CDO 1st Ward: January 2010

Good news for the Filipino Saints!

The time is nearing when we won't be needing the microfilm readers to do our Family History research. Indexing Philippine Documents has begun. This is when records saved in microfilms are transferred to another format (soft copies) and then uploaded to the new Family History website for members to access.

We can all help make this go fast! Be an INDEXER! It's just like doing research the traditional way using readers but only much better, since we do it using the computer and we do it online (or it can be done offline also).

Hence, all members, 8 years old above are enjoined to register @ http://new.familysearch.org and http://indexing.familysearch.org and help in this great and exciting work.

To register with http://new.familysearch.org, members need to have the following information:

1) Membership Record Number (this is what we use in our Tithing slip)

2) Confirmation Date

(Please ask our Ward Clerk, Bro. Ramil Ramos to help you get these numbers)

With the necessary information, you can then proceed to http://indexing.familysearch.org and register.

For more information, please contact our Ward Family History Consultants Connie Rama, Irish Eltanal, and Peter James Bahian.

My alarm clock rang at exactly 4 am. I lingered in bed, thinking that it was only last Sunday when I was sustained and set apart as the new seminary teacher of the youth of our ward. Prior to this call, I was the Sunday School teacher of this very same young people - a mixed group of unique and special individuals - some rowdy, some too quiet, some too loud, some too serious, some very smart, and some very sweet ...

I had difficult times while serving as their Sunday School teacher. I found it a little challenging to understand how some of them could be so hard headed when most of them were born "Mormons" with goodly parents.

Then, unexpectedly, my Bishop invited me to his office for an interview. He told me of his inspiration to call me as Seminary teacher. I immediately said yes. I promised myself ever since I became a member of the church 18 years ago never to say no to a calling.

But then it suddenly entered my mind - I had a difficult time teaching them once a week on Sundays, now I have to teach them 40 minutes everyday except Sunday!

God really loves me, and he wants me to learn that's why I'm given this new calling. Maybe I need to cultivate some more patience, understanding, love, and charity.

So this cold Tuesday morning just two days after my call, it took me a little while before I finally had enough will power to brave the cold, wet early morning and leave my warm comfortable bed.

My thoughts turned to the young fellows who might be up and about already, preparing themselves for what's going to happen today - early morning seminary!

I imagined Oniel ... who, according to my two young women, happens to be the only one who has in the past, shown enthusiasm when it comes to early morning seminary. I can only imagine how early he has to wake up every day, considering that his class starts at exactly 6 oclock in the morning.

Then my thoughts turned to my closest neighbor, the Portugal brothers. Will they be able to make it? I hope they will, Joseph and Airon Dale. Their classes start very early too, just like Oniel.

How about Louie and Pearl? They live a little farther, on the south side of Nazareth, one barangay away from where I live. And they have to take a tricycle ride or ask their Dad to bring them here. Good that he's our Bishop, he would most likely be more than glad to bring them here. I prayed for Louie to come, for a reason I know not, except that I know I want him to attend Seminary class regularly.

Then there's Apple. Well, she was honest when she said she normally wakes up around 10 in the morning. That made me doubt if she will ever be able to make it.

Seminary for us meant they have to be in our house at exactly 5:10 in the morning so we can start at 5:15, then end it at 5:45 to give those who have classes at 6 am enough time to commute.

So I was up at 4:10 very early today ... I looked around the house. Well, all was in order, my gratitude to all the members of my household who helped me clean up before we all went to bed last night. Still, I did a little tidying up, took a bath, changed into "teacherly" clothing, combed my pixie-cut hair, and sat to read my scriptures and my teachers manual while waiting for them to arrive. Actually, I prayed somebody would come. With the shower outside (thus a muddy road and a cold-wet atmosphere), I sincerely doubted if someone would come. Besides, I am the kind of teacher not many young poeple would love to have. I am a bit too strong when it comes to discipline ... But in my heart I prayed they would come, for their sake, but in all honesty, more for mine. I needed them as much as they needed me.

So I waited, and waited ....

Then April stood up. She looked at the direction of the gate. She saw someone sitting on the cement stairs. T'was dark outside, and probably whoever it was who was there was waiting for someone to see him.

So April went and looked.

It was Oniel! Trusty, young, neat, and smiling Oniel.

He was ushered inside, and I looked at him admiringly. He was wearing his school uniform underneath his jacket. He obviously took a bath. His backpack was on his shoulder. I had to ask him what time he had to wake up to be up and ready this early, and I was dumbfounded by his answer: he was not able to sleep last night. He was very excited about our very first meeting for our early morning seminary. That made me smile and say a silent prayer of gratitude for a wonderful young man like him.

So we sat around our dining table - Sarah, April, Oniel, and I. We waited for the others to arrive. The clock continued to tick ... I looked at the clock again ... 5:15 am. I told them we better start so Oniel can finish on time and leave for school.

I thought, maybe tomorrow they will be here. It's raining, and they have a good reason for not being able to make it.

We opened with a prayer with April offering it. Then we started discussing Mosiah 24 and 25.

Occasionally I would glance at the clock. I told myself silently ... nobody else is coming?

Then they saw someone at the gate. Ah, Airon Dale. How happy I felt right there and then. He too was dressed neatly, though not in his school uniform. He said he's going back to their house after our session to eat his breakfast then go to school.

And so we continued our discussion on King Noah and King Benjamin, of leadership and accountability.

Then, much to my surprise, there were three figures in the gate! Louie, Pearl, and Apple!

I could have cried.

They came in, we said our short pleasantries, and we continued. I could feel a lump in my throat. I did not realize I will be this affected.

We talked about likening the scriptures with what's happening today, and how we all must learn from the past to be able to make better and wiser decisions now.

I have not really prepared breakfast because I told them to eat prior to coming to seminary. Good that my daughters signaled me that they would like to prepare something for the others, which I am glad they did.

We ended our discussions, we closed it with a prayer, and they shared the little food April and Sarah prepared.

As I was a mom too, I urged them to leave so they won't be late for school. I know how strict their schools are with tardiness. I would not want them to hate seminary because it causes them to be late.

As I ushered them out the gate and wished them a safe and great day ahead, I felt happy ... and good!

These young people are indeed God's chosen few. How blessed are they to be born in this latter days. How blessed are they for these wonderful programs the church has given them designed to strengthen and equip them to become the best that they can ever be.

I can now see what the future holds for me. Knowing that someday soon these young people will be serving missions and starting careers and families, that they will be holding leadership positions in the church and in their own organizations, and in the society - mine is a sacred duty to teach them about the gospel, their best defense against the adversary, and their best tool towards achieving success and happiness.

See you again on Thursday Oniel, Airon, Louie, Pearl, Apple, April, and Sarah. I hope the others will join you as well, as we enjoy learning about the gospel, and growing up together, you and me - towards eternity.

Love you guys! ♥♥♥