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.
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| This is the remains of a wall that used to be used for a firing squad. |
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| Spanish Headquarters |
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| Tom |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| My 'rain hair.' |
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.
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| 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.
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