New Beginnings
"Lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is come; and your tongue shall be loosed, and you shall declare glad tidings of great joy unto this generation..." D&C 31
After an inspiring Mission Leadership Seminar, it was time to get started! Ten couples were called to preside over missions in the Philippines in 2019. There are now 23 missions in the Philippines! We flew from Salt Lake to Los Angeles to Manila.
We arrived in Manila on June 28th, after a 14 hour flight from Los Angeles. I fared better than the last time I flew to Manila, when I was prepared to end it all and jump off the plane a couple of hours before landing. I was able to sleep a bit this time, but it is still a REALLY LONG TIME to spend on a plane. It was good to be back on the ground again, even if it was so unfamiliar and new. There were 18 of us travelling together, and it was such a relief to be met by Elder Schmutz and his wife after we passed through immigration. Their smiling faces helped to ease the stress of the day.
Sleep was first thing on our agenda! The following morning we gathered in a meeting room of the Marriott hotel in Manila to be trained by the Area Presidency and Area specialists in Manila. When the training was over, we began to go our separate ways. Those driving to their missions and some that were flying left immediately, but we had one more night in Manila and rose early to catch a 7:30 am flight to Cauayan. We were excited to meet and catch up with Chat Alfarez and her husband and son that evening. They drove over to the hotel, and were were able to visit for a couple of hours. Chat lived in Hermosa, Bataan when Kipp served his mission there nearly 40 years ago, and Chat used to translate for the missionaries. She now works for the Church in the Philippines in the translation department. Her father is still living in Hermosa, and she called him so that Kipp could talk to him. He is a dear friend. He was the Branch President in Hermosa in 1981, and his family were great friends to the missionaries. Kipp baptized Chat's grandmother, who was in her 90's.
We arrived in the mission on Sunday morning, and were greeted by President and Sister Hiatt. We went to church with them, then they spent a few hours with us, preparing us to serve, before they handed over the phones and prepared to return home. We are grateful for their good work in working with the missionaries.
The man on the left is Bro. Ulep, he is one of our security guards. The mission home and office and church next door are all in a gated compound, and we have 24/7 security to keep us safe. The Assistants to the President, Elders Rusch, Montague and Bodily have been so awesome as we have tried to learn the ropes and get to the front of this speeding train. We went out teaching with them on Sunday evening, and then with the Sister Training Leaders in Cauayan on Monday night. The Assistants have graciously driven us around the mission as we have travelled to meet all of the missionaries this week. It has been a whirlwind tour, but we have shook every hand, and felt of their wonderful spirit. We are excited to work with them!
Thursday was our first Mission Leadership Council, where we met with all of the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders in the mission. We counciled together on what they felt the needs of the missionaries and the mission are, and how we can move forward.
This morning we headed to Cordon, to attend church there. We left a half hour earlier than we needed to, because this was our first attempt at driving on our own. Driving in the Philippines is an adventure! The early hour and also it being Sunday made for a much easier trip, perfect for our first trip with Kipp behind the wheel. We were able to see the countryside, and it is so green, and beautiful. It is very different from home, but everywhere in the world has its own unique beauty. The Cagayan Valley is a farming area. There are fields everywhere, rice, corn and tobacco. The economy is stronger, as more people are employed. It is much cleaner than Manila. And we have blue skies!!
The temperature will take some getting used to. It was 38C when we came out of church at 9:30 am. The humidity makes us sweaty and sticky all of the time. I have never been more grateful for air conditioning!
Overall, this week has gone by so quickly, and we feel so blessed to be here to serve. Already, we have received such wonderful blessings.
1. Home has not felt so far away because of the blessing of technology; being able to talk to our children and grandchildren at home has brought smiles to our faces.
2. It was actually cooler than usual this week. That is a tender mercy for me.
3. Kipp has been able to make contact some wonderful people that he taught and baptized. It has brought such joy to his heart to see that they are still faithful. A man came up to Kipp yesterday and asked if he knew Angel from Bataan. Kipp baptised him 38 years ago as a young man. He has remained faithful and now works for the Church. His 4 sons have all served missions. It was very tender for Kipp to contact him through email. There are many other stories like this one as his friends and converts have remained faithful and have sent their children on missions.
We met the leadership in the church within our mission yesterday, and they are faithful and steadfast. We all have one goal to establish the kingdom here in the Philippines. We have felt of your love and prayers in our behalf, and are grateful for them.
