Elder & Sister Ferney: Demolition, Sirens, and Flashing lights, oh my!

Demolition, Sirens, and flashing lights, oh my!

Our 1^st trip to the Manila Temple was AWESOME! Sister Hernandez, with her older sister and Mother, and Sister Monteclaro with her comedian friend, Sister Rellanes were so excited they arrived several hours early so they could get their interviews with President Koster and do an extra session. We met them there at 9:00am and enjoyed the abundant spirit that was within the sacred walls of the newly renovated Temple. The Temple has three endowment rooms with only seating for 25 patrons – a little different than we have seen before. The Annex was filled with parents and children which we were surprised to see, but there was no doubt everyone was so happy to be there. It was a very special day for these two sisters to take out their endowments for the first time.

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The following Monday, we arrived to the office to see a demolition crew taking down an apartment bordering the Church Office Building parking lot. Apparently, the three families that had been living there had paid their rent, but the guy they paid it to pocketed the money for a few months, then took off. Because the property owner never got his money, a demolition crew showed up to dismantle the building. There were three families struggling to gather all their belongings and pile it up in the entryway of the Church Office building. They were crying and extremely upset with no where to go. A few Elders happened to be playing basketball that morning in the parking lot for exercise. They went right to the rescue. They helped to move everything from each of those three apartments while another crew was there stripping down the front of the building. In 100 degree heat, they worked most the day. The Elders were so grateful they had been available to help. Elder Siiva lost 11 lbs. that day. Our big hearted Auzzie and his companion, Elder Kaufusi turned a disastrous situation into an opportunity for loving service. By the end of the day, between the Bishop and the Barangay Captain, all three families were found a place to stay and jeepneys to haul all their belongings for them. (pic)

It has been extra busy as we prepare for another transfer. Friday night after a long day, we had retired for the evening when about 1:00am, we started to hear sirens, and fire trucks honking –it kept going on for quite some time… we got up and looked out our windows to see the reflections of flashing lights off the windows across the street from us! Ambulances and Police cars kept pouring in and we wondered what on earth was going on. Finally, Elder Ferney got dressed and went down in the elevator to find out what was happening . A fire had broke out in a resuraunt near our building. Firemen had squirted it out and water was running everywhere. As far as we know, no one was hurt and we were able to get a good nights rest.

We enjoyed a lovely Mother’s Day at Church on Sunday. (Other than the car mirror was torn off again by a big truck traveling in the next lane way to close to us! Lucky for us – we still have some duck tape left over). After Church we got to bring Elder Formantes back to Quezon City with us so he could fly home on Wednesday. He looks like Tiger Woods only shorter. Sometimes it’s hard to see the missionaries go home. You just love them so much! You hope and pray they will return and strengthen their families and their wards and remain faithful all their lives. Because then you know they will be blessed and be happy. (pic)

HOLD TO THE ROD

At least these guys stay in their lane.