About Philippines Quezon City Mission

Call to Serve in
Philippines Quezon City mission

The Quezon (KAY-zahn) City Mission encompass the northern and eastern suburbs of Metro Manilla and adjacent communities, and is located in the southern portion of the island of Luzon.  This is a densely populated area of some 20 million people with an approximate distance of 35 miles across.  This distance can take as long as three hours to travel because of the usual heavy traffic.  the outlying province areas of our mission have more of a mountains rural setting with rice fields, farm land, and tropical vegetation.  The bulk of our missionaries serve here.  Our mission also includes the western half of Mindoro Occidental Island.  this island is sparsely populated and mostly agricultural.

Missionaries use only public transportation to get around in our mission.  These modes of travel include: Tricycle (a small motorcycle with a covered sidecar); Jeepney ( an elaborate, elongated version of an American Jeep that seats approximately twenty; regular buses( with and without air-con); and modern taxis, which are also available, but only used for emergencies because of the cost.

On 28 april 1961, then Elder Gordon B. Hinckley returned to the Philippines and met with a small group of servicemen, American residents, and Filipino members and officially opened the islands for missionary work; and it is now the nation with the fifth largest LDS population.  The Philippines Quezon Mission now has 6 stakes and 2 districts.  Proselyting areas usually consist of one of these units. In September 1984, President Hinckley returned to dedicate the Manilla Temple, which is within the boundaries of our mission.  Missionaries may attend the Temple once a transfer on Preparation day. Also missionaries can bring their investigators on Saturday mornings to tour the Temple grounds and partake of the spirit.  Most church members are somewhat conversant in English, and church meetings are conducted in a combination of English and Tagalog(tah-GAH-log).  Hymns are sung in English.


Missionaries live in apartments of houses with two to six missionaries in each.  Laundry women and housekeepers are not used, and all missionaries are responsible for keeping their surroundings clean and neat.  Missionaries are also responsible for purchasing and preparing their own food, and should bring with them a few good and easy recipes that contain basic ingredients.  Rice is a staple in this country and is an inexpensive main dish.  Every apartment has been provided with rice cooker.  Most of apartments has no oven for baking.  Taking shower is done by bucket full of water and laundry is done by hand since they don't have washing machine.  

The Philippines peso is the unit of currency.  Currently the rate is about 44 pesos(P44) to the US dollar($1).  Missionaries can find most of the things that they need in very inexpensive price in Philippines.

Adventures of Sister Elsmore 22

From: Mandy Elsmore

Date: February 25, 2013 10:30:53 PM CST

Kumusta! ^_^

This week has been full of highs and lows. Its just been CRAZY! We have had random people come to our door inviting us over to eat with them, we've had people taking pictures of us at random birthday parties. I meet some Japanese people and got to speak to them in Japanese, which was super bad. I would try to speak in Japanese, but then Tagalog would come out. It was a mess, but we became good friends and they want to meet missionaries. :D Walking through pouring rain. Sadly, since I'm on a mountain, it was only a few inches of rain. No swimming through floods yet mom. ;) Had lots of people who are scared or angry at us for being Foreigners which has been really surprising to find here in the Philippines. All in all, its been a really strange week. Which I wish I could tell you more about in detail, but goodness, there never seems to be enough time. 

Something that has been recurring over and over again in conversations is the dreaded Aswang. Its this witch that is only waist up (not legs) and has long pointed teeth and how they fly is by flapping its arms. It also has colored, huge eyes and it eats people. Its so funny, the things that people come up with and find terrifying sometimes. These people are so superstitious and claim to see ghosts all the time. They are also dreamers. Many people say that they receive answers from God through their dreams all the time. They love to talk about them. Which is really interesting to me that people here are so eager and willing to share about "visions." Then ask us if we have had any. There is a very different sense and definition of the meaning of  holding things sacred to people here. Its really interesting. 

Here is one story about superstitions that cracked me up...

We were walking out of this house with a less active sister, and we hear this cat meowing, (well it was more like it was screaming. Cats meow hear sound really horrible and sad. Not sure why...) Anyway the sister stops and tells us about this cat. Whenever she hears it, someone on the block is pregnant. Its happened 2 times. The third time she heard it, she looked around and did not see anyone, and then looked down at her stomach and asked herself, "buntis ba?" which means, pregnant? HA HA HA! She was not pregnant though.

