Companion Study with Calauan Sisters May 14, 2013

We spent a wonderful morning with these sweet sisters for their

companionship study!  Sisters Pajarin, Meti, Aotriz and 

 Buduan are pictured here with President.  The two hours just 

flew by as we discussed and practiced how to resolve concerns 

of those investigators they are teaching.  

Bowling with the Office, May 2013

Another Monday afternoon bowling date with the office.

From the left, Elders Yost and Rivera, Sister Hansen, Elder 

Hansen, Me, President, Elders Pascua and Burton. A fun time!

San Pablo Stake Conference May 2013

San Pablo Stake Conference

We were asked to speak at the San Pablo Stake Conference with Elder and Sister Pajoro of the Area Seventy. For my talk ( the shortened version) I asked the question, "Paano namin ang namumuno sa aming mga buhay?"  For those who don't speak Tagalog, the question is, "How are we to govern our lives?" In John 8:31-32 we read, "Then said Jesus...If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciple indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." 

How does truth make us free?  Jesus said, "Ako agn daan, ang katotohanan, at ang buhay." I am the way, the truth and the life." As we follow the Savior (who is truth), He will free us from spiritual bondage.  We know that as we obey our God's laws, we can be blessed with the presence of the Spirit.  This will help us take responsibility for our own life and stop blaming other people or our circumstances.  With the Savior, we are learning to govern or direct our lives.

We also know that with agency we have the potential of making wrong choices.  Because of Moses 5:23, we know that, "...if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door, and Satan desireth to have thee;"  We must be careful and act quickly and repent when we make wrong choices...or we can be led away from our Savior and put in spiritual bondage.  Satan is waiting at the door and desires to have us.  We must strengthen and shield ourselves from Satan's influence.

The apostle, Paul had a symbolic explanation of what we should do to help us govern our lives and stay free of spiritual bondage.  He speaks about armor.  Ephesians 6:10-17 The whole armor he talks about will help us "wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness...

It is important that we not judge our actions and the standards that we are taught to live on the basis of where the world is and where it's going...or we will find that we are not where we should be.  The standards of Christ and His Church have not moved.  Elder Robert D. Hales reminded us, as the Savior said, "The truth abideth forever and ever." When we understand and accept this, we are prepared to face the social pressure, ridicule, and even prejudice that will come from the world.

Covenants, commandments, and ordinances protects us and prepares us to know how we are to govern our lives.  When we obey the Word of Wisdom, pay our tithing, study the scriptures, pray and live for the constant influence of the Holy Ghost, partake of the sacrament worthily, obey the law of chastity, and make covenants in the temple, we are building the spiritual strength needed to act for ourselves...

Joseph Smith, when asked how he led the church answered that he taught the members correct principles and the govern themselves.  Are we using the principles we are being taught to govern ourselves?

Various Zone Interviews April/May 2013

Lopez zone interviews...Elders Pascua and Burton in the front.  In 

the back, Elders Valdez, Natividad, Rosario, Caballa, Polatis,

Revillo, Saunders, Tagulao, Nerza, Meniano, Figuration, Trapsi 

and Calisaan.

One time President challenged a missionary that was a little

discouraged with the progress in his area to walk outside and say,

with both fists in the air, "Bring it on, Lumban!!"  These elders from

the Lopez Zone are saying, "Bring it on Lopez!"  They are ready

to go out and use all the teaching skills they learned today. :-)

This is the San Pablo Zone after interviews...

The Gines love to spoil their missionaries.  This is the spread they

laid out for San Pablo Zone.  She served a wonderful pasta and

garlic bread with a cabbage salad.  There was a couple of 

birthdays to celebrate.  We had my cookies for dessert.

This is the Siniloan Zone...Sisters Macariola, Hadley, Pitman, and

Banzali, President, Elders Burton, Kartchner, Abad, Silvosa, 

Pascua, Bacyan, Geronimo, Inlayo, Sinilong and Maiz.

"Bring it on Siniloan!"  We can do all things in Christ...

Here is President talking to the Batangas Zone... In the front is

Sisters Sagaysay, Salon, Lamosa, and Ika.  You can see Elder

Slater peeking around President.  Back row is Elders Bautista, 

Seggay, De Leon, Manzon, Guba, Burton and Pascua.

Sister and Elder Wagner are here with the Batangas Zone.

They are pictured with Elders Green, Sollano (ZL), Collado (ZL), 

Villador, and Ayap.

Here we are with the huge Lipa Zone.  It is definitely one of our

biggest zones!  Down is front is Elder Dela Rosa, Hale, Dela Pena,

 and Kaloa, and Sister Taobure. In the back starting left is Elders 

Espaldon, Tamale, Pulido, Minguel, Alvaro, Hansen, Sister 

De Castro, Elder Green, Elder Mac Millen, Sister Begontes,

Elder Najorda, Sister Ombao, Elder Boyd, Sister Umiten, Elders

Burton, Pascua, Hansen, Aguilar, Ocuaman, Cambe and Sister

Asuncion.

Here we are in Mindoro and we took the Hansen's with us this 

time! Down in front is Elders Viloria, Pablico, Sembrano, Capulac,

and Lalo. In the back, Elders Pascua, Illustrisimo, Burton, Alinsoot,

Stephenson, Sister Hansen, Elder Hansen, Sister Folau, Elder 

Smith, Sister Harris, Elders Bodkin, Edvalson, Pesamino, Sister

and Elder Smith.

