Final Chapter: A Sudden Departure

(Zone Conference in Ilagan)

Friday, March 13, started out like most any other weekday.  My alarm went off at 5:45 a.m.   I lingered in bed for a few extra minutes snuggled next to my husband looking at messages and pictures our family had recently sent.  I started a batch of laundry and Stephen and I headed out the door for a walk.  Afterward, we showered, dressed and were having our companion scripture study when the phone rang.  It was President Craig and he wanted to come and see us right now.  I didn’t think too much about it, but when he came in he said, “I don’t want to tell you this, but I just received a call and your mission is over.  You will probably have about 48 hours to pack.”  I started crying.  I wasn’t ready to go home.  I had so much that I still wanted to do and we hadn’t trained anyone to take our place.  They were sending us home because we had less than 3 months left to serve and our age made us at risk.

When we went downstairs to the office, President Craig had already organized an emergency meeting with the other Senior Couples and his Assistants to choose two young Elders to replace us.  Then we received a call from the Area travel office saying that the government was locking down Manila and we would have to leave at 7:00 p.m. that night.  Our heads were swimming with the thoughts of everything we needed to do.   The previous three days were spent out of the office, attending Zone Conferences and therefore we were behind in our desk work.  Now, we needed to catch up, pack and train someone to take our places.  There was already a plan in place that we would have six weeks to train our young replacements, that was thrown out the window and we had about three hours.

(Sneaking in some goodbye photos with our beloved guards, James & Brother Ulep.)

(Elder Bodily teasing me one last time by putting on my glasses.)

Urgency to the task took over and sadness left.  Stephen and I worked like crazy to pack and train young Elders to take our place.  We didn’t even stop to eat.  Elder Montague from our hometown helped us hire a driver to take us to Manila.  The time flew by and we spent the last hour of the day eating pizza and visiting with the other Senior Missionaries, President and Sister Craig and the Assistants in the Mission Home.  Sister Craig was right when she said, “This is a band-aid farewell….you rip it off quick!”  

(The Elders that we trained to take our place were sent home four days later with all foreign missionaries.)

We drove all night, arriving at the Holiday Inn, next to the airport at 5:30 a.m.   To say the least, we were exhausted and our room was not yet ready.  After checking in our room, Stephen received an email from the young couple who were renting our home.  They wanted us to know that if we needed to come home early because of the Corona Virus, that they would move into his parent’s basement.  We couldn’t believe that they were reaching out to us.  Until we arrived at the hotel, we hadn’t had time or Wi-Fi to let anyone know that we were on our way back to the States.  We hadn’t even told our children.  Steve emailed them back and told them we had a flight home on Monday, but they could stay as long as they needed to because we would go stay at our little cabin up north.

(These two young fathers drove us all night to the hotel in Manila and drove immediately back home.)

We spent two hours at the airport on Saturday, waiting in line to upgrade our seats for more legroom for the thirteen-hour flight home.  When our name was called, the ticket agent asked us how long we had waited.  When we replied two hours, she said, “That’s not bad.  Yesterday some people had to wait seven hours”.

On Sunday, we obtained a roll that we used for the sacrament.  It was uplifting and joyful to be able to hold our own sacrament meeting in our hotel room.  We prayed, sang a hymn, partook of the sacrament and took turns sharing the things we had learned from our mission and our testimonies.  We were struggling with feelings that our mission was incomplete.   Although we knew that the Lord accepted our offering of service and that eventually, these feelings would pass.

(This Kind woman and her husband gave us masks to wear on the airplane)

Arriving at the airport on Monday morning, a guard took our temperature before we entered the terminal and that was that.  Nobody at the Manila airport or Los Angeles asked us if we had been sick, or bothered screening our health in any other way.  The Manila airport had top-notch security and x-rayed all luggage three times in three different places.  Our plane took off in Manila at 11:50 a.m. and after a layover in L.A., we landed in Phoenix at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, March 16^th.  Our son-in-law picked us up at the airport.  As we drove down the familiar streets of our hometown, everything looked the same.  It was almost surreal!  Did we really just spend the last sixteen months serving a mission in the Philippines, or was that just a dream?

(We spent the first night at our daughter's home.)

We are now back in the home where we raised all our children.  When we walked in, we couldn’t believe how immaculate it was!  Not a speck of dust anywhere!  It was like nobody had lived there.  We feel so blessed for the loving care that was given to our home while we were away.