There is going to be 21 missions in the Phillippines. 58 new missions have been annouced throughour the world, 4 more here in the Philippines. YAY!!! So pretty much there is going to be about 4,000 missionaries in the Phillippines by the end of the year! SO AWESOME!!!

Read in Mosiah 1-6. King Benjamin has always been one of my favorite prophets and leaders in the BOM. He knows and lives how a good leader and example should be, he's educated, righteous, loving, bold, but not overbearing, leads by example, knows how to work hard, and made sure that his people and his sons understood and learned for themselves the gospel of Jesus Christ and gained a education. I really like Mosiah 3:41- There are always amazing people out there that you can just see the gospel blessings working through them and guiding their lives. These are always the people that everyone wants to be like and loves to be around. You can see that they are truely happy and you feel happy around them. I hope I too can be that kind of person. We all can! Which is the beauty of the Gospel and this life. :)

Got to Go. Love you All!

Sister Elsmore

Hi! Pictures from our trip to the Petrogyphs. Try to upload more recent ones next time. Sigh... so slow...HA HA HA! 

Adventures of Sister Elsmore 21

From: Mandy Elsmore 

Date: February 17, 2013 10:50:10 PM CST

Kumusta!

Thank you for your letters! They really helped me. Not sure why, but so tired this week.

I've been making No Bake Cookies for people, because we have been having a lot of FHE's or Dinner Appointments with people. We are trying to get the ward to work with us more and do missionary work on their own. So I've been suggesting to people that we get together for a FHE or Dinner and I'll bring a dessert, or teach them how to make Japanese food. Which people have been getting really excited for. Its been really effective so far. Its getting people to open up more and getting excited to work with us later. Also. made Honey Lemon tea for a inactive sister this week. Found out she was sick, and felt we needed to do something for her. However, the only bottle we had was the left over honey jar, which looks like a alcohol bottle. HA HA HA! Gave it to her house help with a note explaining what it was. Hope it helped made her feel better and at least got a laugh out of it. 

On Friday, Elder Allen Packer (70 and President Packer's Son) and Elder Nelson (70 and in Area Presidency) came and spoke to us. Talking about the mission goals and where we need to improve on. They had great talks and I'm inspired to improve the weaknesses that I have. One day at a time. Little by little. 

D&C 123:16-17 This is Sister Nelson's favorite Scripture. She likes it because it demonstrates that through small adjustments, big changes can occur and put us back on track. Its in our power to DO all we can and do it cheerfully. Then we see the hand of the Lord in our lifes. 

Love Ya All!

Sister Elsmore

PS: Sorry its short, trying to post pictures, but its not working. I'll just have to accept that I'm cursed with technology. HA HA HA! Try again next week. 

Adventures of Sister Elsmore 20

From: Mandy Elsmore 

Date: February 10, 2013 11:49:32 PM CST

Kumusta! ^_^

This week has been a bunch of highs and lows in the mission. We are finally seeing some of the fruits of our labors in the Ward, the Less Actives, and Investigators. They are starting to grow and progress, even if its just a little bit. Its exciting. Sunday, Sister Christensen and I witness the miracle of forgiveness as a Less Active, who has not come to church for over 6 years, came back and shook the hand of the member who offended them. All because of one experience when we found a name we never heard of and decided to go look for them. They felt like our coming to them, when no one, not even previous missionaries, decided to visit them. We felt the spirit as we taught them, and they said it was a answer to their prayers to feel loved, appreciated, and to gain the strengthen from the Lord to come back to church. The Spirit, Its Amazing! The Atonement is real. Christ is real! The love shared and felt in the ward as they welcomed back this missed member was sincere and touching. 

We went to Temple Tour with a less active and her two children, who are crazy, but we love them. Made origami with them so they would calm down and their mom could concentrate on what was being said. After the tour, the next day at Church, they were happier. The kids, though still rowdy were happy to be at church rather than whining to go home. Sister, told us that she's inspired. She wants to come back completely. She wants to enter the Temple again. The last time she went in was in 2003. Right as she said this, the ward clerk walked by, she stopped him and asked if she could scheduled a appointment with the bishop for a temple recommend. The spirit at the Temple was strong, and its amazing what the spirit can do and touch peoples hearts after just one experience. Perhaps this is why strong spiritual experiences only come once in a while. It inspires us to change when we need to. We appreciate them more when they come because they are less frequent. I know the Lord gives us these experiences for our growth, benefit, and in the perfect time. 

