Faithful Saints and Open House in Aguilar

This weekend we met Elder and Sister Mondala from the Aguilar District in our mission. They were called to serve in the Manila Temple about a year ago and rejoice in their opportunity to serve there. They take a bus to Manila that leaves Tuesday morning at 1:00 AM and arrives near the temple four or five hours later. They are there at the temple on-time for the start of their 6:00 AM shift. They live in the patron housing Tuesday through Saturday and leave the temple after their Saturday shift and arrive home a little before midnight. They get a little rest and attend their branch Sunday block meetings that start at 8:30 AM and do all they can that day to strengthen the branch members. Monday they are with family, do the wash and have a Family Home Evening, pack their bags and leave for the temple again on the 1:00 AM bus. They are so dedicated to the work of the Lord and the happiest people we have met.

 The temple was closed for cleaning for two weeks so they took time to get their temple recommend renewed and spent a week to staff the district open house.

They were bubbling with excitement to tell us that they had just received a six month mission extension. That will make it a full two-year mission. I think they will sign up and go on another mission soon after this mission is completed. Don't you just love these people!

We had a ribbon cutting by the mayor and council members to officially start the Open House.

We joined in on the VIP tour and enjoyed our time and associations with guests and members. The mayor (center blue shirt) was a building contractor on one of the local church buildings and commented on the high building standards the Church has... "those buildings can with-stand a 10.0 earthquake", he said. He said it was his first time he had been in an operating chapel and was delighted with the friendly members and said he would come back. The councilwoman in the red checked top really enjoyed the people and the tour. She said she would definitely be back. All had a positive impression of the members and doctrines of the Church.

There were seven themed panels and the branches put up pictures and commentary about their branches on the back of the panels.

The Church was officially registered in the Philippines in 1961.

We had a Jubilee banner at the entrance of the open house and a video of the Jubilee celebration in Manila, featuring native dances by hundreds of brightly costumed dancers, church and national heritage, and church and traditional Philippine music. The Church has been in the Philippines for 50 years.

There were hundreds that toured the open house through the week. The members were excited to share the open house with their friends and brought them and hosted them through all the displays. The members also staffed the event all week and the missionaries were there to support them in between their teaching appointments. They received over 40 referrals from the weekday tours and expected that number to double with the biggest number of visitors expected on Saturday, the final day of the Open House. The displays will be transported to Urdaneta Stake Center (announced temple site) for their open house in two weeks.