As we were walking through an area that has many coconut trees, Jerry looked at the ground and picked up a "baby" coconut.  Below is a picture of it.

 

"Baby" coconut

 

As Jerry was coming to the office a few days ago, he stopped to take a picture of the beautiful clear, blue sky with the coconut trees along the northern side of our parking lot.

 





The Church is growing in the Philippines Naga Mission.

On Saturday, January 11th, the Mission President and his wife stopped by our apartment to take us with them to the groundbreaking ceremony for a new chapel in the Buhi Branch area.  The ride is approximately a 90 minute ride.  The weather was good, and traffic pretty light - for a Saturday morning, that is.

As we got near to the Buhi area, we weren't sure exactly where the groundbreaking was to take place.  We'd been told that it was near Buhi, but was in an area not too far from town.  Well, as we drove along, we drove past a cemetery, with a pretty large crowd just past that.  There were some Philippine National Police (PNP) directing traffic past, and as we remarked that it must be a "rooster fight" or perhaps a "funeral", since it was so near the cemetery.  So we continued driving on to the Buhi Elder's apartment.  We texted them to ask where the groundbreaking ceremony was, and if they were still in their apartment.  They answered that they were AT the area for the ceremony.  They directed us back to where so many people were gathered.  So, it was not a rooster fight or a funeral, it was the ground breaking ceremony after all.

The morning began rather nice, but as we were seated and the program started, the clouds gathered in and a light rain began to fall.  The wind picked up and the rain came down even harder.  There was not room enough for everyone to fit under the blue tarp that they had put up, but nobody seemed to mind.  They are just so thankful to be able to have a chapel for them to hold their meetings in. 

As the program ended, the wind began to subside, and the rain quit.  Then, as they were in the process of the ground breaking ceremony, the sun shined and the clouds, for the most part, disappeared.  It gave a feeling that Heavenly Father was there and in control of everything and that he approved of the proceedings.  As is customary, following the ceremony, sandwiches,(small slices of bread with chees whiz) drinks (in small pouches)and desserts ( A small football shaped cookie) were served to those who attended.                      

Here are a few pictures of the area where the new Buhi chapel will be built.

Hardhats and shovels ready for the Ground Breaking Ceremony

 

There were 169 in attendance, including members of our Church, as well as members of other denominations, plus local dignitaries.

 

Sister missionaries from the District with the Mission President's wife and Sister Campbell

 

District Elders with Elder Campbell with traffic control police in the background

 

Us sitting in a light rain shower

 

Those of us who were sitting outside the blue tarp were being rained on - thus umbrellas

 

Finally, the ground breaking ceremony.  (They actually only turn over some black sand that was put here for the purpose)

 

Yes, the wind was BLOWING!

 

It was a momentous occasion, one that won't be soon forgotten by us or any of those in attendance.

 

 



Elder and Sister Campbell