Also from these experiences, I'm learning the power and effect of the Holy Ghost in peoples lives. I'm learning that people not only have to know truth, but they have to feel it as well. The Scriptures show this in 3 Nephi 11:8-17. This is the story when Christ comes to the people in America after he was resurrected. At first the people don't know who he is, they just know he's some kind of great being or angel. They Christ Tells them his identity. The people fall down because they remember the words of the prophets. However, it is only after, each and everyone of them Felt Christ did they truly know. That they truly understood and praised the Lord and believed in Christ. In order to truly learn, to truly gain a testimony, and to be truly converted; we not only have to know and learn the doctrine, but also live it, to feel it, to experience it. To have a true testimony and knowledge of truth we have to feel it through the spirit that is is true. These feelings are the things that inspire people and last in the hearts and memories of people for the rest of their lives. 

I'm continuing to try my best. Having patience for my companion and for myself. Just when I think there are no more problems, health wise, with Sister Christensen, another problem comes up. One she has not told me about before. I admire that she keeps pushing through everyday even with all her challenges. 

I'm learning lots and excited to learn more. Thank you for the love and support! Love ya all!

Sister Elsmore

Adventures of Mandy Elsmore 19

From: Mandy Elsmore 

Date: February 4, 2013 12:37:27 AM CST

Kumusta!

So I got my haircut finally. I could not stand having long hair here anymore. The humidity and long hair are NOT a good combination. (Also it was making my shower time longer because of it. HA HA HA!) So I cut off 4 or 5 inches today and made the poor hair dresser guy nervous. HA HA HA! But it turned out good. :) After I got my haircut though, him and his friend were saying I looked maganda (beautiful) and asking if I had a boyfriend. O~o Awkward... Left fast after that. HA HA HA!

Sunday was fun. So before we invited everyone we talked to to come to church with us. They were like, sure we will come, but in a tone that was like. If we have time, but I don't really want to. However, we had 10 investigators at church! Sister Christensen and I were super happy about this but had NO IDEA what we were going to do with them all! We might have freaked out a little bit. HA HA HA! Luckily we had a recent RM who was willing to teach a gospel doctrine class on the spot and it went well. Also the testimonies were all really good in sacrament meeting. IT WAS A MIRACLE! There was only one testimony that was like...um, why are they talking about this... It was just one of those small miracles that you see the power of fasting and prayer. :)

Taught my first lesson in district meeting about using the scriptures. Had them do a activity with paper teddy bears. Have people compete against each other for who can find the scripture the fastest. Whoever wins, gets to rip off a lib from the losers teddy bear. The missionaries who win face each other and then the losers face each other. Repeating the pattern. Whoever has the most limbs after a several rounds wins out of everyone. Anyway, it was fun. Perhaps a little bit to much teddy bear carnage (because the elders began to rip not just the limbs of the bears. Should have expected this. HA HA HA! However, just showed how skilled a knowledgeable of the scriptures everyone is. It was intense. :) The winner got No Bake Cookies. 

Scripture:

Alma 31:5

I like the comparison of the scriptures as a sword. They are powerful and a essential tool as a missionary. <3 them. :) They also invite the HG which is the true teacher. We could teach/ preach all we want, but without the spirit, it doesn't mean a thing to people. One way to invite the HG is through the scriptures. Also, through our example and personal study of them, others will know that when we share them, we are truly being sincere. 

Love you All! I will write again soon. :)

Sister Elsmore

Adventures of Mandy Elsmore 18

From: Mandy Elsmore 

Date: January 29, 2013 2:59:50 AM CST

Kumusta!

This week has been fun and random! It was great. We got a bunch of random stuff from people for no reason: bread, cakes, plant, mangos, weird fruit I have never ate before (need to learn the name), and can't remember what else. Also learned how to do a bunch of random things. Make feather dusters from chicken feathers. Chinese Jump rope with a bunch of kids. Also got bit by a pet chicken name Ipot (poop in Tagalog), road in the back of a prisoner van, and had a experience with Filipino trying to contact a investigator and he treated the situation like a mafia movie. HA HA HA! One of my favorite stories is the following...

