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!