A Most Unusual Thanksgiving

Now who is going to believe me when I say we worked hard on our mission!



Bonnie and Gloria head out for fun




Clear water, great fish, great fun!


Is my life jacket big enough?

November 23, 2005

We received an email from the Johansens this morning telling us that the Aaron Imoh family from Port Harcourt were sealed in the temple yesterday. What joy!

The Pollocks called last night. They are in Cebu and we will have breakfast together this morning and plan some time for fun.

What fun we did have – amazing. We had a delicious breakfast at the Marriott in Cebu and then sat and planned the next day. Bob and Jim went to the concierge to see what reservations for hotels they could find in Cebu. Because of the South East Asia Games – Olympic Preparation – every hotel that was at all acceptable was full. Bob suggested that I go with them (he felt he needed to stay here and work to get the support in the bank for the missionaries) and that we go over to Bohol. The only good hotel we knew on Bohol was also full, so they ask about others and were referred to the Bohol Beach Club. It looked fine in the book; they had rooms; so they took it, all the while wondering what it would really be like.

While they were negotiating, Bonnie packed and I sat in the foyer and visited with a young man – Marriott busboy – and invited him to come to Church and to read the Book of Mormon. He liked the idea of a living prophet and said he had a cousin who was a member and that he had played basketball at the Church near him. He said he would ask his cousin if he could go to Church with him. I hope he does!
We headed over on the 1:30 Ferry and enjoyed the wonderful ferry ride. We were met at the pier by a van and driver and with one other guest were driven through Tagbilaran, over the bridge to Pangloa Island and around the east side of the island to the most beautiful, perfect tropical beach resort. After checking in, we immediately put on bathing suits (the President said Senior Couples can swim), and went in the ocean. The water was warm – no waves, little swells, and a coral reef in quite close. It felt so refreshing. We were the only ones in the water; one lady was sitting on a deck chair under an umbrella and a couple of people were picking up shells way down the beach. Bonny and I walked north along the beach quite a ways picking up shells and coral and then discarding them in favor of better pieces. We then rinsed off and went in the pool – shaped like two circles joined on one edge with an arching bridge over the joined part. We swam during a brief rain shower then had dinner at a poolside table eating food that we had brought with us. We didn’t see any mosquitoes at all; the resort staff was instantly available, but not hovering. It was perfect. I had my own room – a little creepy to sleep alone in a strange place, but it was a fine room; I was right next door to the Pollocks; and I could get up early and read without disturbing anyone. We went to bed early, full of plans for the next day, beginning with a sunrise walk on the beach.

We headed out about 5:15 A.M. just as it was beginning to get light and had a lovely walk south along the white sandy beach until the beach ended and lava cliffs began. We turned back and went up to a delicious buffet breakfast. Bonnie and I rented a kayak and paddled north just outside a buoy line marking a marine preserve, then turned around and drifted back along the coral reef. It was great – good exercise and beautiful environment. First we had thoroughly slathered ourselves with sunscreen! Jim went to the business center to work for an hour via email. Then we all took the glass bottom boat tour of the reef. After seeing what amazing fish were right there off shore from the resort, Bonnie and I decided we wanted to snorkel. We went in to the water sports office to make the arrangements and got set up with equipment, boat, and driver, but when the woman in charge walked out to see that we got on the boat – it wasn’t there. Apparently a scuba class had taken it and the driver when their boat’s motor wouldn’t start. We sat and asked her questions about the reef and other things to do and then decided to go swimming and have lunch and come back at 1. She said the reef where we would snorkel was a No 2 spot, but that 45 minutes away to the southwest was a small island that was No. 5 for snorkeling and for scuba diving. But, that was a four hour round trip activity – and I had to leave at 4 for the ferry going home, so…We swam, had a Thanksgiving lunch of stuffed squid – the stuffing was especially tasty, seafood gumbo soup – very good, citron chicken, delicious, rice and pineapple, mango and watermelon for dessert. Not your traditional Thanksgiving dinner, but at least I was at the beach!

