This is the link to the story about the ten sister missionaries who punched a hole through a wall to wait out the storm on the roof.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865590735/Surviving-the-typhoon-A-story-of-fear-faith-and-what-it-means-to-be-prepared.html?pg=all
Elder McGuire has been reassigned to the Cebu City Mission. They flew out earlier today. This is the island that had the earthquake there last month. He is excited because he will get to speak the first language he learned on his mission--Cebuano. There is a temple there and he is with a proselyting companion. He is very happy about that.
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Getting to the airport
Here is a link to Sister Ralph's experience as told by her Mom. Sister Ralph was in Jessica's ward before her mission.
http://sistersarahralph.blogspot.com/?m=1
http://sistersarahralph.blogspot.com/?m=1
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
"...and they did not doubt their mothers knew it."
These are some of the stories JT (Elder McGuire) has told us over the last few days. As a mother I am grateful that the information we did have going through all of this was not exactly how things played out. Had we known what the conditions were at the time they were really happening it would have been too much to handle. Pernell and I have felt like we needed a safe place to share this with you as much as JT has needed help remembering and recording what this last week has been like. Thank you--a gazillion times over--for your kind thoughts and prayers in his behalf. The first time he Skyped home it was just me and him. I told him that hundreds and hundreds of people had been praying for him. Learning about all of you and your faith and prayers brought the first tears of relief. Thank you for caring about him and our family.
Currently, (11/13/13) he is with 204 missionaries from the Tacloban Mission at the Missionary Training Center in Manila, Philippines. They are allowed to Skype and call everyday while they rest and regroup and wait for their new assignments to come in. He has ten months left to serve. There are 7 missions in and around Manila. If he got assigned there it would mean improving on a fourth language. He is hoping, through different interviews that they will go through, to be reassigned to the Visayas area....northeast of the Tacloban area. I don't know completely what I'm talking about, but it would mean out in the country again where they speak one of the three dialects that he already knows. When they were driving into Manila he said, "This looks like Phoenix. This is not the Philippines I know." He has definitely been living in a third world country this year.
Before JT left on his mission, really before any of our kids leave home, I grill into them two things that will ease my mind the most when they are away. The first is to be obedient. JT is naturally cautious, but when it comes to following the mission rules or doing his best to keep the commandments he is absolute. There are quite a few references in the Book of Mormon about young men who were called into battle inspite of their inexperience and how they were miraculously preserved because of the things their mothers had taught them. I have reflected on this a lot over the three days that we didn't hear from him. His obedience has sustained my faith and I knew he would be alright.
The second thing that we have taught him is to listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost. After you are baptized into our church there is an ordinance after that which is called a confirmation or being confirmed. Sometimes it is referred to as receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. We believe that as we live worthy of this gift (keeping the commandments, having daily prayers and studying the scriptures) the Holy Ghost is able to prompt us in times of danger or give us direction when we are trying to make an important decision. It takes practice to learn how to read and feel those promptings. I think this is one of the reasons we baptize our children when they are eight years old. They are old enough to begin to know the difference between right and wrong and yet have roughly ten years before they leave home to grow up and learn what a prompting of the Holy Ghost feels like and gain confidence in themselves in their ability to ask for that help. Long story short, He knows how to use this gift.
From what we understood the missionaries were waiting out the storm in Stake Centers and church buildings. Next to the mission office is his apartment. A little ways off is the chapel and across the courtyard is the mission home where the mission president and his family live. They have four children. All of these buildings are within a minute of walking distance. On the night of the typhoon there were five elders waiting out the storm in JT's apartment--two elders who came from the southern part of the city and a threesome because JT was in the process of training someone to take over his job. The AP's (assistants to the president) were staying in the mission office next door. At 3 a.m. the electricity went out. He woke up because his fan had stopped. If you don't have a fan blowing on you all night you are instantly hot and sweaty. He is in basketball shorts and t-shirt. The storm had already started. He tried to go back to sleep.
At 5a.m. the AP's came over and said they needed help because the office was starting to flood. JT put on his flip flops and went over to help...using mops and cardboard to try to keep the water out and the computers dry. JT went back to his apartment to put on better shoes because the flip flops were just too slippery. He grabbed his backpack, proselyting clothes, scriptures, favorite Expos tshirt and put his ministerial permit and temple recommend in his pocket. After a few more minutes one of the other elders yells-"We have got to go now!!" JT looks up to see a wall of black water coming over the top of the desk. All seven elders make their way out of the office and over to the chapel. By this time the wind is starting to pick up and by that I mean literally picking up JT. Elder Johnson (from Dallas who is finishing his mission in two weeks and will be tracked down by Kristin and Cameron) is holding onto the side of the building. He reaches up and grabs JT with both arms around his waist and pulls him back down to the ground. JT's papers fly out of his pocket. They get into the chapel and stay for about 30 seconds before they determine that this is not going to be a safe place either. The men take one step out of the church. The water is up to their ankles. By the fourth step the water is up to their thighs. They make their way through the water over to the mission home, which gratefully, is a two-story home. They are all banging on the windows and trying to yell above the storm to be let in. JT said it was probably only about 30 seconds but it felt like an eternity before they got someone's attention.
