Christmas 2016

Instead of 'Silent Night', our Christmas Eve was filled with Karaoke and fire works. The 'singing' started just after dark and finally ended at 3:30 Christmas Morning. The 'music' continued until well after dawn. All we want for Christmas is a nap.  We are working hard on restoring feelings of 'good will toward men'.

Wilma and Elerie Bugtai

The highlight of this week was a baby shower in the office on Friday for Wilma and Elerie Bugtai. In addition to washing mission vehicles, Elerie does a lot for us and is our go-to guy whenever we need to locate services or products for the office. He is like the office concierge.  To say that Sister Maughan was super excited to give them a baby shower is an understatement.

Wilma has no family close by but Elerie's mother, two sisters, brother-in-law, two nieces and a nephew were able to come and watch as Elerie and Wilma opened their baby gifts. Elerie could hardly contain himself with excitement. After shedding tears of gratitude and joy, Wilma was beaming. Hopefully this will help as they start their family.

Not knowing for sure if it is a boy or girl but based on Elerie's dream of holding his son, most of the gifts leaned toward 'boy'.

Cebu East Mission Presidency

President and Sister Maughan invited the mission presidency and their wives to the mission home for a Christmas Dinner. From left to right is President Maughan, President Saballa (1st Counselor), Sister Maughan, Sister Saballa, President Dela Rama (2nd Counselor), Sister Dela Rama, Sister Responte and Dave Responte (mission executive secretary and suspected to be one of the three Nephites).

By the time this is published the Christmas count down calendar will be at zero although it may be reset to 365 on Monday and remain in the mall. We shall see.

Package shelves.

With the help of the Weatherstons we were able to meet our goal of having as many Christmas packages as possible out to the missionaries before Christmas. This is how the package shelf looked on Friday, the 23rd. Everything received in the office by that day was either already in missionary hands or on its way. The few that come in now will be sent asap.

Although it is hard not being with family during the holidays we are grateful for the opportunity to serve the Lord and are also very grateful for the technology that allows us to keep in touch. We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Thought for the Week

"I am one of his witnesses, and in a coming day I shall feel the nail marks in his hands and in his feet and shall wet his feet with my tears. But I shall not know any better than I know now that he is God's Almighty Son, that he is our Savior and Redeemer, and that salvation comes in and through his atoning blood and in no other way."
Elder Bruce R. McConkie - "The Purifying Power of Gethsemane"