Busy schedules at home and in Cebu

June 16, 2011

Today I was assigned to meet an older Filipino couple from Negros who received their own endowments and wait with them in the Celestial Room until they went to the sealing room. As I sat quietly studying them, I received an epiphany regarding what a great equalizer the temple is: not only does the temple clothing hide all semblance of wealth or poverty, but the temple ordinances are available to anyone, rich or poor, who is willing to qualify to enter the Lord’s House. As I listened to the blessings promised this brother and sister, I realized more fully how everyone who keeps his covenants will gain kingdoms, dominions and principalities—not just the powerful and famous or rich and successful in the eyes of the world, but everyone. We are not competing against each other for the top kingdom or blessing, we can all achieve celestial glory if we are faithful. Here was a very poor, probably uneducated, but sweet and humble and obedient couple who could live in the presence of the Father and inherit the riches of eternity with eternal increase. Their earthly standing as viewed through the eyes of man means nothing. If they live up to covenants made in the temple, they will stand shoulder to shoulder to everyone else who keeps those covenants. Truly, Heavenly Father loves all of His children and is no respecter of persons. I cannot express in words what I felt.

Today I also assisted a beautiful young bride, Veronica Madrid. She was sealed to her husband, Christian Tud. Unlike a few I have accompanied, this bride has known her husband since they were children and the two of them were very comfortable with each other, and very much in love. She came with no fancy wedding gown, he with no suit. They happily wore the simple clothes provided by the temple. His father and Bishop accompanied them and were their witnesses. The temple ceremony was the highlight of this time of celebration. President Mortimer did a beautiful job, talking to them beforehand about the temple and how the sealing was the crowning ordinance. All of the other ordinances were performed for single individuals, but the marriage/sealing is the time that involves both and joins the two together. Her father is an alcoholic non-member and did not come. Her mother and younger brother and sister came with them to the temple, but her mother has not received her own endowment so stayed outside with the children; there was a hint of sadness about that, but Veronica did not let that detract from the beauty of her day, and the family members joined the bride and groom for pictures outside the temple after their sealing. Her husband had thoughtfully bought a lovely bridal bouquet to make the pictures extra special. Sometimes I think the Filipinos understand even more than we do what is really important—their emphasis is on what happens at the temple.

We met a couple from American Fork who came to the Philippines to take their daughter and grandmother home from their missions. The father is a Filipino who immigrated to the US after his mission in Cebu 35 years ago and married an American. They have four children, three of whom have served missions. This daughter and her grandmother were both called to serve in the Philippines in adjoining missions. Their son is serving in South Carolina. We are often surprised by the people we meet in the Cebu Temple.

June 17, 2011

We are supposed to be in the slow period of the temple now that school has started, but today was fast paced with one session of our three morning sessions having 15 brothers and 37 sisters for a total of 52 patrons when the room should hold 48. Larry and I started with baptisms at 8:15 with people from Negos Oriental, I worked in initiatory for an hour, went to the Youth Center to help with two brothers 13 and 7 who were sealed to their parents, did two veils, and then worked in initiatory again. The young bride and groom from yesterday attended at least one session today. There was not a wasted minute from the time we arrived at 7:30 until we went home at 2:30. Many of the patrons today spoke very little English. The mother of the boys came to get them after the sealing and talked to me for five minutes in Cebuano. She started speaking in broken English, telling me that her son, Christian, wakes at 4 am to study the scriptures, but then she slid right into Cebuano. I’m sure she thought I understood what she was saying since the young Elders and Sisters speak fluent Cebuano. I just nodded and smiled.

Tonight our apartment started to smell like a fish market. We have had problems with smells coming through our air conditioner, but it has never been as bad as tonight. I called a few of the other apartments to see if they were getting the same smell, but none were. Larry thinks our air intake is right next to Neo’s output??? And the Neos were cooking fish tonight. . .We don’t want to say anything because we would never want to hurt their feelings. One of our neighbors, Sister Bringhurst, takes everything to a superlative degree, and exclaimed that we would never be able to sleep in our apartment tonight, and that we would have to wash all our clothes before we could wear them. She is a darling, and a fun person to be with, but you have to tone down what she says.

We are sure Kjerstin had a wonderful eighth birthday and that she is excited about her upcoming baptism in July. School is out for all except Heidi and Tony’s children now, I imagine. What a staggering task they have--to purchase all they need for the next two years in Azerbaijan, to finish up school and get packed before they leave in July! And somewhere in there they are celebrating Timmy’s birthday and traveling to Boston to visit Tony’s family. Natalie and Maddie will have a wonderful time at Young Womens Camp. Emily can breathe a sigh of relief that she passed her orals and now can relax as she waits for graduation. Natalie and David’s family are going to Chicago to support her and see some of the sites there. Emily has been able to take some fun field trips—the planetarium, the aquarium and so on. Elizabeth and Jeff are visiting his parents in Virginia for 10 days. Liz will be home for a week before she flies to Chicago to drive home with Emily, but not before the two of them see the Broadway production of “Beauty and the Beast”. Whitney is on his three week summer trip in Colorado with his students and Connie is doing fun things with the girls. Dallen, also, has an extended guiding tour coming up. It is hard for Camille and Lincoln to be separated for so long, but she has been busy with Relief Society and work and has even had time to plant some of their garden and take care of sprinkler problems, and Lincoln has put in long hours in the tornado cleanup. Amy and Josh have been taking a zoning class together and are studying for their final tests this week-end; the new knowledge has stretched their minds but has given them some specialized skills that will help them in the future. Grandma is staying with Russell in Provo right now. Cimberly’s wedding is this Saturday, the same day as the Ward Family Reunion, and Cecily’s is coming up fast too. So much is happening. Everyone is so busy. WE wish we were there to help, but we know we are where we are supposed to be right now. We pray for all of you.Love, Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, Larry and Mary