Fruits of Labor Past

We serve as the baptistry coordinators on Tuesday Afternoons so we get to meet groups coming from many areas within the Cebu City Temple District.   The groups that come the first of the week usually arrive on Monday evening and stay in patron housing until Thursday Morning.  While here the youth will perform baptisms twice a day on Tuesday and Wednesday and then once on Thursday before they leave for a total of five experiences in the baptistry while they are here.  The leaders also participate in other temple ordinances when not assisting their youth in the baptistry.  It takes some of the groups up to twelve hours by boat to get to Cebu and the temple.  Other groups fly into Cebu to serve in the temple.

Our son, Ammon, served in the Tacloban Philippines Mission in 2002 and 2003, which is now in the Cebu City Temple District.  We had Ammon send us information on the areas where he served so that when groups come from those areas we could find out if they knew him from his mission.  Last week, July 1, 2014, the group that came for baptisms was from the Biliran District.  That was the second area where Ammon served and he was assigned in Cabucgayan.  Sister Sorensen has an opportunity to visit with the youth and leaders so she inquired if they remembered an Elder Sorensen.  Two of the sisters said they remembered him but there have been several Elder Sorensens that served in Tacloban so we often wonder if they are remembering our Elder Sorensen.  We contacted Ammon and asked if he could send some pictures of him on his mission so we could show them to make sure it was him they remembered.  Ammon immediately sent us some pictures which we printed and LuAnn saw the sisters in the temple the next day and shared the pictures with them.  They said that Ammon was the Elder Sorensen they remembered.  One of the pictures he sent was of a baptism service at Kasabangan Falls and when they saw that picture they immediately began pointing out people in the picture they knew and said that one of the men was also here with their group.  Sister Sorensen arranged for us to meet with them at patron housing when we finished in the temple that evening.  What a tender mercy that meeting was.  Santiago Masuela said that the picture of the baptism was his baptism and that Elder Sorensen (Ammon) had taught him.  What a wonderful experience we had visiting with them and seeing some of the fruits of the labors of one of our children.  We felt Ammon had been guided in sending the picture of Kasabangan Falls because that was the picture that really connected us with these dear members. We wanted to share these pictures with you.

Elder Ammon Sorensen on Biliran looking South South East toward Leyte. 

The baptism service at Kasabangan Falls on Biliran.  At this time the area was almost like walking down a jungle path to get to the falls.  It has become quite commercialized since.  Elder Sorensen is on the left.

These are the Filipino Saints we had such a wonderful experience meeting.

Pictured Left to Right.

Elder and Sister Sorensen

President Leonard Mollare, 2nd counselor in the Biliran District Presidency.  Two of his children were in the picture of the falls and are now serving missions in the Philippines.

Santiago Masuela, this is the brother that Ammon taught and was baptized when the picture was taken.  He served as a counselor in the Branch Presidency under President Corpin and was called as the next Branch President when President Corpin was released.  He has also served twice on the District High Council.

Isagani L. Corpin, he was the Branch President at the time of the baptisms and his daughter was one of those baptized.  He was released as Branch President to serve on the District High Council and has also served twice in that calling.

Helen C. Carroll, sister to Isagani L. Corpin and wife of Bob Carroll an American who has since passed away.  She was one of the sisters that remembered Elder Sorensen.  She was not a member when he was serving his mission but her husband, who was a member, was always inviting the missionaries over.  Ammon has a picture of him with Helen, Bob and their son.

Marlvic Urgel Corpin, she was the other sister that remembered Elder Sorensen.

President Alkie T. Corpin, 1st Counselor in the Biliran District Presidency and husband to Marlvic.  He was not a member when Elder Sorensen served in Biliran.