"We will be the Lord's missionaries to bring the world His truth"

Can't believe that we just had our 8th transfer! Every 6 weeks we send another batch of missionaries we have grown to love to a new place to share the gospel. When they are new missionaries we feel like we are pushing our chicks out of the nest so they can learn to fly. They go, sometimes tearfully, because they leave behind people they have come to love. But they go. They pack up their things again and again and go.

They are like Nephi - "they will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for they know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."  1Nephi 3:7  

We've been here almost a year and have served with so many wonderful young men and women and senior couples who show by their actions their love for the Lord and the work of declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It has been a year of devastation, miracles, lasting friendships made, spiritual and emotional growth, inviting all to come unto Christ and service in many forms.We are so grateful for all of it.  

Elder Caycayon's Polynesian sons
Elder Mataupu,  Elder Laei - our current AP(asst. to the Pres.)
Elder Talakai  (former AP) finished his mission and is home in Utah.
Great men and great leaders! 

1st transfer batch: 10 Oct 2013

                 

 Sister Villamartin (among anak nga baje).  She finished her mission and is now preparing to be a teacher, Elder Dickey, Elder Peterson (kneeling) Elder Rayos, Elder Tan, Elder McDougal and Sister Ontoria on guitar.

2nd transfer batch: 21 Nov 2013
 
Elder Durham, Elder Dulaca, Elder Gerardo, Elder Ramada, and Elder Laei, our Samoan anak.

Sister Abubo, our "Warrior Princess".
When a burglar tried to break into
their apartment, this petite Filipina
 stood behind the doorw/ an iron in
 hand ready to whack him
on the head.  Fierce!


3rd transfer batch: 2 Jan 2014.  It was on this transfer I started the tradition of giving yarn leis to all the missionaries leaving Bohol. Alas, I forgot to take pictures!

Elder Solis

Elder Mafile'o

Sunshine Sister Kramer-
Hurricane Yolanda survivor
from Tacloban

Sister Vailea 

Elder Murdock

Sister Alvaro
Among anak nga baje

Elder Wiscombe

4th transfer batch: 13 Feb 2014

Elder Labial, Elder Faustorilla, Elder Fox, Elder Espanola,
Elder Benjamin, Elder Micabani, Elder Andres

Sister Clasitas, Sister Yu

Sister Simkins went back
to Tacloban. She is as beautiful
inside as she is out.

Sister Paragas

5th transfer batch: 27 Mar 2014

Sister Yap, Elder Pielago, Elder Bayot, Sister Wolfe, Elder Cornwall

Elder Cunnold finished his mission
and went home to New Zealand

Sister "Grandma" Clegg, Sister Grigg, Elder "Gwapo" Sanchez, Elder Mamaril,
Elder "Buotan" Manalo, Sister "Hugs" Sears,
 Elder "Stripling Warrior" Reupena,
 Elder Black, Elder Rosquist

6th transfer batch: 8 May 2014

Elder Caya, Elder Faustorilla, Elder Fabiano, Elder Dela Torre
honorable mission served and Returning home With Honor. 

Elder Balos, Elder Ymas, Elder "2nd Miler" Artigo, Sister Tuipulotu, Sister McCurdy, Sister Lupisan, Sister Crowley, Elder Orr

    

                                                        

7th transfer batch: 19 June 2014

Elder "Funny man" Estrada, Elder " Tall Red" Durham, Elder Tibuncog, Sister "Angel" Garcia, Sister "Dynamite comes in small packages" Enlacinto, Elder "Cowboy" Ewell, Elder Smith, Elder Wright

      

Elder "Piano guy" Aquino saying goodbye to his companion
 Elder "Smiley" Lagahit standing between us

   

Sister "Malipay" Paragas leaving us for the 2nd and final time on her way home after
finishing her mission in Bohol.  Her heart's desire is to become a mother in
Zion.  We will miss here infectious laugh and ready smile and her
powerful testimony of the Savior and His restored gospel and hope
that one day she will be the mother she desires to become.

Sister "Gwapa" Deloso

Elder and Sister Talbot

And our good friends the Talbots left.  They finished their mission on July 15th.  He served in Hawaii in the '70s; 3 months on Kauai.  He remembers my Aunty, Sis. Eleanor Battad, and many of the old timers.  He and his wife have served 3 missions - Vietnam, Tonga and the Philippines.  They are a remarkable couple and we miss our "other half".  They took care of the Calape Zone, the northern part of Bohol.  When the earthquake hit they were in Loon where a lot of damage took place.  They slept in their truck and were without electricity for quite a while. That's really hard here because no electricity means no aircon and no aircon means sleeping in your sweat because it's so hot and humid. But they continued on and were troopers.  We invited them over for a farewell luncheon and made some Hawaiian food because they always talked about loving the laulau plate lunches on the Big Island. So we made some laulau out of gabi leaves, some lomilomi salmon from frozen salmon filets and of course mac salad and rice with pineapple upside down cake for dessert.  They loved it!! We really miss them

And finally our 8th batch left: 30 Jul 2014

Elder Nelson, Sister Dala, Sister Lauck (the Enos' grand niece)

Sister Ontoria, leaving us for the 2nd time.  

Elder Labrador, Elder Conolly, Elder Mafile'o(another Bohol 2 timer), Sister Storey, Sister Guanzon

Elder Gerardo (2nd time for him too), Elder Liwanag

As you can see my hair got progressively whiter but it's not from the stress of  working with these missionaries...actually they keep me young.  I just decided that I wanted to look like Colett. (LOL) 

This month we celebrate our one year mission anniversary. One day Elijah told us, "Mama and Papa, I don't want to serve a mission when I grow up."  We asked him why and he said, "Missions are too long!"  For us the time is flying but for a 3 yr. old it is a long time to be without his mama and papa.  I hope one day he'll understand why we left him for such a long time in his young life.  We want him to know that serving the Lord is the best thing you can do with your life whether it's on a full time mission or at home magnifying your calling. We hope one day he will have the desire to follow in the footsteps of his father, mother, uncles and aunty and grandparents and serve a mission because of the example that has been set but more importantly because he loves the Lord.  It has been a wonderful year!  Te atua pu, nahigugma mi inyoha,

Elder and Sister Caycayon