Thanksgiving Celebration at the Cemetary November 27, 2013

American Cemetery in Manila 

with the Senior Couple Missionaries

 What a wonderful activity to celebrate Thanksgiving.  We came to 

the cemetery last year, but have several of these couples who 

were not here last year...and the ones that were here wanted to

go again.  Pictured from the left is President, Me, Sister and Elder

Hardin, Sister and Elder Douglas, Sister and Elder Ferrales, Sister

and Elder Busby, Sister and Elder Hansen, Sister and Elder Smith

and Sister and Elder Gines!  Aren't we a good-looking bunch? :-)

President & I are sitting down as we listen to stories of some of the

heroes whose names were either on one of the walls that hold over 

36,000 names or of one of the 17,000 buried there... which Elder 

Hansen had researched for us.  He made it interesting and 

fun to be together...

My dear friend, Nancy Hansen and I standing among the 17,000!

Mission Tour November 24-26, 2013

Elder Brent Nielson of the First Quorum of the Seventy is also

our Area President here in the Philippines.

Sister and Elder Nielson toured our mission this year and what a

wonderful experience it was to have them.  They inspired and lifted 

us all and we appreciate their great sense of humor and friendly 

dispositions they possess!

We started out the tour with a dinner with all the couples.  We 

had the office Elders and Assistants share the meal with us and all 

the couples were invited to stay and spend a little time with them. 

They could ask questions and talk about what they are doing.  

Both Elder and Sister Nielson shared the experiences that they 

had with the Typhoon and the securing the safety of all the 

missionaries in the areas severely hit by it.  Tacloban Mission

was the one to received so much of the damage.  They shared 

some interesting stories...He taught about his calling and used

the scriptures to explain and how things have evolved in the 

Church as we continue to Hasten the Lord's work. It was a good

meeting and we enjoyed being together.

These are our two newest couples...Elder and Sister Ferrales and

Sister and Elder Busby.  They are sitting waiting for the meeting

to start...

Cabuyao Zone, front row, Elder Nimenzo, Elder and Sister Smith,

President and me, Sister and Elder Nielson, President and Sister 

Merdegia, Sister and Elder Hansen. Back row, Elders Miramba,

Cabinian, Limpin, Pulido, Cambe, Bautista, Valdez, Capulac, 

Vimahi, Discanso, Mack, Sister Tabokai, Elder Adamson, Sister

Balcita, Elder Richards, Sisters Smart, Burt, Asuncion, Anderson,

Galabo, Brown, Gaspar de Alba, Meti, Hingano, Begontes, Ika,

Kekauoha, Kerr and Legaspi.

 Batangas Zone, front row, Elder and Sister Smith, President and

I, Sister and Elder Nielson, President and Sister Merdegia, Sister

and Elder Hansen.  Back row, Elders Gallen, Mata, Bandoy, 

Kaafi, Rivera, Geranimo, Sister Williams, Elder Kaifoto, Sister

Hellewell, Elder Minguel, Sister Waldrom, Elder Perez, Sister

Teaotai, Elder Pangilinan, Sisters To'a, Flores, Elder Dela Rosa,

Sister Warburton Elder Viloria and Sister Tautali.

Mindoro Zone, Front row Elder and Sister Smith, President and

me, Sister and Elder Nielson, President and Sister Merdagia, 

Sister and Elder Hansen.  Back row, Elders Torio, Campos, 

Layugan, Mendiola, Wanoa, Gray, Sister Wilson, Elder Aguilar, 

Sisters Dadivas and Maagad, Elders Talanoa and Brewer, Sister

Burnham, Elders McMillan, Manalili and Toleafoa.

Lipa Zone, front row, Elder and Sister Smith, President and

me, Sister and Elder Nielson, President and Sister Merdegia,

Sister and Elder Hansen.  Back row, Elders Tabbilos, Maguale, 

Caling, Tavita, Abad, Sister Narciso, Elder Pulido, Sisters Tafiti,

Seastrand, Elders Pierce and Leavitt, Sisters Banzali and Sita,

Elder Reynolds, Sister Bennion, Elder Sinilong, Sister Ortiola,

Elder Dela Cruz, Sisters Richman and Mckinney, Elders Quinco,

Javier, Sisters Cortes, Malig, Elder Slater, and Sister Reed.

Marinduque Zone, Front row, Elder and Sister Douglas, Sister 

and President Bagos, Elder and Sister Nielson, Me and President,

President and Sister Merdegia, Sister and Elder Hansen. Back

row, Elders Green, Tupou, Sisters Moimoi, Ombao, Dayao, 

De Castro, Elders, Bland, Mallari, Perez, Landingin, Biala and 

Crockett. 

Lopez Zone, front row, Elder and Sister Ferrales, Sister and

President          , President and Sister Nielson, Me and President,

President and Sister Merdegia, Sister and Elder Hansen. Back

row, Elders Evelarion, Espaldon, Pal, Pablico, Bugarin, Ocuaman,

Bacyan Tolentino, Tuivaiti, Pascua, Harding, Taguiam, Merrill, 

Johnson, Kauvaka and Shaw.

