May 2015

 

May has been a month of changes as well as traveling to help with the Self-Reliance work here in Cebu.

We received a copy of a letter sent from the Philippines Are Presidency to all Stake, Mission and District Presidents, Bishops and Branch Presidents, Self Reliance Committee Chair and Stake Self Reliance Specialists outlining the NEW "Implementing the Self-Reliance Initiative for the Philippines."

In short the Area decided that every Stake/District was to create and set up their own Self-Reliance Centers.  Some Stake/Districts have already done this but there are many that still need to move on it.

Effective immediately Self -Reliance is to be placed under the direction of the local priesthood leaders and not the model Self-Reliance Centers. What that means is that the Cebu SR Center where we work out of will be closed effective July 31st.  They are trying to find a stake center where we can relocate but as a stand alone center, ours will no longer exist.

Self Reliance Missionaries are no longer to direct the Self-Reliance Service efforts but are to serve as a resource to help train and support the priesthood leaders.  This is a real change from what we have been doing so it is anybody's guess how this will turn out.  We will most likely be working 80% from our apartment and from the car.  Mary Ann, our Center Manager wants to keep us together as much as possible.  She is going to Manila for a big meeting next week and we assume we will get more direction when she returns.

We have been on the road for the majority of this month.

Sunday the 3rd was Stake Conference and we attended to support the ward choir as Jenee plays the piano and I join in the singing.  As soon as the conference ended, we hit the road for a 3 hour drive to Bogo which is at the northern end of Cebu Island.  We had a 3:00 PM meeting with the District President and his Self-Reliance committee.  We spent about 1 1/2 hours with them discussing their development of their District Self-Reliance Center and other training issues.  We met their newly called SR Specialist, she is just snowed under with everything she was doing so we directed her to delegate a number of her duties to the facilitators.

We scheduled a return visit on June 7th.

Sunday the 10th we were at the Liloan Stake doing training with the Stake SR Committee. This is one stake who does not have a SR Center or much of a SR program at all, so we are trying to get them excited and organized in this area.

Saturday the 16th was Temple Day so Jenee and I along with the two Sister SR Missionaries attended the temple in the afternoon and then went to a new restaurant for dinner.  It was a French restaurant next door to the temple and it was really nice and the food was great.  After dinner we went back to the Temple complex stake center where our ward primary put on a production of Cinderella.  They did a fabulous job and we enjoyed the event.

Monday the 18th Sister Murry, Jenee and I conducted the Career Workshop for 27 missionaries who were returning home. This is a regular event for all returning missionaries which occurs every 6 weeks.  We hold this in the Stake Center located on the Temple Complex. I so enjoy this experience helping these young people to understand what a real job search is and how to prepare for their return to the real world of employment.  I had some time remaining so I spoke to them about the Temple and how important it is and would be for them to remain worthy to attend the temple and to make it a part of their life upon returning from their missions.  The Spirit was great and I think they all enjoyed the insights.

Wednesday the 20th, Jenee, Mary Ann, and I set out for Tagbilaran on the island of Bohol. We arrived at 4 PM, checked into the Metro downtown hotel and then met with the District President and his Self-Reliance Committee at 6 PM for about 2 hours discussing their  need to establish a Self-Reliance Center and to offer our time and efforts to help and assist them in any way. President Galotera is about 30, the CES director and institute instructor.  He is such a great individual and was so cordial to us in every way.  We accomplished a lot and afterwards Mary Ann invited everybody to dinner.  She always does that. Wherever we go she takes everybody out for dinner- she is great in that respect.

Thursday we attended a first-time multi District YSA Conference. with over 200 in attendance.  We had been invited to make a Self-Reliance presentation for 90 min. on the value and benefits of the program. We started at 10 and ended at 11:30.  At the conclusion we were taken to the docks and returned home exhausted.

