Carabao and workers in the sugarcane fields

HAPPY EASTER!

“Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the power of His Resurrection, all of God’s children will be raised unto life eternal.” —From The First Presidency 2015 Easter Message

It is summer and hot and little rain has fallen.  So when we heard thunder rumbling this afternoon and then the rain poured, it was welcomed even though we are having a brown out (no electricity).  A year ago, we would have never even considered opening a door and the windows; they are open today to get a little breeze.    

We were invited by Father Mendoza and attended the 7:00 a.m. Catholic Mass at the Provincial Hospital.  President and Sister Ferrin attended with us.  There is no falling asleep at Mass as a lot of standing, kneeling, singing and reciting are done.  Of course the sermon is mostly in Ilonggo so I am not sure what was being said, but we enjoyed it. People were very friendly and accepting.

Preparing for a visit to the Pedia Ward

The helpers

The Message

A little later we met up with President and Dr. Deyro (new mission president and wife assigned to the Philippines Urdaneta Mission), President and Sister Ferrin and six return missionaries.  We went to the Pedia ward of the Provincial Hospital (poor) bearing Easter gifts and singing “Christ the Lord is Risen today”.  Although we have visited several times before, I am still unprepared for what we see.  Today space was limited and many beds had two or three patients sharing.  The parents and families were gracious and appreciative of our visit.  We shook many hands and shared a few words.  The missionaries only go to a private hospital and clinics for care—as do any of the well off residents.

Patients and families in the Pedia Gastro Ward

Singing

A cute patient

We attended a very crowded meeting for Sacrament meeting today; General Conference will be rebroadcast next week as we are 14 hours ahead of Utah time.  We have already started viewing online and will watch during the week as time permits.

Last night we attended a unique Baptism with one of our favorite missionaries; Elder Busselberg.  He has been assigned to the Bacolod 5^th Ward for almost 7 months and has baptized every week—he prepares to go home in a few weeks.  The baptism we attended was an American Minister of the Baptist persuasion who has been a minister for over 30-years.  He said he had viewed the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a “fruit inspector”; coming from Matthew 7:20:  by their fruits ye shall know them.  He found the doctrine and the lives of the members to show the true fruit of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He said he has been preaching the Mormon doctrine for his entire ministry—and now he has embraced the faith.  He joins the Church at great risk to his economic sustenance and may need to find a new career path since our Church has no paid ministry.

Newly engaged Dylan and Beverlyn--former missionaries in the Bacolod Mission

We had a visit from the former Sister Canimo and Elder Sablan, two great missionaries that served in the Philippines Bacolod Mission.  Bev and Dylan are newly engaged.  They plan on being married in the Salt Lake Temple in late September of this year.  It was fun to hear how this relationship developed.  Sister Canimo has had many suitors!  Dylan followed Elder Ballard’s recent conference counsel in pursuing an eternal companion: persistence.

Our neighbor 'Pinky' who lives across the street and keeps a beautiful flower garden