KILUS FOUNDATION

     

The second week I was in Quezon City, I was invited to go to the American Bazaar in downtown Manila.  The bazaar is like a huge indoor market, similar to the farmer's markets we have back home.  One of the 'hot items' that are sold, are these handmade purses, wallets, jewelry and accessories from recycled juice packs.  I know a few of the sister missionaries had a hand bag and they are really quite remarkable.  

I found out that there is an organization called the KILUS Foundation which was organized in 1997 as a volunteer group of housewives and mothers.  It is based in Barangay Ugong in Pasig City which was tasked to implement the Clean and Green projects.  When after becoming successful, it endeavored to provide livelihood to the women who had helped clean and green that area (Barangay).  The KILUS  Foundation's bags made from recycled doy juice packs and were featured in various media outlets.  This lead to orders from international buyers and in 2001, KILUS Foundation became a Multi-Purpose Cooperative jointly owned by all its members.  The bags were later formally introduced to the international market. They currently deliver products to 18 countries worldwide.

Earlier this year, the factory where these women worked daily, burned down.  As a result of the fire, they relocated to a small enclosure in between two buildings on a tiny street.  There is no air conditioning, just fans to keep the air cooler where the ladies were sewing.  The fans mostly circulate the hot humid air which makes it a bit more bearable for these ladies. The conditions are not at all what you would think as they worked literally outside and no front door to keep the place secure.  There is only a metal gate that they locked up at night.  The owner of the house next to the makeshift factory, do the best they can to secure the premises to make sure nobody climbed the gate to steal any of their sewing machines, merchandise and products. 

When the Welfare Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints found out about it, they provided sewing machines for the foundation so they could continue to work and sew.   Last week I went with Sister  Wendy Kaneen and her husband Karl, to find their new location so she could purchase a couple of bags for her grandchildren.  

Front of the Store

Sewing Room

Of course the boxes are sanitized. These are the ladies who meticulously measure and cut each juice box to be cut, braided or weaved and sewn into hand bags or change purses.   

They also cut tiny pieces to make earrings and necklaces and all sorts of accessories.

We were told by one of the workers, that there are many women working out of their homes, sewing, weaving and braiding the materials to make their products. The KILUS foundation is non profit and their aim is to mold their members into individuals who care for and love God, themselves, their families, their co-workers, the environment as well as the Foundation.  This is their family's means of livelihood and it contributes to the preservation of the environment.  Most of the members are housewives and mothers.  They feel proud of the work made with their own hands, while at the same time taking care for Mother Nature and providing basic needs for their families.  It was humbling  to hear a single mother speak with pride at having provided her children with something as basic as a clean toilet, which most people take for granted. 

WHAT DO THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS DO ON A HOLIDAY?   FAMILY HISTORY AND TEMPLE WORK.... THAT'S WHAT

Last Tuesday was a National Holiday here in the Philippines but because the temple was open, so was the Family History Center.  And this was what I walked into at 7:00 in the morning.

I was told we would be busy, but I couldn't believe how many people were there, that early in the morning to gather family names to take to the temple.  All of the computers, including mine, were taken.  It was heartwarming to see the dedication of these members of the Church.  The Distribution Center next door was also packed that you could hardly get in the door.  The members travel from all of the surrounding provinces to come to the Temple on their days off.   Most of them are up and on their way to the temple by 3:00 in the morning to be there when it opens at 6:00 a.m.   Their mode of travel are mostly by Jeepney or bus.   If there are families with small children, the parents take turns going in to do an endowment, while the other is in the Family History Center working on their family trees or indexing.  One brother was there at 7:00 in the morning and was given a time to return for the endowment for 2:00 in the afternoon.  

In total, one of our local family history missionaries, who is also a temple ordinance coordinator told me on that one day, there were:

10 weddings

23 New patron endowments

225 Sisters to do initiatory (limited to 2 possibly 3 names per sister)

800 Endowments (that is 30 patrons per room - 4 rooms)  

It had been previously announced 2 temples to be built here in the Philippines, and just last conference, they announced a third temple, making a total of 5 temples in the Philippines.    

My supervisor said, "If you think it is busy now, wait until Christmas when is gets really busy."   

"Family history ... is a vital part of the work of salvation and exaltation.  You have been prepared for this day and to build up the kingdom of God.  You are here upon the earth now to assist in this glorious work."  Elder David A. Bednar

Special Visitor + Short Tour + Face to Face with an Apostle = One Special Week

This is the best picture of the Manila Temple taken by Felvir Ordinario, my manager at the Family History Center. I really wanted to share this with everyone.

This was a great week.  Tami's boyfriend Tom was here in the Philippines with his co-worker. He spent a few days on the island of Bohol then IloIlo.  The last part of his trip, he came to Manila and we shared an afternoon and evening together.

It took me just over two hours to get from my apartment to his hotel, approximately 12 kilometres.  Yes, people, traffic is a kill here.  We decided to do a tour of the Intramuros in Manila.  Intramuros is Manila's famed Walled City that preserves some of the Philippines history.  The defensive wall was built by the Spaniards in the late 16th century.  The fortification protected the city from foreign invaders.  It is also known as the Walled City, as "intramuros" is a Latin work which means "within the walls."  It was damaged during World War II, was restored and became a national Historical Monument in 1951.