Saturday the 23rd we attended a SKILLS orientation.  SKILLS is a NGO who provides skills training and job opportunities in a number of related areas.  The concept is great, one that I strongly feel can be an asset to the members here in the Philippines.  I will be pursuing this much more as we go forward.

At 2 PM we returned to the  Liloan Stake for a Youth Festival.  Each ward in the Stake put on a dance representing one of the pacific island countries with all the colorful dress and music.  We were there for about 2 hours with President  Tanner and his wife. Home we headed before it got too late and dark.

Monday the 25th Jenee and I returned to the island of Bohol to work with Elder & Sister Halladay our dear friends from Brigham City.  They had arranged meetings with three branches on Tuesday up the Bohol coast to discuss Self-Reliance with the priesthood leaders and members.  Two of the three were great, the other, well, it was questionable.  Not only did the third meeting not meet my expectations but it was here that my life took a blow.  My lap top fell off the table and my hard drive crashed.  Nothing would work. no power point presentations and I still had two more presentations to make before we ended our time on Bohol.

At 6 pm we met with President Saballa the District President for more training.  He is such a great man, so full of energy and enthusiasm. A lot needs to be done in Calape when it comes to Self-Reliance.  In 2013 the island was hit by an earthquake that devastated the infrastructure. The recovery is slow with many of our members, including Pres. Saballa still living in cardboard homes while trying to rebuild.  Many are out of work and under the circumstances; work and jobs are hard to find.

When we go to Bohol we usually stay with the Halladays since there is a spare apartment we are allowed to use.  But this time Jenee and I wanted to have a little R&R so I reserved three nights at the Isla Hayahay Beach Resort.  We had no idea what we were walking into but once we got there we were very pleased; it is quaint, secluded and next to the ocean, a nice place to rest and relax after a long day. The ownership changed after the typhoon and earthquake ruined it to a man from Australia. The have done a nice job and are still renovating some of it.

Tuesday after a long day on the road we invited the Halladays to join us for dinner and a little relaxation. 

Wednesday was a day off from Self-Reliance so we joined with the Halladay's and attended the District Youth Conference.  We are scheduled to make a Self-Reliance presentation to them on Thursday, Mary Ann will be coming to join us. Elder Halladay was the first speaker and did a great job, after which Jenee helped bail out Sister Halladay by teaching the youth the new theme song:  "Embark".  It was fun for them all and they did a wonderful job singing this great song.  We stayed to visit with some of the priesthood leaders and had lunch with them.  After that the four of us returned to the resort for an afternoon of visiting, relaxation, and a sunset boat (canoe) ride, and dinner once again.  Good time with good friends.

Thursday we picked Mary Ann up from the docks at 9 am and headed back up to the youth conference. Our presentation was scheduled from 10 - 12 and after a traditional Filipino lunch (rice, meat sauce, cooked veggies, mango) once again the Halladay's took Mary Ann, Jenee and I back to the docks for our return boat ride to Cebu. It was a good experience and we had fun being with the youth.

 Here are a few of the sights and wonders of the island of Bohol

Beach home on Bohol

 Delivery tricycle

 

 




Fire Tree

Rainbow Sunset















All in all this has been a very busy but successful month for us.  By the time we got home Thursday, after a whirlwind two weeks we were dead tired and hit the sack early.

ACE 2015 Entrepreneur Awards Convention

Friday and Saturday May 8th & 9th ACE (Academy for Creative Enterprise) held their Annual Entrepreneur Award Convention.  Throughout the year some 200 contestants submitted their applications in 8 different business categories. Over the past six months the applicants have been reviewed and screened down to the top 4 in each category.  Friday evening was the final judging where the 4 candidates in each category made a 8 minute presentation of their business or product followed by a 5 minute answer and question from the judges.

Jenee and I were honored to have been asked to serve as judges for this final judging event. Jenee was assigned to the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year and I judged the Most Innovative Business
category. We started the interviews and presentations at about 6:30 PM and ended at about 9 PM.  The final winner was chosen from each category to be announced at the awards banquet Saturday evening.

