Happy 7th Anniversary! "2 Us"

   A couple of days after the Anniversary, we were driving to work at the Cebu Mission Office in the temple complex. Will saw a man walking down the street with a bucket of flowers on his shoulder. Yes, he stopped and bought some for me. He knows me pretty well.

  

  The past 7 years have been good to us.

       Will and I have served two missions together: 

One to Rome, Italy

and one to Cebu, Philippines

We have served together in the Jordan River Utah Temple, 

and in the Draper, Utah Temple

We have been Home Teaching partners, 

and filled a stake calling together with the Single Adults, 

and a ward calling together with the Activities Committee.

Since our wedding, we have added:

5 grandchildren: Blake, Ellie, Nathan, Rachel, and Faith. 

 Blake

Ellie

 Nathan

Rachel

Faith

We have two grandsons in the mission field. 

Elder Austin Hollingsworth

Elder Hunter Hull

A step-grandson has been added: Hunter Tavoian

We even have an adopted-in grandson: Steve Corry

We have been blessed to travel around and see family often. 

We try to be there for baptisms, baby blessings, endowments, and weddings. 

We have missed some of these important events as we have served in the mission field.
That sacrifice has been a hard one, but necessary, and we appreciate the understanding of our families.

Our hearts were in attendance.

We travel, we work on our home, yard, workshop, and cabin, 

but nothing is more important to us than the gospel of Jesus Christ and our precious family. 

This is our kitchen wall in Cebu Philippines.
It is our way to take our family with us wherever we go.

On this mission, we are blessed to have been tutored more fully in how to be exalted. 

That is our prime goal in this life. 

                                        

Happy 172nd Anniversary - Relief Society

      The Toledo District held their 17th of March Anniversary Party for the Relief Society on Saturday. This year their District presidency decided to have each Branch represent a different country which has had an effect on the Filipino country and population. 

This beautiful poster was their stage decoration!

      We were told that this event started at 1:00 p.m. Once again, the language barrier had gotten in the way. The plan all along was for the preparations to begin at that time, with the program to start at 2:30.

      The great part about that was that we were able to go around and greet people and feel apart of what was happening.

            The Filipino people love costumes, dressing up, dancing, and interaction with one another. These sisters from Lutopan Branch were completely involved in their preparation. They were putting makeup on one another so they would look Japanese. The hair was styled with chopsticks holding the buns in place. The sister in the multicolored blouse is the District Relief Society President.

      The Filipino people love to have their picture taken. As I walked around observing the preparation, these sisters from the Toledo 2 Branch were excited to pose for a picture.

      When we arrived, we had no idea that we would be asked to be judges for the dancing and costumes. One of the District Counselors - from Balamban 1 -  is in the blue shirt, and he asked us to participate in this way. Elder Sommerfeldt is minus a tie because the U.S. dancers were short a man's tie for a dancer, and asked him if they could borrow his.

      First they had one sister from each Branch walk across the stage and introduce her Branch's country. This sister from Toledo 1 represented China.

      This sister from Lamac represented India.

            This cute little sister from Toledo 2 Branch was representing the Philippines.

      There were eight performance awards to be given, and one overall award presented to the Branch with the best costume, confidence in their performance, and the highest audience impact. 

     

 Balamban 2 Branch  - Saudia Arabia - Best in Choreography

Their country's national dance is belly dancing. They pulled it off very well, 

and were still modest in their rented costumes and movements.

 Lutopan Branch - Japan - Best in Costume 

This group of older ladies had done it all: makeup, hair design, painted red fingernails, 

white socks, pillows on the backs of their kimonos, umbrellas with bright colored ruffles, etc.

 Toledo 2 Branch - Philippines - Most Patriotic

Their dance wasn't as polished, but it was delightful 

with their flowered half hoops which were used very effectively.

Balamban 1 Branch - Hawaii - Most Entertaining

These sisters, with their fun costumes made out of one piece of material tied around their necks,  

danced to "Tiny Bubbles" and were  so graceful and lovely. 