San Pablo Zone, President and Sister         , Elder and Sister

Gines, Elder and Sister Nielson, Me and President, President

and Sister Merdegia, Sister and Elder Hansen and Sister and

Elder Hardin. Back row, Sisters Napitupulu, Ebuen, Elder 

Stephenson, Sister Malig, Elder Hammer, Sister Cox, Elder 

Capinpin, Sister Tua'one, Elders Kaloa, Abekoon, Hale, Sister

Feinga, Elder Perera, Sister Bermiso, Elder Polatis, Sister Molar,

Elder Aoina, Sisters Ott, Vaipou, Elder Jones, Sister Niupalau,

Elders Taukei'aho, Merriam (AP), Spezia (OE), Malit (AP) and

Ano-Os (OE) 

Lucena Zone, front row, Elder and Sister Ferrales, Elder and 

Sister Nielson, Me and President, President and Sister Merdegia,

Sister and Elder Hansen.  Back, Elder Cordova, Milligan, Usares,

Caballa, Inlayo, Boyd, Sister Umiten, Harris, Elder Lyon, Sister 

Buckley, Elder Kiel, Oliva, Sister Baird, Elders Pelayo, Santillian, 

Sister Manu, Elder Burbidge, Sister Finau, Elder Toro, Rayos, 

Sister Wilkes, Rivera, Sister Mecham, Elder Carino, Sister Lorente

Elders Maiz, Sauders, DeSosa and Dela Pena. 

Siniloan Zone, Front row, Elder and Sister Gines, Elder and Sister

Nielson, Me and President, President and Sister Merdegia, Sister

and Elder Hansen. Back row, Sisters Japus, Atata, Borg, Nabati,

Cowley, Elders Acain, Lalo, Shepherd, Villador, Bodkin, 

Williamson, Clarke and Lapena.

Santa Cruz Zone, front row, Elder and Sister Gines, Elder and Sister 

Nielson, Me and President, President and Sister Merdegia, Sister

and Elder Hansen. Back row, Sisters Garcia, Martinez, Aotriz,

Hadley, Cassinat, Rasmussen, Elder Maglasang, Sister Lacanienta,

Elder Salisbury, Sister Mann, Elders Peoquinto, Bayubay, Parry,

Sarmiento, Revilla, Calisaan, Oblina and Serna.

                                                                                                                   

Two more new Sisters from our November 2013 Batch!

Sister Miranda is pictured here with us.  She had to stay at the 

MTC a little longer with her companion who had been sick. 

This is Sister Malig who had been sick with Denge fever while at

the MTC, so she and her companion missed two weeks of their

training and so they had to stay for another two weeks...

Both of these Sisters seemed so happy to finally get here and get 

their trainers and go to work!  However, when it came time to

part with each other it was hard to do!  They were very close!

Early Departures... November 2013

This batch of missionaries went home a couple of weeks early to

help make it easy to bring in the missionaries from the Tacloban 

mission!

From the left Elders Najorda, Cabacungan, Dait, Illustrisimo, 

Nerza, Sisters Taobure and Calla, Elders Figuracion and 

Sembrano. They sacrificed a couple of weeks of their mission and

went home early...

We hurried to take the picture as it started to rain!  I thought we

were putting our umbrellas down. Elders Nerza, Figuracion, 

President, Me Sister Calla, Elder Illustrisimo, Najorda, Dait,

Sembrano and Cabacungan.  We will sure miss them!  Hope to 

see them again before we go home!

Elder Lalangan had to go home a month early for a medical 

release.  It's so sad to come the far and have to go home so early

because of medical issues...

Sweet Sister Hoffman went home early for medical reasons, also.

We hope to see her get well and come back before we leave. She

is a great missionary!

Tacloban missionaries arrive! November 16, 2013

15 New Missionaries from Philippines Tacloban Mission!

The first van to arrive with missionaries from the Tacloban Mission,

Elders Cabinian, Landingin, ( E. Spezia, office elder) and Maguale.

 Not sure who was behind Elder Maguale... Elder Merriam, Elder

Hansen and President looking on and welcoming...

Elder Kaafi and an Elder returning home from his mission in 

Tacloban to Marinduque...

From the left, Elders Vimahi, Crockett, Manalili, Pangilinan, 

Maramba, Cabinian, Maguale and Landingin.

 Sisters Flores and Galabo, Elder Mogel and President Peterson.

Sisters Flores, Galabo, and Elder Mogel. He completed his 

mission and is going home to Marinduque.

 Elders Pangilinan, Maramba, Cabinian, Maguale and Landingin.

Elders Crockett, Quinco and Manalili...

Elders Santillian, Kaafi, Vimahi and Crockett.

The whole batch, from the left, Elders Usares, Kaafi, Quinco, 

Santillian, President, Elders Maguale, Manalili, Crockett, Me, 

Elders Vimahi, Oblina, Sister Galabo, Elder Pangilinan, Sister 

Flores, Elders Maramba, Landingin and Cabinian.

 We are gathering them into the office to show them around and

talk about the mission before orientation.