President Andaya heard them and came down to let them in. The bottom story has already started to flood so they all make their way upstairs. He couldn't remember how many people waited out the storm there. They also helped to keep what food they had off the ground and dry while they waited out the storm. In a lot of the homes there, on the second floor is a window which has a padlock on it. They open it if the flood waters have risen so high that they can't escape through the doors to the home. The problem today was that the key to the padlock was downstairs. Pres. Andaya said, "Elders, break that lock." Elder Johnson, rockstar of the day, found a hand barbell with weights on it. He took the weights off and used that to start banging against the padlock. At the same time the rest of the elders stood in a circle and listened while Elder Parsons offered the prayer. Elder Parsons kept praying and Elder Johnson kept hitting that lock. In the middle of that prayer the lock broke free and Elder Johnson let out a yell. They didn't have to use that window in the end, but a great story nonetheless. After the storm the mission office was reported to be under 12-18 feet of water. Also, after the storm someone found his temple recommend.
JT estimated that the storm lasted until the early evening. News reports have described the duration of Typhoon Haiyan to be a Class 5 typhoon that lasted for two days. His apartment is two-storied so after the storm they slept there for the next few nights amidst gunshots and looting and the smell of death that he said was "...just unbearable." Also, coming to learn that no planes were coming in or out of the airport, no road had access to them and no communication was able to go out was very hard. The missionaries spent the next few days helping to pass out food for the city down at city hall.
At home, we knew that it would take several days for help to arrive and communications to get re-established. (see story below) The scripture that sustained me during that time was Doctrine and Covenants 115:6--
"And that the gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, may be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth."
That probably sounds a little naive knowing what we know now, but I don't see it that way. The organization of the church is an amazing force. From the chain of priesthood leadership that watches over us at every level to the nameless people who provided clean clothes and shoes and food and shelter and blankets and computers and cell phones and hugs. We are organized from the First Presidency to the individual and to see it all in action is a testimony to me that the Lord's way is powerful.
The details of that story took three times to put together. It has been sobering for me to listen to Pernell gently phrase the questions and give JT time to process his answers. I am so grateful for this time and resources (computers to skype with) to help these missionaries get a handle on what they have survived and endured. Clean clothes, sleep, and good food bring a sense of normalcy and structure to the schedules they are used to keeping.
Here are some bits and pieces of the other stories we are working on. After the storm the missionaries were put to work passing out food at City Hall. Somewhere in there JT went out to look for water. He was digging through rubble and found a sealed case of Coke. He found it and was carrying that and a large bottle of water over his shoulder. He stepped on a nail. A sister missionary removed it and later, Sis. Andaya bandaged him up. One of the mission rules is to avoid standing water or being in the water at all. The danger is in the snails that live in the water. They can get into your system through an open wound or if you were to drink it, lay their eggs and then the snails party on your insides....nasty. JT was able to get a tetanus shot at City Hall somehow.
This is from a news article that Kristin found:
"It's overwhelming," Air Force Capt. Antonio Tamayo told the AP. "We need more medicine. We cannot give anti-tetanus vaccine shots because we have none."
On Sunday they had a short sacrament meeting at 6:15a.m. JT said he would never forget it because of the meager little crackers they found to use for the bread and the beautiful spirit that was there. They then went out to help distribute food again. He got heat exhaustion and passed out from being dehydrated. Pres. Andaya helped him away and Sis. Andaya took care of him by pouring some cold water on his head and finding him something to drink. There are no words to describe the energy and tenderness with which they have fought to protect these men and women.
JT has a cell phone with him. Not every missionary does, but he does because he needs to communicate with all of the elders in the mission to coordinate the supplies they need. As the Office Supply Manager he has traveled all over the islands of Leyte and Samar. He is not allowed to use this to communicate with us or friends back home. Occassionally on the days he writes home he will send a text to say hello, or I'm thinking of you. About three days after the typhoon had passed a crude cell phone tower was put back up. Sometimes he could get a signal but it wouldn't last long enough for him to send a text message. So he prepared the text and continued to try to send it over the next two days.
Meanwhile, back at home, we had received one phonecall from the Area Presidency's secretary on Saturday night saying he was alive and accounted for and another phonecall from the missionary department in Salt Lake on Sunday afternoon confirming that. We were fairly confident that that was true but by then the reports had started that 80 missionaries from the Tacloban mission were still missing. Jessica and James (Pernell's brother) were working tirelessly on social media to track down any bit of information they could. We had been in Denver that weekend for our granddaughter's blessing and drove to Albequerque. Both of our phones continued to go off with the buzz of notifications. At one point, after we had just settled into bed I told Pernell, "Please turn that off. I can't handle anymore today." He rolled over and checked his phone. "IT'S JT!!!" The text said---Dad I'm alive JT--. Receiving this news at midnight on Sunday was earthshattering. We tried calling back and texting back, but there was no response.
Our family is very sports oriented. No offense against cheerleaders, but I was one in High School for a few years and my kids think this is hilarious. I always take it in stride and tell them that's why I am such a good mom...because I am very good at cheering them on when life or sports or relationships or finding themselves gets hard. As a means of lightening the mood of this staggering text I posted a screenshot of JT's text to Facebook with the caption....."and then he takes an outside shot from the other side of the planet.......nothin but net.....the fans go wild!!!!" When I was trying to explain this to JT he was worried that he would be in trouble for sending a text. I quickly explained how worried we were and how grateful we were to know that he was alive. He has been through some very serious trauma.
The scripture I found to describe our feelings at this point is Mormon 9:15-16 from the Book of Mormon.
"And now, O all ye that have imagined up unto yourselves a god who can do no miracles, I would ask of you, have all these things passed, of which I have spoken? Has the end come yet? Behold I say unto you, Nay and God has not ceased to be a God of miracles. Behold are not the things that God hath wrought marvelous in our eyes? Yea, and who can comprehend the marvelous works of God?"
