costales, President & Sister Garidan, and President & Sister Mesina, at one of our favorite restaurants - @Stellas.

Truth (totoo) right there on a truck.

We tried new fruit - the star apple!

We LOVE Preach My Gospel. We use it every day in the work.  It has all of the answers that missionaries need. It is scripture to us.  This transfer our theme is found in Ether 12:41.  Seek This Jesus.  What a wonderful week for all of us to truly seek Him as we prepare to celebrate Easter, the Atonement, and the Resurrection.  We are looking forward to General Conference as well!  We are so blessed.

Chapter 6 Seek Christlike Attributes:  “Seek This Jesus”

The prophet Moroni exhorted, “I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written” (Ether 12:41). One important way to seek Jesus is to make a diligent effort to learn about Him and become more like Him. Your mission is an ideal time to focus on this.

As you strive to become more like Christ, you will better accomplish your purpose as a missionary. You will experience joy, peace, and spiritual growth as His attributes become part of your character. You will also establish a foundation for continuing to follow Him throughout your life.

I especially LOVE the promised blessings that come as we become more like the Savior - joy, peace and spiritual growth.    So dear family - Seek this Jesus.  We love all of you!

Thomas D. Burton, 55, and Patricia C. Burton, five children, Holladay 27th Ward, Salt Lake Holladay South Stake: Philippines Angeles Mission, succeeding President Michael Bingham and Sister Danielle Bingham. Brother Burton is a senior missionary and temple ordinance worker and former area temple and family history consultant, bishop, bishopric counselor, high councilor, elders quorum president, elders quorum presidency counselor, ward mission leader, ward Sunday School presidency counselor, Primary music leader, Sunday School teacher, ward executive secretary and missionary in the Germany Hamburg Mission. He was born in New York City to David Alma Burton and Flora Beth Burton.

Sister Burton is a senior missionary and temple ordinance worker and former ward Relief Society president, ward Young Women president, ward Primary president, ward Relief Society presidency counselor, ward Primary presidency counselor, Primary music leader and temple and family history consultant. She was born in Mesa, Arizona, to Craig Allen Cardon and Deborah Louise Cardon.

Dinner with the Santa Ignacia Stake Presidency and their wives. Happy Birthday to Michael!

Zone Conference with Camiling & Santa Ignacia Zones.  April 8, 2026

Zone Conference with Tarlac South & Paniqui Zones.  April 10, 2026

HBD to Michael!    Elder & Sister Bergeson, Sister & Elder Heath, Sister & Elder David, M&D, Sister Roberts, Sister Anderson, Sister & Elder Langford.  What a fun party!

When you are feeling overwhelmed with loads of laundry, just remember that you don't have to carry it all to the creek to wash it by hand. We are so blessed.

Zone Conference for the Angeles & San Fernando Zones - Wednesday, April 15.

Zone Conference for Tarlac North & Mabalacat Zones & the Service Missionaries.  Friday, April 17, 2026.

What an awesome baptism!  Brother Alan - standing next to me.  3 months ago I was with Sister Legaspi & Sister Wheeler when they taught him the first real lesson.  Now he is a baptized member of the Church with the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  How sweet it is!  Sister Wheeler told me that Brother Alan's teachings & baptism is a highlight of her mission. 

Here is part of the message that he shared after being baptized:  So many trials have happened. It’s hard, but still joyful. I know God doesn’t give us trials to make us weak, but to make us strong. Like it says in the Bible, “constand is the word of God and the Salvation of man,” I know that He loves us and will never abandon us.

-Tatay Allan Lagasca

We had a wonderful Mission Leader Seminar on the Island of Bohol - Pangloa Beach.  The resort was really beautiful! We got to relax a bit, visit with amazing people, and learn from our leaders - the Philippines Area Presidency.

Tuktuk ride into town.

All of the mission leaders from the 27 missions in the Philippines, with the Area Presidency in Front - El & Sis Wong, Sis & Pres. Revillo, El & Sis Jackson, Sis & El Fontone.

The Workmans - Quezon North Mission, The Maligons - Davao Mission, us, The Albrechts - Olongapo Mission, The Scholls - San Pablo Mission, The Fernandez - Manila Mission, The Martinez - Tacloban Mission.  These are some of our best friends here in the Philippines.

The Sisters leaders.

Giving our final testimonies at our 6th and final Mission Leader Seminar.