What happened

Tue, Mar 24, 2020

Hi everyone

I think I want to share what happened: This might be a little long

I am not sure what things I should and not should say, so I will try my best, haha. Also, all of what I am sharing is personal to me and to all the missionaries from the Philippines, Naga mission because every mission in the Philippines had very different experiences.

So, on Saturday (the 14th), they told us that we would have to shorten our time proselyting, so we had to live in accordance with that. Also, the area presidency told us that we needed to start to build our food storage in the case that we would be on quarantine in the future. On Sunday, they canceled big church gatherings, but we had a small meeting with all of the leaders in our small ward, updating all of us on different protocols (like baptisms, sacraments, etc.)

Monday, we were told that our proselyting time would be shortened. However, today was our Pday, so we had to draw our support for the two weeks, so we went to a neighboring town to pull our pesos. When we got there, all of the ATM's were offline, so that kind of worried us. Also, while we were there, we got a text that we also need to get some food because there was a good chance that we would be quarantined for a few days. Since all of the ATM's were down, we decided to go back to our city and go to the computer shop to contact family and friends. After, we went out and got some groceries and headed back to our apartment so that we could go out and proselyte. That night, we got a text that our mission activities (because we were starting a new transfer) would be postponed because the Philippines was starting a quarantine. My companion and I were a little worried because our food storage was not necessarily the greatest.

Luckily, the next morning, they allotted us a few more hours to go shopping for food storage. However, While shopping they texted us that our quarantine would be extended to two weeks, so they gave us more time to go shopping for two weeks' worth of food. We were already mentally preparing ourselves with what would lie ahead. Once we were able to get our food all gathered (which took a while because so many people were shopping), we went back to the apartment and started to get settled in

This is where things took a little turn

We got a text that told us that all foreign missionaries needed to pack LIGHTLY (two sets of p-day clothes and two sets of proselyting clothes) and take our important documents with us (Like passports, ID and whatever else). All of my kabahay's (all the missionaries in our apartment) thought the government was just going to fact check us and see if we have corona or not. However, we were all joking that in a week from then we would be flying on a plane wondering what happened. Little did we know...

But, before I continue I want to share something from a zone conference that we had 7 weeks ago. Pres. Bangerter, the second counselor in the Philippines Area Presidency came to visit and speak to us. Here, he shared with us a conference that he and the Philippines Area Presidency had with the Quorum of the 12 back in October 2019. In their video conference, the Quorum all shared their thoughts on the Philippines and how the Gospel is progressing there. After they all shared their thoughts, they noticed that Pres. Bednar had not shared anything, so they asked him to share what he was feeling. According to what happened, Pres. Bednar took off his reading glasses, leaned forward and in a rough quotation of what he said, "Brethren, buckle up, the Philippines is progressing at an accelerated rate..." [in regards to the Gospel] ( I will finish this quote later on)

But back to the story. All of my kabahay's and I were in a scramble to get everything we needed together because we were only supposed to pack light. So, we packed all that we could in our little carry-on bags. We also found out that we had to find a ride to Naga. This would be difficult because they did not have any public transportation out, anymore. So, we asked if any of the members would be able to give us a ride, but no one had a car. So, we resorted to asking people who live near us and own a truck, if they would be able to give us a ride. We told them that we would have payments, but they kept trying to upsell us. They did have valid points as there were no rides up. Luckily, we found someone with a truck, but just as we made a deal with him, our AP's told us that they could pick us up. So, when they were able to eventually took a 30-minute ride up to Naga in what would normally be an hour's drive. Needless to say, we were in a rush, haha. They eventually took us to the mission home, and over the next hour, all of the foreign missionaries came in. When all of us arrived, Pres. Lee (our mission president) gathered us together and told us that they met with the Area Presidency the day before and that they received revelation from the Quorum of the 12 that they needed to evacuate about all 2,000 missionaries out of the Philippines. It was a shock to so many of us, as we were not able to say goodbye to the families that we were teaching and even some of our members. Pres. Lee told us that nothing was for certain, but they suspected that we would be flying out that Thursday. He let us know that we would be bussing down to Manila (where the airport is), but we would be housed in the Manila MTC until we flew out. So, that night, we all spent the night in apartments nearby and in the mission home. The next morning, we all went down to the mission office, where we would finalize some of the things before leaving. Finally, they were able to charter some busses for us. From there, we would start our trek from Naga to Manila. Let me just say, this was not a smooth ride, we were in these huge busses that had poor suspension and we were on roads that were hardly ever straight or were smoothly paved. So, many of us got motion sick. What added to the fun was that we had to go through these checkpoints where they had to clear us in order for us to continue on. There were a handful of times where all the missionaries had to get off the bus and had to have our temperatures checked in order for us to move on. It was funny because on all of the busses and all of the vans were on, we had papers taped on the front of the windshields that read, "LDS MISSIONARIES" and "DO NOT STOP OUR REPATRIATION." In all, this was a 12-hour venture when we finally arrived at the Manila MTC. When we got to the MTC (at about 2 in the morning) there were about 4 other missions already there. So, we had to sleep on the gym floor because all of the residences were taken up.

Later that day (Wednesday the 18th), many of the other missions came to the MTC. To put things into perspective, the Manila MTC can properly hold a little less than 200 missionaries, but that night, there were about 1,100 missionaries. Many of us had to sleep in the hallways of dorms and in different lobbies and classrooms. I know this might sound like it is really pessimistic, I promise I am not trying to make it sound that way. So many missionaries were very happy. In fact, it was exciting for most, if not, all missionaries because so many of us were able to reunite with friends and meet new missionaries from other missions. But, they told us that we had to keep everything lowkey, because if we would be spotted or if we were too much of a distraction or loud, then they would send us back to our missions, but because the borders were recently strengthened, it would be impossible. So, for the next few days spent in the MTC, the MTC president would give us updates on what was going on and what we needed to do. Actually, over those few days, they would send certain missions to hotels near the airport in order to make the transition easier for everyone.

They said that they pushed our flight back to Sunday and that it should not be subject to change. According to the MTC President, the church was able to charter 5 jets for all of the missionaries to return home. 

On the night before leaving, the Area President for the Philippines came and gave a devotional to all the missionaries describing what a good time it is to be a missionary and the miracles that take place when we choose God's law or man's law. There truly were so many miracles, especially for those in the Area Presidency and everyone behind the church travel department.

However, two nights before leaving, Pres. Bangerter (the one who came to my mission's zone conference) restated what President Bednar shared in that video conference back in October. Many of us already forgot, but to finish the quote, "Brethren, buckle up..." "... there may be a time where we will step back because we will find out that we were holding the Philippines back from their potential, and here they will learn to be self-reliant and progress at an accelerated rate." Crazy, right... Pres. Bangerter told us that everything that is going on right now is only a part of that fulfillment of Elder Bednar's prophecy. 

Finally, on Sunday Morning (the 22nd), all the missionaries flying to the United States and Canada (because all other missionaries from other nations like American Samoa got commercially flown to their countries) were bussed and arrived at the Manila airport. Let me tell you if any of you know what Manila is like it is filled with SO MUCH traffic, but that day it was empty, like a ghost town or something, haha. Anyways, most missionaries were at the airport, and then we finally boarded. It was emotional to have only missionaries on these planes and for everyone to say goodbye.

This trip was a series of miracles that occurred when we followed the revelation of the Lord. I was not able to go into all detail, but trust me when I say that there were so many miracles.

I know that Heavenly Father is aware and loves all of us. These things I leave with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.