Missionaries returned from Palawan

We had a very special experience this week, as two missionaries after completing their missions came back home to Palawan and I had the opportunity to give each of them an honorable release from their mission calling. However the setting and emotions were totally different. On Friday evening a young Elder from Brooks Point returned to puerto Princesa, the only way anyone new that he was coming home was that he had called his Branch President the night before from Manila and asked if anyone was going to meet him the next morning. Brooks Point is four and one half hours from Puerto, President De Vega was able to catch the last transportation available that night to come to Puerto. The next morning the Elder was not on any of the flights, his flight had been canceled, but he had no way to let anyone know. President De Vegas waited all day and the Elder finely arrived at 6:00 pm, to late to catch the last shuttle back to Brooks Point, so they stayed in Puerto again Friday night. During my interview with the Elder, he said he hoped that his family remembered that he would be coming home this week, as he had not talked to any of them since he left two years ago. They live 30 plus KL past Brooks Point and way up on top of the mountain overlooking the ocean, and he had no way to communicate with them. He had called his Branch President on Mothers Day to see how his mother was doing, and was told that his family had not been active since he left on his mission, that they had said it was just to hard and expensive for them to get to town. He was anxious to see his family, but didn't want to have to take his missionary badge off as he wanted to hold on to that identity and wasn't sure what he would do now, he didn't want to go back to the little farm up in the mountains, and there is not very many job opportunities there, he was very sad and afraid. 

Saturday morning a sister from Aborlan returned home. When we got out to the airport, her parents, brothers and sisters. aunts and uncles, and friends were all there. They were all so excited to see her, and so proud of her. They all went back to the church with us and waited will I talked to her. She could not quite talking about her mission experience. She served at temple square in Salt Lake City, then to give her some of what she called normal missionary experience, they sent her to Alaska for three months, in the middle of the winter. From the hot Philippines to Salt Lake City to Alaska in the middle of the winter. She had went on her mission because her family wanted her to go on a mission, and she didn't want to get married in that little town and was sure she would if she didn't leave. Now she didn't want to take her mission badge off, but it was totally different from the young man the night before, she was just so excited and proud of her service that she wanted everyone to know that she was a missionary, she did not want to quite. Her life had changed and she loved who she had become. She was anxious to get back to school and get her teaching certificate and start her new life. 

Puerto Princesa District Conference with Elder Valdez

We not only were able to meet with one general Authority this week, but two. President Ko left Puerto on Friday June 5, 2009  and our Puerto Priencesa District Conference was Saturday and Sunday June 6th and 7th. Elder Valdez an Area Seventy was the presiding authority. He had training meetings on Saturday afternoon, where he taught from the questions that he was asked. After this meeting Elder Valdez asked if I would bear my testimony in the Sunday Conference Session the next day. Then at the Adult session Saturday evening, he asked the audience what questions and concerns they had, then he asked each one on the stand to take one of the subjects that was brought up and teach about it. This included President & Sister Howard, President & Sister Golding and the Puerto Princesa District Presidency. After we each took our turn with one subject each, Elder Valdez taught us on the remaining subjects. I am sure that everyone there would have stayed for hours listening to him. Then we had the privilege of going to dinner with Elder Valdez and President & Sister Howard. On the way to dinner, Elder Valdez said, President Golding would you be able to prepare a talk for the General Session of conference tomorrow, and sister Golding, would you bear your testimony. After the general session, Elder Valdez met with the District & Branch Presidencies for more training. Then Sister Golding and I had an opportunity to take Elder Valdez to the airport, but the airport was not open yet and it was still raining very hard, so this gave us an opportunity to visit for about an hour with him. He shared with us that soon after he returned from his mission, at the age of 22 he was called to serve as Bishop, when he was released as the Bishop he was called as a counselor in the Stake Presidency, then served nine years as the Stake president. When he was released as the Stake President, he was called as a Mission President(at age 38) Three months prior to being released as a mission President in 2003 he was called to serve as an Area Authority, he was then 41 years old. What a great opportunity we have now had to spend time with four General authorities in the short time we have been here on this beautiful Island of Palawan.

