So you both want to know about the Dedication. Well first I'm going to tell you about the cultural celebration. We watched the celebration in the district center. It was really cool. President Monson spoke. President Eyering came with him along with Elder Oaks and Bishop Burton. Monson spoke and then they did the dances. It was a group of cultural dances and some modern dances. Then at the end these three girls sang an original song while standing on a podium in the middle of the floor of the Cebu Colisseum. As they sang all the youth in the whole temple district came and stood in front of the prophet as the girls sang about standing for something and that they will do whatever he asks of them. It was freaking awesome. We were all a little teary eyed. So was Elder Eyering. Holy cow. They kept showing him and President Monson. It was so cool because these kids are all 1-3 generation members and here they are pledging their lives to follow the Lord and his prophet. It was awesome. SPEAKING of converts I saw a girl that I baptized. It was really funny because we sat with the whole zone and we kept pointing whenever we saw someone we had baptized. It was pretty awesome.
Then the dedication. We were in Bohol. We had gone to the temple a couple of weeks ago to just go through the open house only. Not participate. haha. But the dedication was shown in the district center in Calape. So Elder Estavillo and I watched all three sessions. The first one was great. President Monson was hilarious while they were outside putting the cement on the cornerstone. They called out some people to help--including John Lowry from your mission dad and his two sons. haha. We were like hey! Let some brown kids have a shot! And then on their way back inside President Monson was passing the choir's piano and was like, hey you guys wanna hear a number? So he sat down and was like, "I'm not very good at this". He started playing something and stopped, "That was horrible! You know, my mom was a piano teacher and I just didn't want to practice. Shouldn't have buried THAT talent." haha. He's a funny guy.
The second session was pretty good too. We left about half way through to go eat.
But the third session. HOLY COW!!! The Area Presidency spoke and then they had the 2nd counselor of the temple presidency speak and his wife and then they wanted President Monson to say a few words before he gave the dedicatory prayer. He spoke for an HOUR AND 15 MINUTES!!!! He started telling story after story after story. Some were great. He told some stories about him as a kid. He told some stories about dating his wife. He told some stories about visiting the widows in his wards. And he just kept telling stories. And you know what? I don't know if he knew why he was telling all those stories but each story had something that I needed to hear. It was awesome. I was almost moved to tears when I realized it. I learned about perseverance. About no effort being wasted. About giving more of yourself than others expect. A lot of things. It was incredible.
Glad you liked the pictures. After I got your email about pictures I packed my camera in my bag and said its time for some pictures for my mom. Each one was taken and then reviewed to see if it was one you would like mom. Your welcome.
THANKS FOR THE PENCIL! I can tell there's a package in the works. Ben and Brian are both asking for things that I want. I like this. I'm trying to get one of those really tiny Book of Mormons. You know? Like that really small red one we used to have? I know they have them at the MTC. I asked Daniel if we could get one to me somehow. Maybe you could aid him???
So glad the cruise was fun. Personally, any trip that doesn't involve museums or site seeing is awesome. Cruises are perfect for me. Thats my honeymoon plan. Wow. Thats another 8 years. Slow down.....
Did I tell you guys the story of when we healed the guy? One of our investigators was really sick and so we told him that we had the priesthood authority that Christ gave to his apostles and had the power to heal him through his faith. We gave him a blessing and then left. The next day we came back and that guy was in mint condition! He said after we had left he thought, "you know? God can heal me through these guys." And then through his faith...boom. Healed. It was awesome. That was a while ago though. Just a cool story.
Alright. Enough for this week. I got a haircut....as in all of it. I just buzzed all my hair off with a number 4. Every time they cut my hair here they buzz the crap off the sides and leave the top long so it looks like I'm fat or in the military. So I just told him to use a 4 and be done with it. He was shocked. "Mao na lang? (Thats it?) Yes! I just want a 4 all the way around. "Sige. Imohang buhok ni!" (Okay. Its your hair.) Yeah...it looks awesome. The members love it. Picture next time.
Alright. Love you guys.
