Devotional celebrating the beginning of missionary work in Siquijor, and the Formation of a Group.

8 March 2014

      At the invitation of President Schmutz, Elder Sommerfeldt and I flew to Dumaguete on Negros Island. We didn't anticipate going there while in the Philippines even though it is part of our mission, as it is quite a distance from Cebu City.

      The purpose of the trip was to travel from Dumaguete to Siquijor, a small island off the southern coast of Negros Island, to hold two special events: a special devotional to celebrate the arrival of missionaries on the island, and the formation of a group thus formally organizing the church on this island.

It was necessary to travel by ferry to Siquijor.

The Siquijor missionaries met us at the dock 

and transported us to our destination at Coco Grove.

This is Elder Lawrence, the AP's - Elder Peck and Elder Mejos, 

and Elder Vu - who recently served as an AP,
and is now privileged to help open up the work in Siquijor.

After checking into our room, (second level),

we prepared to travel to a high place on the island for our devotional. When the Cebu Mission was originally dedicated for missionary work (such dedications are done by a member of the first presidency or an apostle), Siquijor was included in that dedication. 

Cebu Mission has only had missionaries on Siquijor for one transfer. To celebrate the missionaries arrival in this part of the mission, President Schmutz planned the devotional at a place overlooking the island.

Here are the priesthood holders who were in attendance at that devotional.

Here are all the missionaries who were privileged to attend the devotional, 

testimony meeting, and special prayer. What an honor for us to be included.

The following day, we all traveled to church in Siquijor. 

This is the open-air room - rented by the church - for their meetings.

At that meeting, a "group" was formed. Included in that organization was the sustaining of a High Priest Group Leader, an Elders Quorum President and counselor, a Relief Society President and counselor, a Young Men's President, a Young Women's President and a Primary President.

The Siquijor "group" is under the direction of the Dumaguete district which will soon become a stake. As the group grows and strengthens, is will become a branch. "Everywhere the church is organized, the restored priesthood of God will be there."

This was all the members and investigators in attendance at that meeting.

 9 March 2014.

Such a beautiful new beginning!

MLC - Mission Leaders Conference

       On 4 March 2014, President and Sister Schmutz held an MLC. These conferences used to involve only Elders, but President now includes Sister leaders as well. The Schmutz' feed the missionaries well, both physically and spiritually. In fact, one highlight of this conference was a training and question/  answer period in the temple for the Mission Leaders. We were also privileged to be able to attend. 

The missionaries love being in the mission home.

Here we are doing what we do best . . .  serving . . . in an apron . . .

dipping ice-cream . . . or whatever else is needed . . . 

Here is President Schmutz doing what he does best . . .
interacting with his missionaries . . .

They absolutely love him!

Here's Sister Kaafi doing what she does best . . .
seeing what needs to be done and cheerfully doing it.

Here is what many of the Elders do very well . . .
gather around the piano to sing together.

Of course, anytime missionaries gather, they are looking for their mail. 

This is a typical mail day,
with Elder Sommerfeldt hauling in packages after our trip to the Post Office.

Everyday Sights

People Riding

 Yes, this is a goat tied on the back of the cycle!

 This child is standing and waving her arms.

 See the legs of the child being held backwards.

 Five people are all we have seen on one cycle - but we have heard of more riding at one time.

People Selling Things

 This man is selling peeled pomelo.

People Carrying Things

That's all for today, folks . . . 

2nd Couples Conference

This past weekend was our 2nd Couples Conference since we arrived in the Cebu Mission. We are grateful to President and Sister Schmutz for organizing these special times for the senior couples to meet, enjoy one another, and be trained. 

Here we are on Thursday evening at the Maya - 

a Mexican restaurant. 

Sister Schmutz, Sister Anderson, Elder and Sister Sommerfeldt,

Sister and Elder Ernstrom, Elder and Sister Henrichson, Elder and Sister Austin,

Elder and Sister Bresee, Elder Anderson, President Schmutz.

 The next day, before breakfast, we had a special visitor. He was just trying to keep the sun off his face, and the fumes out of his lungs. Typical street wear in the Philippines.

 Then he decided he needed to beg a little . . .

Breakfast included some delicious and interesting fruits. Bananas, mangos, and pineapple, plus 

Mangosteens. This fruit looks kind of like plums on the outside, but have a harder skin.

 You eat the white sections on the inside. It is sweeter than regular mango.

 This fruit is called Pomelo, and is very similar to grapefruit, but somewhat sweeter and drier.

(I will post an inside look when I get one. We have eaten it, but the ones at the mission 

home the day of our conference were still a little too green to eat.)

We ate all three meals at the mission home on Friday, plus breakfast on Saturday morning. As you can see, we are not starving. Sister Schmutz feeds us very well.

As seniors, we attended the Cebu Temple together to do a session. All the missionaries stood in the prayer circle. It was such a lovely feeling.

In the afternoon, we enjoyed President Schmutz's training, and sharing our testimonies and many spiritual moments with one another.