We are walking and we see this guy working on his car. We decide to go and talk to him, but he seems really busy and can't see us. So Looking around I notice these plants on the side of his house. They have green leaves that grow just straight up and have almost like a tiger pattern to them. They have pointed tips. You see them all over here in the Philippines. Anyway, on these plants, on the tips, there were egg shells. It was super Bizarre. So I turn to my companion and say, "I'm going to ask him about those eggs." So I ask the guy if I can ask him a random question. He Looks at us, then walks over to us and asks, "What is it?" I then ask why he has eggs on his plants. He then states that it just looks better that way. They are for decoration. HA HA HA! We talk to him for a while, and before we leave he asks, "Gusto mo ba ang plant?" So Gusto= can mean want or like. We thought that he asked if I liked the plant. So we say yes, they are great. We like them. He then has his friend (joined us later in the conversation who was just about to go garden) dig up one of his plants and give it to us. We were like, "NO! Sorry, we just like to look at it. We don't want to take your plant." But he would not take no for a answer. So we ended up carrying around this plant with a egg shell on it for the rest of the day. It was quite the conversational starter. We decided to name the Plant Sunny, short for Sunny Side Up. :)

2 Nephi 10: 23 I like this verse because it just simply and clearly states that we should,"Cheer up (our) hearts" can choose to be happy or sad. We can act for ourselves in this manner. It reminded me of the song "Don't worry, be happy now!" Its so simple, but so true. So this was my goal this past week, and I have been enjoying life so much more. :) 

Finished a Art project for Sister DeLaMare. She wanted me to design a wall in the Mission Office for our new theme. I had the Elders in my Zone model for me (which was fun). I just did cut out letters and silloqutes (yes I know I spelled this wrong, I can't remember how to spell the word) of Elders baptizing and confirming. Turned out pretty good. Hope She is happy with it. :)

Anyway, Hope you are all doing well! Love ya all!

Sister Elsmore ^_^

Adventures of Mandy Elsmore 17

From: Mandy Elsmore 

Date: January 21, 2013 5:13:26 AM CST

Kumusta!

This week has been eventful. My companion has been really sick the past 3 days. Stomach pains that won't go away. O.o Hopefully they are not anything serious and we will be able to work more this week. She wants to work so much, she's awesome!

Asked a person if they wanted to be baptized for the first time this week if they received a answer that the church was true. Mary Grace said she would. She is great. She is very smart and wants to become closer to the Lord and know the truth for herself and for her 2 year old son. 

Experienced my first Bible bashing. It was interesting. I can see why people get such a kick out of it. There is a rush of wanting to prove your beliefs to someone else; however, there is also no spirit in a room of contention. It was not something I really enjoyed. HA HA HA! Sister Christensen and I just sat there as they "preached" to us about beliefs in the bible. They kept interrogating us on things we had mutual beliefs on. We would try to bear simple testimony, but then they would cut us off and ask us random questions about some other random doctrine. The whole time I was sitting there amazed at the amount the people knew here. There are a lot of Filipinos who are very learned in the Bible. ITS AWESOME! I was thinking to myself, "Man, these people are truly prepared." However, it got to be a little bit too much for my companion and she started crying. O.o Which finally got them to stop. 

Zone Activity today was AWESOME! We went to so petroglyphs! The oldest ones in all of the Philippines. There was this cave tunnel we had to go through to get to them and there were bats, owls, lizards, etc... I was in heaven! HA HA HA! There was also a view of the ocean out there. It was gorgeous. Took some pictures. :) Then afterward, we played some Filipino games in the church parking lot. Also, Elder Teh of the 70 came with his wife and gave us a TON of food and drinks. (we texted them and said there was no water running in the building. Wanted to know how to turn it on because we were dying of thirst.) We are so spoiled. My companion and I had to leave early though because she was pretty much dying. Hope the new medicine she gets today works for her. >~<

Scripture that I really like...

1 Nephi 22:25 Do you know the difference between a shepherd and a herder? A herder uses his staff to scare the sheep into going toward the direction he wants them to go. He moves them from the back. A shepherd leads the way. The sheep know him and love him. They trust him and know that he will not lead them astray. The shepherd also knows each and everyone of his sheep by name. He raised them from the time they where lambs, and loves them. He leads the to pastures, Heaven for sheep. :) I like this scripture, because we too have the opportunity to know Jesus Christ in this life. He leads us to pastures, and though, the road may not be easy at times, by if we follow in faith, we will never go astray. Also, that we follow Christ because we want to and love him, not because we are forced to. I know that Jesus Christ is our redeemer and knows and loves each and everyone of us. I'm seeing this more and more her in the Philippines, and I'm grateful for it. :)

Love Ya All! :) I will write again next week.

Sister Elsmore