 President has brought them into the office to show the map he

has pulled out on his desk...of our mission...

 He showing them all the areas... They looked at the boards with 

the pictures of all the missionaries and the areas...

Sister Galabo pointing to one of the areas on the map with Sister

Flores looking on...

More looking on...

Happy Sabbath Day!

Taking it easy with President!

New Missionaries from Tacloban waiting to meet their new

companions!

Some of their companions...

This was a wonderful experience to bring in these 15 missionaries

from the Philippines Tacloban Mission.  They came to us on 

Saturday afternoon and we gathered around and talked a little

bit and then we asked if they would like to go shopping to replace

some of the things they had lost in the typhoon. They all responded,

"Yes!"  We piled into three cars and headed to Lipa, which is one 

of the biggest cities in our mission and not far from us.  We knew 

the selection would be better there.  The SM Department store is 

quite largethere!  We thought we would take a couple of hours, 

but 3 1/2 to 4 hours later, we were finally headed back to the 

mission home. We served Tinolang Manok with pandesal rolls 

with banana bundt cake for dessert.The missionaries stayed at the 

Royal Palms in Alaminos, very near to the mission home.  They 

attended church at Alaminos ward with us the next morning after 

breakfast. President started interviewing them right after 

Sacrament Meeting. He would take two at a time to the mission 

office (right next door) and interview them individually and then 

have them go back to the church and send two more. 

Meanwhile, I was taking individual pictures of them for the 

President's board. After lunch, we had an orientation. We 

let them go back to their hotel early so they could get a good 

nights sleep.  However, before they left, they sat around 

together in the living room and sang hymns,including 

Christmas songs, at the top of their lungs! It was a 

beautiful strong Spirit felt by all.  

The next morning after breakfast we had a testimony meeting,

where these missionaries bore strong and pure testimonies. We

had a little meeting with them where they were introduced to

their new companions. We served a lunch of pansit, pandesol

and cookies and they left for their areas!  It was an interesting

experience to get new missionaries to our mission that have 

already been serving as full-time missionaries, elsewhere! 

Some of them have been serving for over a year and some

just a few months.  It was a great experience to hear them

tell of their individual circumstances and what they went 

through during the Typhoon Yolanda.  Some had horrific 

stories, some not so eventful and other spiritually uplifting!

We are so happy to have them.  The Lord is aware of them

and the Philippines San Pablo Mission is where they are

supposed to be at this time!

Zone Training Meeting, November 20, 2013

Lipa Zone Training Meeting

Each set of Zone Leaders conduct a meeting (held in place of 

district meeting) the week after MLC. They bring all the counsel 

and teaching they got from the MLC the week before.  President

and I attend a different one each month.

After the Lipa Zone Training meeting, we were trying to get a 

picture with everyone in it.  We has our cameras lined up ready to

take the shot.  Elder Caling couldn't find a place after he set the 

timer on his camera, so he just sat down in front and tried not to

cover anyone else.  Too funny!  My camera obviously got moved

after it was set! :-)

This was a little better!  President was interviewing so didn't get in

the picture!  In front, Elders Tabbilos, Dela Cruz, Sinilong, Wise, 

Pacunla, Najorda, Caling, Bulan, Javier and Pierce.  Middle row,

Sisters Reed, Cortes, Malig, Me, Narciso, Ortiola, Richman and

McKinney. Back row, Elders Comamao, Tavita, Slater, Hammer, 

Leavitt, Reynolds, Abad, Sisters Banzali, Sita,Tafiti, Hoffman and

Bennion.  Sister Seastrand was being interview by President so 

she missed being in the picture also.

Mission Leaders Council November

MLC members...in front, Sisters Asuncion, Anderson, Narciso,

Ortiola, Umiten, Harris, Aotriz and Hadley.  Middle row, Elders

Viloria, Minguel, Salisbury, Bayubay, Caling, Najorda, Johnson,

Bacyan and Illustrisimo.  Back row, Elders Malit, Merriam, 

Bodkin, Shepherd, Capulac, Valdez, Polatis, Hansen, McMillan, 

Cabacungan, Bayla, Bodkin and Inlayo.

Elders Bacyan and Johnson are Zone leaders in Lopez.  Elder

Johnson plays the piano beautifully for our MLC and other times.

Elders Hansen, Boyd and Polatis...

Sisters Umiten and Harris... They are a companionship of Sister

Training Leaders.  They do a great job!

Sister Training Leaders, Sisters Asuncion and Anderson.  They are

a wonderful companionship!

Sister Training Leaders, Sisters Narciso and Ortiola.  We are so 

happy to have them helping us with the sisters.

Zone Leaders, Elders Viloria, Capulac and Valdez... We are

grateful for their hard work and obedience.

Sister Aotriz counseling with President...  You can tell by his 

expression, his appreciation for her work...

Powerful Sister Training Leaders, Sisters Aotriz and Hadley.

Zone leaders, Elder Hansen and Polatis with one of President's 

Assistants, Elder Malit.

Elders Bodkin and Minguel are both Zone Leaders and good

friends, but not companions.

Our wonderful Assistants, Elders Malit and Merriam.