Manila

The Cebu City Philippines Temple was closed for the two week maintenance from Jan 13 - Jan 27, 2014. During the first week of the temple closure we received permission to travel to Manila and visit some of the places in that part of the Philippines.  There were four temple missionary couples who went, Henthorns, Browns, Colemans and Sorensens and we were gone from Jan 13 - Jan 20, 2014.  We thought we had better take the opportunity while we are here to see this part of the world since neither LuAnn nor I have been out of the United States before.  It was a wonderful trip and being with the other missionary couples was really fun.  The trip was set up through a church member who has a company that provides transportation for missionaries and general authorities so we had a driver, Robert, that took us everywhere, showed us the important sites in the area, let us know what was appropriate for the culture and made sure we didn't pay to much for something (sometimes Filipinos try to give you the American discount which means raising the price when they see you are American).  We didn't have to worry about driving in the traffic or trying to figure out how to get somewhere, Robert took care of that for us and since he is a member of the church he knew what was appropriate for missionaries.  We stayed at a Holiday Inn for the first three days and spent the rest of the days in the patron housing by the Manila Temple which gave us the opportunity to visit with some of the members who had traveled to Manila to be in the temple.

Metro Manila is made up of 16 different cities that are connected together and is a very busy place.  You see the very modern with lots of construction going on and very old buildings and very poor areas mixed in with it.  Some places that we visited in and around Manila were:

The American Cemetery: this is where many are buried that died in the Philippines during WWII fighting for freedom, not just Americans.  There was a feeling of being on hollowed ground there and we felt a deep appreciation for those who gave their lives for freedom.

Fort Santiago: a very old fort originally built for protection against pirates and still has the stone walls around it.  It was also used as a prison and Dr. Jose Ruzal, who is the national hero for the Philippines, was imprisoned there prior to being marched a short distance away to be executed.  He helped the Philippines obtain their independence from Spain.

Taal Volcano: an active volcano (not at the moment though) that is located inside a lake formed inside a larger volcano that also has a lake inside it.  Very interesting.  We rode a boat to get to the volcano and then rode horses to the top of the volcano.  There was smoke coming up in places and you could smell sulfur and feel the heat.

Pagsanjan Falls: we rode in canoes paddled by Filipinos, and at times we were pulled and pushed through and over rocks, up the river through steep cliffs to a waterfall.  This area is maintained for it's primitive nature and was very beautiful.  We got on a bamboo raft and were pulled through the falls and were able to swim in the water behind the falls.

Corregador Island:  This island is close to Bataan Island, where the Bataan death march was during WWII, and was a strategic U.S. military base before and during the war.  The United States established a military base there in 1912 and had barracks, officers quarters, munition bunkers, large guns, etc.  It was such a strategic military point that the Japanese attacked Corregador only 10 hours after attacking Pearl Harbor. The United States later attacked the island to retake it from the Japanese. The island has not been rebuilt since the war so all of the buildings that were bombed are in the same condition as then.  The feeling there was very different and felt dark because of the death and destruction that had taken place.  It gave us a little insight into some of the history of WWII in the Philippines.                                                                                            

The Manila Philippines Temple:  This was our favorite place on our trip.  We were able to spend Friday and Saturday in the temple serving as proxies in ordinances.  Saturday Jan 18, 2014 we were able to participate in two endowment sessions, two sealing sessions and an initiatory session with the other temple missionaries.  This was a very special day for us because it was our 40th wedding anniversary and we couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than being in the temple.  The only thing that would have made the day better would have been to have all of our children with us.

The American Cemetery in Manila.  Over 30,000 crosses continue around in a complete circle.

Fort Santiago with some of the old walls.  The footprints on the ground trace where Dr. Jose Ruzal walked from his prison cell to where he was executed.

Sister Sorensen on our way to Taal Volcano.  The water behind her is the lake inside a large volcano and Taal is located on the island directly behind the tree on the left of the picture.  A dead volcano can be seen on the right.