On Sunday night they stayed in the mission home. Early the next morning they walked about 3 km to the airport. Some of the missionaries had to walk upwards of 50km (30 miles) to get to the airport. If you have seen any of the news reports you can only imagine what they saw along the way. I don't know if JT was not privy to the information of the arrangements that had been made or if they had simply put themselves in the right place at the right time and the Lord took it from there. He said the church was trying to purchase several airplanes to transport the missionaries out. Pres. Ardern (1st counselor in the Area Presidency) was with them. Each time it fell through because the authorities didn't or wouldn't believe they had the resources to really do that. Pres. Ardern also had with him a mini-ipad that had boarding passes for all of the missionaries to get on that C130 that you saw in the ABC newsclip. However, because they were not paper boarding passes they were not accepted by those who were loading the planes.
JT saw an American Marine. He came up to them and asked them how they were doin and what they were doin in Tacloban...just small talk. JT said, "You know, just building a relationship of trust." JT said that they were missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. "Oh yeah, I used to be a member of that church." "Well, if there's anything I can do to help you out...."I'm a marine. I've been all over lately, Afghanistan.....I'm not really sure why I'm here today." To which Pres. Ardern spoke up and said, "You're here to get God's missionaries out of here." "Great, I'll see what I can do." Next thing he knew he heard the man say, "Let's get these Mormons out of here." JT's group of 71 missionaries was divided up between two osprey (helicopter/plane--awesomely cool but unless you're a marine you don't ride on these) and the C130 plane. He likes the idea of having the bragging rights to that. It took two and a half hours to get to Manila. About 20 rode on the one he was on.
I cannot begin to imagine the level of stress Pres. and Sis. Andaya have been under through all of this. Not only are they worried about their own family, but the lives and safety of 204 missionaries and their extremely worried families. JT said at one point Pres. Andaya had a phone on each ear with Apostles (leaders higher up in the church) on the other end expressing their concern and frustration as to how they were going to get these kids out. I assume multiple plans were tried to figure out the quickest way to get them out of Tacloban.
When the missionaries landed in Manila a bus was waiting to take them to the MTC. JT called us at 3a.m. Tuesday morning. We woke up the kids and talked for two hours. Alyssa asked JT what he did to wait out the storm after he got to a safe and secure place. JT replied, "Once we were inside the mission home we sang hymns and prayed but I haven't felt safe until about half an hour ago.
___________________________________________
First phone call from the Area Presidency's secretary....(from a letter to JT)
I knew from the church's website that it would take a few days to establish even minimum communications so I was at peace going into Saturday (your Sunday). I thought I was doing just fine until I got the call from the Area Presidency secretary. We had gone to the movies as a diversion from all of the news reports that just seemed to be getting worse by the hour. I had turned my phone to vibrate. It went off with 4% battery ....augh! ...from "unknown". As I scrambled to get out of the theatre I cut her off. Gratefully, she called back. She told me that you were safe, had food and water and that you were helping with the cleanup. I countered, "You mean to tell me exactly, that you know Elder McGuire is alive?" "Yes, Sis. McGuire, he is." [I gathered myself somewhat and asked, "Do they have food?" She said, "they have some and are working to get more in.] I choked out a "thank you" and began to sob. ....my eyeballs hurt...After we got it back together and got to Lindsay's we had a chocolate milk toast, hugs all around and promises to Rick that he would be called to serve in Kanab, UT. We posted that on Facebook, to which Aunt Doris said, "I'm sure the people of Kanab, UT will be grateful for his service." I love her.
[At home, away from the public eye, we knelt in family prayer and thanked Heavenly Father for preserving your life and the many, many people involved who had helped to get you to Manila.] (sleep would come tonight)
Linda sent me this sweet passage, again from the Book of Mormon..."that we may rejoice in the great privilege of our church, and in the cause of our Redeemer and our God. Behold, I have sent a few provisions unto them, that they may not perish until ye can come unto me." ....tell them to fear not, for God will deliver them..."
Jessica found Psalms 91
Elder McGuire told me that the scripture that got him through was Alma 44:4--
"Now ye see that this is the true faith of God; yea, ye see that God will support, and keep, and preserve us, so long as we are faithful unto him, and unto our faith, and our religion; and never will the Lord suffer that we shall be destroyed except we should fall into transgression and deny our faith."
I don't think it is ironic at all to recognize that this is the Neavitt's (Cameron's family) family motto. Shout out to the families from Queen Creek and their amazing faith. Kristin is already planning to send JT one of their t-shirts.
And to whoever chose the song for the Relief Society meeting in Denver on Sunday....Keep the Commandments.....thank you. That was a tender mercy for me that day.
"Keep the commandments, keep the commandments. In this there is safety, in this there is peace.
He will send blessings, he will send blessings. Words of the prophet. Keep the commandments. In this there is safety and peace."
I also don't know how to begin to thank God for the multitude of blessings that have been given to us other than to bear you my testimony that God is real. He lives. He knows each of us personally and answers prayers. He is anxious to teach us the things we need to know to return to live with Him again. Life is so good and beautiful amidst the chaos when you come to know these simple truths. The Jesus Christ I know provided a way for me to repent when I need to change so that I can continue to grow to be like Him. I love the simpleness of knowing that I can talk directly to Him through my personal prayers. He will always answer me if I put myself in a position spiritually to keep that channel clear. These are the things that ground me as the world around us becomes increasingly wicked. I am privileged with the great blessing of being a mother in these latter days. I can build my children's confidence and give them opportunities to develop themselves, but the one thing that will bring them the most happiness is coming to know for themselves these things that I have described. The man I married cherishes and protects this role of mine and I love him beyond measure for it.
Keep the faith, stay strong and hold on!