Saturday there was a day long convention with displays and guest speakers.  All of us at the Self-Reliance Center were invited to attend but I have been fighting a terrible chest congestion and cough for about 4 days and still felt  under the weather so we did not go.

We did attend the Awards Banquet which was really an outstanding event recognizing those in ACE from all over the Philippines who have worked so hard starting and growing their businesses.

Stephen & Betty Gibson - Founders of ACE

 

Elder & Sister Naegle

Brother & Sister Corban Church

Corban Church is a young successful entrepreneur from Provo Utah. He quite BYU to start a Window Manufacturing and Sales Company. In fact he sold windows to my nephew Michael for many years.  He also was the owner of Mechie Handbags that was very popular in Utah.  He sold both of his businesses for millions and now teaches entrepreneurship at BYU and deals in real estate.  We met Corban previously some years ago when Kristy was one of 5 surviving cancer stories that was presented at their Annual Huntsman Cancer Drive held in the Grand America. He was the key note speaker for this convention as well as a new financial contributor to ACE. A very friendly and down to earth individual who we enjoyed being with.

Elder & Sister Naegle are Self-Reliance Missionaries from Manila.  We spent some time visiting with them and sharing ideas and perspectives as to how their SR work is moving along and what kind of duties and responsibilities they have in comparison to us here in Cebu.  The Naegles are from West Bountiful.  He is the owner of a Home & Corporate security and fire alarm installation company. At just 59 he and his wife decided to serve a mission and here they are. We are going to arrange a short trip to Manila in the near future to stay with them and have them show us around Manila, especially the Banta Rice Fields of Manila.

After a nice Filipino dinner the awards ceremony took place with each presenting couple going to the pulpit to announce the finalists and the winner in their assigned category.  It was really our honor to have been selected by the Gibson's to participate in this event and rub shoulders with these magnetic, philanthropic and impressive people.

After all the awards were given out the evening concluded by having all of the finalists and winners come up to the stage for pictures.
















The event really opened my eyes to the tremendous level of energy and dedication that these Philippine people have taken to become Self-Reliant.  ACE has a large number of graduates throughout the Philippines  in 120 chapters. We are hoping that a working relationship between ACE and the Self-Reliance graduates of the Starting and Growing My Business program can be developed.  ACE is a LDS based NGO so they understand the Self-Reliance program.  many of their alumni are Bishops/ Branch Presidents and District /Stake Presidents. We are sincerely hoping that the ACE alumni will reach out as mentors for those graduating from the SGMB program.  Steve Gibson and I have been discussing this possibility and will continue to work towards this end.  In fact there are works going on in Salt Lake to sign a workable collaborative  agreement between the two programs.

To see the great success that has transpired over the previous years holds out a tremendous hope for the members of the church who are now or will become involved in the Self-Reliance program.  The church is counting on SP to strengthen the membership of the church and to lift the people out of poverty.  From what we saw last night, the Philippine people are well on their way.

April 29th - May 3rd - Another busy week

One thing we are discovering is that our mission area demands a lot of traveling, something new to the mission since the Self-Reliance is still in its infancy. With only one car between two sets of missionaries I have been designated as the chauffer only because two sisters are reluctant to drive.  There are rumblings to get them their own car but as it stands, that is not going to happen.

Wednesday morning we traveled again to the island of Bohol for an SR training meeting with the Loon (Lo-oan) Branch.  Elder & Sister Halladay picked us up at the docks and chauffeured us about the area.  The Halladays are MLS Missionaries assigned to Bohol but have been instructed by President Tanner the Mission President to give us aid and support to our Self-Reliance efforts.

We had a most enlightening meeting with the Loon branch for about an hour.  Afterwards the Halladays took us around to see some of the sights on the island.  We had previously decided to stay overnight because we were invited to attend the Bohol Missionary Zone conference on Thursday in Tagbiliaran. 

