Transfer Day

Transfer day means plenty of pictures. Grab some snacks, prop up your feet, and enjoy -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

Good-Bye Activities

Departure Fireside

Our leaving missionaries bore their testimonies to over 200 members, investigators and dear friends. After the meeting, it was time for pictures. 

Back row: Sister Heisel, Sister Calder, Sister Mitsvotai, Elder Cabeza, Sister Domantay, Sister Rodgers, Sister Aukitino, Sister Fa'alogo, Sister Vaitaki.

Front row: Sister Seleue, Sister 'Eteaki, Sister Lamson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

President Tye had everyone laughing.

These two beautiful girls are fans of the blog - so I promised them a spot. The one in the green shirt has the same first name as mine. Very exciting!

Manila Temple and Mission Home

For the last two years, we have been attending the 11:00am session at the Manila Temple with our going home missionaries - but for the rest of 2015 we have been moved to a later endowment session. Because of this, we were able to take everyone to breakfast in the morning. Yeah! That was great, but the down side of this is that it takes us an hour and a half to get home from Manila in the late afternoon because of rush hour traffic. This puts departure interviews, hanging ties, the "good-bye" talk, and our dinner later in the evening. We got everything done - YES! - but a few of the missionaries fell asleep before we finished.

Breakfast at IHOP

 
 It's a little warm!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 I started crying right before this picture was taken. This is always the last thing we do before the missionaries leave and my heart knew it was time to say good-bye. I love the elders and sisters of Cavite!!! Knowing that I may not see some of them again in this life is very difficult. 

This Is How We Do It Back Home

A few of our Polynesian missionaries decided to roast a pig, "the way it's done back home." After getting all pday responsibilities finished, they slow roasted the pig, then served it for lunch the next day at their District Meeting. President Tye took some pictures of the lunch. He told me that when it was time to cut up the roasted pig, the Polynesians jumped right in and did the job like pros! I would have loved to have been there to watch. It looks delicious!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Eating with your fingers is common here.

Elder Flitton likes pork ribs.

Mission President Seminar

Twice a year, all Mission Presidents in the Philippines get together with the Area Presidency and staff for instruction and spiritual uplift. The first one of 2015 was held this week in Manila. President and I count down the days till each seminar because of the rest, love, and spiritual support we receive while there. Once again, the meetings were wonderful! We are very blessed to learn from and associate with all of these amazing people. 

 A short break between meetings

 President Reeder (Naga Mission) and Elder Bowen (1st Counselor, Area Presidency)
Elder Echo Hawk, 2nd counselor, has been released for medical reasons. We will miss him and his sweet wife. They are two of the most loving, kind, and humble people we know. I hope and pray he feels better soon!

 Sister Tanner (Cebu East) and I by the pool.

 Elder and Sister Arner going for a swim. He is one of our Area Medical Adviser's

 Aha! The women want to do some shopping and the men happily go back to the hotel.

 President and Sister Reeder - Naga

 President and Sister Rhalf - Cauayan

 President Tye "volunteers" to be in a role play with

Elder Ardern - Area President and President Monahan - Urdaneta

 On President's plate is a mango crepe topped with ice cream. This was one of his favorites from the dessert bar.

If you look closely at the plate sitting between us, you will see a half of an orange which looks really out of place there. I think President put it on the plate to help us not feel too guilty.

I am so thankful for these few days of being spiritually filled and also being with our dear friends. President Tye and I are extremely blessed.
The highlight of the seminar for me, was the Sacrament Meeting we had on Sunday. The most solemn and sacred part of our Sacrament Meetings is partaking of the sacrament. One would think that a hotel conference room could not provide the appropriate atmosphere for such a sacred ordinance. But in the basement of that downtown Manila hotel, with jeepneys and buses scurrying around outside; the Spirit was strong. Everyone there felt it. When the prayer was offered and the bread and water were passed, tears freely fell. There was peace and reverence during the sacrament, which offered those of us who were there some quiet time of pondering on the Atonement of the Savior and a deeper understanding of His constant and infinite love for each of us.  I will forever remember this moment and experience. I believe that any place can become a holy place when the Savior and the Priesthood are present.