Youth Camp - Christmas Break

It's Christmas vacation for the youth, so it must be time for youth camp! The youth have permission to use chapels here in the Philippines for youth camps and work hard to respect the facilities while having a fun camp experience. It was warm as usual... highs in the low 90's and lows about 75 degrees. We attended camp to give some morning seminars on the Personal Progress and Duty To God programs and returned that evening for the talent shows.

Welcome to camp!

Get the breakfast dishes cleaned and on to the morning seminars.

Singing as they gather after breakfast.

Mom taught the Young Women about the Value of Virtue and studying the scriptures.

The gold wrapped box always draws their attention as well as the beauty and spirit mom brings.

Mom and her Young Women of the three branches in the Mapandan District.

The Young Men met outside where it was cooler. The power went out last night and hasn't gone back  on yet, so there were no lights or fans inside. This is brother Leo teaching the YM. I followed him with my presentation on Priesthood Power, Duty and Covenant.

Dad and his Young Men of the Mapandan District.

We returned in the evening to join the camp in their talent show, but things were a little behind schedule and dinner was just being prepared by the Relief Society sisters for the youth.

Fried chicken and rice was the fare for the day.

It was a favorite with the youth. Mom was the official lighting engineer. She kept the light on the stove so the cooks could see what they were doing.

It was a warm comfortable evening for being outside and spending some quality time with the youth.

One of the leaders brought his dogs. They were a real hit with the kids.

Each branch put on a skit, with singing, dancing, acting and a great sense of humor.

Christmas costumes for the Mapandan branch skit.

The camp youth leaders did a good job and learned a lot in the process of having fun. It was a new  experience for us to work with the youth. We have been focused on strengthening the branch and district leaders and reactivating families through the parents, so this was a fun and familiar experience for us. 

Lady of Manaoag Shrine

The Lady of Manaoag is an ivory carving of the Virgin Mary that was brought from Spain in about 1600. The shrine was established in 1926 and has received sacred recognition from the Pope. People travel from all over the Philippines... and from all over the world, to come here and pray for special blessings and miracles. The name of the town, Manaoag, means "she calls".  We share some of our photos of the shrine below.

 The main shrine chapel is immediately behind Sister Lindsay, offices and living quarters are in the newer extension to the left.

 

 This is what it looks like at night this Christmas season.

The chapel was undergoing some renovation when we were there, but behind the scaffolding in the center is the "Lady of Manaoag".  

The building is laid out in typical fashion in the shape of a cross with the main seating area opposite the shrine and adjacent seating on either side of the elevated shrine.

A view of the entry and main seating area facing the shrine.

An adjacent seating area and steps up to the elevated shrine level.

Out the back door is a lovely garden. Very well maintained compared to other areas in the country.

Carving of the Lady in a tree trunk.

My Lady of Manaoag.

A fountain featuring another image of the Lady is featured in a building behind the shrine chapel. Areas for lighting candles and prayer are on the outside walls.

 

This is a picture of the Lady of Manaoag that is in the museum on the grounds.

Mom was very impressed with the beautiful work on a dress once placed on the Lady.

Outside of the grounds on the street there is a Christmas tree made of rice stalks. It is lighted at night for all passersby to see.

It is 8:00 and the souvenir shops are closing and the final mass of the day is coming to an end, so it is time to say good night to the Lady of Manaoag Shrine.

My Three Words

This Christmas we were asked to make a one page poster with three words that represent our missionary feelings at this season of the year. You can follow the link below to see our mission video posted to You Tube.

The missionaries only take pictures and do special projects like this on Preparation Day so many of them are in P-Day attire.They are strictly obedient and represent the Lord and the Church with honor in all that they do. Their words represent the feelings of their hearts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt3t--CtSWw&feature=youtu.be

Camp John Hay Hotel, Baguio