Pernell and Nancy McGuire
Currently, (11/13/13) he is with 204 missionaries from the Tacloban Mission at the Missionary Training Center in Manila, Philippines. They are allowed to Skype and call everyday while they rest and regroup and wait for their new assignments to come in. He has ten months left to serve. There are 7 missions in and around Manila. If he got assigned there it would mean improving on a fourth language. He is hoping, through different interviews that they will go through, to be reassigned to the Visayas area....northeast of the Tacloban area. I don't know completely what I'm talking about, but it would mean out in the country again where they speak one of the three dialects that he already knows. When they were driving into Manila he said, "This looks like Phoenix. This is not the Philippines I know." He has definitely been living in a third world country this year.
Before JT left on his mission, really before any of our kids leave home, I grill into them two things that will ease my mind the most when they are away. The first is to be obedient. JT is naturally cautious, but when it comes to following the mission rules or doing his best to keep the commandments he is absolute. There are quite a few references in the Book of Mormon about young men who were called into battle inspite of their inexperience and how they were miraculously preserved because of the things their mothers had taught them. I have reflected on this a lot over the three days that we didn't hear from him. His obedience has sustained my faith and I knew he would be alright.
The second thing that we have taught him is to listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost. After you are baptized into our church there is an ordinance after that which is called a confirmation or being confirmed. Sometimes it is referred to as receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. We believe that as we live worthy of this gift (keeping the commandments, having daily prayers and studying the scriptures) the Holy Ghost is able to prompt us in times of danger or give us direction when we are trying to make an important decision. It takes practice to learn how to read and feel those promptings. I think this is one of the reasons we baptize our children when they are eight years old. They are old enough to begin to know the difference between right and wrong and yet have roughly ten years before they leave home to grow up and learn what a prompting of the Holy Ghost feels like and gain confidence in themselves in their ability to ask for that help. Long story short, He knows how to use this gift.
From what we understood the missionaries were waiting out the storm in Stake Centers and church buildings. Next to the mission office is his apartment. A little ways off is the chapel and across the courtyard is the mission home where the mission president and his family live. They have four children. All of these buildings are within a minute of walking distance. On the night of the typhoon there were five elders waiting out the storm in JT's apartment--two elders who came from the southern part of the city and a threesome because JT was in the process of training someone to take over his job. The AP's (assistants to the president) were staying in the mission office next door. At 3 a.m. the electricity went out. He woke up because his fan had stopped. If you don't have a fan blowing on you all night you are instantly hot and sweaty. He is in basketball shorts and t-shirt. The storm had already started. He tried to go back to sleep.
At 5a.m. the AP's came over and said they needed help because the office was starting to flood. JT put on his flip flops and went over to help...using mops and cardboard to try to keep the water out and the computers dry. JT went back to his apartment to put on better shoes because the flip flops were just too slippery. He grabbed his backpack, proselyting clothes, scriptures, favorite Expos tshirt and put his ministerial permit and temple recommend in his pocket. After a few more minutes one of the other elders yells-"We have got to go now!!" JT looks up to see a wall of black water coming over the top of the desk. All seven elders make their way out of the office and over to the chapel. By this time the wind is starting to pick up and by that I mean literally picking up JT. Elder Johnson (from Dallas who is finishing his mission in two weeks and will be tracked down by Kristin and Cameron) is holding onto the side of the building. He reaches up and grabs JT with both arms around his waist and pulls him back down to the ground. JT's papers fly out of his pocket. They get into the chapel and stay for about 30 seconds before they determine that this is not going to be a safe place either. The men take one step out of the church. The water is up to their ankles. By the fourth step the water is up to their thighs. They make their way through the water over to the mission home, which gratefully, is a two-story home. They are all banging on the windows and trying to yell above the storm to be let in. JT said it was probably only about 30 seconds but it felt like an eternity before they got someone's attention.
President Andaya heard them and came down to let them in. The bottom story has already started to flood so they all make their way upstairs. He couldn't remember how many people waited out the storm there. They also helped to keep what food they had off the ground and dry while they waited out the storm. In a lot of the homes there, on the second floor is a window which has a padlock on it. They open it if the flood waters have risen so high that they can't escape through the doors to the home. The problem today was that the key to the padlock was downstairs. Pres. Andaya said, "Elders, break that lock." Elder Johnson, rockstar of the day, found a hand barbell with weights on it. He took the weights off and used that to start banging against the padlock. At the same time the rest of the elders stood in a circle and listened while Elder Parsons offered the prayer. Elder Parsons kept praying and Elder Johnson kept hitting that lock. In the middle of that prayer the lock broke free and Elder Johnson let out a yell. They didn't have to use that window in the end, but a great story nonetheless. After the storm the mission office was reported to be under 12-18 feet of water. Also, after the storm someone found his temple recommend.
JT estimated that the storm lasted until the early evening. News reports have described the duration of Typhoon Haiyan to be a Class 5 typhoon that lasted for two days. His apartment is two-storied so after the storm they slept there for the next few nights amidst gunshots and looting and the smell of death that he said was "...just unbearable." Also, coming to learn that no planes were coming in or out of the airport, no road had access to them and no communication was able to go out was very hard. The missionaries spent the next few days helping to pass out food for the city down at city hall.
At home, we knew that it would take several days for help to arrive and communications to get re-established. (see story below) The scripture that sustained me during that time was Doctrine and Covenants 115:6--
"And that the gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, may be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth."
That probably sounds a little naive knowing what we know now, but I don't see it that way. The organization of the church is an amazing force. From the chain of priesthood leadership that watches over us at every level to the nameless people who provided clean clothes and shoes and food and shelter and blankets and computers and cell phones and hugs. We are organized from the First Presidency to the individual and to see it all in action is a testimony to me that the Lord's way is powerful.