The Halladays had arranged for us to stay in one of the vacant apartments in their complex.  We never thought we would ever say that our place in Cebu was heaven but after seeing what they are staying in and where we would be staying for the night I thanked the Lord for what we have.  This apartment as with all the missionaries' apartments on Bohol are without hot water;  showers and  dishwashing is done in cold water, or you can boil water and have a bucker shower.  In our apartment there was no hot plate or stove so we ate all our meals with the very hospitable Holladays.  After a delicious home-cooked dinner we sat around the table and played cards (2s and 10s) for about an hour. We concluded the evening with ice cream and cookies. The Halladays are wonderful people and we  censed their loneliness for some fellow missionary companionship. 

Thursday we got up early and took a cold bucket shower to refresh us.? The bedroom is up the flight of stairs and the bathroom (CR ) is down those same stairs, (not fun in the middle of the night at our age), had a light breakfast and then loaded 4 of the Sister Missionaries in the back of the pick-up camper and headed out for Tagbilaran for the Zone Missionary Conference.

Along the way we picked up a set of Elders and piled them into the back of the truck. We were about 5 miles out of Tagbilaran when we got a knock on the back window of the truck telling us that the Elders were car sick and needed to get out and take a Tricycle the remainder of the way.

The Missionary Conference was wonderful.  Elder Ardern, the Area President was in attendance and presiding.  He is from New Zealand and retired as a CES teacher President of the LDS Church in New Zealand.  When we introduced ourselves to him and extended our best wishes from Steve and Pat Iba and boy did their eyes light up.  They knew the Ibas from years ago when Steve was in New Zeland working on a CES assignment.  Elder Ardren spoke so highly of Steve that when he got up to speak he said, "I need to be careful what I say so that the Uzelacs will not report what I say back to my Mentor Steve Iba."  He then went on and spoke highly of Steve and all he did for him while in New Zealand.  We have spoken to others here in the Philippines who knew Steve and Pat and we are getting the same wonderful complimentary words about the Ibas.  Steve and Pat certainly have made a very strong impression everywhere they have gone.  We the Uzelacs just feel honored to be able to call them our friends.

After the Conference was concluded we joined with the Ardens, the Tanners and the AP's for a two hour boat ride back to Cebu.  We got home at about 9:30 PM pretty exhausted, knowing that tomorrow we start all over again.

Friday morning we packed our suitcases once again and with Sisters Darby and  Murry,  we again headed out for Negros.  Because of terrible traffic it took us 4 1/2 hours to get to the Liloan Port to take the ferry this time.  The Sisters had arranged for us to participate in the Tanjay District Youth conference.  Because of the long driving time we were late in getting to the ferry which put us behind about an hour before we arrived at the Youth Conference.  Our participation was well received even thought it was not in the most conducive place - outside on the grass, no electricity when we arrived which meant no power point presentation etc.  By five o'clock the power came on so we moved forward doing the best we could with what we had.

We stayed the night in a local hotel since we had training the following day with the Tanjay Branch.  After dinner it was straight to bed as we had a full day of training on Friday.

Friday we arose at 8 am and took a stroll around the city before going to breakfast. We then went and checked out of the hotel. On the corner was a little Filipino lady selling pork from her previously  BBQed pig.  She buys the pig for P5000, roasts it from the very early hours of the morning in her backyard.  She then sets up her corner stand and by the early afternoon she sells out, grossing P6000, netting P1000 profit.  She does this every Friday, Saturday  and Sunday so in a month she makes P12,000 profit which is equal to  $275.00. 

I spoke with her for about 30 minutes and suggested that she increase her price by P50/Kilo and add rice pockets to increase her income.  She said that she would do that and appreciated the suggestion.