Toledo 1 Branch - China - Most Creative

Their green uniforms were enhanced by the bright pink material sewn onto their tops.

Bright fans were used effectively as they danced.  

Lamac Branch - India - Most Graceful

This smaller group of sisters were lovely with their soft hand movements and 

dignified, precise dancing. 

Tutay Branch - Mexico - Most Energetic

These creative sisters had spent several hours sewing ruffles on their skirts, and making 

head pieces for their typical Mexican costumes. They were fun to watch. 

Aloguinsan Branch - U. S. A. - Most Innovative

Each sister wore dark jeans, a white shirt, and most had on a man's tie.

The dancing was very hip, fast moving, and fun.

 At the end of the program, the judges were given a few minutes to deliberate, 

and then each performance group was given an award.

 Aryan from Balamban 2 was crowned Mrs. Relief Society 2014

(When we had teased Aryan before hand about doing the belly dancing, 

she had said, "I have the belly, I can do the dancing.")

 There were many children in attendance, since their moms were participating.

Often the kids are running around a lot, but for this, they were kept in check, 

and allowed the sisters to perform.

 Nene Ponteras, from Balamban, has become our good friend. 

We are going to miss her tremendously.

For this picture, Nene wanted to be as tall as Elder Sommerfeldt. 

She is standing on a chair and is just about his same height. 

The girl on his right is standing on the table. 

All the Balamban saints, but especially the children, continue to be amazed at

Elder Sommerfeldt's height. They love to stand next to him and compare.

We have come to know these Branch members well and to love them.

A Typical Fast-Moving Week in the Mission Field

Each Sunday, we drive over the mountain to Balamban to church. Since the drive takes a little over an hour, we see many sights as we drive. This week, there was some kind of a celebration going on. 

 These people were gathered to watch a cycle race. 

A little further along the road, we saw a carabao, pulling a sled of sorts. The kids were catching a ride.

Each day as we drive to work, we see interesting sights. Here are a couple for this week:

 A man riding a skateboard, while holding the handlebars of a cycle.

 Carrying rice bags on your cycle  - to deliver somewhere - or maybe it's lunch!

Zone Conferences for  North and South Cebu were combined on Tuesday because President and Sister Schmutz were stranded in Dumaguete on Monday.

The President is implementing a new program called: "contact a member on Saturday," which is a new way to encourage branch or ward members to allow lessons to be taught in their homes to investigators. That way, the investigator instantly has a friend at church on Sundays. The missionaries are not to be fed at these discussions. The purpose is for the missionaries to teach the Restoration, and Plan of Salvation, etc., for the members to testify of the principle being taught, and for a bond to begin to grow between those investigating and someone permanent in the church unit.

 Lunch is a catered affair. Everyone loves to eat and visit,
but the "meat" of the conference is teaching
our tremendous missionary  force to be even better missionaries for Jesus Christ. 

 A card and Snickers bar is given out by President and Sister Schmutz to celebrate birthdays 

of individuals for a two-month period of time. 

 Happy Birthday here is sung: 

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday to you.

Our mission has a mission song: sung to the tune "Now Let Us Rejoice."

The words are:

On the isles of the sea as was foretold by prophets

The remnant of Israel is gathering in 

In the stakes and the districts, the homes and the Temple

God's children all rejoice as the harvest begins. 

Chorus:

This is Cebu Mission, and we know our purpose. 

Invite unto Christ! It's what we came here for. 

The elect are prepared, and God leads us to find them. 

They gather on Cebu, Negros and Siquijor.

Satan wields flaxen cords in his effort to bid us, 

But we keep commandments and thwart his designs. 

We obey with exactness; we follow the Spirit.

Obedience purifies till each countenance shines. 

Chorus

With the Lord at the helm, we all heeded our Prophet. 

The spirit leads on and his light we now shine. 

Like the trump of an angel we teach from the scriptures. 

With love we venture forth in this work that's divine. 

