March 2016

The ides of March are upon us as we have 5 weeks remaining to our Self-Reliance Mission.  We are anxiously trying to fill our remaining time as best as possible with Self-Reliance training and support as well as our days in the Cebu Temple.  We have certainly noticed that the majority of our Stakes/Districts are functioning very well without our attendance being needed. 

We are receiving notifications of Devotionals and Groups beginning in our areas of which we had known very little about.  YES, that is a good sign indicating that our Stake & District people are well enough trained and are confident to move forward which has been our major objective since arriving.

This month and next there are a number of Temple Missionaries as well as us who are concluding their service here in Cebu Philippines and returning home.  Last night we had a farewell dinner for Elder & Sister Decker held at President McCurdy's home. All the temple missionaries as well as the Temple Presidency were in attendance and it was a very nice send off.  Elder & Sister Rasmussen are next to go followed by us the first of April.

Temple Matrons

Temple Presidency & Deckers

March 3rd Thursday is one of our two days a week that we serve in the Cebu Temple.  After prayer meeting Jenee was asked to meet with President Perez.  He extended the opportunity for Jenee to serve as a Shift Coordinator even thought we have only 4 weeks remaining in the temple.  The sister who was to be the shift coordinator had a miscarriage and has to stay home for some time.  President asked Jenee to take the position with the emphasis of training a new sister to become a coordinator.  This calling will be on the Wednesday late shift so it looks like we will now serve Wednesday late shift as well as our Thursday and Friday early shifts in the temple until we are released from our calling on April 8th prior to returning home.  This is a wonderful opportunity for Jenee to shine here in the Cebu temple.

Monday the 7th we conducted our final RM Career Workshop.  This has been one of the highlights of our mission having the opportunity to be with the returning missionaries to talk about career development along with job search tools and techniques.  The workshop comes around every 6 weeks. We have had as many as 52 RM's in attendance and as few as 1.  My presentation covers four 1 hour segments covering 1)  "Me in 30 Seconds," "Power Statements" and Knowing My Gifts; 2) Understanding the difference between a Job & Career & Career Development and Networking; 3) Interview and Interviewing skills; 4) Negotiating and developing career goals. Between 2 & 3 three is a one hour break for lunch.

At the conclusion of the workshop I take about 15 minutes to talk to them about what will happen when they get home and have the mantel of being a missionary removed from them when their Stake Presidents has them remove their missionary tag.  We talk about remaining steadfast and how to remain faithful throughout the bombardment of temptations that Lucifer will throw at them.

I give them my formula for success in fighting off temptation of every kind.  I ask them to make me and themselves a promise that they will attend the Temple at least once a month if not twice if possible. I share with them my sincere testimony of the power of the temple and how by a continued influence of the temple they will be able to ward off temptation that the world will throw at them. I try to insure them that protection comes from the ordinances they received in the temple and the influence that temple will have on them going forward.

 

From here going forward the Self-Reliance missionaries will no longer do the Career Workshop as we have done it.  They have been instructed to introduce to the RM's the Self-Reliance program until such time when the new MY PLAN is introduced  here in the Philippines.  Problem is that the self-reliance is not applicable to the Americans RM's as much as it is for the Filipino RM's. It is yet to be determined how effective it will be. Nobody has any idea as to the involvement the SR Missionaries will have once they introduce the "MY PLAN" program here in the Philippines.

We will miss this extraordinary experience being with the full time missionaries prior to their returning home and going back into the real world. We just hope that what we shared with them will be helpful.  We do know that they all have expressed their appreciation for having had the workshop so Jenee and I take that as a positive and makes us feel accomplished.

Monday the 14th at 6 PM all the Senior Missionaries in the Cebu & Cebu East Missions gathered for a Family Home Evening hosted by President & Sister McCurdy.  The guest speakers were Elder Snow of the Seventy, the acting Executive Director of the Church History Department; Church Historian and Recorder. Accompanying him was Brother Nielsen the Managing Director of the Church History Department as well as Assistant Church Historian and Recorder.  Also in attendance was Elder & Sister Bowen of the Area Office and President & Sister Tanner.

