Craigs in Cauayan

As Christmas approaches I find myself becoming more sentimental.  This is my 5th Christmas in the Philippines.  Two were spent here as a young missionary, one when Donna, our sons and I visited my Mother and her husband while they served a mission here, and now this is our second Christmas here in Cauayan as a Mission President and Companion.  Each Christmas here has been wonderful, as we love the people and places of the Philippines  This Christmas will be the most unique one I have had or will have here.  There remains here, as in most places in the world, significant restrictions because of the COVID-19 pandemic.   In a strange way, however, I am grateful to have served as a Mission President during this pandemic.  To be clear, the Pandemic has been far more than inconvenient.  It has been remarkably hard.  I will never forget the shock and heartbreak of sending 99 missionaries home unexpectedly as we evacuated all foreign missionaries (except a few Polynesians who we were unable to

One thing every young missionary loves is Zone Conference.  You get together with the other missionaries including those from your batch (those who came out on your mission with you).  You get inspired and motivated by your leaders and taught better ways to do the work.  On top of that, you get fed really well. It is just a lot of fun.  For Mission Presidents and Companions there is Mission Leadership Seminar held twice a year.  Like zone conference, you get together with other Mission Presidents and Companions, including those in your batch.  You are taught, inspired and motivated.  And you get fed really, really well. These are grand events that last four days.  Our last Mission Leadership Counsel was held virtually.  It was great, but like a virtual Zone Conference, is not as much fun as a in-person one.  This week we enjoyed an in-person Seminar.  It was awesome.  We were taught so well.  It would not be an overstatement to say it was a tender miracle that we could hold it in perso