The details of that story took three times to put together. It has been sobering for me to listen to Pernell gently phrase the questions and give JT time to process his answers. I am so grateful for this time and resources (computers to skype with) to help these missionaries get a handle on what they have survived and endured. Clean clothes, sleep, and good food bring a sense of normalcy and structure to the schedules they are used to keeping.
Here are some bits and pieces of the other stories we are working on. After the storm the missionaries were put to work passing out food at City Hall. Somewhere in there JT went out to look for water. He was digging through rubble and found a sealed case of Coke. He found it and was carrying that and a large bottle of water over his shoulder. He stepped on a nail. A sister missionary removed it and later, Sis. Andaya bandaged him up. One of the mission rules is to avoid standing water or being in the water at all. The danger is in the snails that live in the water. They can get into your system through an open wound or if you were to drink it, lay their eggs and then the snails party on your insides....nasty. JT was able to get a tetanus shot at City Hall somehow.
This is from a news article that Kristin found:
"It's overwhelming," Air Force Capt. Antonio Tamayo told the AP. "We need more medicine. We cannot give anti-tetanus vaccine shots because we have none."
On Sunday they had a short sacrament meeting at 6:15a.m. JT said he would never forget it because of the meager little crackers they found to use for the bread and the beautiful spirit that was there. They then went out to help distribute food again. He got heat exhaustion and passed out from being dehydrated. Pres. Andaya helped him away and Sis. Andaya took care of him by pouring some cold water on his head and finding him something to drink. There are no words to describe the energy and tenderness with which they have fought to protect these men and women.
JT has a cell phone with him. Not every missionary does, but he does because he needs to communicate with all of the elders in the mission to coordinate the supplies they need. As the Office Supply Manager he has traveled all over the islands of Leyte and Samar. He is not allowed to use this to communicate with us or friends back home. Occassionally on the days he writes home he will send a text to say hello, or I'm thinking of you. About three days after the typhoon had passed a crude cell phone tower was put back up. Sometimes he could get a signal but it wouldn't last long enough for him to send a text message. So he prepared the text and continued to try to send it over the next two days.
Meanwhile, back at home, we had received one phonecall from the Area Presidency's secretary on Saturday night saying he was alive and accounted for and another phonecall from the missionary department in Salt Lake on Sunday afternoon confirming that. We were fairly confident that that was true but by then the reports had started that 80 missionaries from the Tacloban mission were still missing. Jessica and James (Pernell's brother) were working tirelessly on social media to track down any bit of information they could. We had been in Denver that weekend for our granddaughter's blessing and drove to Albequerque. Both of our phones continued to go off with the buzz of notifications. At one point, after we had just settled into bed I told Pernell, "Please turn that off. I can't handle anymore today." He rolled over and checked his phone. "IT'S JT!!!" The text said---Dad I'm alive JT--. Receiving this news at midnight on Sunday was earthshattering. We tried calling back and texting back, but there was no response.
Our family is very sports oriented. No offense against cheerleaders, but I was one in High School for a few years and my kids think this is hilarious. I always take it in stride and tell them that's why I am such a good mom...because I am very good at cheering them on when life or sports or relationships or finding themselves gets hard. As a means of lightening the mood of this staggering text I posted a screenshot of JT's text to Facebook with the caption....."and then he takes an outside shot from the other side of the planet.......nothin but net.....the fans go wild!!!!" When I was trying to explain this to JT he was worried that he would be in trouble for sending a text. I quickly explained how worried we were and how grateful we were to know that he was alive. He has been through some very serious trauma.
The scripture I found to describe our feelings at this point is Mormon 9:15-16 from the Book of Mormon.
"And now, O all ye that have imagined up unto yourselves a god who can do no miracles, I would ask of you, have all these things passed, of which I have spoken? Has the end come yet? Behold I say unto you, Nay and God has not ceased to be a God of miracles. Behold are not the things that God hath wrought marvelous in our eyes? Yea, and who can comprehend the marvelous works of God?"
On Sunday night they stayed in the mission home. Early the next morning they walked about 3 km to the airport. Some of the missionaries had to walk upwards of 50km (30 miles) to get to the airport. If you have seen any of the news reports you can only imagine what they saw along the way. I don't know if JT was not privy to the information of the arrangements that had been made or if they had simply put themselves in the right place at the right time and the Lord took it from there. He said the church was trying to purchase several airplanes to transport the missionaries out. Pres. Ardern (1st counselor in the Area Presidency) was with them. Each time it fell through because the authorities didn't or wouldn't believe they had the resources to really do that. Pres. Ardern also had with him a mini-ipad that had boarding passes for all of the missionaries to get on that C130 that you saw in the ABC newsclip. However, because they were not paper boarding passes they were not accepted by those who were loading the planes.
JT saw an American Marine. He came up to them and asked them how they were doin and what they were doin in Tacloban...just small talk. JT said, "You know, just building a relationship of trust." JT said that they were missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. "Oh yeah, I used to be a member of that church." "Well, if there's anything I can do to help you out...."I'm a marine. I've been all over lately, Afghanistan.....I'm not really sure why I'm here today." To which Pres. Ardern spoke up and said, "You're here to get God's missionaries out of here." "Great, I'll see what I can do." Next thing he knew he heard the man say, "Let's get these Mormons out of here." JT's group of 71 missionaries was divided up between two osprey (helicopter/plane--awesomely cool but unless you're a marine you don't ride on these) and the C130 plane. He likes the idea of having the bragging rights to that. It took two and a half hours to get to Manila. About 20 rode on the one he was on.
