It is not clear whether I am doing the math correctly…but we entered the MTC in Provo on June 27th last year. Our release date is May 25th, 2025. So, by my calculations our mid-way point was a few days ago. It does not take a take a math genius to figure that on June 27th we will have been out for a year. If the past is any indication, “and I think the Supreme Court will back me up on this one,” the next 11 months will fly by. We have made a commitment, and I am almost certain that Nina has mentioned this, to be semi-fluent in the language before we return. If for no other reason that we will be able to communicate around the family without anyone knowing what we are discussing. A code of sorts “or rather more like guidelines.” In the execution of this effort we meet weekly with one of the native speakers for language training. This has helped us immensely. I even offered the prayer for this zoom meeting yesterday (Primary level vocabulary). I wrote it down and then memorized it. So it really came from the heart even though it was memorized. I thought it might be interesting for me to write some of what I memorized and let you read it:
Langitnong Amahan,
Nagpasalamit mi sa usag usa.
Mapasalmaton kami sa mga kasulatan.
Nagpasalamit kami sa among magtutudlo.
Kami mapasalamaton nga anaa sa imong pag-alagad.
Panalangini kami sa imong Espiritu.
Sa pangalan ni Jesukristo, Amen.
As you can see there are some Spanish influences on the language, but most of it is not even close to intuitive. The really nice thing is that it uses the English alphabet. This is huge! This means we do not need to memorize unfamiliar foreign characters along with learning to speak the language.
Forget about that…let’s talk about something really important! On the 19th we have our next “transfer call.” This is the zoom meeting (held every six weeks) where every missionary in the mission is informed what area they will be assigned to next. This is not unique except for this time the missionaries will be informed about which mission they will be in. Sixty of our two hundred missionaries will be assigned to the new Dumaguete Mission on Negros Island. The excitement and dread among some of the young missionaries is palpable. The mission president has even said that the senior missionaries may not escape the potential of a new assignment. Out of the 84 senior missionaries assigned to the Philippines Area (26 missions), nineteen are in this mission. The president has said the Nina and I would most likely be assigned to the Bogo area (the northern portion of Cebu Island that is currently in the Cebu East Mission). But he has also said that the direction regarding the assignment of seniors and young missionaries will come from the missionary department and the Area. This lets him off the hook for anyone that is not happy with their new assignment. Should be fun! Everyone, including the senior missionaries, will find out their new assignments in this call next Wednesday 8:00P. No matter what happens in the transfer call, Nina and I will most likely be moving from the city to another location and perhaps even to an assignment that is more closely related to what we signed up for. Even though we have thoroughly enjoyed what we have done for the past year, time to get on with what we thought we would be doing.
Forget about that…let’s talk about something really important! I really enjoyed speaking with grandchildren this week during our weekly communications. It sounds like everyone is healthy and doing well. This is totally encouraging especially when dealing with Nina who is constantly obsessing about home and what she is missing out on in our absence. I will have to admit that even I have my moments. However, we are also certain that what we are doing is making a difference here in the Philippines. Especially in the Ward that we are assigned to and the young missionaries that we interact with on a daily basis. This is truly rewarding and I am certain that the Lord has a hand in it. Think of it, Nina and I are not just rock stars in this mission and assignment, but legendary rock stars! This is not something that “just happened.” There is most certainly influence from above. I have searched for other reasons but I am certain that we are working beyond our capacities/capabilities and blessings of strength, health, spirituality, and example of the gospel truths is undeniable.
Okay, enough about that. I am including some photos that you might find interesting. The people on the bike, your mom took this morning while we were returning from the market (p-day today). Everywhere we go Filipinos are willing to be photographed and even love being photographed. It might be that they are just thinking if I humor the stupid American they will go away and stop bothering me. Not sure which it is.
Cake that Nina ordered from one of the Bishops in the area that is a baker. The cake was for one of the senior couples that returned home this month.
Sunset in Dumaguete over the top of the Pinili Stake Center. This is also where the new Dumaguete mission office will be.
Family on bike in rush hour traffic just up the street from our apartment on the way home from the farmer's market.
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