Sinulog

We have been hearing about Sinulog all month, and seeing the preparations for it. 

First we saw streamers over the roads. 

New vendors appeared with festive carts filled with goodies.

Even when we first got here, we saw postcards showing beautiful costumes, as girls danced down a parade route. 

At Christmas time, there were Santo Nino (Jesus) dolls everywhere. Santo Nino is the figure the middle girl is holding over her head. 

Into January, more appeared.

In the mall, they began selling Sinulog T-shirts. So, of course, we each purchased a couple.

Then, one evening in the Ayala Mall, they were holding the Miss Cebu contest. We were on the 5th floor, and the contest was going on at the first floor level. 

 This was my favorite choice for Miss Cebu.

Between speaking, and changing outfits for the candidates, these performers were on stage.

Other Sinulog dancers performing in the SM Mall.

A nearby hotel, Castle Peak, often have performers out in front of their lobby, dancing.

Sinulog seemed more like a festival, than a religious holiday. 

We have since learned the following interesting facts: 

On April 7, 1521, the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived and planted the cross on the shores of Cebu, claiming the territory for Spain. He presented the image of the child Jesus, the Santo Nino, as baptismal gift to Queen Juana. 

Along with the rulers of the island, some 800 natives were also baptized to the Christian faith. At the moment of receiving the image, it was said that Queen Juana danced with joy bearing the image of the child Jesus. With the other natives following her example, this moment was regarded as the first Sinulog. 

The Sinulog is an annual festival held on the third Sunday of January in Cebu City. The main feature is a street parade with participants in bright colored costumes dancing to the rhythm of drums, trumpets and native gongs. 

A popular theme among Sinulog dances is Queen Juana holding the Santo Nino in her arms and using it to bless her people who are often afflicted by sickness caused by demons and other evil spirits. 

The word sinolog is derived from the root word slog, meaning "river current"; the dancing and movement of the festival is thought to flow like a river. 

When the floats are too high, someone is lifting up the wires so they can pass underneath. 

The crowds of people today were like a river flowing everywhere: down the streets, through the parade even while it was going on, around the vendors, etc. It was a huge party. 

We took a cab to get to the parade route. Then we watched until it began to sprinkle and headed back to our apartment. This is the way our adventure ended. 

I hope you notice that even though I am holding the Catholic Santo Nino doll, I am also wearing my Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints missionary tag! 

Happy Sinulog! And yes, we attended our church meetings today in Mobolo. They speak more English than they do in Balamban, and it was a fun change to understand more of the talks and lessons today. But of course, we still absolutely love Balamban. 

Saturday activity in Balamban - Branch 2

      A couple of weeks ago, Nini asked me if I would do her a favor. Of course, was my answer. "Would you come to our Relief Society activity on Saturday, the 18th of January, and teach us how to bake cookies?"
     "I'd love to. Is there an oven here at the church?" Nini answered, "No!" "Do you have an oven?" I asked. "No!" "Well, let me think about this," I said.

      That was when I began looking for some good recipes for no-bake cookies. During that same conversation, Will asked, "Well, hey, the Priesthood wants to come to. Could your husband teach us how to weave a tray?"
      The next Sunday, she announced in Sunday School that we would be meeting at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday for a combined Priesthood and Relief Society activity. I asked how many women might be there. She had no idea - maybe 20. That seemed pretty high to me, but yesterday I took enough ingredients for 20 women to make no-bake cookies. Luckily, the mission home had a portable hot plate I could use.

Here is Nini meeting us at the church. 

She is holding the weaving material for the trays.

The men met in one corner of the Relief Society room, 

and the sisters met on the other side.

After a demo and  taste test, the women got busy making cookies.

They clearly are already good cooks, but I think they enjoyed the socialization 

with one another, and the sweets to take home to their families. 

We had a fine turnout.

Sister Sawyer, Nini, and Sister Hutchings are in the left hand corner at the back. 

Cherry is on the front row at the left.

 

      During the week last week, Sister Schmutz allowed us to go through some clothes boxes that had been sent to the mission. We are aware of the ages and sizes of Cherry's children. So we took three blankets, and two boxes of clothes to Cherry to see if she could use them. As she removed each item from the box, she would hold it up and say some child's name. She was crying and so very appreciative. This service was such a pleasure to give. 

The Priesthood's project was equally as fun, and definitely more challenging than the cookie making.

What looks like a simple plate or tray is very intricate to make; an involved process.

Nini's husband is a master. 

 Here is Will, laying out his reeds for his tray.

       Brother Pontierare ended up giving Elder Sommerfeldt the demo tray, telling him how to trim off the reeds at the bottom, so he could finish up the project. 

We will never look at one of these woven baskets or trays quite the same way again.
This tray was given to us by Nini and her husband the night of Cherry's baptism.

Winter is here in Cebu

I knew winter wasn't my favorite season in any land. However, it's not that we are cold - just very WET! Here are a couple of pictures of our drive over the mountains to Balamban for church.

As we left Cebu this morning, there was a marathon going on. In the rain! Several of the participants were running barefoot.

The entire drive was rainy, with less traffic than usual, but with trees and rocks on the road that are not usually there. The man roasting the pig was in place as usual, with a tarp over the top. Smoked pork today!

Th mountain side was weeping with little and big waterfalls everywhere. 

In Balamban, the trikes were lined up like taxis outside the mall, waiting patiently for customers.

      So, not much to show there. This coming weekend is Sinulog, a Cebu Festival that is huge. We should have amazing pictures to show of that on the next blog. 

      I am reading the book, "Trusting Jesus," by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, who is a cousin of President Schmutz (our mission president.) 

Elder Holland is speaking about bearing your testimony as a missionary, and about the pre-mortal life where we lived and accepted the Savior into our lives even then.

“A missionary’s testimony invokes a great legacy of testimony dating back to the councils in heaven before this world was. There, in an earlier place these same people (our investigators in our mission field) heard this same plan outlined and heard there the role that Jesus Christ would play in their salvation. “

“We must always remember that these investigators – every man, woman, and child – were among the valiant who once overcame Satan by the power of their testimony of Christ! So when they hear others bear that witness of Christ’s saving mission, it has a familiar feeling; it brings an echo of truth they themselves already know.” (Basically, we are just reminding those who are investigating the church, of things they have already heard, and have made a commitment to in the pre-existence.) Study the word: Eternal, and you will be amazed!

This was a thought shared by President Schmutz – our mission president – in our last Zone Conference right before Christmas.

“The word gospel is literally good news or glad tidings.”

            “When the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds at the time of Jesus’ birth, they were worthy and prepared to welcome him into the world. Even the angels were chosen and prepared to give these good tidings.”

            I think we often do not understand that we were chosen and foreordained to be missionaries at this time in the world’s existence – in the very place where we have been sent on our mission. That foreordination does not take anything away from our agency. We can choose whether or not to honor that calling when we get to this earth, but nevertheless, it is not by chance that we are at this particular place and at this particular time to hasten the work of the Lord.

WE, the missionaries of the Lord Jesus Christ, are His best investigators. As we are worthy, humble, focused and obedient, the Holy Ghost will testify to us of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, and the power and authority of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Then, we can testify to others, and the work of the Lord will roll forward.

We testify of the reality of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. The gospel of Jesus Christ is that stone spoken of when Daniel prophecied to King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2: 34-35, 44. It will continue to roll through the earth, until the whole world will know of the God of heaven. And it shall never be destroyed, but shall stand for ever. 

Oh, the heritage we have, and the potential we possess!