We are now happy to be back at home near our family and loved ones, although we do miss our friends in the mission.  I find myself several times a day, reading Facebook posts and messages via messenger from missionaries, and our Filipino Friends.  I will be forever grateful for the experiences and the personal growth that I obtained while serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints in the Philippines Cauayan Mission.

(Tapping toes is the new handshake)

(Selfie with Elder Pampliega at the Zone Conference in Santiago)

(Our Beloved Brother Pete)

"Unavailable Sir" and "No Damage"

This weekend, we took a three-hour drive to Lagawe.  We stopped in Bagabag to pick-up the Zone Leaders so they could interview a young woman for baptism.  Upon arrival we ate lunch at Pedro's, enjoying three different kinds of pizza and some french fries for an appetizer.  We had anticipated enjoying a Dr. Pepper with our meal (a rare treat in our mission), but the waitress told us, "unavailable Sir".  That's a phrase we hear a lot.

We went with the Elders to their baptismal interview, which was followed by a lesson on being a missionary.

It was a very hot day.  "Sobrang Manit!"

Two children from a family of seven, that the Elders are teaching

Walking through the public market known as the "palengke"

 The closest  hotel was a 45-minute drive to Banaue.  We woke up this morning to a beautiful sunrise.

Lagawe Chapel sits up on a hill overlooking the city.

This beautiful 12-day old baby's mother is on maternity leave from teaching at the MTC.  

The Faithful Sisters in the Lagawe Relief Society

I'm flattered that all of these young adult women wanted their picture taken with me.  They are each like a lovely flower that when put together make a BEAUTIFUL bouquet!

A story from Stephen:  

The other day I was trying to park the mission vehicle in a tight spot and 'lightly' taped the front wheel of a tricycle parked behind me. This reminded me of a story one of the other Senior Elders told about driving a mission van in heavy traffic in Tuguegarao (the large city to the north).  While he was stopped waiting for traffic to move, a tricycle driver attempted to squeeze in front of him.  (This is VERY common in city traffic)  In so doing, the hub of the sidecar wheel caught the front bumper of the van, totally ripping it from the front of the vehicle.  Headlights and everything lay on the blacktop in front of the vehicle exposing the radiator of the van.  The senior Elder wondered, what would the tricycle driver do since none of them carry insurance.  Amazingly, several of his fellow drivers jumped into action, and to his astonishment, they reinstalled the entire system, wiring harness and all to the front of the vehicle in a couple of minutes.  Apparently, there were no bolts involved in this installation.  Everything was held together by clips.  When they were done, the driver announced to the Elder "NO DAMAGE!!" and went on his way.  After bumping the tire, I jumped out of my vehicle and looked at his front wheel and my rear bumper and made the proclamation,  "NO DAMAGE!.

Other Photos from this week:

One of my favorite duties is taking photos.  President Craig snuck this photo of me while I was arranging the missionary leadership council for a monthly photo.  I take several photos a week and post them on a private mission page for the families of the missionaries.

Golfing and other Adventures

Last weekend, we took a trip to witness some baptisms in Alcala, the most northern city in our mission.  A young married couple with two small sons from Baggao were baptized by a recent convert who fellowshipped them.  We were sitting behind them in the meeting and I could observe their kind fellow shipper sitting next to them, pointing to the words in the hymnbook as we sang. 

  We traveled the next day to visit the San Pedro Branch.  We both gave talks and Stephen did some temple recommend interviews. 

After the meeting, we went with the District President to visit a recently reactivated man, his wife, and granddaughter.  I asked the man when he joined the church.  He told me that he was taught the gospel by Elder Jensen and Elder McBride from Idaho and was baptized in 1998. I wondered if these two missionaries knew what a lasting impression they made on this man.  Most missionaries now can keep in contact with the people that they teach and baptize through Facebook and Messenger.  The man was concerned and wanted to know if his special needs granddaughter could be baptized.   His granddaughter’s face lit up with joy when President Roberts said yes.  We sang, prayed and I admired their beautiful flower garden.  Their spirits were lifted.

On Wednesday morning we drove to the airport and sent home eight missionaries.  We brought ten new ones back to the mission office and spent the day training them.  We grow to love these wonderful young missionaries. 

Yesterday, Stephen went golfing in Ilagan (a nearby city) with the three other Senior Elders.  The greens were actually packed sand and the ball rolled like it was on concrete.  They had three small boys act as caddies carrying their bags.  They played nine holes for a whopping total of 900 Pesos ($18.00).  That included clubs, balls, tees, and caddies.  There was a little dog lying in the grass about 20 yards in front of Stephen and he almost hit him in the head with a golf ball.  Much to my dismay, he did not take any pictures.

