Senior couple missionaries provide support to the mission, missionaries and wards. We do not proselyte. Young missionaries work 16 hours a day studying, planning and proselyting. Our assignment is "Member and Leader Support." Here are some things we do:
Member Support
We are temporary members of the Palayan and Kalidid Branches. (A "branch" is a congregation that is too small to be a "ward.") We attend their Sunday meetings and other activities. All of the areas have very nice chapels.
Most of the residents understand english but prefer Tagalog when they speak. So Church meetings tend to start in English for our benefit but switch to Tagalog after a few sentences. We are picking up some Tagalog words but will not become proficient during our stay here..
We are also figuring out how to do some "home teaching" where we visit members in their homes. Since it's so difficult to find homes (addresses are not well defined) we accompany the missionaries and are trying to go with other members who know their way around. Palayan is 40 minutes drive and Kalikid 30 minutes from our apartment in Cabanatuan.
Both branches are part of the Palayan "District." (This kind of "district" is the forerunner of a"stake" and will become a stake once the membership and leadership builds.) The Palayan Mission "Zone" is the same geography as the congregations. We support the missionary zone by attending their key events including baptisms. We've become lifelong friends with the 10 young Elders assigned to the Palayan Zone. This photo was before "transfer day" and 2 missionaries have since changed. It's amazing being taught by these young Elders and hear their testimony of Jesus Christ and the work they are doing 16 hours a day.
We also attend our local Cabanatuan ward 3 and support their events. The Cabanatuan Stake is large with 4 chapels and 7 wards and we are meeting folks from the entire stake. They are all great people and receive us with big welcomes.
Missionary Apartments
We are starting to inspect and make small repairs in missionary apartments in Cabanatuan and Palayan Zones. Sometimes the repairs are simple, like replace a broken fan. So we are getting to know where the best hardware stores are for replacement parts. Major repairs are the responsibility of the landlord.
Be Ambassadors for the Church
Whenever we go out in public, we wear our official missionary dress and name tags. Being Caucasian, tall (large) and Sister Dansie's blonde hair is a curiosity, especially with the Children. Everyone we smile at returns the smile. Children want to shake hands and talk. We've helped several new to the area members find a ward and answered many questions about why we are here. Hopefully our presence is positive.
Support the Mission
We also support the mission office and zone leaders with mission needs, such as providing food for transfer day. (see another blog)
As you can guess our schedule varies from day to day. Being here helps us appreciate the blessings we receive every day. We know that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are watching over us and all the missionaries every day.
Love to all (Mahal Ko Kayo)
Elder and Sister Dansie