Thanksgiving

Tarlac City, Tarlac

Philippines

22 November 2009

It is the end of November and we want to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving! We miss the major holidays because it is not a holiday here in the Philippines so it is a regular work day.

We are grateful to be part of the missionary work here. This past Thursday at our missionary Zone Conference, our mission president, President Puzey talked about the importance of missionary work and that something very important is happening right here in Asia. There are about 6 billion people in the world, three billion live in Asia. Right in the center of Asia is this Christian country called the Philippines! It will have a major impact on the non-Christian countries in the entire region.

In 1961, Elder Gordon B. Hinckley rededicated (to missionary work) the Philippines. The first stake was organized in 1973 and since then the Philippines has progressed rapidly. Currently there are 600,000 members, 79 Stakes and 86 districts.

We have paused this week to think about all of the many things we are thankful for. We are so very thankful for friends and family and the gospel. We have been so blessed in our lives. Living in this very poor and humble country right now has taught us so much about all of the blessings that we have and take for granted every day at home! We especially have learned to love and appreciate these humble, sweet people and their positive attitude. We love them dearly, we try to help them in any small way that we can.

Last year at Thanksgiving we were just in the Philippines two weeks and we were training and traveling so we had Thanksgiving dinner at McDonalds. This year however, we are going to Cabanatuan, about 2 hrs. away, to have Thanksgiving with two other “Senior” missionary couples. We don’t have an oven in our house but the Davis’ (from Tooele) do and she has ordered a turkey from a local farmer. He asked her if she wanted to kill the turkey herself – she said “No thanks!” We so appreciate the other Senior missionary couples, we appreciate the work they do for the districts and branches plus when we get together we all understand English and we can talk about our grandchildren!

Happy Thanksgiving to you!

Elder NB & Sister MB

Libunao's Baptism

Paniqui, Tarlac

Philippines

27 October 2009

Saturday, 23 October was to be a busy day with meetings in Tarlac and Baguio but because of the potential of a “new” typhoon both meetings were cancelled. We did not despair because we had been notified by the Zone Leaders that a baptism was scheduled for Saturday morning.

Some history - last December, a month after our arrival in the Philippines, we were invited to assist the missionaries assigned to the most isolated little branch in the Paniqui District, to visit a family. They asked us to go with them and help in teaching a couple who were progressing in their gospel study. Their son had just started his missionary service. Yes, their son had become a member because of his friends and was on his mission in southern Philippines.

Brother and Sister Libunao were very interested in the gospel but he had a word of wisdom problem that required some time to correct. Their church attendance was off and on but every time we visited the branch and they were attending we tried to encourage them. Sister Libunao had always been closer to being baptized than brother but she waited for him to get all his questions answered and gain the commitment to become a member of the church. Several sets of missionaries were assigned to the Cuyapo Branch during that time with each trying their best to help them.

On Saturday the 23rd we were at the Paniqui District Center at 9 a.m. for the baptism but the Cuyapo members were delayed because of the distance and the motorcycle/ tricycles they were traveling in. As they arrived, we could see the light in the faces of the Libunaos as we greeted them. What a special feeling! We were happy that so many of their branch members came to show their support. (See photo above).

The baptismal service started at 10 with a new elder (green – his first week in the mission field) speaking on faith then NB spoke on baptism and its importance – even the Savior was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. At the conclusion of the service Brother and Sister Libunao were asked to bear their testimony and they bore wonderful and sweet testimonies. The Lord has blessed the missionary son by helping his parents find the church.

The following day, Sunday, we drove to Cuyapo to be present at their confirmation. They are special people.

Elder NB & Sister MB