Transfer Day In The Office

This is the last of the August transfer day pictures.

I understand we had a lot of missionaries at the office today. I was so busy with orientation that I did not get many pictures. When President and I finally walked into the office, he started shooing the stragglers out the door with his Alis Ka Na sign. I hurried and grabbed my camera.

Here are the few remaining missionaries that were still in the mission office. 

Our last good-bye to Elder Asendente.

 
A few of our sister missionaries with the Rigby's.

 

Orientation And The Welcome Sign

Ten new missionaries have been welcomed to Cavite Mission. This is the smallest batch we have received since the Philippine Cavite Mission was opened on July 1, 2013. During the past year, we have been receiving between 20-25 missionaries at a time, so this was a breeze! Once they arrived we spent five hours in orientation, training, and interviews.

I couldn't help but take a picture of the chairs set up at the Molino Chapel in preparation for the incoming missionaries and their trainers. Usually the room is filled with chairs, but today it looked so empty. Because the numbers were lower than usual, I decided to do all the cooking myself.

Good idea - hey, I was saving money. Not as expensive.

Bad idea - The prep baking was not the hard part, it was packing everything into the car to deliver to the church, unloading it, giving my talk in orientation, leaving the meeting to warm things up, plugging the rice maker in somewhere else because one breaker couldn't handle the load, serving, clean up, reloading the car, unloading at home, my feet and legs were wiped out, and washing all the utensils and dishes. 

Are you out of breath? Exactly! I now have a perfect knowledge that:

Catering Is Not For Wimps!

The following are pictures of our newest missionaries and orientation.

 

 D&C 4

 

Elder Davis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At The Welcome Sign

 Sister Ferrer

Elder Alvarez 

 Elder Sison

 Elder Manase

 Elder Reyes

Elder Samante 

Elder Yocte 

 Elder Lagundas

 Elder Velena

Elder Matangi

The August Good-Bye Group

The August good-bye group had a great send off from Cavite. Since the Manila Temple is closed in August, the 4 leaving missionaries were able to attend a session in July. When their last day in the mission arrived, which is usually a temple day, we had to make some other plans. We decided to go to the Manila Ocean Park which could be compared to Sea World. Elder Abon, Elder Asendente, Elder Cornelius, and Sister Montemayor were lucky enough to go to the temple and have an extra activity day.

 

 

These fish are eating the dead skin off of our feet. It was the strangest feeling - and it tickled.

 

 

 

 
The buffet was really good. The food was hot and there was a lot to choose from.

After we finished at the Ocean Park we headed to the Mission Home for dinner and "last night" activities.

 Elder Abon and Elder Cornelius

Elder Cornelius is pointing to his tie which is right next to Elder Tadina's.

 Sister Montemayor

 Elder Asendente

 

 The leaving missionaries spent the night at the mission home and the Area van came for them at 6:00am on Wednesday. I think they were excited to go home and I don't blame them. When you get to the end of your called time to serve, it's hard but you feel the necessity to move on. The next phase for these missionaries will involve college, careers, eternal companions and starting their own families. They will be setting new goals and will face new challenges but because they have spent 18 months/2 years in the mission field, they know the importance of depending upon the guidance of the Holy Ghost. If they will not forget the trials they faced on their mission and remember the closeness of the Savior as they struggled, then they will know that He will continue to ALWAYS be with them. Missionaries know that when they pray, read the scriptures, pray, attend church meetings, pray, take the sacrament, pray, and endure to the end . . .  that God can not be held back from guiding them and blessing their life. 

"And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all they foes." D&C 121:8