Since our time is getting shorter and shorter here....six more weeks to be exact, I am reflecting on some of the things I have experienced here. This mission has a lot of the mechanics of the church involved. Security is something every organization needs to help protect their members. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has that in place for all the members and even the non-members. Keeping safe is important and the responsibility of the individual and of the organization.
We were called to be Security managers for the Philippines. Security has its rewards and its challenges. Since we were in a third world country getting things done was quite a bit slower than what we were accustomed and the traffic in Manila is frightening. There is no way to explain it other than on the road it is everyman for himself. It is very challenging. It was much like being on a roller coaster ride for real 100% of the time.
The rewards of managing our own department were bringing up our staff to a level that promoted their confidence and skills. Having the staff use their education that they pursued on their own to secure the church nationwide in the Philippines is a blessing to their country and fulfilling to us. Not just at the Manila and Cebu Temple but investigating break-ins of chapels, violations that involved missionaries (and there were not many of those) and other issues. We put trust and love in place towards our staff so that they would feel they were doing the will of God in Church employment. It was exciting to see them grow. In any company there are personnel issues that are challenging but we found ways to help them overcome them. We managed the staff and gave them responsibilities to secure the Cebu Temple dedication when President Monson and the brethren came to the Philippines. And also the Cultural event held in Cebu surrounding the Temple dedication that President Monson, President Eyring, Elder Oaks Bishop Burton, Elder Walker had all attended.. This was an amazing experience to be around them. You might be surprised that we didn’t even shake the Prophets hand. We were there to manage and oversee things security wise while this momentous event took place. We were told that the best security is not seen or heard and we did our part. I did however greet and meet President and Sister Eyring at the door that I was assigned inside the temple that they entered. That was a treasured experience for me. Also the Security surrounding the 50th Jubilee celebration of the church’s official presence in the Philippines. We assigned two of our staff to find qualified volunteers from various stakes to man the security and also have a doctor at facility that we used, The Araneta Center. They did an amazing professional job. We are so proud of them for this. The Filipino people performed dances of their beginning history and it was so beautifully done. They organized it all themselves. Beautiful costumes and dances. I felt so overcome with the beauty and spirit.
We were or rather Elder Burningham was greatly involved in defining the appropriate computer equipment for the MTC expansion. Elder used his past experience to define what the IT equipment needed to put in place so that the complex was in sync with Salt Lake’s Global Security Operations Center otherwise known as GSOC. This took a lot of time and patience.
We worked in an office where all the church employees were Filipino. Wonderful people. Willing to do all that was necessary. All had responsible positions in the church, from Bishops, high counselors, Branch Presidents, Area Seventies. Our own Security Staff had an Elders quorum President, Bishop, Branch President, High Counselors. A lot of Leadership. And they all have a profound love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and scriptures and knowledge of the history of the church. There were 10 sets of senior missionaries serving in the office. All department heads were church employed except us. We were the only senior missionary couple that headed our own department. With the growth of the church and the need of Security and by our own recommendation, a church employee from the US has replaced us. We were one of three Senior Missionary couples worldwide that headed security. With the growth of the church and the need for more continuity in time more than an 18 months assignment, a church employee from Salt Lake Brother Todd Tapp will replace us on a three year assignment. We know that it is the best thing and support the change. In fact the other two Missionary Couples in Security in other parts of the world will have the same change.
We were assigned two branches during our stay there to help strengthen the members. The first was in Sapong Palay. Almost two hours away by car to travel to. Then for the latter half of our mission we went to a branch in Morong that was an hour away. At first I thought we might be intruding upon the members. They seemed to have the organization in place but as time went on we knew that strengthening the members meant teaching them to advance in their organizing structures. They had challenges with coming to church as their only transportation were Jeepneys, trikes, motorcycles and rarely a car. And there was a cost for transportation which limited them. The average daily salary is about $6 a day. Their living accommodations are very humble yet they pay a tithing. The Temple means everything to them and I was privileged to escort a couple of sisters on their own endowment day. Even though their lives are humble they manage to learn to use a computer at internet cafés and some of the sisters would ask me very simple questions on Face Book. Well Missionary is done anyway you can do it.
There are some missionary experiences that were impromptu. By that I mean while we were out and about Filipino people would stop and talk to us. Ask us where we were from and what we were doing. They also asked what is “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints”. Some members would stop us on the street or in the stores, hallways, elevators and anywhere else to stop and shake our hands. Many wanted their pictures taken with us. To be honest, at first I felt a little uncomfortable that I might be intruding on their country. It seemed like they had everything in place but I found out different. 50 years of the church in the Philippines is still a young growing church and really need our influence as Senior Missionaries even though we did not proselyte. I was told by one of our officers that the saints and nonmembers alike love the Americans. If you are white they respect you and love you. I was told by a sister in our branch in Sapang Palay and I quote "You are such a comfort to us sister."
An instance I remember was while we were in Baguio on business but took some time out to site see and went to a wood carver’s village. All it is a street lined with homes that double as wood carving shops. No one is on the street per se but the shop owners. I told Elder while we were walking that we must be out tracking. While I was looking around a very small lady came running up to me and saying, “Sister Sister what are you are looking for.” I would tell her and then I caught myself realizing she called me Sister. I asked her how did she know that I am a Sister missionary, did she read my name badge? She said that she recognized us as a couple missionary and that she is a member and was led to the church through a couple missionary. She attended a ward just two jeepney rides away…not far she said. And her son has been on a mission one year already. She had what I wanted and I bought it.
The members are so strong in the faith. They have soaked up the gospel like sponges. Their talks in their Sacrament meetings are clear and concise with a lot of understanding and with the spirit. They speak mostly in Tagalog and I had a translator by me most all the time. It was amazing to see the glow out of their faces as they bore testimonies and quoted scripture after scripture that supported their testimonies. Little children that can read English have their hymn books open to the page number of the hymns being sung in Sacrament meeting and they sing loud and unashamed. Our first Sunday there we sat in front of a family of five children. As we sang the hymn I could hear these young voices loud and clear. Turning around to see who they were found that all the children, siblings were singing. It touched my heart. And here in is where I learned what the Savior met when he said, “And the meek shall inherit the earth”. I didn’t understand it before. The majority of the Filipino people are poor but not in spirit. They are happy and smiling even though jobs are difficult to come by. There are saints that live in squatter housing. And brothers and sisters we camp better than a lot of them live. There are saints that have been able to improve their lives through education through the church’s Perpetual Education System and have bettered their living. It is humbling to see how the Gospel has changed their lives. And then it is humbling for me to see how much we are blessed.
The leadership of the church has encouraged the members on how to bear their testimonies. They encourage that they bear testimonies of the truth of the Gospel and not have story monies.
1. First bear testimony that God Lives and that Jesus is the Christ
2. That Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and has restored the Lord’s church here on the earth.
3. The Bible and the Book of Mormon are true scriptures and bear witness that Jesus is the Christ.
4. That there is a True and living Prophet here on the earth, President Thomas S. Monson
5. That the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only true church on the face of the earth.
This left quite an impression on me.
Should seniors go on a mission? By all means, your life and the life of your family will be edified.
Was it rewarding? Yes. Was it challenging? Yes. Did it change my life? Yes. Did it strengthen my testimony? Yes. I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true and it is flooding the earth as a marvelous work and a wonder.