Chorus

As we prepare for Transfer Week next week, we also prepare to say "goodbye" to Elder Mejos, 

an excellent Filipino missionary (and AP) who is completing his mission.

 Elder Mejos' choice for dinner with the office staff, other assistant - Elder Peck - 

and President and Sister Schmutz was at Marco Polo.
They treat us wonderfully well there.

The theme at Marco Polo this month seems to be Paris, France - as you can see. 

Sister and President Schmutz are such wonderful hosts, and we all love them. 

Dumaguete - on Negros Island

      We have heard so much about Dumaguete. Because of less traffic, the air is cleaner, and the city itself seems a little more prosperous. 

This walkway along the ocean is called the Boulevard.

The Boulevard is a slow-moving park-type area. 

      The Anderson's took us to a home industry for Sister Sommerfeldt to order a scripture cover of woven material that is unique to the islands.

      Then they dropped us off at the Essencia, our accommodations for the evening. We were needing to be at the Dumaguete Airport very early in the morning to catch our flight back to Cebu.

      After hailing a cab, we drove a few short blocks to a McD. As we got orientated to the city, we wandered around for awhile, and then walked back to the hotel.

      By 6:00 a.m. Wednesday morning, we had checked out of our hotel and was on the way to the airport. When the plane arrived, we expected to see President and Sister Schmutz get off the plane as we got on. However, change of plans. It was raining outside, and we discovered that the plane was VFR - visible flight rating. Each day there is only one flight from Cebu to Dumaguete, and one flight back to Cebu. That flight had been cancelled!

      Elder Sommerfeldt tried to find out our options. There were two: wait until the following day to fly to Cebu, or fly to Manila and then to Cebu. He reserved a seat on that flight to Manila. Since it didn't leave until 2:55, we returned to the Essencia, hoping they had not made up our room yet.

      They had! However, they offered to give us another room - free - to stay in until noon. That gracious option was much appreciated. By checkout time, we were back in the lobby to check out once again. We enjoyed a Chinese food lunch at the hotel before returning to the airport for our flight.

      Problem was: it was still raining. The flight had been cancelled. By this time, the airport was stacking up with people needing to get to their destinations. Elder Sommerfeldt stood in line from 1:00 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. only to find out that we had two options: Travel to Manila on Saturday - if the planes were traveling at that time, or take an all-night ferry back to Cebu.
   
      This time, we took our first Trike ride (boy are they tiny) - with our luggage - from the airport, down to the Boulevard, with the prospect of waiting there for six hours before going to the port area to board the ferry to Cebu. Side note: it was all the Trike could do to take off without tipping over backwards, between luggage and Will's weight. It didn't help that the cycle providing the motor was old, with not much energy.

      Here are some sights from the Boulevard:

A truck carrying sugar cane. We saw at least four of them go by.

A bit of history - I'm sure!

The beach area.

A boys' band in the back of a truck.

      About the time we thought we would go stir-crazy, Anderson's contacted us and said they were on their way into Dumaguete to go to dinner with us. Hurray!

      Actually, we went to the church first, found an empty classroom, and played a game together for a time. The kids love Sister Anderson - they know she has a piece of candy for them. Afterwards,  we enjoyed a leisurely dinner together.

       At the port, we saw this interesting lizard on the wall. He is called a toko lizard.

      Finally we boarded the ferry at 10:30 p.m. Nice - Anderson's had booked us a business class ticket. A couch, and easy chairs - and we were the only ones in the room. Everywhere else were many bunk beds all in a common room. Our private room was especially appreciated because Elder Sommerfeldt did not fit in the bunks inside our room, and he slept on the couch. 

       Sister Sommerfeldt moved a second mattress onto her bunk, wrapped up in the blanket provided and slept.

      About 6:30 a.m. we were docking at Cebu. Ready to get our truck at the airport, return home, shower, and get to work. But, what a great weekend!

I will end this with a laugh. A sign we saw in Dumaguete:

Seeing men relieve themselves against fences are a daily occurrence in the Philippines.