Trip to Bohol Island

On the way to Bohol Island, looking back at Cebu

Friday, October 7, 2005,

I was not able to attend the Family History Conference today because of all the activity and work involved in receiving the new missionaries. I worked in the office until 1 and then Bob and I ate and packed and then headed off to the boat to Bohol with the new elders who were being assigned there and other elders being transferred. We visited with them while we waited in the terminal and were very impressed with their great spirits. They were so excited to be actually beginning their missions.

Before the boat left the dock, soft music came over the PA system and then a short, sweet prayer of gratitude and requests for safety in the journey. It was in English. What a wonderful way to start a trip. It was a magnificent boat ride. The weather was stormy with big swells and white caps. Bob and I rode the whole 1 and ½ hour trip on the observation deck on top and thoroughly enjoyed it. Bob took some pictures and I just looked and breathed in the sea air and loved it. We could see dark clouds and some rain over Cebu Island and patches of sun shining through the clouds on Bohol. We could see the shape and ends of both Cebu and Bohol. Many fishermen were out in their small, but mostly motorized, outrigger canoes fishing with nets.

Elder and Sister Makanoa met us at the pier. The weather had cleared and the sun was shining. They are serving their 9^th mission for the Church – all in the Philippines. They made us feel instantly at home as they loaded our luggage in their car and drove us the short distance to their apartment in Tagbilaran. They have a three bedroom, two bath large duplex – very comfortable. The elders live in the other half of the house. Their ‘house help’ Edita is an excellent cook and we enjoyed a delicious dinner and visited with the elders stopping in to chat too, and then went to bed very early - 8 p.m.