We arrived at the District Chapel at 1 pm for our training. This area is the responsibility of the two sisters so Jenee and I sat in the back of the room as observers.  This was Sister Murry's first time conducting the training; unfortunately when the questions started coming that she could not respond to, her companion remained silent, so looking in my directions for some help, I obliged. The two sisters are having their personality/power issues.  I reminded Sister Darby that it is her responsibility to assist her companion to NOT fail, rather than me. Sister Darby finally stepped up and came to the aid. A learning session for all 4 of us.

After the training we headed for the Maayo Shipping Port to start the long road home.  Night driving in the Philippines is going to take 10 years out of my life for sure.  By the time I got home after 4+ hours of dodging and weaving in and out of tricycles, motor bikes, jeepnes and people standing in the road I was totally worn out.

Sunday was Stake Conference and our ward was asked to provide the music.  The choir (accompanied by Jenee) sang a powerful version of 'I Know That My Redeemer Lives', and as the closer 'Behold a Royal Army'. It was an honor and we had nearly 40 participate to make for a wonderful sound.

We also had scheduled a Self-Reliance Training in Bogo which is a 2+ hour drive north of Cebu  We left right after conference concluded after dropping the Sisters off home.  The drive was rather peaceful and the scenery was beautiful as we drove along the ocean shore and the mountainsides.  The closer we got to Bogo the more beautiful the countryside was. It so reminded Jenee and I of the area around Swazyville and Nelsprut in South Africa - a lot of green, rolling hills with very little population. We took in everything we could as we drove along the way.

Our training meeting went rather well and we accomplished much.  The District and Branches were doing rather well with their SR program and I think what we instructed them in furthering the SR work in that area.  It is so great to be meeting so many of the sweet, gentle people wherever we can! But now back to Cebu City. The drive up was GREAT, BUT the drive back was HORRENDOUS.  Again driving in the dark was a nerve-racking experience.  It took us 2 hours to get there but it took us nearly 4 hours to get home!  We found the strength for a little dinner and at 8:30PM we were nestled tightly in our beds fast asleep.

What a Week

On Wednesday April 22nd Sisters Darby and Murry, Jenee, and I headed out for another adventure    north to the city of Liloan to find the Amara resort for our ward Relief Society retreat.  

Liloan is one of the Stakes that is in our area of responsibility so I to meet with President Tanner, the Mission President over the Cebu East Mission at the mission home, which is within the resort.  I scheduled a meeting with him at 10AM.

When we got our mission call it stated that we would be assigned to the Cebu Mission but after arriving here the SRC Director assigned us the responsibility of providing Self-Reliance support for  the Cebu East Mission which is the northern part of Cebu and the island of Bohol.

As usual trying to locate the resort was an adventure; and after taking far too many left turns I concluded that we were lost. I flagged down a motorized tricycle and offered him P150 if he would take us to the road leading us to the bridge that would get us heading in the direction of the resort.  Yup, we were lost and after some backtracking he got us where we needed to be, finally arriving at 9:20  at this beautiful gated residential ocean resort.

 

Resort Entrance

Resort Club House

The girls met up with the ward and I waited until 10. Then Jenee and I walked across the street to the Mission Home! .




Mission Home

Elder & Sister Halladay / President & Sister Tanner

The first thing President Tanner said to us was that he was embarrassed that they had such a luxurious place to stay and he wasn't kidding!

Upon our arrival we were not only welcomed by President & Sister Tanner but also by Elder & Sister Halladay, MLS Missionaries for the island of Bohol.  They were originally assigned to do SR on Bohol but found it far too confusing and difficult so they requested to be changed to MLS.  We spent about 30 minutes with the four of them when Jenee was summoned and had to leave to participate in the RS function.  I remained for about 2 hours where we discussed the SR needs on the island of Bohol as well as in Bogo, another area in the Cebu East Mission. 