As we didn't have that much time to do the whole walk, we were invited by a tour guide to ride on his little bike/sidecar thingy or what I just came to understand is called a Pedi-Cab.

We squished two of us in this.  Tom had to sit on the little wood board next to the driver, facing out.  I have to say, we may have been a tad concerned when we were entering an intersection, no lights, and our biker was just peddling us through, in between all of the cars, heading every direction.  I had faith that my little name tag was a protection and that we would get through unharmed. We paid more than we had anticipated, but in all honesty, we could have been the only customers our little tour guide had for the week.

Most everything we saw had been destroyed in 1945.  

Biblical stories that were shown on this hand carved cross in the Cathedral.  I love to see how the various religious groups worship and show their respect for the Lord. 

The Memorare - Manila Monument commemorates the lives lost during the battle for the liberation of Manila, waged by Filipino and American forces against Imperial Japanese troops from February 3, 1945 - March 3, 1945.  There is also time capsule that is to be opened February 18, 2045.

This is the remains of a wall that
used to be used for a firing squad.

 Spanish Headquarters 

Tom

         

Fort Santiago

This little area was very peaceful.  I have never been to Greece, but for some reason, it reminded me of Greece.

They were preparing for a wedding reception in this area.

These are only just a very few of all the ones we took.

Goodbye Selfie

Our time was too short and the next day, Tom had to leave to head back to his hotel to prepare for his trip back home.  It was so great to see him, and I have to admit, I got a little homesick when he left.  

My bosses were really good to let me have a couple of days off for Tom's visit.  Fortunately it wasn't really busy because the Manila Temple was closed for two weeks, and during that time, the Family History Center is really slow.  When I returned I found a new name tag at my desk.  

I have been assigned to be the Ministering Family History Missionary over the Church Service Missionaries in the Philippines who are all working in Family Search.  I am not sure exactly what that all entails yet, but I am honored to be able to help out in whatever way I can.  

PHILIPPINES FACE TO FACE ASIA  

For the past few months the Area Office was busy with preparations for the Face to Face with Elder Gary E. Stevenson and his wife, Lena.  Elder and Sister Kaneen, work in publishing and were responsible for some of the  filming as well as  making other preparations for this event.  They gave me the opportunity to assist where they needed on that day.  They were to feed brunch to 220 youth and their youth advisors prior to the face to face.   The basement parking garage was used to set up for them to eat.  Now, most would think that would be awful, but like the underground parking garage under the Headquarters in Salt Lake City, this underground parking garage is so clean, you could eat off the floor.  (Well not really, but they wash the floor every night).  As as aside, I even noticed the workers power washing/scrubbing the parking lot at the Temple.  Super clean. 

See those shiny floors?  They are like that ALL the time.

RAIN much??   It just poured that day and the schedule was very tight.   It made it difficult for the youth to arrive on time with their leaders.  Traffic is terrible normally, but rain made it more difficult because of flooded roads in various areas around Manila.  

Elder and  Sister Stevenson were land at 6:10am and with the weather being as it was, we weren't sure they would get here on time.  The face to face was to take place at 1:00pm and was to be broadcasted throughout all of Asia.  By 10:00am they were to arrive and prepare for a run through of the first part so we could check sound, etc.  I don't know how they were expected to do the face to face, when they had just been on a 15+ hour flight from the Los Angeles.  

The next thing I know, I was asked if I knew how to do make-up, because the people who were supposed to show up for hair and make-up, didn't show up.  In all fairness, with all of the rain, there was a very good possibility they would have been flooded in their area and were unable to leave.  So another sister missionary who is in Public Affairs and I were designated to attend to hair and make-up.  We were both nervous about it even though we each had experience doing theatre make-up.  We were spared that assignment, when another elder found two hair stylists and make up artists from a local hair salon down the street.  I was relieved, personally. 

My 'rain hair.'

I went back to the Area Office to wait with the overflow of youth to watch the broadcast in the mezzanine. 

Unbeknownst to us, about 40 minutes before the broadcast, through the pouring rain, Elder and Sister Stevenson came into our room and took time to shake hands and meet each of the youth as well as the volunteer staff.  I was so impressed they took this time, and you could tell from the youth, they were excited to meet an apostle of the Lord and his wife. 

For those who are unaware what a Face to Face is, it is when an apostle of the Lord, meets with respective youth, and answers their questions.  Prior to the event, the youth submit many questions that are reviewed and selected by the staff who are assigned to prepare for the event.  I understand there were many similar questions. 

Elder Stevenson being prepped by the
production person for this event.

One of the questions one of the youth asked was "How does the Savior help through my trials?"  The answer to this question was quite remarkable. 

"2 2 2"  2 Nephi 2:2 where Lehi is talking with his son Jacob, who was born in the wilderness and suffered many afflictions and much sorrow (mostly from his elder brothers).  Lehi told him, "... thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain."  In other words, what ever trials we may have, we must have faith and be happy through them, and the Lord will consecrate those afflictions for our gain.  We will become better working through those trials with faith in our Savior.

So as this week comes to close, again, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve here in the Philippines.  I have only been here two months and the time has gone by so quickly.

In closing:  "Don't you quit.  You keep walking, you keep trying, there is help and happiness ahead.  Some blessings come soon.  Some come late.  Some don't come until heaven.  But for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come.  It will be alright in the end.  Trust God and believe in Good Things to Come."  Elder Jeffrey R. Holland.