Visit to Cebu

Side view of the Cebu Temple  

 Beautifully landscaped grounds of the Cebu temple

 Another view of the Cebu Temple

Cebu Temple

We had the opportunity to fly to Cebu on the 3rd of September --we went directly to our hotel The North Winds--we were in the Presidential Suite but that did not actually mean a lot.  It was very plain and had so many little bugs all over the table and counters.  I really wonder what the other rooms looked like.  I think it was because of size mostly to be called the Presidential suite -- we did have a table and chairs and also a refrigerator.   I sat down at the computer in the dark so as not to disturb Kendall in the early morning and soon felt tiny bug all over my arms and hands.  We had left a package of dried fruit on the table and it was swarming with these bugs.  The last time I saw bugs so thick was when I was serving my mission in Alabama many years ago and they were cockroaches--about 1/2 inch long and brown.  These were extra tiny bugs--smaller than a sugar ants but just as numerous.  It was creepy but we survived.
We attended a session in the Cebu Temple--this was our first opportunity to attend the Cebu temple.  We were there for the dedication in June but we were in an overflow room and watched the proceeding on the large screen TV. and we were not able to stay long enough to actually attend the temple.The Temple is magnificient--it is truly a House of the Lord.  The workmanship and materials used  in the connstructions are the finest available.  It was is beautiful beyond my explanation.  We arrived early thinking that the sessions were on the hour as at other temple -- we were an hour early.  It was suggested that we could participate in a sealing for a young couple that had come to be married in the temple.  They were alone --without any family or friends.  She had only taken out her endowments the day before.  They were very quiet and timid.  Kendall was one of the witnesses and I and the other witness's wife were the only one in attendance besides the officiator.  It was a beautiful occasion and a time of peace and relection for us all.  I do not remember where the couple had come from but we were told that it is typical for the couple to arrive alone without any family or friends because of the cost of transportation and all.  The temple provides lovely wedding dresses for the brides and also will take pictures outside after the ceremony for their keepsakes.
Many of the temple workers have been recuited by the new Temple President.  President Mortimer and his wife are  from upper Idaho and they have invited many of their friends to come there to serve.  That would be a wonderful assignment to serve with close friends from home in such a worthy cause.  Also the living conditions are great.  They have new apartments all on the top floor of the Patron housing building on the Temple block.  The apartment are well equipt with washers/dryers and other conveniences.  It would be a pleasant environment for all.  In the Patron housing building there is also a Distribution Center and a cafeteria etc.  The grounds are so beautiful--I counted 54 palm trees lining the street. 

We had dinner in the hotel restaurant and they were have some kind of meeting with the local biking group.  One of the bikers, an older hard looking man began talking to us about the beautiful temple our Church has just completed and how he enjoyed having it there in the city of Cebu.  He talked very favorable about the church and the positive influence he felt it was in the area.  The Church is having an impact on the Philippines and is growing fast here.  There are about 600,000 members in the Philippines.  There are many good things happening within the church here.   The temple grounds are such an oasis for all to come and see.

 Patron housing building --also some of the tall palm trees

 The flowers in the Philippines are always beautiful

 Another view of the grounds

Temple president's home and another like it for the Mission President on the left 

We had two enjoyable two days there.  On Saturday we attend the Cluster meeting for all the Priesthood leaders in the area.  Kendall had a presentation about PEF.  We flew home in the evening.