I cannot begin to imagine the level of stress Pres. and Sis. Andaya have been under through all of this. Not only are they worried about their own family, but the lives and safety of 204 missionaries and their extremely worried families. JT said at one point Pres. Andaya had a phone on each ear with Apostles (leaders higher up in the church) on the other end expressing their concern and frustration as to how they were going to get these kids out. I assume multiple plans were tried to figure out the quickest way to get them out of Tacloban.
When the missionaries landed in Manila a bus was waiting to take them to the MTC. JT called us at 3a.m. Tuesday morning. We woke up the kids and talked for two hours. Alyssa asked JT what he did to wait out the storm after he got to a safe and secure place. JT replied, "Once we were inside the mission home we sang hymns and prayed but I haven't felt safe until about half an hour ago.
___________________________________________
First phone call from the Area Presidency's secretary....(from a letter to JT)
I knew from the church's website that it would take a few days to establish even minimum communications so I was at peace going into Saturday (your Sunday). I thought I was doing just fine until I got the call from the Area Presidency secretary. We had gone to the movies as a diversion from all of the news reports that just seemed to be getting worse by the hour. I had turned my phone to vibrate. It went off with 4% battery ....augh! ...from "unknown". As I scrambled to get out of the theatre I cut her off. Gratefully, she called back. She told me that you were safe, had food and water and that you were helping with the cleanup. I countered, "You mean to tell me exactly, that you know Elder McGuire is alive?" "Yes, Sis. McGuire, he is." [I gathered myself somewhat and asked, "Do they have food?" She said, "they have some and are working to get more in.] I choked out a "thank you" and began to sob. ....my eyeballs hurt...After we got it back together and got to Lindsay's we had a chocolate milk toast, hugs all around and promises to Rick that he would be called to serve in Kanab, UT. We posted that on Facebook, to which Aunt Doris said, "I'm sure the people of Kanab, UT will be grateful for his service." I love her.
[At home, away from the public eye, we knelt in family prayer and thanked Heavenly Father for preserving your life and the many, many people involved who had helped to get you to Manila.] (sleep would come tonight)
Linda sent me this sweet passage, again from the Book of Mormon..."that we may rejoice in the great privilege of our church, and in the cause of our Redeemer and our God. Behold, I have sent a few provisions unto them, that they may not perish until ye can come unto me." ....tell them to fear not, for God will deliver them..."
Jessica found Psalms 91
Elder McGuire told me that the scripture that got him through was Alma 44:4--
"Now ye see that this is the true faith of God; yea, ye see that God will support, and keep, and preserve us, so long as we are faithful unto him, and unto our faith, and our religion; and never will the Lord suffer that we shall be destroyed except we should fall into transgression and deny our faith."
I don't think it is ironic at all to recognize that this is the Neavitt's (Cameron's family) family motto. Shout out to the families from Queen Creek and their amazing faith. Kristin is already planning to send JT one of their t-shirts.
And to whoever chose the song for the Relief Society meeting in Denver on Sunday....Keep the Commandments.....thank you. That was a tender mercy for me that day.
"Keep the commandments, keep the commandments. In this there is safety, in this there is peace.
He will send blessings, he will send blessings. Words of the prophet. Keep the commandments. In this there is safety and peace."
I also don't know how to begin to thank God for the multitude of blessings that have been given to us other than to bear you my testimony that God is real. He lives. He knows each of us personally and answers prayers. He is anxious to teach us the things we need to know to return to live with Him again. Life is so good and beautiful amidst the chaos when you come to know these simple truths. The Jesus Christ I know provided a way for me to repent when I need to change so that I can continue to grow to be like Him. I love the simpleness of knowing that I can talk directly to Him through my personal prayers. He will always answer me if I put myself in a position spiritually to keep that channel clear. These are the things that ground me as the world around us becomes increasingly wicked. I am privileged with the great blessing of being a mother in these latter days. I can build my children's confidence and give them opportunities to develop themselves, but the one thing that will bring them the most happiness is coming to know for themselves these things that I have described. The man I married cherishes and protects this role of mine and I love him beyond measure for it.
Keep the faith, stay strong and hold on!
Pernell and Nancy McGuire
Sunday, February 24, 2013
I don't normally go hiking in flip flops and my whites...
but when I do you know I'm going to baptize a child of God!
This week was a great week. There were quite a few setbacks but it's better to look up. It's better to look forward.
A lot of appointments fell through. We didn't nearly
accomplish most of our goals for lessons or for our investigators.
Church attendance was kind of low There is a lot of potential for
everything but it seems like everything is in a standstill.
Despite all of this things are still fine. The
baptism went wonderfully. It was such an amazing experience for the both
of us. The Spirit was so strong. The ocean felt great. Words can't
really describe how I felt.
Being here in Villaba has made me realize the
importance of the priesthood. The 2 baptisms we've had have both been
young boys. We've been working really hard to find families and
potential priesthood holders. We've found them but now the task is to
help them understand and accept the Gospel. Our branch has been without
an Elders Quorum President and Branch Mission Leader for half a year
now. Our Branch President is probably the best in the entire world. He
is giving his all in serving everyone and simultaneously preparing his
family to go to the temple in April. He's only been a member for 6
years, but he has such a firm grasp on the Gospel and truly does magnify
his priesthood.
My thoughts have been very clustered lately. Somehow
it all revolves around Charity. Haven't quite made all the connections
just yet but it is a subject that has been on my mind lately. In cebuano
its gugma nga putli or pure love. I've been thinking about how true it
is. It is the pure love of Christ. It's loving others the way God loves
us. It is a Christlike attribute that I don't yet have but I am
striving to work for.