The boat and driver were ready when we walked back down to get our masks and fins for snorkeling and off we went. The driver didn’t look too happy – especially when we had trouble climbing around the motor to get in the boat, but off we went. It was about a five minute ride to the sea side of the reef where he tied the boat up to a buoy. Then we popped on our gear and looked over the side. The water was so clear that it was hard to believe his instructions to jump over – the reef looked inches beneath the surface so we eased ourselves over the side of the boat and lowered down into the water – and try as we might, we could not reach down with our fins and touch the reef. Then off we went wearing life jackets so we floated along the top of the water, looking down. And what amazing fish we saw. I think I saw every species I have seen (of the small colorful tropical fish) in the Scripps Aquarium. We were the only ones out there snorkeling – except that after the boat driver saw we were fine, he popped on a mask and fins and began working on the bottom of his boat! We saw angel fish, tiger fish, zebra fish, black spotted sea stars, bright blue sea stars and bright orange ones. We saw those tiny little bright blue fish that dart in and out of the coral, small eels, black fish, bright yellow ones with the big black eye spot on their back fin, shiny, almost transparent ones, orange, black and white vertical striped ones, yellow and black horizontal striped ones and many, many more. Bonnie had been snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef and said this was ever so much better. We could hardly imagine what it would be like at the No. 5 spot since this was so perfect. We stayed in the water for an hour – and then it was time to head back. What a wonderful, beautiful, exciting, relaxing activity. We loved it. It is hard to describe how wonderful it was. The only sound you heard was your own breathing; the water was warm; there were many varieties of coral and small sea plants of all colors; and there was the huge variety of fish some in schools, others by themselves seemingly oblivious to us. What an amazing experience.

We walked along the beach a bit, then went swimming, had a pina colada (with no alcohol of course) by the pool and then I had to shower and dress and catch the ferry home….very grateful for good friends and good fun. I wished Bob had come to enjoy it too.

It was dark for the ferry ride home and then I took a taxi back to the apartment and it was back to work – laundry and preparing visual aids for the training in Bohol (yes I go back on the ferry again on Saturday morning – blessed me!) Bob had accomplished a lot, after great computer problems and was glad he had stayed home. He had a traditional, and delicious, Thanksgiving dinner with the President and Sister Anderson and the Zone Leaders – turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, pumpkin pie, the whole works!

Another trip to Bogo

Elders and Sisters in Cebu City Zone -before Transfers scatter them all over the islands


Bob and Gloria with Lenie and her 15 year old son



Fishing at sunrise off the coast at Bogo


Sunday, November 20, 2005

What a lovely two days. On Saturday morning we met Patriarch Benedicto at the mission office and loaded the car to go to the Bogo District Conference.

It was a pleasant drive to Bogo and we enjoyed getting acquainted with the Patriarch. He lives in the same compound with five of his children and their families. One more child lives in the U.S. and the seventh has died. He has not been out to the Districts for three years and is very happy the mission president is arranging for him to go so that the members can receive their Patriarchal blessings.

We arrived at Bogo before noon and ate a snack in the car of cheese and apples before going in to the training meetings. Bob spoke in the Priesthood session about Priesthood power and I taught in the Relief Society session on Visiting Teaching (I shared the picture of Grandma Stokes visiting teaching with her baby on her lap as she rode in a horse-drawn buggy). I also covered the portion of the training on Charity Never Faileth. It was very well attended; the District Relief Society President is young but very capable and did an excellent job.

In the Saturday session for all adults – held from 4 – 6 p.m. – Bob and I both spoke on the joys of missionary service. I told the stories of Brother and Sister Okiyi and Aaron Ogbonda and then of Abinadi’s joy when he realized that his preaching to King Noah and his priests hadn’t been totally in vain – one had been converted – Alma.

After visiting with members, we followed Brother Hansen to our ‘beach resort’ where we would spend the night. President Suan and Patriarch Benidicto and the Andersons and us were in a three-car caravan trying to keep up with Brother Hansen who wound his way through a maze of streets amid numerous tricycles and people on the roads and, of course, it was dark just to make it even more of an adventure. We ended up at an interesting place right on the east coast with rooms that were okay – ours had a working air-conditioner. We left our luggage in the rooms and then drove back down one road a short distance to another ‘beach resort’ where we ate an okay dinner and enjoyed the company. Unfortunately, I left my purse there and so Bob and I had to go back and pick it up, but thankfully, it was sitting there on the office desk of the resort and they were hoping I would come back they said.