Mission Tour by President Ko

Each year a member of the Area Presidency tours each of the missions. This year President Ko, the 1st Counselor in the Area Presidency and a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy toured the Philippine Manila Mission, Thursday was his day in Puerto Princesa. What a wonderful day that was. He arrived early Thursday morning along with his wife Sister Kim and President & Sister Howard. We went directly from the Airport to the Puerto Chapel where all twenty (20) of the missionaries from Palawan were waiting. He first interview the Zone Leaders & District Leaders as a group to determine what the opportunities and challenges were, then he met and taught the missionaries along with all of us. After lunch he interviewed President & Sister Golding about our activity and in part to help him determine what to teach the District & Branch leaders that evening. We were very nerves, but will never forget the experience. He then interviewed each of the Zone Leaders & District Leaders individually. We were then able to have dinner with President Ko, Sister Kim and President & Sister Howard, prior to the evening meeting. Then on Friday morning we took them to the airport, while waiting in line Sister Kim and Sister Golding went off to look for some jewelry at the outside stands. President Ko, was anxious to get checked in and suggested that someone go get them. He said that he would, but the Priesthood only has authority over Sister Kim on Sundays. In spite of wanting to get inside, he waited patiently for them to return. He was very impressed with the Mission Tour, he commented that the Philippine Manila Mission was not only one of the best missions in the Philippines, but one of the best missions in the entire church. One of the main reasons for this is President Howard, what a great job he does, the missionaries love him and he brings out the best in them. We love the missionaries here on Palawan, what a blessing they have been to us. What a special blessing it was to be able to spend some time with such a special man of God as President Ko, this was truly a special two days.

Youth Temple Trips

This past month has been by far the busiest to date on our mission, but it has also been so rewarding. It started off with the Narra District, Youth Temple Trip. A temple trip here is not like at home where we can drive across town any time we want. Here you need to plan for months in advance, when you finely get ready to leave, you go by way of a Super Ferry Boat that takes just over 24 hours to go from Puerto Princesa to Manila. That morning three of the Branches met at their church at 2:00 am and the other two branches met at 4:00 am to travel to Puerto Princesa. They ended up taking fifty (50) Young Men & Young Women along with ten (10) leaders. Then another 15 members went with them, one to receive his own Endowment, and three families to be Sealed as an Eternal Family in the temple. Once they arrive in Manila they were assigned to one of the Chapels near the temple where they stayed from Sunday evening until they started home on Friday evening. They brought their own pots & pans to cook at the church. It was a little challenging to get them there, but everyone had a wonderful time. We had been working with everyone for two months to make sure they all had current Temple Recommends, and were continually assured that they did. Well the day before they left only 4 of the 10 leaders had active, current Recommends. Three on them did not have their membership records in the District. So Sunday morning at 6:00 am, I was down at the boat dock in the pouring rain, doing Temple Recommends. Some in our van and others wherever we could find a privet, dry spot. Then Monday morning working with the records department to move the three members records into the proper Branch. All worked out and everyone was able to attend the first scheduled time at the temple on Tuesday.

The Narra group returned home Saturday night and the Puerto Princesa District left Sunday morning. They also took fifty (50) Young Men & Young Women along with ten (10) leaders. then they had two families that were Sealed as an Eternal family in the Temple, two couples that we married in the temple, and some other members that went with them, there were eighty (80) total in this group. One week before they were to leave the Area Office informed us that the three families that were planning to go to be sealed in the temple would need to wait another month before they would be able to go, but we were able to help two of the families get ready, and by Friday night were able to secure there tickets, and Temple times. The third family will be going by themselves later this month. These were wonderful times that we will never forget. The youth had a great time except for one young man that fell on the boat railing just as they were arriving in Manila. He was taken by ambulance to the hospital where he spent about ten days, one of the leaders stayed with him and they returned home a few days after the rest of the group. The two families that were Sealed in the temple are so excited. These are great experiences that we will never forget.