Last Closure - Second Week

The last blog talked about the first week of temple closure.  This time we will tell you about the second week of closure. We arrived back in Cebu on Friday after leaving Palawan and then caught a bus on Saturday and went to Dumaguete for the weekend and then to Siquijor on Monday.  We traveled by bus from Cebu to Bato where the bus drove onto the ferry and we were transported to Tampi where the bus drove off the ferry and then to Dumaguete.  We caught a tricycle to the Essencia Hotel where we stayed.  Approximate time: 4 1/2 hours.  We realized this is the experience the opposite direction for the Dumaguete saints to come to the temple.  We talked to a group this past week from a different area and it took them 13 hours to come to the temple by boat and bus.  There are other groups that it takes much longer to come to the temple.  So why is it so hard for us to make it to the temple when we live so close?   We had planned on going to church in Dumaguete and it was a wonderful experience as we met members that we see in the temple on a regular basis, despite the distance.  It isn't very often that temple missionaries make it to Dumaguete so they were very happy to have us with them and called us their Temple Angels. We were so glad to be with these wonderful saints.

On Monday we caught a ferry and headed to Siquijor where we spent three days before returning back to Cebu.  It was nice to see another area of the Philippines and be in a less populated location for a few days.  Still more people than Fayette though.  The pictures will show a little of what we experienced.

After riding on the bus, the yellow one in the middle, we got on the ferry to continue on to Dumaguete.  Back behind and above the vehicles there was seating for passengers who didn't want to stay on the bus. We sat in the top seats because we could see better and it was cooler.

This was a ferry unloading just before we got on ours.  People, cars, large trucks and cargo all travel together.

A picture of Dumaguete from the top of the Essencia Hotel where we stayed.  You can see ocean to the left and mountains to the right.

One of the many old Catholic church's found in the Philippines.

Some members of the Dumaguete 3rd Ward where we attended church.  They loved having the Temple Angels visit them.

Four missionary couples in a jeepnee taking a ride up the mountain above Dumaguete.  Left side: Elder and Sister Decker and Elder and Sister Henthorn.  Right side: Elder and Sister Sorensen and Elder and Sister Bailey.  Notice all of the head room for Elder Sorensen and Elder Bailey.

Getting on the ferry in Dumaguete and heading for Siquijor which can be seen in the far background.

Seating on the ferry.  This is how some members travel for many hours on their way to the temple.  It was much cooler outside than inside.

Sister Sorensen enjoying the view as we approach Siquijor.  As we were outside, mainly because it was cooler than sitting inside, we started seeing flying fish come out of the water and glide away from the ferry.  First time experience seeing flying fish and we were amazed at how far they would travel through the air before entering the water again.

Typical scene in Siquijor, children, trees and chickens.

After traveling in a tricycle for 30 minutes from the dock and then down a dirt road that kept getting narrower and narrower we came to this sign telling us we had reached our destination, Salamangka Resort.

This is how we had to rough the last four days of temple closure.

Elder and Sister Henthorn relaxing by the pool and the ocean.  They just returned home to Spokane Washington and a snow storm.

This was the scene just a stones throw down the beach from the resort where we were staying showing homes of local people and their boats.

While taking a tour of Siquijor we stopped to get a fish foot massage.  The fish would come and clean the dead skin from your feet.  Took a little getting used to.

Sister Henthorn's reaction after putting her feet in the water for a fish foot massage.

Sister Sorensen as we started our walk down to see Cambugahay falls.  The trail was fairly steep and a good walk.

Cambugahay falls consisted of numerous falls one after the other along the river.  Very quiet and relaxing.

Our van driver needed to stop at a gas station to refuel.  Gives a whole new meaning to buying fuel by the liter.

We saw numerous fields of rice growing.   Small terraced rice patties next to the road.

Elder and Sister Sorensen in a tricycle heading to the bus terminal in Dumaguete on our way back to Cebu from Siquijor.

Expressing religious thoughts on the back of a tricycle.  Expression of religion is everywhere in the Philippines and no one gets offended.

We passed this set of sister missionaries as we headed to the bus terminal in Dumaguete.  It is always fun to see the young missionaries, they are so excited and happy about sharing the gospel.

A beautiful sunset in the Philippines.  Symbolic of our service here.