On the horses headed to the volcano.  The horses were small but strong to get us up the mountain.  The hill between and behind us is the dead volcano shown in the previous picture.

This is Taal Volcano with the lake inside of it.  Just behind us there was smoke coming out of the volcano.

One of our boatman pulling us upstream toward Pagsanjan Falls.  There was also a boatman in the back of the canoe pushing through this area because it was narrow and shallow.

The Canoe in head of us being lifted and pushed over rocks.  We were next.

The narrow gorge headed to the falls.  Everything was so green.

Pagsanjan Falls,  The raft in the water is what we rode on to go through the falls.

One of the bombed out barracks on Corregador Island.  The yellow paint on the walls is the original paint.

A twelve inch gun.  The hole to the left is where a bomb hit.  The gun was riddled with holes.

Inside the Pacific War Memorial on Corregador.

The dock where General McArthur left Corregador for Australia.  The Island across the water is Bataan where the death march took place.

The Manila Temple across the street from the Philippines MTC.  The flags are at the entrance to the MTC.

The Cebu Temple Missionaries at the Manila Temple.  Elder and Sister Henthorn, Spokane, Washington.  Elder and Sister Coleman, Hawaii,  Elder and Sister Sorensen, Fayette, Utah.  Elder and Sister Brown, West Valley City, Utah.

The Manila Temple.

Transportation in Cebu

This week we thought we would show some of the transportation available in Cebu.  The temple has two vans that can be used by the missionaries and that is usually how we do our shopping.  We go with other missionaries because we don't have a drivers license yet.  The rules of the road are 1: don't hit any body and 2: if you get the nose of your vehicle to a spot before the next vehicle does you can cut in front of them.  That is pretty much all you need to know.  You can drive on the wrong side of the road as long as no one will hit you (we have seen two lanes have three lanes of traffic on them), you can stop in the outside lane to let people on or off, motorcycles go in and out of traffic if there is an opening large enough between or in front of vehicles and pedestrians just walk out into the traffic when they need to cross the street, (see the YouTube link below of us walking to the temple).  Amazingly we have only seen two accidents since we have been here and both of them involved motorcycles, probably because they cut in and out of traffic so much.  There is always lots of horns being honked but it is more to let other drivers know that you are there and don't want to be hit or you hit someone than another driver is mad at your driving, although that does happen occasionally also.

Besides the vans we have also used a taxi, rode a jeepney and of course walking which is how we get to the temple each day. Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Click on the following link to go to YouTube and see us crossing the street and walking to the temple.  Notice how close the vehicles come to us as we are walking down the street.  Also, when we briefly show the men working on the power lines notice that they just have ladders leaning up against the power lines to work on them.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNzqBVq68D0

One of the many styles and colors of Jeepney.  They load and unload right by our apartment.

Another Jeepney with cargo on top, sometimes the whole top is covered.  I like the saying on the front.

There are many taxi's available to use.  The men on motorcycles in front of the taxi are waiting for paying passengers.

Look closely and you will notice a child is between the two adults.  We have seen up to 5 people on one motorcycle.

A tricycle.  Most have a motorcycle attached to the cart but you still see a regular bicycle used  sometimes.

A tricycle hauling passengers and plywood and other materials.

Bicycles are still used to transport families.  

Seeing the Philippines

The temple was closed for New Years so the senior missionaries took the opportunity to see what it is like outside of the city.  We spent two days at Danasan Eco Park, which is in the mountains and showed us some jungle area.  We participated in a zip line, horse back riding, ATV riding, hiking into three water falls and enjoying the beautiful scenery and cool mountain air.

For New Years eve we went onto the roof area of our apartment to watch the fire works.  We had heard that the Filipinos like to celebrate new years and they really do.  At midnight there were fireworks every direction that you looked.  Some personal fireworks but many commercial fireworks displays as well.  It was very loud and colorful and the air was filled with smoke.  On New Years day we went to a local beach and took a thirty minute boat ride to a fish sanctuary and did some snorkeling, a first for LuAnn and me.  As you can tell Senior Missionaries are able to participate in many more activities than the young missionaries and no we are not on an eighteen month vacation. 

