Specialized Training

Every third month is designated as a "Specialized Training" month. This means that President can select certain areas, or missionaries to receive needed training or instruction. 

Today, the Zone Leaders and District Leaders met with President Tye at the mission home to receive further training on BCR's (Baptismal Confirmation Records), District Activities, Dehydration and Heat Exhaustion, plus CSP's (Community Service Projects).

The sister missionaries met with Sister Tye at the Bacoor Stake and had training on Budgeting Their Support, Healthy Foods and Recipes, Match the Message (dressing and acting as missionaries), and making Memory Banks. The sisters also received instruction on Dehydration and Heat Exhaustion, plus they ended their day with a talk by Sister Tye.

I don't know about the elders, but the sister missionaries had a great day. We all seem to get re-energized when these kinds of meeting take place. Today our lamps were refilled with oil.

Sister's Day

Preparations were started early. Children's banks were purchased and scrapbook paper was gathered for one of the classes. Material was cut and sewn into Kleenex holders to go along with the talk. Our Senior Couples were amazing in their preparations and the classes they taught. By the time the day was over, the sisters were so happy and filled with the spirit and love for the Savior.

'Be The Chocolate Chip' Kleenex holders were cut and sewn.

 

 We bought 75 children's coin banks. These will be made into Memory Banks - to put little notes and/or thoughts of tender mercies that happen to the sisters during their mission. These little banks have to be cut open, so they will stay sealed until the sisters get home. At that time they will enjoy the special memories inside. Each one was as unique and beautiful as each of our sister missionaries. 

Elder and Sister Petersen taught this class.

 

 Sisters' Su'a, Moromi, Vaitaki, Dariagan, and Bodota 

 Sisters' Devi, Aukitino, Dryer, and Rodgers

Sisters' Hale, Talataiga, and Seleue

Completed Memory Banks

 Sister Richards taught the Healthy Eating class and she made a cookbook for each apartment - filled with recipes using local ingredients. 

 

Menu planning

 Sister Patolo and Sister Domantay taught a class on "Match the Message." Sister Raterta and Sister Gecaraya joined in the lesson and did some cute skits about the principles that were taught. They were so funny and "spot on" to some the of problems we see in the mission.

 As part of their presentation, the sisters were asked to take 2 minutes and make a modest yet cute skirt or shirt out of a garbage bag. He have some very creative sisters!

Sisters' Balena, Picar, Ballatan, and Atay

   

Sisers' Campos, Sani Obrien, Villanueva, and Ramil

Lunch Break 

 Sisters' Rodgers, Bihag, and Aukitino

 Sister Sala and Sister Su'a

 Sister Estorgio, Sister Ma'asi

 Sisters' Pedroso, Van Tassel, and Aguinaldo

Sisters' Labarda, Calunod, Delos Santos, Magro, Tampac, and Pedroso

 

 Sisters' Dryer, Calder, and Mitsvotai

 

 Lumpia, pineapple chicken, vegetables, Mechado, and Oreo cheesecake pie.

 Sister Semilota, and Sister Fa'alogo

Sisters' Perez, Va'enuku, Vaitaki, Sefeti, Seleue, and Delos Santos

 

 Sister Raterta and Sister Dizon

Sisters' Semilota, Balena, Rodgers, Picar, Abarquez, Adriatico, and Gecaraya

 

 

The sisters of the Philippines Cavite Mission.

Zone Leader / District Leader Meeting

 I took a lot of pictures at the sisters meeting, yet President only had a chance to take a few of the elders. 

Hahaha - notice there are no decorations on the tables, or even tablecloths. I love it.

Elder Roberts and Elder Erickson 

 

 Elder Johnston and Elder Neilsen teaching

 

April MLC

Last months MLC was held in conjunction with a visit from Elder Echo Hawk, so this month it is nice to get back into our usual routine and have it at the mission home. We are still at number 32 for attendees with 10 zones and 5 STL companionships, but this number may drop as our mission numbers continue to decrease at each transfer.

The monthly theme for April is Honesty - as in being honest with ourselves and to the Lord. We are battling some disobedience within the ranks and the theme is an effort to redefine our focus as missionaries and to remember the promises and covenants made prior to accepting the call. MLC was centered on that theme. Our wonderful zone leaders and sister training leaders take the theme and present it to those they have stewardship over. Their hard work and leadership is greatly appreciated by President and Sister Tye.

Elder Matina and Elder Hansen teaching

 

Elders' Goldthorpe, Haufano, Shimbashi, and Baniago

 

Elders' Christensen, Collins, and Dennison

 

Elders' Santillan, Jimeno, and Leaupapatele

Sisters' Dryer, Domantay, Calder, and Mitsvotai

 

Elders' Jimeno, Calaunan, and Rindlisbacher

  

  

Elders' Reyes, Calaunan, Nielsen, and Jenkins

 

Sisters' Calder, Bergeson, and Eddington

 

President Tye and Sister Dryer have a chat.

  

 

 Sister Patolo found a quiet place to read.

Typhoon Maysak Melts Away As It Hits Philippines

"From a super typhoon a week ago, we now have a tropical depression. We are spared once more from a natural disaster." - Alexander Pama, Executive Director of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Latest update from Yahoo News is that the Typhoon has dissolved into a tropical depression as it made landfall today - which is wonderful news. In the Cavite mission area we have not seen any rain thus far, but skies are cloudy and dark. You can expect email tomorrow as usual (our Monday) unless something happens overnight to make it dangerous for the missionaries to go out of their apartments. As of right now we do not foresee that happening.

Maysak, which carried winds of about 250 kph (155mph) at its peak, killed nine people as it barreled through the sparsely populated Federated States of Micronesia east of the Philippines, smashing houses and destroying crops.

Typhoon Update Picture

As of this morning, the projected areas that will be impacted by the typhoon are shown in the picture below. I put a black box around our mission. As you can see, we are not in danger but are expecting rain. We do not know about power outages yet, that will depend upon the wind and the power of the storm. We are being told that the typhoon is weakening in strength and will continue to do so when it hits land. As you can tell from the picture, we are not listed in the signal warnings. 

All missionaries have been asked to get water and have 72 hour kits filled and ready if needed. As always, I will keep you updated when new information is available.

Typhoon Maysak Heads for Philippines

We are watching this typhoon daily to see where its path will be. It is being reported that it will go over Quezon City and Isabella on the island of Luzon either Sunday or Monday. I will keep you updated as best as I can. Please be patient - I will watch it and get you updates when they come. It appears that we will get rain, but if Monday's weather is too bad to send missionaries out, you will not receive an email. Here is the latest report as of Thursday April 2:

Typhoon Maysak Heads for Philippines

Picture of our typhoon from space.