On Tuesday we had a district meeting about Charity. I
never really put a whole lot of thought into why I came on a mission
before. Last year my thoughts were oh everyone else is putting in their
papers I should do the same. Everybody else is getting a call I should
get one too. I've realized that that is quite a pathetic reason to come
on a mission. I was reading in my journal about the week before I came
on my mission. I wrote about a family scripture study we had about
courage. I had written 2 Tim. 1:7. Basically there are two reasons to do
anything. One you can do it out of fear. (Fear of punishment that
you're not going to fit in with your peers or not fulfilling priesthood
duties.) Or you can do it out of Love. I've been trying to change the
way I think about things. About the way my Father in Heaven loves me.
About the way He has a plan for me. About His expectations for me. About
my expectations for myself and who I want to become; not what I want
to be when I grow up but who I really am.
I read a great talk called the Fourth Missionary.
What I've learned from it is that this isn't a sacrifice. God gives us
everything we ever have. We can CONSECRATE ourselves to Him. It's not
about the 2 years. It's about giving your whole will to the Lord and
surrendering all of your righteous desires and wants for His will. We
can serve with our might and strength but it doesn't mean a thing if we
don't serve with all of our heart and mind.
Big growing week this week. I have a long way to go
still. But that's part of the plan, Everyday we make choices that bring
us closer or further from our Father in Heaven. Choices that help us
become more or less like Him.
All in all, I am feeling great. I love my area I love my companion I love my mission president. Life is really good.
Love you all
Elder McGuire
Sunday, February 17, 2013
5 months ba?!
Wow time just doesn't even feel normal anymore. It felt like this was a
super long week but at the same time I can't believe it's been 5 months.
I feel like I am in a time warp or some strange dream that feels real
most of the time until I look at a calendar or clock. Overall though,
things are looking great!
Tuesday was great! We went to Ormoc for our zone meeting
and received some great training on asking inspired questions. It has
been really helpful in asking investigators what they really understand
about what we have said, but it's also great for me to ask myself and
see how much I understand the doctrine. It's crazy, you'd think after
growing up in the church for 19 years I would know quite a bit about the
Gospel. Every day I learn something new though. Tuesday night was
awesome! We got to teach a new investigator in English! He is super
smart. He is the manager of the bank and super interested in the Book of
Mormon. I hope he keeps on reading and has more questions. We teach him
again tomorrow!.
We also have a baptism this Saturday for a 10 year
old that we've taught. I finally get to baptize someone in the ocean!!!
Other exciting news is that I bought a sundang (it's basically a
machete.) And yes mom the purchase was completely justified because I
need it for service projects. They don't have lawn mowers here.
Wednesday was pretty good. We taught some more
investigators that are somewhat progressing. I am still trying to
understand why it's so hard to scrape up 10 pesos to come to church. In
the evening we went contacting with the Branch President and we are
gonna start teaching some new families. We also got the announcement
that there is no transfer for either of us so Elder Cottle and I get at
least 4 more weeks in Villaba.
Thursday and Friday were kind of rough. We taught
the Balombao family both days. Once with a member and one without. Nanay
said she was content to stay Catholic and didn't want to change. It's
so hard because Tatay really wants to be baptized but not without his
wife. We had to drop them because we can't waste anymore time there
trying to invite her to change when she doesn't want to.
Saturday night was great! We taught a new family
with President Jose. The Gorillo family is actually related to him
somehow. They call each other cousin so I'm assuming they are haha. The
lesson went really well. President Jose is an amazing Branch President.
He's been a member for almost 6 years. It is so amazing to hear the
change in his life from the time he investigated until now. Living the
Gospel brings so much joy and happiness to people. He is an amazing
example of that. I've really learned from him that I need to find people
that are willing to live the Gospel and professionals. They will build
up the church after we leave. I've made that my new goal to baptize a
family. Funny enough I read in Preach My Gospel the other day that that
is exactly what I should be trying to do. Love how that works out.
All in all I'm doing great. The power of the
Atonement is real. The blessings from living the Gospel are real. This
church is true.
Keep praying no matter what. Ether 12:12 The miracles come after we show our faith!
Love you all,
Elder McGuire
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Still alive and feeling great!
This week has been a crazy one.
Tuesday was alright.
We went to Palompon in the morning for district meeting. We really do
have an awesome district. We discussed the Book of Mormon and how we
should be using it. It really is the word of God. I know it to be true.
That is the way people are converted. When they read and understand the
doctrine and apply it to their lives. In the afternoon, we went to
Silad. I really need to obtain more patience. We keep teaching families
that say they will come to church and then they never do. It really
frustrates me but then I see one or two of the families that we did
teach come to church and it's all worth it.
On Wednesday we went back to Palompon and had
exchanges. It was a great experience. I went with Elder Arganda my
district leader. We taught some solid lessons to a semi active family
and an investigator. I also got to have the experience of eating botbot
and the sabao of lubi as well as the lubi. There are several words for
coconut in Cebuano. It was delicious and I'm really gonna miss the
fruits here.
Thursday was really good. In the morning we did
weekly planning and in the afternoon we visited Bro. Brigoli, the
returning high priest. He has some amazing stories about his life and
when the missionaries first came to Villaba back in the 90s. He reminds
me so much of my grandpas it was great! He is on track to return and be
sealed with his wife this year in the temple.
