Lorina Bundac's visit and bits and pieces

October 12, 2011
Dear Ones,
I just ran across some old notes I jotted down of impressions on various things that I have not shared:
Filipino sisters are often cold in the temple because they are not used to air conditioning (for that matter, so am I cold). Many wear crocheted shawls, some wear long sleeved t-shirts and long legged underwear under their dresses.
The rainy season has slowed travel so we have fewer patrons; even the local people don’t come when it is raining. We have had typhoon warnings this past week with heavy winds and rains. Many of our workers went home early last night because they were afraid of flooding in their areas. A month ago during a bad storm, a ferry coming to Cebu from Iloilo sank. Fortunately another boat was close by and rescued the passengers. Sister Rhoda Garcia had booked passage on that ferry but changed her tickets so was not on the fated boat.
Everything is so green this year in comparison with the brown trees and grasses of last year.
One of the most touching sealings I have helped with was that of Jayme Bandiola to her deceased husband who died last year leaving her a widow with three small children. I worked with her in initiatory; she concentrated so hard on every word I spoke. I later helped dress the three children in white to prepare them to go to the sealing room. How significant! This young family is now sealed for all eternity—the father on one side of the veil waiting for his family, and the mother and children here on the earth.
Another sealing I helped prepare the children for was that of Knut Klavenes and his beautiful wife Melenau and their little girl and baby son. Knut was the project manager for the temple complex. He came back from New Zealand to be sealed to his family in the temple he built and loved. All of the temple missionaries wanted to be in attendance at that sealing which was performed by President Mortimer, but since there were other children waiting in the youth center to be sealed to their parents I needed to stay with them. When Knut and his wife came to pick the children up after the sealing, they were beaming.
Sister Lorina Bundac arrived today to see us one last time before we go home. We invited her for a late lunch. She asked if she could bring two friends—a young man, Ian, who is courting her and whose family she came to meet and a vivacious young woman from Bogo, Stephanie, whom she met when she was serving her mission in that area. Lorina looked lovely. Her boyfriend was serving a mission in her home area when Lorina was a new convert. He was impressed but because he was a missionary he did not let her or anyone else know of his interest. Later when she was serving on Bohol, one of his friends was in the ward where she was serving and mentioned Lorina to Ian. But again, because she was a missionary he did nothing. He did manage to have his friend get Lorina’s phone number when she was leaving to go home, and followed up. They have been texting and talking to each other for a few months now and decided they needed some time face to face to evaluate their feelings. Ian works on Leyte as a church maintenance person. Lorina has a very good job working for an insurance agency on Palawan. They are on two separate islands but that is not their biggest challenge. Their biggest challenge is that they are both the eldest children and as such, are expected to help support their families which makes it difficult to begin a marriage and a life of their own. Ian’s father and one sister are not members, but his mother and other siblings are. He said they will be very supportive. Lorina said her father might be but she is concerned about her mother. None of her family are members. The idea of helping support those who need help in your family is very admirable, but at the same time very constricting for young couples.
Lorina and Ian are going to the temple tomorrow while we are serving.
WE will see what happens. . .
Everyone is reminding us that we have only two more weeks. There is so much to do, so many notes to write, so many people to see before we leave. But we are excited to see everyone. Love, Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, Larry and Mary.