Friday, May 10, 2013


What a busy time in the missionary world! As you recall, in General Conference they announced that due to the age change for young men and young women to serve missions, the Church is experiencing a huge increase in those responding to the "Call to Serve". All over the world, new missions have been formed and expanded to accommodate this enthusiastic response.

 

31 beautiful/handsome Sisters and Elders who arrived April 23rd. As we picked them up at the airport, it was fun to see the expressions on their faces as they took in just a minute part of the beauty of the landscape.  Then, while travelling to the Mission Home from the airport with 10 of them we heard such expressions as "We're going to die", "What is that?".  Driving on the highways in the Philippines is like nothing they have ever experienced, thus the "We're going to die". Because they had so much luggage, we had to hire a Jeepney to transport the luggage to the Mission Home.

 

 

After arriving at the Mission Home, having lunch, being instructed by Sister Bliesner of how to take care of their health, and interviewed by President Bliesner, testimonies were shared and preparations were made to take half of them to their first areas of service.  The other half of them had to spend the night in the Mission Home, since we don't have enough vehicles to accommodate them and their companions (62 in all).  Some rode in our 2 vans and a pickup, others traveled via Jeepneys, Tricees and bus to their destinations. 



Elder Campbell and I are feeling that enthusiasm, as we continue to establish new apartments and upgrade existing apartments to accommodate four missionaries. We, again, have been able to travel our entire mission, reaching the southern most point, and feel a certain sadness as we realize we will be losing this part of our mission when the new Legaspi Mission is formed - July 1st. During the next three weeks we will set up apartments every other day as we assemble the bunk beds, fans, desks, stoves, as well as purchasing refrigerators, mattresses, etc. Our little van hardly gets a chance to cool down between travels. This gives us a chance to enjoy the beauties and wonders of this part of the world.

It is so much fun to work with the Sisters and Elders as we upgrade the existing apartments.  It seems as though when we are needing to replace existing wooden beds, the apartments have been built around the beds, because it is impossible to get them out of the apartments without tearing them apart. 

 



 

 

 

 

 



If you look closely, Sister Sanft has a hammer in her right hand.  They had to dismantle this bed in the stairwell - could not get it back up the stairs and back into the bedroom because it was too heavy and awkward to handle.

 

 

Sister Sanft was SO DETERMINED to tear this old bed apart!

 

Once the old beds are out of the room, new bunks are set up.

 





No matter where the apartments are that we set up, we always receive help from neighbors, even though most of them are not members of the Church . . . . yet.



 

Our missionary "compliment" has now reached 200, with a goal of having 230 before the mission splits. Of course, this means that there are almost 200 more requests daily for supplies and the Baptism/Confirmation Records are pouring in. I currently have on my desk 40 new baptisms to record and send to Church General Headquarters. It seems as though we can never catch up.

We thank you again for being so supportive.

Elder & Sister Campbell