Far, Far Away On Judea's Plains

We attended the Cabatuan Branch of the Church today.  Cabatuan is a small city about 15 minutes from where we live in Cauayan City.  There is a wonderful branch of the Church in Cabatuan.  The Chapel was full and as the meeting progressed, they had to put out more and more chairs.  Being September, the opening hymn was Far, Far Away On Judea's Plains.  This makes perfect sense when one realizes that September 1st is the beginning of the Christmas season here in the Philippines!  In the United States, Christmas starts after Thanksgiving.  In my mother's home growing up, Christmas decorations could not come out until December 1st.  Filipinos love Christmas so much that they start celebrating Christmas September 1st.  The decorations, presents and feasts are more muted than in America.  The music and family celebrations are, however, more intense.  The joy of the season is really second to none.  When one from the cold of Canada first arrives and it is 95 degrees out and they are singing Silent Night on a street corner, this takes a little getting used to. As one considers it closer however; with family, friends and music at the rim and Christ at the core, I think the Filipinos have it just about right.

Returning to the Church meetings here in the Philippines, what I think that I like the best is the vibrant youth who attend in large numbers.  In many faiths, church meetings often look like a rest home meeting (all old people, as many young people in the world have turned away from religion).  Here at the Church, the youth often form nearly a majority of those attending church.  Often thy come without parents, as their parents are either not members of the Church or are less engaged in the Church.  Still they come and are committed.  They fill my heart with happiness.

Manila Missionary Training Center

This week we drove to Tuguegarao City, which is about 100 Kilometers from Cauayan City, for three days.  It takes about 2.5 hours to get there.  The highway is a well-paved concrete road;  two lanes (one each way) and a good shoulder on either side, wide enough for one to drive on upon.  Generally we do not drive on the shoulder, because vehicles are parked there, or corn or rice are drying there or people are walking there.  You will also occasionally find a power pole in the middle of the lane!  The roads are very busy; a bit insane to drive on, actually.  There are rare times when one can go 100 kilometers per hour but then one is hard on the brake because there is a tricycle driver ahead doing 20 kiliometers per hour looking for a fare, or a tractor on the road ahead (Filipino tractors are very different than those in the USA, as they are small and light for working in the rice patties) with 10 workmen riding on it going to the next field going 10 kilometers per hour.  With all the traffic on the road and so many slow downs, the roads become quite an adventure.  People pass slow movers using the oncoming traffic lane or the shoulder of the road; either the left or the right shoulder, regardless of direction of travel, as required.  Often we see two vehicles passing a slow mover at the same time: one on the oncoming traffic lane and one on a shoulder (either the left shoulder or the right shoulder beside the oncoming traffic lane).  When using the shoulders, one must watch for and dodge the pedestrians, drying crops and parked vehicles.  It gets the heart pumping for sure.  Filipino drivers are really quite amazing because they have to be so aware of what is happening all around them on these roads.  They do a really good job of staying safe.

You also have to dodge livestock on the shoulder of the road

A basket salesman (there is a motorcycle under there) also on the shoulder of the road

Last week a policeman pulled over one of my Assistants because of a traffic infraction.  I did not know they ever did that here.  My Assistant did not get fined, because he had recently visited with the policeman's partner who vouched for him.

My experience here remains wonderful.  The biggest difference  between this mission and my mission as a young man is my companion.  I liked my companions as a young man but I did not choose them.  My current companion I did choose and she is the love of my life and the choice of my heart.  It is a great joy to me to work beside her every day as my companion and dearest friend.

Preparing for a Baptism

The Manila Temple