A Trip to Heaven - The Temple in Manila

It seemed like it was a long time coming. The anticipation was high as P. (age 8) and her family began their trip to the Manila temple from their home village of Châu Đốc, Vietnam. They were on their way to be sealed as a forever family.

A six hour bus ride brought the family into Ho Chi Minh City where they joined the rest of the group – 44 in all – who were making their way to Manila for the annual temple trip.

On July 17, members from the three branches in Ho Chi Minh City as well as the Virtual Branch from the outlying areas gathered together at the Tan Son Nhat chapel for a brief devotional before catching either the 1:00 am flight to Manila or a flight later that morning. 

A devotional started off the trip with the outpouring of the Spirit.

The group gathers for the 1:00 am flight.

We were assigned traveling buddies - Elder Coffey and I traveled with a delightful mother and her daughter.

Arriving at the temple in the middle of the bustling, crowded city of Manila is a little bit like finding heaven.  A lot like it, actually.

The tired but happy group gathered in the patron housing lobby to receive their room assignments.

Patron Housing at the Manila Temple - for those who travel a long distance to attend.

The weary group waits for their room assignments.

Catching up on sleep before heading over to the temple.

The temple provides housing for temple patrons who come to the temple from long distances.  Bunk beds line each room housing 8 people.  Some rooms are reserved for families so they can stay together.

Assigning out the bedding for each room.

The group arrived at the temple around 6 in the morning and after resting up a bit, began serving in the temple.

The Manila temple is an English speaking temple.  Many of those in our group spoke only Vietnamese, but several in the group were able to translate to help explain things. In spite of translation challenges, the universal language of the Spirit flowed and blessings followed. 

A particularly tender moment was when P.'s family was sealed - first her grandparents to each other, then her mother to her grandparents, then her parents to each other, and then the crowning moment when P. and her baby sister were brought in to also be sealed as a forever family.  I could not hold back the tears that swelled in my eyes at this sacred moment. 

Three generations of Vietnamese Saints

It was a very big day for them!

S. was another one who came to the temple (photo, right).  A widow for 7 years, she came to receive the sacred ordinance of being sealed to her husband for time and all eternity. Miracles unfolded as saints rallied around her to help her with the paperwork and translation in order to be able to perform the sealing. She has been a member of the church for 2 years and this has been a sacred highlight for her. 

The blessings continued day and night as members were baptized for their loved ones by proxy and as families were joined together by the power and authority of the priesthood that Heavenly Father has restored to the earth in these last days. 

Elder Coffey and I and others were given opportunities to assist in the temple - helping wherever they needed us. 

What a joy it is that we are blessed with temples throughout the world - bringing these eternal blessings to families on both sides of the veil. Our visit to the temple was four faith-filled days mingling with saints, feeling the outpouring of the Spirit of the Lord, and being reminded of the supernal and eternal binding power of the priesthood. Everything about the temple points us to Jesus Christ. It is His house.  We are grateful guests in His sacred work. 

"Temples are are more than stone and mortar. They are filled with faith and fasting. They are built of trials and testimonies. They are sanctified by sacrifice and service."  Thomas S. Monson

Real Treasures in Roi Et, Thailand

Roi Et:

The mystic hollow ringing of the brass temple gong echoed through the air. Stroking and rubbing the brass knob in just the right rhythm will produce deep melodic buzzes or tones that carry your prayers to heaven.

Click HERE for a video of the ringing gongs.

We were at the Phra Maha Chedi Chai Mongkol Naga pagoda.  Famous as one of the largest and most expensive Buddhist temples to built in the area, the treasure in this pagoda lies on the 5^th floor at the top of a winding staircase.

Visitors worship before relics of Buddha preserved in a glass case.

Thousands of travelers, members and pilgrims come from miles around to offer prayers and offerings before the sacred relics of Buddha, lying in a glass case at the highest part of the temple.

We were in Roi Et to attend a large wheelchair distribution ceremony. Recipients and family members came to be trained in their wheelchair use and participate in the handover ceremony. 

 

The media was there also, and no wonder, because the Governor of the Roi Et Province, Somsak Changtraku (purple shirt, below), was one of the key note speakers.  He shared publicly his appreciation for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and explained how the government is working to make the community easier to get around for those who are disabled.  

The gentleman in the purple shirt is the Roi Et Provincial Governor,
with his entourage of media never far.

The head of Rotary, Krairat Watson, also spoke, praising the work of LDS Charities and the Church for the humanitarian work done throughout Thailand.  

Local priesthood leaders were in attendance, including local Stake President Amphorn and the local Bishop of the Roi Et Ward.  

Local LDS Priesthood leaders meet Krairat Watson, head of Rotary.

Each wheelchair had the recipients own name on it, having been made to their individual size and specifications.

Elder Coffey checks the legs of a wheelchair recipient, 11 year old Chinaway Wichaisorn.

