Sunday on Camotes Island

It is not often that Larry writes in his journal; when he does, it is because he feels that what he records is significant. Larry has wanted to go to church on Camotes Island for some time. Finally, as a birthday present for him we went. The following is Larry’s account of our Camotes trip last Sunday.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
We awoke very early to get ready to go to the Camotes Branch for church. Camotes is on a different island but is still part of Cebu. I had been desirous to go there for months but had been unsure of transportation connections. Elder and Sister Ganir drove us in the temple missionary van up to Danao, leaving at 4:00 am to catch the boat leaving at 5:30 am for a two plus hour boat ride to Consuelo Port on Camotes. It was a shipping ferry that also took big trucks and cars. We had two choices—air conditioned or non aircon. Mary said she wanted aircon which was a mistake; we about froze and they played a very terrible movie all the way over. We tried to block out the sound with tissue ear plugs but we could still hear. ( Mary’s note: I slept most of the way and when I wasn’t asleep I kept saying the Family Proclamation over and over so that the profanity in the movie was partially blocked.)
On arriving we were met by Michael Otero holding a sign “Elder and Sister Ward” and he took us to his little car. We had been told by several people including the mission office secretary that the only transportation on Camotes was habal-habal (motorcycles—which are off limits for missionaries to ride on). I had found, directed by the Spirit, a phone number for a transportation company on Camotes, and they directed me to Michael which was another blessing because his home was less than a block from the missionary apartment and only a short distance from the church, and he knew exactly where to go.
We were warmly welcomed by the branch and given a chance to share our testimonies. Elder and Sister Ganir had given us 14 ties that had come from their son’s ward in Idaho to give to the brothers in the branch. The priesthood brothers thought that was so special. We loved meeting with them. I believe we are the first temple missionaries to attend that branch.. After the meeting and some time for pictures and farewells our driver, Michael, picked us up and took us to see two resorts: Santiago White Sand Beach and Rock Beach Resort. We spent a few minutes walking through the resort gardens and along the beach where we picked up a few different shells. We really looked out of place in Sunday dress, white shirt and tie, while everyone else was is swimming suits and bikinis. Then Michael took us to Lake Danao, a very large fresh water lake in the center of Camotes, where we ate a snack lunch. Then we headed back to the port. Michael had also planned to take us to a cave that has a large pool in it when the tides come in, but we cancelled that because we were not dressed to hike down into the cave.
WE bought tickets for the ferry ride home in the non-aircon section which was a mistake again because we got too hot! We commented to each other that we should have bought one of each—aircon and non-air con—then we could have switched cold-warm, cold-warm. It took a while to leave Camotes because they had to load four big trucks and another truck with 30 squealing, stinky pigs, plus 4 cars and a pick-up and several motorcycles along with 150 plus people. The boat was so loaded that it traveled very slowly which created very little breeze, making it a hot ride back to Danao.
We got to Danao just after dark and we were so surprised that the town was packed with people. It was Danao’s Festival and it looked like half of the people from Cebu were there (a million or more!) The Catholic Church was all lighted inside and out, (festivals are usually Catholic Saints’ celebrations). Dozens of women were selling candles to be lighted in the church. Fireworks were illuminating the sky and booths were set up along every street with people selling all sorts of stuff. After surveying the situation we asked a tricycle driver to take us to the bus station which was only about three blocks away, but I didn’t want to lose Mary walking through the crowded streets. (We could have walked faster since there were so many tricycles on the roads with the hundreds of people.) At the bus station there were no buses going to Cebu and long lines waiting for the next bus to come. No jeepnies either! So we decided to walk back out to the main road and see if we could catch a bus there. The first two buses that came were completely full with no more room for anyone to pack into them. After about 15 minutes a taxi came and I flagged it down. The driver had taken some people to Bogo, about 1 ½ hours farther north, and was returning to Cebu empty. I am sure there were at least 100 people he could have picked up who were on the street waiting for a ride, but he stopped for us. This was very definitely a testimony that the Lord blesses His missionaries. This was no coincidence, but a miracle. We arrived home safely after a very wonderful day visiting Camotes Island.