10 More Depart But Never Forgotten! July 2015

We said goodbye this week to 10 loved and valiant Philippines Angeles Missionaries. 

May you always remember your Most Valuable Possession...the testimonies that you bore so passionately to those that you taught and loved.  You are in our hearts forever!

July MLC

July's Mission Leadership Council met under the theme of, "Learning Through Repetition."  Presentations and workshops focused on refreshing and recommiting to what we learned during the June Mission Tour.  Emphasis was placed on meeting Mission Standards of Excellence and accomplishing the challenges left with us by Elder Shayne Bowen.  Lunch was a western barbeque theme and was thoroughly enjoyed by all .... except those who wanted rice.  :) 

In honor of the July 4th Holiday, we had hamburgers and hotdogs for lunch - no rice!  I also introduced "fruit pizza" for dessert.  Needless to say, it was a big hit.

We surely love these Elders and Sisters for leading and teaching our missionaries 

to be better and do better. 

2 Nephi 28:30...

I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept , here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom ; for unto him that receiveth I will give more.

Tarlac Stake Presidency and Bishops/Wives Gather at the Mission Home

On Friday, August 7th, the Mission Home was filled local Church leaders and their wives.  We invited Bishops and Members of the Stake Presidency, along with their spouses to an Evening At the Mission Home.  We took this opportunity to become acquainted with these fine leaders.  Sis. Lopez prepared a wonderful dinner, conversation and commitment to work together.  Most had not been to the Mission Home before and it was our pleasure to welcome them.

My Calling...

For our Zone Conferences this week, the Assistants provided a wonderful workshop entitled, "My Calling."  We all reflected on the privilege it is to serve as full-time missionaries for our Savior. His name is on the tag that we wear every.single.day!  Someday we will take the tag off.  That will be an emotion filled day but...we will always have the memories to remind us how important it is to proclaim truth always.

August 4, 2015 MLC

                     

     

One Year Ago....

Elder and Sister Hobbs, Symon and Diana Coquia, Sister and President Clark

 One year ago we walked off a plane in a country we'd never been.   An amazing year has filled our hearts with unbelievable experiences.  We are grateful daily for the numerous blessings that we receive from working with these amazing missionaries.
Yesterday we attended the wedding of one of our former missionaries.  Pictured above is Symon Coquia and his beautiful bride.  We attended the sealing ceremony with one of our Senior Couples...Elder and Sister Hobbs.  It was a beautiful ceremony inside the Manila Temple.

Elder & Sister Hobbs, Bro. Bausing, Bro. Bajacan, Sis. Ganancial, Sister & President Clark

All of these missionaries have a special place in their hearts for the Angeles Mission.  Elder and Sister Hobbs will be returning soon to Idaho.  We will miss them but know they have left a tremendous impact with the people of the Philippines.  They have helped many people find their ancestors and take them to the temple.  They have visit and home taught many families. They have borne witness to truth and love of the Savior through word and action.  

We will miss you, Elder and Sister Hobbs!

July 1, 2014 - President and Sister Clark - Sister and President Martino

Its been a year since we arrived in the Philippines.  We received keys and instruction from this wonderful couple.  President and Sister Martino put their heart and soul into teaching and training the missionaries of the Philippines Angeles Mission.  Every detail was attended to as they prepared to leave the mission they loved and turn the responsibility over to President Clark.  We still vividly remember the feelings that we had as they handed over their phones, instructions and car keys.  We appreciate them more than we can say for having everything so well organized.
Thank you, President and Sister Martino.
You continue to be a great influence in the Angeles Mission.  We love you!  

Mission Tour 2015 with Elder and Sister Bowen - June 16-18th

Each year every mission in the church enjoys a "Mission Tour" under the direction of an assigned General Authority.  In 2015 it was our pleasure to host Elder Shayne Bowen and Sister Lynette Bowen.  Elder Bowen is currently 1st Counselor in the Philippines Area Presidency.  The Bowen's live in Manila.  Its been our pleasure to get to know the Bowen's over the last year through various conferences and seminars.  They've stayed in our home two times prior to this Mission Tour.  They are wonderful people and are great servants of the Church.

Our tour started with a meeting with the Mission Leadership Council.  Pictured are the outside and inside of several "jeepneys" used to transport our young mission leaders to and from the mission home.

                        Angeles Zone

Below are pictures taken with each of our 12 Zones.  We met in two large groups over the course of two days.  The east side of the mission met in Cabanatuan and the west side met in Tarlac.  The speakers included President and Sister Clark and Elder and Sister Bowen.  Music was provided by missionary choirs.  The Mission Tour was inspiring and motivating.  The missionaries came prepared and were richly rewarded for their efforts.

Elder and Sister Bowen delivered wonderful counsel to the mission.  For example...

                           Bongbon Zone
1. We Can Feel the Loss of Power…  Every act of disobedience, large or small, results in a loss of power as a missionary.  Preach My Gospel teaches that: “Missionaries are to go ‘in the power of their ordination wherewith [they have] been ordained, proclaiming glad tidings of great joy, even the everlasting gospel’ (D&C 79:1)”.  We also learned this is great spiritual power.  But that power is diminished each time we disobey. 

               

                        Camiling Zone
2. Crabbing Holds Us Back…  “Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain - and most fools do.”  said Benjamin Franklin.  We can’t afford to be crabbing fools.  We should be each other’s greatest cheerleaders, celebrating successes and triumphs.  Criticism of those missionaries who are exceling – “the Roger Bannister” missionaries -- who strive to become better is counter to our mission culture and God’s purposes.                                                                                                                                                                                             

                          Guimba Zone
3.  Don’t Be a Flea…  What a great metaphor used by Elder Bowen!!  We learned that we can fall victim to “false limitations” if we are not careful.  We need to be willing to challenge conventional wisdom and not accept values that the world (or other missionaries) might try to impose.   We can’t be willing to accept low goals or standards of excellence because no one has done better before.  Remember, Noah and Nephi had never built boats before the Lord commanded.  Joseph Smith had never written (translated) a book before God asked. We can do more when we focus on our purpose, not problems.                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

                            Paniqui Zone
4.  The Miracle Formula…  This is a profound piece of knowledge.  OBEDIENCE + WORK (Faith) = Miracles.  We all want more miracles in our lives.  We know that faith must precede the miracle and now we know that faith is manifest through our good works.   Elder Russell M. Nelson teaches that a mission is an exercise in obedience training.  “Obedience brings success; exact obedience brings miracles,” he said.  So there it is again… obedience is an essential part of the Miracle Formula.                                                                                                                                              

5.  We Have Great Missionaries…  The 2015 mission tour reinforced for Sister Clark and I our faith in each of you – our missionaries.  It also increased our love for you.  You were wonderful in your preparation, presentation and participation.  The Bowens again and again complimented you as a mission and as individuals. 

                      Santa Ignacia Zone

                                                               The Bowen's, The Clark's, Elders Dejino & Watkins

Traditionally, a mission tour includes apartment inspections by the visiting General Authority and his wife.  The Bowen's were kind enough to inspect four of our mission apartments - two Elders and two Sisters Apartments.  Having provided ample warning, the apartment inspections went great.  The refrigerators and CR's were even checked.  We were proud of our "clean" missionaries!

President Garcia and his cute family fed us a delicious meal.  The Bowen's were amazed to see how much rice our missionaries could consume.  

The 2015 Mission Tour was a wonderful experience for our missionaries.  They loved associating with the Bowen's and fed themselves fully.....not only on rice but spiritual nourishment.