Friday we woke up at 3:45 to catch the bus to
Tacloban. There was a training meeting for all trainers and training. It
was really good. They split us up and gave us training on how to make
study more effective and how to set better goals and be more focused on
achieving them. Unfortunately there are no return rides to Villaba until
the next day. So we got back on Saturday around 2. No mom the package
isn't here yet but transfer day is on Friday so I might be headed back,
if not my new companion can probably bring it to me.
Saturday night was alright. We taught Angelo Arique.
our closest investigator to baptism. The problem is he hasn't learned
to read yet so we are teaching him how. He has really improved this past
month and I'm hoping that he can get past his baptismal interview
tomorrow. After that we went and taught the Sabarez family. We started
teaching about faith. Somewhere in the middle of the lesson someone got
offended and turned on the TV. We were able to apologize and close with a
prayer. Hopefully it wasn't something we said that offended them.
Praying hard for them.
Sunday was good. We are still averaging 70 people. I
just wish we could get one more family to come. We got some referrals
from the ward and President Jose is going to come with us to teach them
this week. Hopes are high. Last night we also talked to a professional.
He knows English. We gave him a English copy of the BoM a few weeks ago.
He has some questions and wants to learn more. I am really hoping he
accepts our message and continues to read.
Overall I'm doing great. I feel heavier and need to do more cardio and eat healthier. All in all though I'm doing fine.
It
sounds like you all are having a great time over there. :) It's great
to hear that you're all having lots of experiences in life that will
help you grow!
I love you all. Thank you for all the love and
prayers and support and letters. I could not do this without you all.
Salamat kaayo!
akong gihigugma ang pamilya nako!
Elder McGuire
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Week 20
This week has been really good!
To start off we went
to Ormoc on Monday afternoon. We got talking to this one guy on the van
ride down. He knows English but we decided to speak Cebuano. He was
really nice and we ended up giving him a Book of Mormon. Turns out we
had already met his dad who is a Brgy Capt in Suba. We followed up and
taught them the Message of the Restoration on Wednesday. The son said
he would be baptized if the Book of Mormon was true. I really hope he
will be.
In Ormoc we met up with Elder Cottle's grandparents
who are serving in the Cebu temple but came to visit for his birthday on
monday. It was awesome. They took us to Moon Cafe. You would not
believe it but there is actually some decent Mexican food here in the
Philippines. Granted it wasn't really spicy at all but man it was the
best meal I've had in a long time. I had a chimichanga a fajita salad a
beef taco and a pineapple shake. His grandparents also got me some
garments and a copy of Preach My Gospel. My plan is to give one away and
get the other bookbound.
On Tuesday We had a really good district meeting in
the morning. In the afternoon, we taught another new investigator whose
son is a member in Manila. We taught another investigator and more less
active families.
On Thursday we went on exchanges with our Zone
Leaders to get certified. Elder Cypers is an awesome missionary. He
really knows Cebuano and is a phenomenal teacher. It was awesome that I
got to work with him. We got punted in the morning from some of the less
actives so we went finding. We gave away some copies of the Book of
Mormon but I don't think it's going to go anywhere fast with them. We
had my stew for lunch. They said it was awesome. In the afternoon, we
actually got to teach some families. We taught the Porquiado family and
shared about Alma the Elder praying for his son and the Angel
experience. We committed them to pray for and invite their less active
son to return. After that we went to Suba to teach a less active
priesthood holder but he said he was busy. So we went to the hospital
and left copies of the BoM with the chief nurse, who is actually the
wife of one of the Brgy Capts. Hopefully something comes of that. After
that we took a ride to Bangkal and taught one of the Brgy Capts and his
wife the Message of the Restoration. It frustrates me so much when we
teach it as clearly as we can and then they say that all religions are
the same and we believe the same thing. After that we taught another
less active family. We went back home and did evaluation and
certification. I am now certified for the first level. Which means I
could be a senior companion if called upon by the Lord and President
Andaya.
On Saturday we taught the Balombao family. We read
the reading assignment with them and then proceeded with a lesson about
baptism. We shared from Mosiah 18:8-14. There was such a good Spirit
there. When we asked the question What have you against being baptized
so the Lord can pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you. Bro.
Balombao answered with verse 12 saying this is the desire of his heart.
Sister Balombao still doesn't see the difference between the religions
no matter how many times we try to explain it. She can't read very well
because her eyes are old. We asked her to read one verse from 3 Nephi
11:26. She read it. We asked her to pray about it and she did. She asked
for an answer. I think that is the first time she may have ever read
from the Book of Mormon and prayed about it in public. We invited them
to a baptismal service on the 16th. I really wish Nanay would have an
Alma the Younger experience.
Sunday was really cool. We woke up and had studies
then went to Priesthood meeting. Halfway through an investigator walked
in. He was from Tabango which is about 15 km north of here. He asked to
know a little bit more about the church. Apparently he had read a lot
from his neighbors copy of the Book of Mormon. We talked to him in the
sunday school room and explained a little more about Joseph Smith. He
basically quoted the Testimony of Joseph Smith and knew about several
Book of Mormon prophets. We gave Oliver his own copy of the BoM as well
as all of our proselyting pamphlets. We asked President Andaya if we can
go teach him or if Tabango can be opened and have some missionaries
there, He has yet to respond. I really hope we can go there. The members
here are totally willing to help open the area.
After Sacrament meeting we attended branch council
meeting and urged everyone to get started on temple recommend and
patriarchal interviews now so everyone is prepared. Thankfully they
listened. I heard they were at the church til 5 doing interviews. The
attendance was pretty good but there were still a lot of people absent.
We need some consistent growth here.
Overall I'm doing great. Thank you all for your
letters and prayers. You really make it a lot easier on me knowing that
you're all following the Gospel.
Love you all
Elder McGuire
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