The President and Elder Halladay were so elated that someone was here to assist in the Cebu East Mission in relation to the Self-Reliance Program.  The SR program has been in Cebu for about 18 months and while there is some good success in some areas, sadly a lot of confusion concerning its implementation still exists. We tentatively laid out some plans for Bohol and with the Halladays' help contacting the District/Branch Presidents we hope to arrange some re-training in the very near  future.  We may end up staying on the island for several days at a time if this all works out. President Tanner offered a vacant missionary apartment for our use while on the island.  We will just have to see how all this develops.

After a long HOT and HUMID day we left for home and finding our way home was much easier and I did not get disoriented this time. We arrived home tired ready to sleep.

Thursday at 4 PM we headed out for a place we had not yet been to and really had no idea how to get there.  We were just directed to drive to Noga (40 minute drive) and then head west across the mountain towards Toledo to a place called Lamuk, another 40 minutes. We were to look for Elder & Sister Hall (MLS Missionaries) in their white Ranger Truck along the side of the road.  After a slow and winding drive up the canyon we found the Halls waiting; we followed them another 30 minutes of remote, tight mountain dirt roads to the location for the conference.  Along the way we stopped so Elder Hall could show us the Lamuk Branch building.  There is was, right on the side of the road with a sign hanging on the fence.

We just could not believe our eyes, out here in what seemed like the middle of the jungle, if I can use that term in the Philippines, in what seemed like a shanty town  was a branch of the church. Elder Hall gave us the fascinating history of the area. .

After driving for approximately 30 or so minutes through the beautiful countryside and several little townships or villages along the way we turned the corner and there nestled along the mountain side was this incredible and out-of-the-ordinary resort. Here in the middle of nowhere a place so beautiful and pristine.

Our bungalow

We got checked in to our bungalow and then were invited to have dinner which consisted of rice, cooked cabbage & vegetables and deep fried fish, a real traditional Philippine meal and really quite good.  After dinner we attended the youth talent show put on by the various branches.  Each of the 8 branches presented a dance from various parts of the world with full colorful dress and music.  They asked Jenee, Sister Darby and Murry to be the judges for the event, I took pictures.

                                                                                                         
                                                                                                         
It was late by the time they finished so we set off for bed.  Friday morning we were up at 6AM for breakfast which consisted of rice, cooked cabbage and vegetables and scrambled eggs, the traditional breakfast meal for the Phlippines. Then we went to the room that was prepared for our youth conference presentation on the Self-Reliance program which began at 8:15AM.  This was our second attempt at this and I think it went off rather well. The kids seem to love the 2 games Jenee does with them with a purpose: Paper Plates Stepping Stones, and Trust Circle Sit. The kids also loved the music video "Get an Education" featuring Filo singers. Quite hip.

We finished at about 10 AM, packed up our things, said our good byes to everybody, then set out for home. Elder Hall got us headed out in the right direction but insisted that along the way he showed us to the new chapel that was being built.  The local saints called it the Lamuk Temple - out in the middle of nowhere will be this beautiful building which is to be finished in August.

We headed out once again down this narrow road of rocks and dirt and occasional pavement.  The road was barely wide enough for two small cars in most places.

We hadn't driven 500 to 600 yards when we came around a corner and in the road (the narrow section) was an accident blocking traffic both ways.  A small mini truck hit a motorcycle. Unknownst to us, in this country nothing is moved until the police inspect the accident.  Problem is that the nearest police station was 35 - 45 minutes away and who in their right mind wanted to sit there, certainly not us.  I got out and surveyed the situation which was not all that bad, nobody was hurt, just a tire on the bike bent a little.  After some prodding and coaching I finally got 4 male bystanders to help me pick up the back end of the mini truck and move it to the side of the road so we could pass by.  Well, we got it moved quite easily and with not an inch to spare we got past the mini truck and headed bumpy bump down the dirt road.  Where is the 4x4 when you need it? Too bad we didn't get a picture! But just glad they feared us Americans or something, to let us talk them into moving the truck. We didn't stick around, but we were all guessing they moved it back when we left.

Arrived home exhausted and ready for a good nights sleep.