Calaca Branch Building Groundbreaking April, 2013

President Ambao of the Balayan District Presidency is with 

President Peterson at the Ground Breaking for the Calaca Branch

building.  They have become great friends!

This is some of the congregation at the ground breaking.  They

are such wonderful saints!

Here is another angle of the congregation and you can see all the 

missionaries in the background!

Getting ready for the ceremony, on the stand is the Calaca Branch

President, President Concepcion, the Balayan District President, 

President Cananea, President Peterson and his 2nd counselor,

President Reyes.

This is the lovely choir for the occasion!  They even had a 

keyboard for the accompanist to play for them.

Isn't this a great looking bunch!?

They are headed for the designated spot.  We had a good rain 

right at the end of the presentation which helped soften 

the dirt and made it easier to shovel, dig and turn!

Let the ground breaking begin... From the left, President Peterson,

 next...Secretary to the Mayor, then President Concepcion, 

President Cananea and I am not sure who that is on 

the far right end.

Here are some missionaries taking part in the ground breaking.  

Elders Clarke, Burton (AP), Pascua (AP), Solliano, 

and Thompson.

Yes, even some of us sisters wanted to give it a try.  It was a

rainy day!  Sister Reyes and two other sisters, then Sister Ambao

and Me! President Reyes and President Ambao were kind enough

to bring an umbrella to protect their wives from the rain.

We got Sister Hansen in on the action too!

Lopez Stake Conference Auxiliary Training, Senior Couples Dinner, and Trip to Marinduque April, 2013

I helped Sister Agustin, wife of Elder Agustin an Area Seventy, at

the Lopez Stake Conference.  There daughter had just finished

her mission with us in the Philippines San Pablo Mission.  She

came with her parents to also help us with the training.  From the

left, Sister Hansen, Sister Agustin, her daughter, Jenifer and Me.

This was a sweet family investigating in the Ibaan Branch that we

attended on Sunday.  The older daughter is thirteen years old.

I wanted my thirteen year old grandson Conner to see her and 

tell me if he thought she looked older...

This was a couples dinner/Family Home Evening that last Monday

the Packers and Howells would be with us.  It was a lot of fun.  

We had all thesenior couple missionaries come along with

 Presidents counselors and their wives.  Seated at this table are 

President, President and Sister Merdegia (1st Counselor), Sister 

and Elder Hansen, Sister and Elder Packer, President and Sister 

Reyes (2nd Counselor).

Here is the other table, Sister Douglas, Elder and Sister Gines, 

Sister and Elder Wagner, Sister and Elder Smith, Elder and Sister

Howell, Elder Douglas and their son that was visiting.

Elder Pascua, Elder Burton, President, Me, 

and Elder and Sister Howell.

Sister and Elder Howell in the front, behind is Sister Gines, Elder

Wagner, Elder Gines, Sister Wagner, Elder Douglas, Elder Smith,

Sister Douglas, Sister Smith, The Douglas' son, Sister and 

President Reyes.

Elders Burton and Pascua are standing in the back, Sister and

President Reyes, President and Sister Merdegia, Sister Packer, 

Sister Hansen, Elder Packer and Elder Hansen.

Elder and Sister Hansen on Marinduque.  We went there for 

Zone interviews and President has some other interviews from

members there...temple recommends, etc.

As you can see the Packers are with us too.  Elder Hansen took

this picture from the front seat.  :-)

Our last lunch at Texas Roadhouse in Manila with the Packers

 before they fly out the next day!  Good times!  We will miss them

so much.  They have been a wonderful help to us and the whole

mission.

Sunday Dinner with the Office Staff, Arabella's and ZLC April, 2013

Sunday dinner with the office staff after General Conference.  Can

you tell no one wanted to have to wash dishes that day?

Sister and Elder Hansen are so excited to be here!  But

not as excited as we are to have them! :-)

We are celebrating Elder Yost's Birthday at Arabellas.  Our

favorite place to eat! :-) Elders Rivera, Pascua, Burton, Yost, 

Packer, and Sisters Packer and Hansen.

Here is a better picture from the other end.  Elder Eyre and his

uncle and parents met us there.  That is his uncle on the left, then

Elders, Yost, Packer, Sister Packer, Hansen, Me, Sister Eyre, 

Elders Rivera, Pascua, Burton and Eyre.

ZLC (Zone Leaders Council) will be called MLC from now on. 

We will have Sister Trainer Leaders by June MLC.  Down in 

front, from the left, Elders Silvosa, Alvaro, Delos Santos, 

Collado and Alinsoot.  Middle, Elders Tolentino, Pascua, 

Sollano, Edvalson, President, Me, Elders Illustrisimo, 

Mendoza, Howes, Cabacungan, Meniano and Caubalejo.

Back, Elders Johnson, Clark, Kleinlein, Burton, Adams,

MacMillen, Rivera and Kartchner.

This is a great shot taken while we were getting ready for the group

picture. From the left Elders Silvosa, Alvaro, President, Elders 

Adams, Delos Santos and Burton.

A few of the Zone leaders sitting and visiting with Rubi, our house

help...Elders Mendoza and Silvosa.