Seeing new things was fun but we are glad to be back in the temple.  We hope all of you have a wonderful 2014.

The area for the zip line, eating and showers at Danasan Park.

Our cabin for the night.

Elder Henthorn reminded us that when you put even big boys and toys together things happen.

We needed to ride on this modified John Deere to get down to the falls.  We were definitely muddin on the ride.

We were definitely in the jungle.  Very beautiful though.

The missionaries on a bridge over the stream headed to the water falls.

Our guide helping Sister Sorensen over a slick spot.  There were areas he had to help all the missionaries to be safe.

The missionaries at the first of three falls.

There were people living in this area also.  Notice the three different styles of constructing a hut.

Sister and Elder Sorensen ready to try snorkeling.  The long shirts were to protect from Jellyfish.

Our transportation to the fish sanctuary.

One of the crew members by the spare boat.  Reminds me of a spare doughnut tire for a car.

First Christmas

We are experiencing our first Christmas in the Philippines.  During December we attended two ward Christmas parties and the temple worker Christmas party.  It was nice to get to know the members, proselyting missionaries and temple workers better.  One evening primary children even came to the patron housing and sang Christmas songs for the temple missionaries.  The weather is different than we are used to so it hasn't felt like Christmas that way but we have been blessed to feel the true meaning of Christmas through service.

The temple missionaries have been helping with some gifts for the My Bonita Home for Girls orphanage, run by the Catholic Church, and we were able to participate.  Each couple helped provide funds to purchase personal items for the girls, helped put bags together containing the items with each girl's name on it and then deliver the gifts to the orphanage.  What a wonderful experience.  The almost 100 girls range in ages from 4 to 18.  We were warmly welcomed when we arrived and were then entertained by the girls for about 30 minutes which consisted of the Bonita Girls Band and the girls playing instruments and singing .  The temple missionaries sang a few Christmas hymns to them and ended with "I am a child of God".  The presents were then given out and we noticed that several of the girls immediately began eating the orange and apple that was in each bag, a real treat for them.  There are several families helping at the orphanage who have little boys so they were very excited when given a basketball as a gift. We enjoyed visiting with some of them and our hearts went out to them as we were also thankful for those trying to help these precious children of our Father in Heaven. 

Christmas Eve we were able to have a set of young Sister Missionaries over to have dinner with us.  Sister Laub is from Nampa, Idaho and has a brother also serving a mission.  They were in the MTC together.  Sister Pulgado is from Manila, Philippines and had a brother just return home from serving.  Her father served as a young missionary in Cebu also and she has been able to meet some of the members that her father baptized.  It was fun to share our Christmas Eve Dinner with them.

 

At this time of year we miss all of you, our family and friends, but our time at the orphanage and dinner with Sister Laub and Sister Pulgado had LuAnn and I express to each other, "Now it feels like Christmas".  We hope all of you have experienced the same feelings of thankfulness as we have as you celebrated the gift our Father in Heaven gave to us of his son Jesus Christ. 

Primary Children performing at the Lahug Ward Christmas Party

Christmas dinner at the ward party.

Temple Christmas Party

The temple missionary men giving a heartfelt rendition of "Silent Night"

They even made a welcome banner for us at the My Bonita Girls Home.

One of the sisters welcoming their Latter-day Saint friends.  The band is behind her.

One of the many girls playing for us.

Sister Sorensen enjoying one of the younger girls.

Elder Sorensen and 12 year old Grace.  When it got hot in the room she starting fanning us to give service.

One of the girls teaching Sister Sorensen a game.  They all laughed together when she couldn't quite get it right.



Sister Sorensen learned a new skill, making a rice container using palm leaves.



Sister Laub, Sister Sorensen and Sister Pulgado at our apartment for Christmas Eve Dinner.

