This week was dominated by the arrival of three new humanitarian couples. Just like 19 months ago when there were three of us arriving. Kenneth (our supervisor) asked us to drive to the airport and meet the couples and take back our replacements, the Gardners. I think they will do great. Everyone, actually has great attitudes, good personalities and are ready to get going. They arrived around 7 am and we didn’t get home from the airport until after 10:30. Traffic was the worst we have seen it from the airport! What a welcome for them. We spent most of that day helping them get to the grocery store, see what they still needed, what they could have from our apartment, etc. Then on Wednesday, all the humanitarian couples were here for our usual monthly (or bi-monthly) training, lunch, farewell dinner, etc. Then on Thursday, we got up early and we all drove (or were driven) the three hours north to the Urdaneta Temple open house. While waiting for everyone, we were ushered into the patron housing annex building and we ran into President Magsino and his wife. That was perfect because we could introduce them to the Gardners. He is the one whose company built the three water tanks for Cardinal Sin. And his wife is also a humanitarian service missionary, so it was perfect that they could meet them. Also, while waiting, one of the sister missionaries helping to usher people told us an amazing story about her family being sealed. They have a family of 15 children (I know, incredible). Her parents were the last to be baptized, but after they were baptized, in about a year, they were anxious to be sealed as a family. They finally made their way to the Manila temple with many of their children. When the sealing was finished and they were about to leave the temple, a worker approached the mother and asked if they had any other children- maybe some who had died. Indeed, they did have two children who died while very young. The worker said, “oh that explains the crying we have all been hearing”. Several temple workers could hear crying wherever they went in the temple, but couldn’t see any children. The family were of course new to the church and didn’t know you could be sealed to children who had already died. Once they were sealed to the other children, the workers reported they couldn’t hear crying any more. Well, after that, you can imagine our experience in the temple was divine. As soon as I stepped into just the waiting room, my eyes were full as was my heart. I rejoiced for the people here . It was hard enough for them to travel to this temple (if they lived way up north) but imagine how long it would take for some of these families to save enough money and time away from work to get to the Manila Temple. And soon, there will be 13 temples in the Philippines!!! The inside of this temple is so perfect. The many shades of green, the beautiful rugs, the local scenes in the artwork, the beautifully crafted wooden furniture. All of it! And the landscaping made me homesick for Hawaii- every single plant there I knew and loved in Hawaii. The huge acacia trees that line the property are a mystery. How did they just happen to perfectly line the property? The grounds are really beautiful. Such a blessing for the people!

OUR DAY WITH CATHOLIC LEADERS

We had a wonderful day on Friday. We went with Haidi from church communications (and two others from her team) first to Santo Tomas University (who was willing to host the Tabernacle Choir for their sacred concert) to hand over a check to help six of their musician scholars. Dean Africa and the Very Reverand Father Ang, who is basically the president of the University and others met with us in their very special Rector’s Hall for the signing of the MOA. It was a very nice room, with huge kingly chairs and everyone had their own microphone. President Revillo (counselor in the area presidency) was there and was asked to give remarks. He actually graduated from Santo Tomas in Chemical Engineering! So, naturally, he was the perfect one to be there. After the signing, they hosted a lunch for all of us and during the lunch we were treated to some fantastic music. They have some very musically talented students. We were so happy to give them the scholarship money from the Church! It was also great to spend the entire day with Haidi Fajardo , the communications director (and whose family Elder Huff baptized 52 years ago). She is so good at her job and has so many connections. She is a treasure!!!

After we finished at Santo Tomas, we had an extra hour before meeting with Caritas Manila, so the driver dropped us off at the anthropology museum. That is the only museum in Rizal Park that we hadn’t been to. It was kind of interesting, but not worth a special trip for. Last stop was Caritas- we have worked with them before (a big donation to help them with their feeding program) but this was also for scholarships. And of course, we got to have a fun chat with Father Anton again. He is always interesting and full of good ideas. We have really enjoyed our association with various leaders of the Catholic church here. It is a great collaboration! We hope this good association will continue. Working together, we can really make a difference here.