Week 13--September 20-26, 2015
The September batch of missionaries who went home this week. They have all served faithfully for 18 or 24 months.
One of the departing missionaries, Elder Joshua Biggs, worked with us in the office and trained us on some of our responsibilities. We are going to miss him. One of the activities for exit day is a testimony meeting where each of the missionaries has the opportunity to share his/her testimony with the group. It is very humbling to hear the powerful testimony each missionary shared. As we were driving home we marveled that we get to do this 10 more times before we go home.
We attended Stake Conference on Sunday, September 20. Elder Ardern, Philippines Area President, spoke. A couple of things he said really impressed us. He told about the disciples being on the sea and a storm came up. We all have storms in our lives when we have trials. The disciples were frightened and turned to the Savior to calm the sea. We can also turn to the Savior to quiet our storms and bring peace. He also spoke to the youth about the one great lie of Satan. He used the letters of the word one. He gave the youth examples for each situation.
O--Only time I'll do it won't hurt.
N--Nobody will know
E--Everybody is doing it
The matron of the Philippines Temple spoke. She told us that the Temple had just reopened after a six week closure. On Saturday morning, Sept. 19, at 5 AM there were 500 people waiting in line for the Temple to open so they could attend a session.
When a batch of missionaries go home, we get a new batch the next day plus transfers happen also. That can make for a very stressful couple of days. Monday is our code day. We usually arrive a little after 10 AM and leave at about 2:45 PM but not today. We had a lot to accomplish so we stayed until 7 PM.
Tom was hoping to go unscathed in the car while here. However, while returning from the bank and attempting a U-turn a motorcyclist that was counter flowing clipped his driver's side mirror. It didn't break the mirror but broke the lens cover of the turn signal mounted on the side mirror. He was in the left lane and making a legal U-turn, however the motorcyclist told him he couldn't make a U-turn from that lane. It was just trying to cover up for his illegal pass.
A new batch of missionaries arrived on Wednesday morning fresh from the Philippines MTC. Tom and Garnalee each had do a presentation to the missionaries. Tom's was on finances, and Garnalee's was on receiving and sending mail.
One of Garnalee's responsibilities now is to record the weekly baptisms. There were 41 baptisms last Saturday in our mission. This is going to be a big job as there are several things that have to be done with each baptism.
When we arrived home Wednesday evening there was a message from Jennifer that the Toyota had been wrecked. Lots of damage and not driveable. It sounds like that insurance wants to total the car and pay her what it is worth. She will never be able to purchase a replacement car that will be as reliable as the Toyota for the insurance settlement.
Friday evening Tom received a phone call from President Bertin after he received a call from one of the new missionaries. The new missionary had spent 1400P of his 1500P support money the first day in the mission. He called to find out what he should do. He must not have listened very closely to Tom's presentation on budgeting. The President directed him to come and explain to Tom why he had been so foolish. Feeling sorry for the missionary, Tom went to the grocery store on Saturday and purchased peanut butter, a loaf of bread, and 1 1/2 kilos of rice. Hopefully that will tide him and his companion over until October 1 when they get their next support money.
Saturday was the Family Day Event for the Stake. We presented the medley of children's songs we have been practicing for the past several weeks that had dance steps with each song. We marched onto the stage like the Von Trapp Family Singers instep with Tom's whistle. It was a fun event but typical of Filipino schedules, one time is announced as when something will begin and when in actuality it begins much later.
We attended Stake Conference on Sunday, September 20. Elder Ardern, Philippines Area President, spoke. A couple of things he said really impressed us. He told about the disciples being on the sea and a storm came up. We all have storms in our lives when we have trials. The disciples were frightened and turned to the Savior to calm the sea. We can also turn to the Savior to quiet our storms and bring peace. He also spoke to the youth about the one great lie of Satan. He used the letters of the word one. He gave the youth examples for each situation.
O--Only time I'll do it won't hurt.
N--Nobody will know
E--Everybody is doing it
The matron of the Philippines Temple spoke. She told us that the Temple had just reopened after a six week closure. On Saturday morning, Sept. 19, at 5 AM there were 500 people waiting in line for the Temple to open so they could attend a session.
When a batch of missionaries go home, we get a new batch the next day plus transfers happen also. That can make for a very stressful couple of days. Monday is our code day. We usually arrive a little after 10 AM and leave at about 2:45 PM but not today. We had a lot to accomplish so we stayed until 7 PM.
Tom was hoping to go unscathed in the car while here. However, while returning from the bank and attempting a U-turn a motorcyclist that was counter flowing clipped his driver's side mirror. It didn't break the mirror but broke the lens cover of the turn signal mounted on the side mirror. He was in the left lane and making a legal U-turn, however the motorcyclist told him he couldn't make a U-turn from that lane. It was just trying to cover up for his illegal pass.
A new batch of missionaries arrived on Wednesday morning fresh from the Philippines MTC. Tom and Garnalee each had do a presentation to the missionaries. Tom's was on finances, and Garnalee's was on receiving and sending mail.
One of Garnalee's responsibilities now is to record the weekly baptisms. There were 41 baptisms last Saturday in our mission. This is going to be a big job as there are several things that have to be done with each baptism.
When we arrived home Wednesday evening there was a message from Jennifer that the Toyota had been wrecked. Lots of damage and not driveable. It sounds like that insurance wants to total the car and pay her what it is worth. She will never be able to purchase a replacement car that will be as reliable as the Toyota for the insurance settlement.
Friday evening Tom received a phone call from President Bertin after he received a call from one of the new missionaries. The new missionary had spent 1400P of his 1500P support money the first day in the mission. He called to find out what he should do. He must not have listened very closely to Tom's presentation on budgeting. The President directed him to come and explain to Tom why he had been so foolish. Feeling sorry for the missionary, Tom went to the grocery store on Saturday and purchased peanut butter, a loaf of bread, and 1 1/2 kilos of rice. Hopefully that will tide him and his companion over until October 1 when they get their next support money.
Saturday was the Family Day Event for the Stake. We presented the medley of children's songs we have been practicing for the past several weeks that had dance steps with each song. We marched onto the stage like the Von Trapp Family Singers instep with Tom's whistle. It was a fun event but typical of Filipino schedules, one time is announced as when something will begin and when in actuality it begins much later.
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