On Wednesday, 18 April 2018 we got to go out to Daranak Falls in Tanay. Elder and Sister Hatch, from Mindoro came up to meet the Mowers (a new couple who are taking their place) and we all got together and drove a van. We stopped at Elder and Sister Vermillion’s house in Sampoloc to pick them up, then on up to the falls, and there we met the Abrahams. It was like looking at a beautiful tropical paradise! We hiked around and enjoyed the stunning scenery. The kids are all out of school now so lots of families and teenagers were also picnicking and camping. The temperature was much cooler because of the higher elevation. Then on the way back we stopped at a popular outdoor restaurant/art studio where they cook pizzas in fire ovens. It was a great place to visit and sip cucumber lemonade. We also got to see some beautiful paintings by a local artist and take lots of pictures of blooming flowers along the way.
We got home just in time to shower then go meet the two new couples that had arrived that morning. The Mowers (from Washington) and the Hunts (from Utah). President Koster invited us all to meet for dinner at Italianos. We all had a wonderful time laughing and dining out on the patio. The Hunts get the job of taking inventory, updating hundreds of keys, and checking all the apartments for this month. Apparently, in their mission papers, they volunteered to do whatever nobody else wanted to do. Elder Hunt has served here in the Philippines twice before, and Sister Hunt has been here once before. (This is their third mission). So they got it! The problem is, they have not been to the city before and didn’t realize what a challenge they would have! We hope and pray their heads don’t pop off when they have to slither down the one-way allies and their rear-view mirror touches the elbow of the guy on the motorcycle whom is passing you on the driver’s side. Or, accidentally takes the wrong “slight right” and spend 2 ½ hours trying to get back on the correct route. I feel for them! Ha! Ha!
Late Saturday afternoon while we were in Green Hills, Elder Ferney got a call from President Koster asking him t o speak at a fireside in Tagig. All the Missionaries from that Area and the perspective missionaries had been invited. So on Sunday evening we invited Elder and Sister Hunt to go with us. The topic was OYM (open your mouth). Elder Ferney did an excellent job speaking and then the Stake President invited the Hunts and me to speak. So we all ended up sharing personal experiences and bearing testimony. We had about 135 people attend the meeting and afterwards we felt inspired to approach people anywhere, anytime, and start a conversation, which Elder Ferney is pretty good at when we are standing in an elevator with a dozen people crunched in! Unless a person does not speak English at all, everyone has been very interested in visiting with us. The 1st thing they notice is our nametags so that opens up a conversation immediately! Then they recognize us later and feel comfortable speaking to us. All the armed guards know us now and they could not be more friendly. They smile and salute us even when we enter the parking garage.
Earlier that Sunday, the 2nd Counselor in the Bishopric had invited us to come to his house for dinner. I won’t exaggerate, I DID NOT want to go!! When we did splits with the missionaries, I saw what the ward live in and I was dreading it to say the least, but Elder Ferney wanted to go so I reluctantly held to the strap of the seat belt as we 4-wheeled up the steep, rocky, dirt road behind little make-shift shanties. And what to my delight was a beautiful, two-story new home with a spectacular gate and gorgeous landscaping! They ran out to greet us and we entered into a lovely home where a huge dining room table was set that looked like a Thanksgiving feast! It was unbelievable!! Bro. Berrado is an architect and they built their home a year ago. He and his wife love to cook and they had truly prepared a Banquet. They also invited the Bishopric, RS presidency YW presidency, and the Missionaries.. Those that got there 1st ate a delicious meal of chicken, crab, pork adobo, salmon, several vegetable plates, and sliced fruits, including mangos, pineapple, melons, and bananas. And of course, rice, rice, rice. It was scrum-diddley-umptious!! Then the 2nd wave arrived and they sat down to eat while we had a variety of desserts. It was a delightful day and we so enjoyed the friendly hospitality and fun laughter. Did you know 1 out of every 5 Filipinos is a comedian? They make jokes about everything here. We love them.
We got to attend a Zone Conference last week. We drove the AP’s to Antipolo and thank heavens the church building there was air-conditioned. The meetings were great and it’s so fun to meet wth the missionaries and be there to help out. It’s really impressive to see them teach and listen to their presentations. We marvel at how hard they work to hone their skills to do the Lord’s work. President Dallin H. Oaks said, “We do not preach and teach in order to bring people into the Church or to increase the membership of the Church. We do not preach and teach just to persuade people to live better lives . . . We invite all to come unto Christ by repentance and baptism and confirmation in order to open the doors of the celestial kingdom to the sons and daughters of God. No one else can do this”.
One last thing. As we were finishing up on Friday afternoon, President Koster dropped in the office, (He is rarely there). He came to interview a young lady who came up from Mindoro to get her Patriarchal Blessing. The Patriarch was coming to meet her there and give her the blessing in President Koster’s office. After the interview, President Koster left for some other business. Soon the Patriarch arrived. He needed someone to be in the office while he gave the blessing and he invited me to come in. I was surprised but excited. I knew she was preparing to serve a mission. We took our places, then knelt in prayer together. She then sat in the chair and he began . . .I thought since they were both Filipino, the blessing would be in Tagolog. However, in perfect English he gave her one of the most beautiful blessings I have ever heard. He told her she was from the tribe of Ephraim which surprised me. When the blessing was over, tears streamed down her cheeks. It was a very tender moment for me. I literally felt the love that our Father in Heaven has for all His children. As she goes out to serve, she will grow in her capacity to learn, teach, and serve others, just like the Savior. I am grateful for this experience.
XOXOX Ady’os po XOXOXEvents of
Daranak Falls Tanay
Hatches from Rexburg
Vermillian's
Abraham's
No comments:
Post a Comment