It was a lovely night with a full moon and we had a little deck overlooking the water so we took a picture before going to bed. I woke up early and slipped in to some clothes and went out walking around and took some pictures of the sunrise over the water. I went in to shower and dress and then came back out and took a few more pictures before Brother Hansen came back to get us and lead us back to his house for a delicious breakfast of French toast, bacon and orange juice. We all enjoyed that and then headed over to the chapel for an early morning youth meeting before the main conference session.

It was fun to visit with people as they arrived as we are getting to know a few of them. Leni, one of the Carabio sisters, told me a little about herself. She is a widow; her husband died of pneumonia several years ago. The doctor had given him medicine, but he didn’t like to take it…. She has two boys 15 and 8. Her husband’s parents have taken the younger boy to raise, but they are letting him come to visit for Christmas.

There was some confusion and last minute scurrying as the city of Bogo had all power off for 12 hours. A stand-by generator could run the microphone and a few lights fortunately. President Anderson combined the two Bogo Branches into one, releasing one Branch President who had commuted from Cebu every Sunday for nearly 5 years. The other Branch President was called to be the President of the new combined branch. Brother Hansen was called to be a counselor in the District Presidency and will be a big help to them in organizing things. I was very impressed with the District President who said, “Before we selected new leaders we prayed in the office and we all felt the spirit very strong so we know these leaders are called of God.” He talked about trials – his wife has pneumonia and his two children are just recovering from it. It has been a difficult time for him.

Bob and I both shared our testimonies, the choir sounded wonderful and the spirit in the meeting was strong. The chapel was full, so that is a good start. Afterwards we visited for awhile and then went over to Hansens’ for lunch, then back to the chapel to pick up the Patriarch (with sandwiches for him and a piece of cake). He had given 15 Patriarchal Blessings – two on Saturday and 13 on Sunday!

More Bogo Open House

A Dinner to Remember


Elder Callahan the chef


Nephites vs. the Lamanite

At the Open House, the Relief Society not only had a good display, but also had prepared lunch for visitors and dignitaries. They considered us in the latter category and has made corsages for us as well as the Andersons and the community leaders….we had really just gone to help! We ate some of several of the dishes prepared for lunch such as a type of chop suey, two kinds of rice, and sweet and sour fish. Some things tasted better to us than others and Bob later went out to the car and had a breakfast bar and an apple! After visiting a bit more, we, along with the Andersons, drove to the Pension House where we were to spend the night. We took a much-appreciated nap before going to the Elders’ apartment where they were preparing dinner for President and Sister Anderson, us, and Brother Fleming.

Two of the elders, Elder Callahan (the chef) and Elder Chang, were preparing dinner when we arrived at 6. The other four were at a baptism – which we would have gone to, if we had known it was happening! Elder Callahan was preparing home fried potatoes and had cleaned and sliced 3 kilos (7.5 pounds) of potatoes! He also prepared two rice cookers full of rice, and beef and pork shish kebabs and barbeque sauce (homemade with coca cola as the ‘secret’ ingredient.) It took them nearly two more hours to have it all ready, by then we were starving, but it was worth the wait. Everything was really good. They had built a little fire in the back yard and grilled the meat. It was amazing. The other five elders did what Elder Callahan told them to do – they had eaten his cooking before and knew he knew what he was doing. We had a fun time eating together and listening to their stories. They also showed us their Nephite/Lamanite battle that they had prepared for the Open House. It was great to see what good friends they all were and how they worked so well together, that is probably while their Zone is doing so well.

