June 14th - 21st

 

Had a great hike to the top of Arayat! We love this beautiful hike!

 6+ miles 3300 elevation gain!

Met up with this returned missionary. Ephraim Encarcez. He told your dad that he was so grateful for inviting him to rely on the Savior and His Atonement.

Goodbye to Elder Balat!

These restroom signs made me laugh - when you gotta go. 

Found this sign on a wall in the neighborhood 

Translation: It is forbidden to urinate on the floor, walls and plants. 

We love being at one of the most beautiful places here in the Philippines - The Urdeneta Temple. Especially when we get to be in the temple with people that we love. As I finished up our endowment session with the departing missionaries, the 4 departing sisters andI had a sweet visit in the bride's room .these are tender times and wonderful memories for me! 

As I went into the locker room to chance, there was a sweet temple worker from the Paniqui Stake working there. She asked me when will finish our mission. 

She said to me, "I am sure that you are excited to return home to your family (Yes we are!!) She then sincerely thanked me for our service. My heart was already tender but to haver her hug me and kiss my cheeks and thank me was a tender mercy for me. We love these faithful saints that we have served with the past 3 years. This temple will always hold tender memories for us.

Sister Caniban. She came to our mission "muted" but found her voice as a missionary. Her mom also served in the Angeles Mission, so serving here has been a blessing for her.

Sister Colinares. Our awesome missionary from Cebu. What an inspiration she has been to us. She has had to face some real family trials these past few months at the end of her mission. the way she has trusted the Lord has been inspiring. Her father had his leg amputated. She also lost cousin who was pregnant with child #4. Life in the Philippines is challenging. Sister Colinares will return home and bless her family. The faith of the Filippino members is pure and real. We have learned from them. What a blessing. 

Sister Arce is the only member in her immediate family. She does have a grandma, (lola) that is a member. The spiritual growth she has experienced in the last 18 months was incredible for us to watch. She has many talents - painting us a picture of the temple and sharing with us a song she wrote. 

Here is the photo of her return! She is from Laoag. The Packers, our fellow mission leaders, are in the first photo. Sister Arce's Lola, isn't she a cute litttle Filipino?

Sister Moore from Arizona. 

Elder Abadicio, a Filipino from Canada.

Elder Gabiana.

Elder Barredo.  He shared a powerful testimony of charity and love at our departing testimony meeting.  He has served as an assistant.  His grandparents were pioneers in the church in Bacolod.  We have met lots of Barredos.  What a blessing they are to many here in the Philippines.

Elder Bertagnole from North Carolina (also served as an assistant).  Going home to a golf scholarship.

Elder Peterson from Arizona.

Elder Brower from Rigby Idaho.  Wow - once he understood his missionary purpose he was an incredible missionary.  Maybe Michael will meet him in Idaho for some fishing in the future.

Elder Hamilton from Texas.  Look for him at BYU next fall.

Elder Phillips from Heber City.  Such a talented missionary.

Sister Anderson - our mission financial secretary from Floridia.

The Langfords. Our mission secretary and housing coordinators.  Such awesome hardworking missionaries! 

Our departing missionaries - our final missionary testimony with them.  It was held in the Tarlac Stake Center because the mission home is still under renovation.

Binyag ng Reyes family 

#angpogitalaganielderalburo

#mabalakyat

#luginasawaterbillsngbalibago

Thought you would LOVE seeing the pictures of the Reyes family on baptism day in Balibago.

11 new missionaries arrived! Our last batch of arrive missionaries. They depart and they arrive. 

A couple of pictures from a senior missionary during our training.

Elder Lesuma from Fiji.  He comes from a family that have been pioneers in the church in Fiji.  When he received the call to our mission, he fasted and prayed and received confirmation that his call was from the Lord.  He's 25 years old and it's going to be interesting for him to ride in trikes here in the Philippines because of his size!

Sister Kava from Columbia Missouri. Our first 18 year old sister missionary.  Her dad if Tongan and her mother is 1/2 Japanese.   She has a beautiful testimony of the Savior & His Atonement and how it is specifically for her.  She will be such a blessing to our mission.

Elder Chakauya from Zimbabwe.  We love our African missionaries.  They are amazing.  He was 16 when he was baptized - 2 years ago.  He had a high shcool friend who was a member of the church & invited him to attend.  While in the Manila MTC at a devotional Elder Soares spoke and answered so many of his questions and doubts.  It's amazing how the Spirit works and how answers come.   He is bringing a great attitude with him!  That smile says it all.

Elder Belandres from Gen San PH.  His family are all members.  When he was 5 his family was sealed in the Manila temple. What a blessing that sealing is as his mother now has weekly dialysis for kidney problems.  We love to hear about these faithful member families!  He learned in the MTC that the Savior love ALL!

Sister Basilan from Legaspi.  23 years old with a teaching degree.  She was baptized in 2012.  He older sister served in our mission.  She was assigned to serve in Anao.  After arriving int Anao we got a message that was also her older sister's first area to serve.  The Lord is aware of each of his missionaries.  Miracles happen daily.  In the MTC Sister Basilan found out that the Savior is her strength and refuge and she wants to share that with everyone!

Elder Tu'akoi from Toole (cousins with Alli's mission companion, Sister Kinikini.). Although he was born to members his family was not active.  Living with his cousins he developed the desire to serve a mission like so many of them had done.  In the MTC he learned about how much the Savior has done for each one of us.  "He did so much for us.  He is the key to everything.  He is God's Son."

We did catch him taking so many selfies!  Guess that just proves he is happy to be here and can't wait to share with family and friends at home.

Elder Spark from Australia.  He comes from a mission serving family, both of his parents & his sister have served missions. He is another one that we worry about fitting into a trike as he is 6'5".  In the MTC he learned to rely on the Lord and that you can do that through prayer.  He loved studying in the MTC as well.  These missions provide such a great opportunity to do the spiritually gratifying work of gospel study.  Like PMG says - "Gospel study is one of the most rewarding kinds of spiritual work you can do.  It is invigorating both mentally and spiritually."

Sister Pangwai from Zimbabwe.  She was baptized when she was 17, just 2 years ago, along with her twin sister.  She loves the 4 missionaries that taught her the gospel.  She told us that when she told them that she is now serving a mission that they cried with joy.  She is happy and you can tell she really loves people.  She loved attending relief society in the MTC.  It helped her increase her faith in the Savior Jesus Christ.  She has lots of questions about serving - we are grateful for such good missionaries that serve as trainers!

Sister Mendez from Orzames PH.  24 years old. She was raised by her Aunt, who is a member of the church.  She is the first missionary in her family.

Sister Bagares. Both of her parents served missions.  She is from a strong family.  She loved being in the MTC with other missionaries.  Her district felt like a family to her - that is what we tell our missionaries.  Treat your district like your family!  She shared with us, "The Savior is in this work."

Elder Pancho from beautiful Bohol!  He comes from a humble home.  His family was sealed in the Cebu temple July 2023.  They have 7 children in their family and he is the first one to serve a mission.

Oh these arriving missionaries touch our hearts with their willingness and desire to serve.  Each one comes with different backgrounds and skills.  I know that the Savior loves them and will use them to accomplish His work here in the Angeles Mission. We also know that serving is hard - we hear it from the missionaries all of the time.  I think that the Savior wants missionaries to rely on Him and let God prevail in their lives.  When they humbly reach out to Him, he strengthens them and turns them into powerful messengers of His message.  When missionaries match their message miracles happen for those they teach and for the missionaries themselves. The covenant of baptism brings spiritual power and change into people's lives.  It's a privilege to witness this first hand.