ROAD TRIP -- FamilySearch in Action!! The Adventure Continues.

This past month has been quite a busy month and I have been so blessed to have been able to participate in these activities.  I love the Manila Temple.  I absolutely love that our Prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, all attended in Rome for the Temple Dedication.  I am looking forward to hearing each of their testimonies of the importance of family and temple work, this General Conference.

It is very rare to have this photograph of our Prophet and Apostles especially because they are surrounded by statues of the Savior (Christus) and His Apostles.  I am anxious to go to Rome to attend the Temple there and visit all of the sites.  

ROAD TRIP!!! 

As the Manila Temple was closed for maintenance the first two weeks of March, we knew the Family History Center wouldn't be very busy.  Our manager, Felvir Ordinario, suggested Sister Stone, Sister Hamilton and I attend at the Panagbenga Festival in Baguio City to assist in the FamilySearch booth the Church was going to have there.  We were so excited for this opportunity to see more of the Philippines and participate where we could.

Felvir gave instruction at the Orientation meeting the evening
before the event.  There were over 150 dedicated volunteers.

Felvir Ordinario, Sister Stone, Sister Hamilton,
Myself and Larry Caduada, Jr.    

Felvir, me and Sister and Elder Kaneen from
Publicity who also attended.  Sister Kaneen interviewed
several of the merchants for the Liahona magazine
(Philippine Edition)

We had heard from one of the workers at the booth, that some people thought if they went into the booth to research their family, they would depart as members of the Church. 

Ribbon Cutting with City Officials and Church Representatives

The booth had several laptops that were hooked up to internet and
people were invited to come and research their ancestors.  There were
well over 150 Church volunteers who took various shifts to man the
booth to assist people who were interested.  Missionaries from the Church
also took shifts to invite the people to take a look.  It was a very successful
week as we understand that just over 13,000 people had attended the FamilySearch
booth.  That more than twice as many people from last year.  This was a huge success.

OUR TOUR OF BAGUIO

Baguio is in the northern part of the Philippines.  It is cooler up there for the Filipinos but for us, the temperature was just right.  Larry Caduada, Jr. used to live in Baguio and he took us for a tour around the city and to see some of the sights.  He took us to Easter Weavers, Silver Shop, Minesview and the Strawberry Fields.  The fruits and vegetables at Strawberry Fields were so lush.  The soil is so rich.  

Baguio is built in the hills.  The roads are many tiny
and winding roads. 

The GPS going one direction.... turn a corner, GPS the other direction.  Unbelievable.  I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.  It was crazy with little winding
road and so many twists and turns.

Strawberry Fields.. luscious fruit and vegetables. 

This is a statue of the Igorot Native.  When I first saw this statue, I thought I was back home as there was such a resemblance of the North American Indigenous People.  It may have been the feathers on his headband.  It was quite remarkable.  The Igorot are a ver distinct group of people, a tribe who originate from the Northern provinces of the Philippine archipelago.  The work Igorot in Tagalog means mountain people.

After a day of touring around Baguio we stopped for a hot chocolate.  I would say the hot chocolate would be comparable to an expresso, as it was poured into a tiny cup and it was thick and very, very chocolatey.  We also shared a waffle with chocolate.  HEAVEN!!

When we approached this place, I thought the statue was the Incredible Hulk.  It is actually a statue of a Mombaki.  A Mombaki, or village native priest, posts a guardian of everything believed to have any significance in life.  They also sanctified Bulol or rice gods, anitos and spirits.  The favours of the gods are believed to be gained by rituals involving animal sacrifices.

Sister Hamilton discussing (in Tagalog) the work we
do in FamilySearch.  

We have been so blessed to work with so many people of any denomiation to work in Family History.  A few weeks ago, there was a nun from one of the outlying provinces, in our Family History Center to find information about some of the nuns death records who served in their convent.    Last week, we had several seminarians from the Virgen Milagrosa del Rosario College Seminary in Balanga City, Bataan, visit the Missionary Training Ceter, Manila Temple grounds and of course, the Family History Center.

Reverend Father Jersey Prepose had previously visited the area facilities in 2017 when he was yet a seminarian.  He returned with these young seminarians, as a newly-ordained priest in the Roman Catholic Church.

Earlier this week, Sister Stone, Sister Hamilton, Sister Araza, Larry and I were invited to teach Family History at the  School of Saint Anthony in Lagro, Quezon City.  Sister Stone and Sister Araza took one class, Sister Hamilton and I took a class and Larry took the third class. We each had a class of about 40 students for about 90 minutes.  I have to admit, I was so nervous when I went into the classroom, but these youth had such amazing energy, I immediately felt like I was in my comfort zone.

They started with an opening prayer.  It was awesome.  Then we taught them about memories and what was their favourite memory.  Did they write it down?  What can they learn from their ancestors?

We showed them a picture of Dr. Jose Rizal, who is a National Hero of the Philippines. Along with his picture, we read them his quote, " Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinangalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan."  " He who does not know how to look back at where he came from will never get to his destination."

 

I love the youth!!  It was such a treat to be in their presence and have them share some of their favourite memories and to encourage them to write them down;  and to remind them that some of their grandfathers and great grandfathers possibly fought in WWI and WWII or was a survivor who marched to Bataan and fought, lived and died for their freedoms and that they could also leave a legacy to their posterity and be a hero.

The class went by too quickly.  Once we were finished, they presented us each with a school mug and Certificate of Appreciation.

Friday was intake day at the MTC and of course, that means we are super busy in the Family History Center.  Members drop off their missionaries at the MTC and then come to the Family History Center to print off names to take to the Temple to do their ancestors' work.  While the parents are at the Temple, some of the youth, who have completed baptisms and confirmations return to the FH to do indexing or research for more ancestors.

It has been an amazing month.  FamilySearch not limited but is for everyone who is interested.  I have been blessed to be working on a couple of projects for friends back home.  This past month, also marked my half way of my mission.  It seems days are going so quick.  So much to do, and so little time.  

"When our hearts turn to our ancestors, something changes inside us.  We feel part of something greater than ourselves."  President Russell M. Nelson