Training New Missionary Couple

Tarlac City, Tarlac

Philippines

16 August 2009

This past week we have had the fun assignment to be the “trainers” for a new senior missionary couple who just arrived in the Philippines. They are the Cooleys from the Sacramento area. They spent their first week at the Employment Resource Center in Makati, Metro Manila becoming familiar with the operation of the office and the services provided there. They will be managing a similar Volunteer Center in Legaspi City (Southern Luzon).

We picked them up on Friday in Manila and made one stop on our way out of town to join a meeting with two young men who are managing an entrepreneurial training for Filipino Returned Missionaries called (ACE) Academy for Creating Enterprise. ACE offers the opportunity for RMs to spend two dedicated months immersed in how to start and run his/her own business. Our ERC boss wanted both missionary couples to hear and understand what the potential opportunities are for RMs here in the Philippines.

Next we had a 3 hr. drive back to Tarlac to unload baggage and load up our teaching supplies and drive another two hours to Dagupan, Pangasinan to stay the night.

Up early the next morning (Sat.) for an hour’s drive around the coast to the Alaminos Stake Center where we taught and certified 42 people in the Career Workshop. We had eight college students (non members) in the class and they were very lively which made it a fun day for all. Elder Cooley drove us home and only caused a few white knuckle minutes for us – his first experience driving in the Philippines. He wanted to learn the rules of driving in the Philippines – no wait – there are no rules of driving in the Philippines!

On Sunday we attended church in Gerona Branch (Paniqui) and the members were very gracious to the Cooleys to welcome them to the Philippines. After lunch and a short rest, we taught the Prosperity Fireside to Tarlac Wards 1 & 3, (72 attended). On Monday we taught the Self Employment Workshop (18 in attendance) for the Tarlac Stake Priesthood leaders. Tuesday was our R&R day. We made copies of all the workshops for them and answered any remaining questions they might have. They are really sharp and are raring to get started, we know that they will do an excellent job!

Tuesday afternoon we visited the Bataan Death March National Monument in Capas, Tarlac. The Capas area was the main concentration camp for the American and Filipino soldiers who survived the march but thousands more died here. There is still a very strong bond in the Philippines between Americans and Filipinos and many tender stories abound of the brave Filipino families who tried to help the American soldiers.

Returning to Manila on Wednesday, we concluded a very full week. It was very fulfilling both in training experiences and feeling the spirit. It was a blessing to meet with members who were hungry for information that will help as they apply the self reliance principles we shared with them to better their lives. We probably won’t see the Cooleys very often, they are a 10 hr. drive away from us but we wish them the very best in their new Philippine adventure.

Elder NB & Sister MB

Funny Meeting You Here

Burgos, Tarlac,

Philippines

9 August 2009

Saturday, when we returned home from teaching the Self Employment Workshop to forty members of Tarlac Ward 3, we found a party going on in the compound where we live. Two sisters had organized a family surprise birthday party for their mother’s 70th birthday and had over a hundred family members in attendance. They had spent the day enjoying the family and we arrived at the end of the party. One of the sisters was from Saint George, Utah – how about that! She has lived in SG since 2001 and loves it there. Her sister and mother have both traveled to visit her and enjoyed national parks and country around SG. We had a long chat with the family and promised we would visit each other when we return to Utah. Who would have thought we could have met a SG resident right here in our compound.

They insisted that we eat with them (Filipinos are very hospitable), we sampled some of everything except the Ox Tongue. They had roasted a pig with the head, holding an orange in its mouth, as the table centerpiece. Picture above is the birthday “mom” and daughters.

Today, Sunday, we were asked by the Tarlac Stake President to visit a small branch that has been struggling for the past year or so. We took two high councilmen with us – one assigned to the branch and other our employment office manager and spent the day way out in the mountain country west of Tarlac City. What beautiful green rolling hills and mountains that are just 40 minutes west of the city.

We found the Burgos Branch building – a rented house that serves as the meeting house or Sacrament Hall as they call their buildings. Only a few of us were there to start the meeting but almost every seat was filled (50 attending) by the time the meeting ended. This is a very humble branch with good leadership – the branch president and his wife are both returned missionaries and they lead out and teach their members by example.

Attendance at meetings is low because the members do not have enough money for transportation – they are spread over a large rural area and many are rice farmers. The current building is not centrally located which is part of the problem. They have a building lot that is in the geographic center and near more members but with low attendance (both members and priesthood) and low tithing the building cannot be started. They are trying their best to reactivate and fellowship so they can qualify.

We were asked by many as we were leaving when we would be returning to their branch – it is hard to tell them that we do not know but we will try to come back soon.

Elder NB & Sister MB