Returning to Serve

 

This week we once again had the opportunity to help serve the typhoon survivors.  We have been able to meet several people who served a mission in the Philippines and have returned to help after the earthquake and typhoon.  One is a doctor, he actually served the same time as Ammon in Tacloban, another served when they just opened the Tacloban Mission and another, Raymond Lynn Goodson, was one of the first missionaries to open the Philippines to the preaching of the gospel.

We met the Goodsons this week as they were here in Cebu to take spaghetti dinners to Tacloban for Christmas.  In the Philippines spaghetti is considered a special meal for birthdays, holidays, etc. so the Goodsons wanted to provide something special for those who have been through so much tragedy.  They sent out a letter to those they knew and within 10 days had enough money to provide over 5,500 meals. The missionaries had the opportunity with other church members to put together the meals on Friday and Saturday and after Sacrament Meeting on Sunday helped load all the boxes of dinners on a truck so it could be on a ship that night.

The Goodsons spoke in Sacrament meeting on Sunday for just a few minutes and the spirit was very strong with their love for the Filipino people.  We truly love those we serve.  Brother Goodson's service in the Philippines began in 1961 when he was serving as a young missionary in Hong Kong.  He received a call from President Hinckley, along with three other missionaries, to open the gospel to a nation.  President Hinckley had just dedicated the Philippines for the preaching of the gospel a few months earlier and these four missionaries would be the first missionaries in the Philippines.  They were the first missionaries to begin the harvest in this very productive field that was white and ready for the harvest.  In 1974 President Goodson with his wife Debra served as the mission president in the Manila Mission.  In 1979 he was given the assignment by President Kimball to find a spot for a temple in the Philippines.  He told the missionaries who were in the meeting that when they left they would be part Filipino because of their love for the people.  We already know this is true for us.




Elder Sorensen with President and Sister Goodson

Putting together ingredients for spaghetti dinners



This boy would help by pushing boxes to heavy for him to lift



Boxed and ready to go



This was the lesson during priesthood meeting this day




Loaded and ready to go on the ship to Tacloban.

Our Missionary Apartment

This week we thought we would show you where we live.  The Senior Missionaries definitely have better living conditions than the young missionaries.  All of the other temple missionaries stay on the third floor of the patron housing located on the temple complex.  The couple that we were replacing extended their mission so there was not an apartment available for us until March.  The temple recorder found an apartment for us close by and had it furnished.  We are about a seven minute walk from the temple and have shopping available right across the street.  The street we are on has quite a bit of traffic so there is the associated noise all of the time. 

The staff of the Prestigio, the name of the place where we stay, are so friendly and helpful.  They always greet you with a smile and say " Morning Mom" to LuAnn, (Mom is a term used to show respect for a mature woman) and "Morning Sir" to Kim".  They love helping us learn new words in Cebuano.  They always open the lobby door for us and if we have been shopping hurry out to the parking lot when they see us and help carry our items up to the apartment.  Yes, we really are roughing it in the Philippines.



Welcome to our humble abode.

Our living and dinning area with bottled water for drinking.

The CR (comfort room), the unit in the upper right is the water heater.

You can guess on this accessory.

Kitchen area.  Only one sink and no hot water.

Bedroom, (yes that is a king sized bed).



Looking out our window to the street.

Some of the friendly staff.

Our apartment is the top one by the sign.  The orange reflection on the glass is our dinning area.

Welcome to the Philippines

With the pictures this week we thought we would share the humble circumstances that many of the Filipinos live in.  Several of the pictures were taken just behind where we live.  Even though their circumstances are very humble they are a happy people and take joy in their family.  We visited one of the temple security guards, who lives in the circumstances shown, he also serves as a counselor in the bishopric. His wife had a baby on Tuesday and they blessed him on Sunday

We had a little tremor this week, which seems to happen at least weekly so far, nothing big but you knew the earth was shaking.  Welcome to the Philippines.