Chinaway Wichaisorn, (11 years old, above) has weakness in his legs that has prevented him from ever being able to walk. Multiple visits to doctors and therapists have not been successful. Chinaway is in the the 5th grade and an excellent student - loving especially Thai classes, though he says he also listens to English. His last wheelchair was given to him when he was in kindergarten and he long ago outgrew it.  This new chair will be a great blessing to him and his parents as well.

With all the historic and cultural treasures in Roi Et, the real treasures are the people, who carry the Light of Christ with them wherever they go.  As sons and daughters of God, there is a connection we feel as brothers and sisters, linked together by sacred divine ties. Most people just want to be happy at home, with their loved ones around them.  We are grateful LDS Charities can help bring a little more happiness into their lives.

The Full-Purpose Missionary

Our mission call was to serve in the Area Office in Hong Kong as humanitarian missionaries.  I was excited to be going to Hong Kong, excited about working with humanitarian projects, but dubious about the prospects of sitting behind a computer for 23 months.  I understand that many senior couples are also not overly thrilled with the idea of an office mission.

But there has been a term floating around here called “full-purpose missionaries.”  We are reminded frequently that we are needed in many areas of expertise and service, not just one.  So while Elder Coffey and I might have a primary assignment as humanitarian missionaries, we also have opportunities of serving as Temple missionaries, Self-reliance missionaries, Member-leadership support missionaries (MLS), Family History missionaries and office missionaries.   It’s a lot to keep up with!

MLS missionaries - We serve in the Peninsula 3^rd branch. Elder Coffey is in the branch presidency.

Elder Crockett, Elder Coffey, President Smart and Elder Chan

He and I teach the Temple Preparation class and when they are ready, we accompany the sisters who have completed the class to the temple. 

Elder Coffey teaching the Temple Preparation Class

I teach Institute as part of our service to the branch.  And we support the sisters in a variety of other ways, helping them work through challenges and offering support

Institute Class

Having a missionary discussion with our friend Simon Lee

Institute sisters signing our "Covenant Keepers" promise.

And sometimes serving as MLS missionaries takes you to places you never imagined!

Branch Christmas pageant 2014

Family History missionaries - We assist the sisters in our branch with Family History work, preparing names of their ancestors to receive the blessings of the temple. Most of them are not able to process names because they do not have computers.  They identify their family names, and we help them get the names ready for the temple.

Temple missionaries - We serve as temple workers, serving in the temple each Friday night, and also on special holidays when the temple is open. This is one of the choice blessings of our service.

Escorting our first Temple Preparation class sisters to the temple

Self-reliance missionaries - We facilitate the Self-reliance class, a 2 hour class each Sunday that helps them learn business principles and skills.  Their goal is to become more self-reliant and start a small business back in the Philippines so they can join their children and families once again.

Self Reliance Class

Self-reliance class graduates

Humanitarian missionaries – This is our primary assignment, one which has been amazing and has taken us throughout Asia as we visit and help train our humanitarian couples who serve in-country.

Our trip to China - 2014

Our weekly Area Welfare Council Committee - 2014

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and Elder Coffey in Timor-Leste - 2015

Office missionaries – And yes, we serve in the Office.  In addition to our humanitarian office support work, we have the blessing of working on special assignments from the Area Presidency - members of the Quorum of Seventy.  These men and their wives are amazing examples of consecration and devotion to Jesus Christ in their labors. And the assignments we are given are actually some of the most incredible and humbling experiences of our service in Asia.

And we love the employees at the office - they hold us all together and keep us going! Jaymi Wong is our Administrative Assistant and we would not survive without her!  And our Area Welfare manager is Patrick Cheuk - such dedicated people that we get to work with!

Jaymi Wong, Administrative Assistant

Elder Coffey with Patrick Cheuk

As Office missionaries, we also are blessed to have the association of some of the most amazing members of the Church – faithful devoted couples who love the Lord and come with vast amounts of talent, wit, dedication, faith and experience.  There are many senior missionary activities organized – monthly Family Home Evening, monthly Saturday activities, weekly lunch together, weekly Sisters’ Institute, and many more - as well as often working together on special projects and events.

Senior missionary lunch

So if you aren't sure about serving an office mission, I'd say - jump in!  The joys and blessings are incredible.  Whether that office is in an Area Office like ours, or a mission office, or some other office, you will be a  "full-purpose missionary" with many opportunities to serve and stretch and grow and draw nearer to the Savior than ever before.

Gotta run - I'm off to prepare for tomorrow's Back to School Institute Party, preparing an Institute Choir to sing in sacrament meeting, getting ready for a music conducting workshop in a couple of weeks, planning the Senior Missionary Family Home Evening (this month it's our turn to host), starting up a new Temple Preparation Class, cooking something for the branch pot luck dinner, and going to a Senior Missionary activity - Cirque de la Symphonie!  

If you aren't sure about an office mission - maybe it's just because you haven't been on one yet!  Come join us!