                                           

After dinner they held a Q&A for about a hour which was most interesting and very informative. A number of us in attendance asked questions and had some clarity given to past history questions. We learned some new insights about the Joseph Smith Papers and the next addition coming out in May which covers the Council of the 50. Other church history items were discusses along with the Churches goal to be totally transparent  as to what information the church provides to the world.

March 17th HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!  This is our 46th anniversary being spent here in the Philippines.  We served in the temple today and afterwards we meet up with some of our fellow ordinance workers for a nice dinner to celebrate our anniversary.  This Circa restaurant sets right behind the temple and is a very charming place that is ranked in the top 10 restaurants in Cebu.

Due to it being our Anniversary the restaurant surprisingly provided desert for the group which toped off the evening in a high fashion.

This weekend we are traveling to Bogo to hold the 2016 SRS/PEF Training.  Sister Hargraves will be traveling with us and we will meet Mary Ann there at 9:30AM. This will be our last grip to Bogo and we will miss taking this trip as it is so beautiful and peaceful in Bogo.  We have met some wonderful members in Bogo and especially those with whom we served with in Self-Reliance who have become so faithful, supportive and diligent to such a point that we can honestly say that we are leaving Bogo in good hands capable of following through going forward.

Our 2016 SRS/PEF meeting was superb in every way with Mary Ann at her usual self.

Bogo Chapel

After our training we all decided that we would on our way home stop for lunch at one of our favorite establishments that we always frequent when returning from Bogo. This  is a WONDERFUL German Restaurant and Bakery.

                                                       
                                     

 

                                                  

Above is Jurgen and Chuchi Mannchen the owners of BORUSSIA.  Jurgen in German and Chuchi is Filipino. We met them for the first time last March during our first trip to Bogo and fell in love with them.  The are the most gracious host and hostess you will ever meet, always making us feel welcomed like family. All the missionaries when traveling to or from Bogo stop at Borussia so they are very familiar with the missionaries and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Today was special for Jenee and I as we said our good buys.  Chuchi hugged Jenee and asked her if we as Mormons believed in the Rapture.  After a little discussion Jenee told her that we certainly believe in the Second Coming of Jesus, the resurrection and the after life.  Chuchie just smiled and said to Jenee "then we will see each other again in the after life."  Jurgen and I gave each other a big hug then we separated our ways with them standing at the entrance to the restaurant waving good by.

GOOD FRIENDS and GOOD MEMORIES!

This week it is Holy Week and school is out so everybody takes a long vacation.  Many of the local temple ordinance workers take this week off leaving the temple short handed.  We offered to work two additional days Tuesday & Wednesday along with our regular Thursday and Friday to help out. 

Wednesday evening the 23rd  we will be going to dinner with Mary Ann and the 4 OJT's. OJT's are four young ladies doing On the Job Training having worked with us for the past year.  They do this internship as part of their college graduation requirements. So we are all getting together at the Parkland Hotel for dinner to celebrate their graduation. 

Friday the 25th we attended the Cebu Central Youth Conference providing one of the workshops covering Self-Reliance.  As usual we will take 2 hours with the four of us dividing the time in 20 minute segments to present various aspects of self-reliance.  The Sisters do a fun activity they call "A Theme with a Purpose." I have a 30 minute power point presentation where I cover 1) personal goal planning 2) the Self-Reliance workshops and 3) eligibility for the PEF loan program.


                                                     

 

As usual the Self-Reliance Team was the highlight of the conference.  With the combination of fun - games and meaningful discussion we seem to hit it off with the youth.  The leaders were also pleased with the response that the youth demonstrated when they gave us a standing ovation for our efforts.

Saturday we will crash and rest, I hope?!