After an inspiring Mission Leadership Seminar, it was time to get started! Ten couples were called to preside over missions in the Philippines in 2019. There are now 23 missions in the Philippines! We flew from Salt Lake to Los Angeles to Manila.
We arrived in Manila on June 28th, after a 14 hour flight from Los Angeles. I fared better than the last time I flew to Manila, when I was prepared to end it all and jump off the plane a couple of hours before landing. I was able to sleep a bit this time, but it is still a REALLY LONG TIME to spend on a plane. It was good to be back on the ground again, even if it was so unfamiliar and new. There were 18 of us travelling together, and it was such a relief to be met by Elder Schmutz and his wife after we passed through immigration. Their smiling faces helped to ease the stress of the day.
Sleep was first thing on our agenda! The following morning we gathered in a meeting room of the Marriott hotel in Manila to be trained by the Area Presidency and Area specialists in Manila. When the training was over, we began to go our separate ways. Those driving to their missions and some that were flying left immediately, but we had one more night in Manila and rose early to catch a 7:30 am flight to Cauayan. We were excited to meet and catch up with Chat Alfarez and her husband and son that evening. They drove over to the hotel, and were were able to visit for a couple of hours. Chat lived in Hermosa, Bataan when Kipp served his mission there nearly 40 years ago, and Chat used to translate for the missionaries. She now works for the Church in the Philippines in the translation department. Her father is still living in Hermosa, and she called him so that Kipp could talk to him. He is a dear friend. He was the Branch President in Hermosa in 1981, and his family were great friends to the missionaries. Kipp baptized Chat's grandmother, who was in her 90's.
We arrived in the mission on Sunday morning, and were greeted by President and Sister Hiatt. We went to church with them, then they spent a few hours with us, preparing us to serve, before they handed over the phones and prepared to return home. We are grateful for their good work in working with the missionaries.
The man on the left is Bro. Ulep, he is one of our security guards. The mission home and office and church next door are all in a gated compound, and we have 24/7 security to keep us safe. The Assistants to the President, Elders Rusch, Montague and Bodily have been so awesome as we have tried to learn the ropes and get to the front of this speeding train. We went out teaching with them on Sunday evening, and then with the Sister Training Leaders in Cauayan on Monday night. The Assistants have graciously driven us around the mission as we have travelled to meet all of the missionaries this week. It has been a whirlwind tour, but we have shook every hand, and felt of their wonderful spirit. We are excited to work with them!
Thursday was our first Mission Leadership Council, where we met with all of the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders in the mission. We counciled together on what they felt the needs of the missionaries and the mission are, and how we can move forward.
This morning we headed to Cordon, to attend church there. We left a half hour earlier than we needed to, because this was our first attempt at driving on our own. Driving in the Philippines is an adventure! The early hour and also it being Sunday made for a much easier trip, perfect for our first trip with Kipp behind the wheel. We were able to see the countryside, and it is so green, and beautiful. It is very different from home, but everywhere in the world has its own unique beauty. The Cagayan Valley is a farming area. There are fields everywhere, rice, corn and tobacco. The economy is stronger, as more people are employed. It is much cleaner than Manila. And we have blue skies!!
The temperature will take some getting used to. It was 38C when we came out of church at 9:30 am. The humidity makes us sweaty and sticky all of the time. I have never been more grateful for air conditioning!
Overall, this week has gone by so quickly, and we feel so blessed to be here to serve. Already, we have received such wonderful blessings.
1. Home has not felt so far away because of the blessing of technology; being able to talk to our children and grandchildren at home has brought smiles to our faces.
2. It was actually cooler than usual this week. That is a tender mercy for me.
3. Kipp has been able to make contact some wonderful people that he taught and baptized. It has brought such joy to his heart to see that they are still faithful. A man came up to Kipp yesterday and asked if he knew Angel from Bataan. Kipp baptised him 38 years ago as a young man. He has remained faithful and now works for the Church. His 4 sons have all served missions. It was very tender for Kipp to contact him through email. There are many other stories like this one as his friends and converts have remained faithful and have sent their children on missions.
We met the leadership in the church within our mission yesterday, and they are faithful and steadfast. We all have one goal to establish the kingdom here in the Philippines. We have felt of your love and prayers in our behalf, and are grateful for them.
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