Week 55--July 10-16, 2016

With missionaries arriving and departing and new leadership training is it has been a full week.

Baggage for 22 exiting missionaries on Tuesday, July 12,  is a lot.  

 As we arrive at the Mission Home all are asked to remove their shoes before coming in. Twenty-five pairs of shoes is a lot.

They are all smiles as they have a last meal together before heading home.  Left to Right: Sister Rantayo, Elder Garrity, Sister Magallanes, Sister Custodio, Sister Muller, Sister Bainrebu, Sister Abragan, Sister Pader, Sister Arao.

 This is a powerful group of missionaries that are going home. Many of them have been Zone Leaders, Sister Training Leaders, District Leaders, and Senior Missionaries. There is one who has been an Assistant to the President. Their leadership will be missed. Seated around the table are Sister Abragan, Sister Pader, Sister Arao, Sister Malo Moa, Elder Garrity.

 In the year that we have been in the mission we have really grown to love these missionaries. Pictured l to r are: Elder Westenskow, Elder Heaton, Elder Ford, Elder Pau'u, Elder Nelson, and Elder Flynn.

 Elder Tumale, Elder Premacio, and Elder Pongyan smile for the camera.

Elder Nelson, Elder Flynn, Elder Arcenas, Elder Westenskow, and Elder Heaton are all hungry elders.

The current APs, Elder Perkins and Elder Goodwin, with Elder Christensen. Yes, those of you from Blackfoot, this is the grandson of Newell and Launa Goodwin.

 This darling little sister is of Filipino heritage from the United States. She is a real tease and we really love Sister Custodio.
                                                                                 

We had the opportunity to serve with each of these sisters at different time in the La Mesa Ward. We are going to miss Sister Pader (Philippines), Sister Magallanes (Australia), and Sister Muller (Kiribati). Each is from a different country but they each have a strong testimony and a love of the Lord. 

 Exiting Batch on July 12. Front row l to r: Elder Pau'u, Elder Premacio, Elder Tumale, Elder Garrity,Elder Ford, elder Pongyan. Middle row: Sister Custodio, Sister Magallanes, Sister Bainrebu, Sister Noriega, Sister Rantayo, Sister Pader, Sister Arao, Sister Abragan, Sister Muller, Sister Malo Moa. Back row: Elder Arcensas, Elder Westenskow, elder Nelson, President Bertin, Sister Bertin, Elder Christensen, Elder Heaton, Elder Flynn.

Arrival Batch for July 13 is an unusual batch with more sisters than elders in the batch. Front row l to r: Sister Near, Sister Totiana, Sister Nabor, Sister Galarroza, Sister De Guzman, Sister Gonzaga. Middle row: President Bertin, Sister Bertin, Sister Cayanes, Sister LeFevre, Sister Sheets, Sister Aranda, Sister Oñate. Back row: Elder Malit, Elder Zobrist, Elder Harper, Elder Frandsen, Elder Fish, Elder Howard.

It was Temple day for the La Mesa Ward on Saturday, July 16. We got up at 4 AM to drive to the Temple. We arrived at the Temple at
6:06 AM.  Cards are issued upon arrival for a session. Ours was the 9:30 AM session.

The brethren gather outside the Temple for a group photo (l to r): Brother Amorsolo, Elder Harringon, Elder Sabado, Bishop Villaester, a brother we don't know the name of, Brother Pelipel, Brother Martinez, and Brother Mortos.

 The Inglesia ni Christo Church has a large presence in the Philippines. Their churches are huge. Does this building remind you of another building you are familiar with?