Global Schools, Conferences, Temples, and a Trip to Africa (What? Africa?) ~ Our Mission in Cebu City, Philippines Temple

Several observations I've been wanting to share:

Filipinos are not shy about asking your age. We're getting used to it. So beware: when we get home, we may ask your age and wonder why you look surprised that we would ask such a thing.

And they are not shy about telling you that you are "increasing," meaning putting on weight. And if you're perhaps losing weight, you are "decreasing." And they will tell you so.

I've been told that there are only two seasons: hot and hotter. We are now in hotter.

And with that hotter comes the practice of Filipinos putting small towels on their necks or upper backs under their shirts, or paper towels, or even several sheets of paper, all to absorb the sweat.

To get a man's attention, you call out "Chief. Chief." Good to know.

I have been confused why those with very good English often get he and she mixed up. I've learned that it's because in Cebuano (also known as Bisaya), the same word is used for he, she, and it. Now it makes sense.

Now on to Global Schools . . .

Our church-sponsored BYU-Pathway Worldwide's Global Education Center (known here as the GEC -- they love acronyms) started one year ago here in Cebu City. The GEC provides affordable, spiritual and temporal online education. It's a safe, high-tech, place where students can learn in online college courses and can receive degrees in many fields. Education is the answer for those living in developing countries such as the Philippines. And really, it's the answer for all, no matter what country you live in. In 2024, the BYU-Pathway Worldwide program served 75,000 students in 180 countries.

We visited the GEC, which is open 9-9, one evening as we were out for our walk. The GEC is in one end of one of the church buildings in the temple compound. These young people are not members of our church, but are "interns" from local high schools. They are learning how to help others use the computers as part of their high school curriculum.

These two young adults are overseeing the high school interns. They also help those who come to learn at the GEC. It was a pretty quiet evening but they say that it's often humming with activity. So many people coming to learn on high-speed internet on the 100 computers.

You can see our apartment here in the temple compound -- the two windows on either side of the palm tree in the center of the photo. A nice apartment with a good view of trees, flowers, and the church buildings, one which houses the GEC.

Cebu City Stake Conference and General Conference

We really enjoyed our recent Cebu City Stake Conference. It was 95% in English so we could actually understand it for a happy change! About 1000 people were in attendance -- the chapel, cultural hall, and stage were filled to overflowing.

Elder Matthew K Jackson, a General Authority Seventy, was the main speaker. You can see him in the picture -- tall and with white hair. Elder Jackson said that there are 181 stakes of the church in the Philippines, and as members share the joy of the gospel with others, there will be more stakes next year. The Church is growing rapidly in the Philippines.

A stake is an ecclesiastical unit composed of several smaller units, called wards and branches. Stakes meet in conference twice a year and sometimes more often for activities; wards meet weekly with many extra activities.

Talking about Conferences . . . We just enjoyed the annual, worldwide, two-day General Conference of our church, originating in Salt Lake City, Utah. So thankful for technology and internet connections. LeRon and I got up at midnight and again at 4 a.m. to view the Saturday sessions of Conference. The Saturday and Sunday sessions were rebroadcast the next weekend to our chapels here in the Philippines.

So great to hear from our church leaders who come, not only from the US, but from all parts of the world -- France, England, Germany, Brazil, and other European, Asian, South American and Oceania countries. And even our own Elder James Evanson, who grew up in Taber, Alberta, Canada, was recently called as a General Authority Seventy.

An Event Not to be Missed

A very exciting thing . . . The Salt Lake Temple has been under major renovations for the past several years. It is now nearly complete and will be open to the public for tours of its interior from April 5, 2027 to October 1, 2027. In that six months, 3 or 4 million people are expected to come from all over the world to tour the temple. What a fantastic opportunity to be in this beautiful temple!

The Salt Lake Temple is the grand-daddy of all our temples. It was built over a 40-year period, from 1853 to 1893, in the days of early church members' poverty and sacrifice. It's a good chance to see what the inside of an LDS temple looks like. Once it is dedicated, after the 6-month open house, only members who qualify can enter.

Now. . . what you've been waiting for . . . a trip to Africa!

No, sadly, we haven't been on a trip to Africa. We are still in Cebu City, spending five days a week in the Cebu Temple. But . . .

First a bit of explanation. Our church sponsors what used to be a weekly radio broadcast but is now a radio, television, and internet broadcast, called Music and the Spoken Word. It is the longest continually-running broadcast in the US; it started in 1929 and continues uninterrupted to this day. It features gorgeous scenery and beautiful music by the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. The short, non-denominational, message is meant to inspire those of any faith or those of no faith at all.

A recent Music and the Spoken Word featured our beloved Africa. As we watched, we felt like we were back in Africa on our mission -- enjoying the acacia trees, the baobab trees, the wildlife, and the people. Hope you too will enjoy this 30-minute broadcast, called "An African Special: The Joy we Share." Here's the hotlink:
https://www.youtube.com/live/1DgtkfstvpM (You can skip the ad at the first. And you may have to move the bar to go back to the beginning.)

Screen shot from the video. Love those baobab trees! They say Africa to us.

And how many times did we see these magnificent animals as we traveled for missionary work to different places in Kenya and Tanzania and took in many game parks.