Sunday, April 17, 2016

A House Becomes a Home - Zone Interviews

  Zone Interviews take place every three months.  This is when a missionary is able to sit with President Clark and gain insight, share testimony or ask questions.  We generally have this as a Zone, and I join the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders to do training while the interviews take place.  

President Clark and I decided that we would like to see where and how our missionaries live.  We have so few senior couples, so inspections are not taking place.  Our mission Power Scrub was done on April 4th before General Conference so this is the perfect time for us to travel around.  The missionaries have been delighted for us to travel around to see them.   It has been a wonderful and humbling experience. The missionaries have been really great about making sure their home was clean and ready for our visit.






Most visits consist of the following:


Welcome and a guide of what will happen during our visit,

one verse of a great hymn,
prayer,
then we split up for interviews with the President and instruction from me.

I ask what they love about their house.  Many give some of the features that they like in the house and others tell me about the feelings they have while studying and learning. 

The missionaries then give me a tour.  We see the kitchen, their laundry area, CR (restroom), ref (fridge), study area, bedroom (sheets required).  




I give them a body map so they can better explain to me where the pain is when they call and the Powerscrub is on the other side of it (lest they forget).


We go over the items they should have in their First Aid kits and I have one medical item to add to their kits they can choose from.  


I share 2 Nephi 5:27 and we talk about how we can live after the manner of happiness.  




I let them pick a heart sticker and put it on the back of their nametags to remember the Savior's love for them but also the love President and I have for them. A good daily reminder.







We all kneel and President Clark then re-dedicates their home 
and we're off to the next home.  








We are making a large banner where each companionship has a "3rd Chair" - The Divine Companionship Banner.  It will go in the mission office when completed.  So each companionship poses for their picture, we leave cookies and apples and off we go to the next home. The homes are near and far from one another so it has been an adventure to find each one. There is also a wide degree of homes.  Some are very crude and others are very comfortable.  We have come to realize that the Spirit and the love of missionary work doesn't discriminate.  It has been a gratifying and amazing opportunity for us to see how our missionaries live.  






It has been a sweltering summer.  We often walk out of the home with sweat pouring.  This only reaffirms what we feel --- our missionaries are our heroes.  They work in the heat of the day. Most rarely complain.  The weather has been up to 52 degrees C.  This converts to 125 degrees F.  Because of El Niño, it looks like this weather continue for a few weeks.  We pray for the safety of these wonderful young people every day!  




We have been to 31 homes and have about 56 to go!  
These homes, and the missionaries that reside in each, remind us of heaven on earth.






Saturday, April 16, 2016

Returned Missionaries Unite!

Often times, some returned missionaries that have served all over the world will unite in Utah the Friday evening before General Conference.  Once you have served together, there is a bond that is created forever.

Returned missionaries from the Angeles Mission who are able, attend a reunion 2 times a year. Generally President and Sister Martino have sponsored the reunion but they are serving a full-time mission in New York right now.  Some of our RM's made preparations for all those who could attend to enjoy another reunion. They asked President and Sister Martino and President Clark and I to share some thoughts on a wonderful topic - Covenants!  Below is a link of what President Clark and I shared with them.  We loved being able to talk with them while we are still miles away.


https://www.dropbox.com/s/hjjrns0bpyfmfsp/Angeles%20Returned%20Missionary%20Reunion%202016%20April%2025.mp4?oref=e&n=364648761

Friday, April 8, 2016

Our 15th Incoming Batch

What an interesting Batch we received the end of March.  We welcomed 29 missionaries!  We have missionaries short-term missionaries with us for one transfer.  These missionaries have their papers in and they help us for one transfer until they receive their mission calls.  The other full-time missionaries are coming from the islands, a few from America, and three Filipino missionaries who will stay here until they receive visa's to go to other missions in the US and Guam.  We also received five missionaries who are coming from India and awaiting VISA's to return to India.  Lots of bags, lots of excitement, lots of nerves as they begin their journey in the Philippines Angeles Mission.  WELCOME Elders and Sisters who will go forth with faith!
Our five Elders coming from missions in India.
 
Elder Agbuya
Sister Ajawas
Elder Baniago
Bro. Bosotus
Bro. Cabading
Bro. Marcelo
Sister Cassidy
Sister Christy
Elder Condes
Elder Conrad (India Visa Waiter)
Sister Constantino
Elder Dela Cruz
Elder Dela Peña
Sister Driggs
Elder Felipe
Sister Fosita
Elder Grado
Elder Halverson (India Visa Waiter)
Elder Harris (India Visa Waiter)
Elder Havili
Elder Herada
Elder Mecham
Elder Parker (India Visa Waiter)
Elder Patten (India Visa Waiter)
Elder Poblete
Sister Pongi
Elder Salas
Sister Smalley
Sister Smith
Sister Tekaai
Sister Tonga
Sister Touli

Trainer and Trainees - Companions

















Our 15th Incoming Batch
Our newest 5 India Visa Waiters