Bogo Open House

Bogo Primary Children waiting and waiting

Bogo Young Men getting their display ready

Saturday, November 12, 2005

We drove up to Bogo early in the morning to attend their Open House prior to the dedication of their new building tomorrow. Traffic was light and we made good time, arriving about 9:30 A.M. (it was scheduled to start at 10). We are starting to feel that we have friends there and were happy to see the elders, the Carabio sisters, Brother Hansen and others. The building looked very clean and lovely and each auxiliary and quorum had set up displays that were very well done. The Primary room looked great and they had a full program planned of singing, stories, lessons and activities. The Young Women had music – one girl playing the keyboard and others singing hymns; they had displays of the YW Values and Personal Progress, and they had an activity of making ‘friendship bracelets’ of knotted cords. The Missionaries had a big poster “Why are we called Mormons?” and had lots of interest and answered many questions. At least 30 investigators attended. The opening program started one hour late as they waited for community leaders to come. A retired judge and the vice-mayor of Bogo both came along with a couple of pastors from other churches. While waiting, the children were all in the Primary room and beginning to get restless, so I sang a bit with them – activity songs like “If You’re Happy and You Know it,” and “Five Little Ducks went out to Play” and “Do As I’m Doing.” Stephanie Carabio, the Primary President in Branch 1, came and found me later to come and sing the ‘duck song’ again saying, “The children really liked it.” It was fun. Bob visited with many of the non-members. During the Opening Program and before the tours of the displays, the Bogo District Choir sang. They sounded really good. We were impressed. Also, the retired judge, a woman, talked about marriage and used the analogy of the small boats that are so common along the shores of the Philippines. She said some times each partner is rowing toward a different island! Other times, one is boring a hole in the bottom of the boat, not realizing they will sink as well as their partner. It was very interesting.

I enjoyed the opportunity to get better acquainted with President Suan – a counselor in the Cebu City Stake Presidency – and Facilities Manager for the north half of the island of Cebu and part of Leyte Island. He grew up one of eight children in a very poor family. He had to work to earn money from the time he was quite young. He said his parents worked very hard and so did all the children. They all worked the whole time they went to college, and all graduated from college- a very unusual family here. He said some of the neighbors made fun of them for studying hard and working hard, but he said they don’t laugh at the family anymore.

Visit to Aloguinsan Branch

Elders Solomon and Antonio with Primary children in Aloguinsan

Sunday, November 06, 2005

We had another wonderful Sabbath. We got up just after 4:30 A.M. and left for Aloguinsan just before 6 A.M. We had a lovely, safe drive and met Elders Solomon and Antonio at the Pinamungahan Building as planned. We arrived there about 8 and were supposed to meet them at 8:30, but they arrived with Elders Harrison and Pascua soon after we did. We visited and helped set up the building for their classes and visited with the Branch President before leaving for Aloguinsan – a few kilometers down the road. Elders Solomon and Antonio were our guides.

The meeting house in Aloguinsan was the worst we have seen here. We took several telling photos to show the President. In spite of the atmosphere, we had a very good time. I helped in Primary with music and drawing activities. Bob gave his standard Sunday School lesson. 56 people attended Sacrament meeting – some were out on the porch looking in. The Branch was very friendly and the elders said they are helping the missionaries and are doing well. It was Fast and Testimony meeting and I was able to understand some of what was being said and shared my testimony in Visayan.
On the way home, the elders showed us a new building they would like to rent for the Church to use. It looks fine from the outside, but was locked so we couldn’t go in. We also stopped to take a picture of the local elementary school for a possible humanitarian project. We dropped the elders off in Pinamungahan near their apartment with a bag of oatmeal cookies I had made for them. Little things like that seem to mean so much to these missionaries.
We then went on to Toledo. We stopped in to visit Toledo 2 Ward and I attended the last hour of their Primary. I talked to the Primary president – Glenda Tijap – about a possible humanitarian project at the elementary school where she teaches – in the mountains out of Balamban. There is a lot of paper work involved in these projects. I hope I can herd it through the required channels in a timely fashion.
We arrived home, tired again, but very happy

Ward Youth Conference

One group of Young Women present their poster

Saturday, November 5, 2005

We had a great time today. Yesterday a local Bishop and his counselor came in to see the President, who wasn't in the office, to see if he could come to their ward youth conference in the nearby hills and give a talk 1 1/2 hour 'workshop' to their youth. The youth were already up there and he wanted the president to come the next day - today. The President and wife were leaving for Bohol early this morning so we got the assignment and it turned out well. The topic was "Encouraging youth to go on missions." We bought poster paper and smaller pieces of bright colored paper and took markers, crayons, scissors, tape, glue, pens, rulers, old copies of the New Era and Ensign from the office. We divided them -32- into groups of five or six and had each group make a poster that would encourage youth to go on a mission. They really liked the activity and made very amazing posters. Afterwards they showed their posters to each other and told about them - then we talked for about 15 minutes - Dad had talked 10 minutes at the beginning. The setting was fine - great view of the city, the youth very fun and cooperative and all of us had a good time. The Bishop plans to display the posters at the upcoming ward cultural activity and to give each group an award for their work. We pray that besides having fun, they also increased in their desire to serve a mission.