Last week, I was walking past Jollibee’s in the Mall.  I walk by it often and it is always packed with people.  This time when I walked by, I remembered that a young man I helped the Sisters teach several months ago worked there in the kitchen.  He was baptized, but quit going to church after a couple of months. I looked into the restaurant and there were no customers and I could see him working.  I went in and talked to him for a few minutes, asking him about school and his girlfriend.  On Saturday, the Sister missionaries asked if I could accompany them to teach him that day.  After a person is baptized, they are retaught all of the lessons.  They told me that they had run into him on the street a couple of days ago.  When we met with him, he told us that he had stopped praying and reading his scriptures.  He didn’t like the way he felt anymore.  We had a good lesson with him and the Sister recommitted him to pray, read and go to church.  I testified to him that it was not a coincidence that he ran into me and the Sisters this week, the Lord wanted him back.  The Sisters reported to me that he went to church today.  That makes me very happy!

Yesterday evening, I took a tricycle ride to meet the sisters and teach two lessons with them.  They were about 20 minutes late.  While I waited, I crossed the street took photos and talked to the people that walked by. 

It was getting dark, I was a foreigner alone and I did not feel afraid.  Two cute little boys walked by me, they stopped, turned around and grabbed my hand placing the back of it on their foreheads.  This is called 'bless, bless' and it is a great sign of respect.  I smiled as they marched away saluting each other.  I love these people!

Other Photos from this week:

Visiting Elders in their new apartment.  Stephen is responsible for getting contracts set up with the Landlords.

I love the beautiful Carabao

Saw this beautiful beetle in the Mall parking lot.

She celebrated her 80th birthday by going to church. Her eyes lit up when the Branch President greeted her with "Happy Birthday".

Super Bowl, Visitors & Family Night Fun

We have passed by this painted wall many times on the main highway thru Santiago.  I love what it says about honesty and always think that I will stop and take a photo, but we are always in a hurry.  This time we stopped.  Walls like this are a common sight here.

I have been sick for a couple of weeks and have neglected to write in my blog.  I finally went to the doctor and found out that I had a sinus infection and an ear infection.  For less than 1500 pesos ($30.00 US), I was treated by a doctor (who also practiced in the United States) and given ear drops, an antibiotic and a medication to thin the drainage.  I’m feeling much better now and hopefully will soon get back all my strength and energy.

Stephen and the other Senior Elders found a way to watch the Super Bowl.  He took the TV from our apartment downstairs to the office so they could view it in their comfortable work chairs.  One of the Elders had access to view it on his phone, which they hooked up to the TV.  They got breakfast at the drive-thru McDonalds and were really enjoying themselves.  When the young Assistants came in the office to work, President Craig had them move their Super Bowl Party back upstairs.  He joined them for the last quarter of the game.

The previous Mission Secretary was a young elder who returned home last July.  I loved telling people that he was my “trainer”.  He came back to the Philippines this month with his parents for a visit.  They toured many places and he enjoyed wearing shorts, snorkeling and especially seeing the people that he had taught.

We also received a visit from another returned missionary from Manila.  Sister Alyssa Ela is the one who drew this sketch of me.  She took the 2019 Mission History that I compiled and delivered it to the Area Office in Manila.

We held a Sisters Conference last week.  It was a one-time special conference held on two different days to help the Sisters overcome their fears and be more effective missionaries.  It ended each day with a Spirit-filled testimony meeting.  

Last Sunday evening we enjoyed a family home evening in the home of a woman who was baptized a few months ago.  Her two sons will be baptized this Saturday.  When the meeting started, there were 24 people in attendance.  They borrowed chairs from their neighbors and brought in benches from outside to accommodate everyone. The guest continued arriving and I quit counting at 30! The home was bursting at the seams and still, curious neighbors were peeking in the window and standing in the doorway. We had a song, prayer, lesson and two fun games that had us all laughing.  We concluded the evening by eating pancit and pasta.  I brought Rice Krispie Treats which were quickly devoured.

Other Photos:

District Conference in Bambang

"Heart-Attacked" on Valentine's Day by the Sister Missionaries.

Visiting with members while Stephen interviews 2 prospective missionaries.

Enjoying 'Merryenda' after FHE