First Full Month In Manila - April was Amazing!

Well, we completed our first month of full-time missionary service in the Manila Philippines Temple, and we had a wonderful time. Wow, were there a lot of new things Laurie and I were involved in this past month. No surprise there, but we were blown away by how different our life is here compared to being in Ridgefield, Washington.

Since pictures really do tell a pretty good story, I decided to start  with one that will resonate with most of you.

If you have ever been to Wendy's, you will have had a frosty. If you haven't, you are un-American. That is as political as I will get this year - I hope. Anyway, The thing to do here in Metro Manila, for Americans anyway, is to go to an indoor mall. They seem to be about 10 of them within a couple of square miles any way you go. I just happened to see that they had added mango's and sticky rice as a dessert option to the frosty. I am telling you, it was awesome. Here is a nice picture of Laurie eating at Wendy's and a view of my special dessert. It was great.

Mango & Sticky Rice at Wendy's!

We had already decided to try and lose some weight while we were in the Philippines for these 18 months. I would say this small dessert was an excellent start!

The temple was closed on Saturday, April 13th so we decided to go to the Ayala Museum and get a little Philippine History into our brains. I am quite fascinated by the Filipino culture and the various influences on this people that have come from the outside. Most especially the American influence, both good and bad.

Here are a couple of shots from that trip.

Ayala Museum - Downtown Manila

Ayala Museum w/other FTM's

One more food story for you before I move on. The Temple adjusted our schedule just a little. We now serve from 1-9 pm from T-Th, from 7-2 am on Friday, and 12-7pm on Saturday. This opens up an evening for us that we have found that we kind of like. The first Friday night (last week) we went to the "Le Creperie" https://lacreperieph.com/ (I just had to include the link for the inquisitive mind.

As we were having dinner there, outside, one of the waiters was harvesting mango's off a couple of their trees. He was doing a little dance and Laurie told our waiter to share with the dancing waiter, that he was a great dancer. After we wrapped up our meal, our waiter brought us a few of the mangos they harvested. Very nice gesture!

You can see we don't shy away from dessert here :).

Mango and Strawberry Crepe, and Brownie Sundae at Le Creperie

Fresh Mango's straight from Le Creperie's Mango trees.

Laurie stated that there were too many pictures of her in this blog and wanted to put in one that had me in it. The only one I could find was the picture I took a couple of days ago to show the next barber that the haircut I was showing them was too short. My scalp has never seen so much daylight. My children would say my hairline continue to recede, but I argue that my head is just getting bigger and the hairline can't keep up. Leave it to the barber to support my children's case.

Bruce's new haircut

Heat Wave in Manila

This past month of April has been hotter than usual here in Manila. In fact, there have been a few heat records that have been broken. Generally it has been about 7-10 degrees hotter than an average April. When you add in the heat index, it gets pretty hot. 

Here are a couple of pictures I took on my phone on April 28th that show some of the local weather information.

April 28 vs April Averages

General Monthly Averages in Manila

Weather Note: The thing I initially noticed prior to coming on our mission is that the lowest low temperature (normally at night....), is 72 degrees in the coldest month, which happens to be January. None of those "cooling off at night", nights like in Washington.

This was the "feels like" temperature for April 28th.

That's enough of the weather. It seriously plays a factor over here though. They have been closing some of the elementary schools because of the heat index. We are getting ready to get into the hottest month of the year, which normally peaks in May, from what everyone says anyway.

Temple Service

Our assignment here to serve in the Manila Temple has been so wonderful it is hard to really describe it. For those of my friends reading this who are not members of my Church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints), the temple is where families can be "sealed" together forever, if they choose to. This is performed for both those on earth today and those of our ancestors who have passed on.

Laurie and I have been drawn to temple service more and more over the last years. When we were assigned to serve 18 months in the Manila Philippines temple, we were elated.

Normally I would not share this information publicly, but I will this one time since it has bearing on some of today's posts and will provide a little basis for understanding some future posts.

A couple years ago I was blessed to receive the priesthood authority to "seal" families together forever in the Portland, Oregon Temple. This authority was also allowed to be used in the Manila Philippines Temple. This has been a blessing to Laurie and I since this happened.

Temple service here in Manila for Laurie and I has been very fulfilling. Our time is centered around serving individuals and families coming to the temple who are making covenants with God that is eternally binding and brings such wonderful blessings in this life and the next.

In addition to serving many Filipino couples and families all over the Philippine islands, families have come from Indonesia and Cambodia. There were a few of these experiences this past month. It has been quite beautiful (and very interesting) to work with people who have come so far and sacrificed so much to get to this temple. 

Well over 95% of those Indonesians and Cambodians don't know Tagalog (National Philippine language), or English for that matter. Laurie is able to support me as I do this, and each one of these seems to have a twist to how to communicate effectively. Most of them bring an English translator with them, but their ability is often limited. We have loved being involved in helping them accomplish this sacred and eternal sealing ordinance. It does our heart good to see them so happy.

Some days are extremely busy and some days, not so much. It all works together for our good. 

Often, we see buses out in the parking lot when we walk from our apartment to the temple. Here is a picture of a couple of them.

A couple of buses in the temple parking lot

We have had such a great time here. The people we serve with in the temple have shared their love freely with us and we couldn't feel more accepted. We serve with four other missionary couples in the temple and they too have been just so kind and generous with their time and experience.

One last picture. I was able to find one more picture that included the three of us (my head, Laurie, and me). If you can see around the head, this was a picture one Sunday evening as we took a walk around the temple just to see what it was like. We live here. It's awesome.

Bruce and Laurie - Manila Philippines Temple - April 2024

We cannot thank our family and friends enough for your prayers and kind words expressed. We know you all go through your individual trials (just like our trials which are not "blog material"). Our reliance on our Savior Jesus Christ brings so much peace. I thought I would end this blog with this scripture found in the New Testament. Matthew 11:28-30

28 ¶ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

We hope each of you are able to rest your burdens upon the Savior. He certainly has been, is today, and I know He always will be willing to take my burdens, if I am willing to let Him.

With Love,

Bruce