General Taylor

As you can see in the attached photograph, we run a very disciplined training center here in the Philippines.

President/General Taylor

Mom and Dad

Dear Ward Members and Friends: 

With each class, we become a family.  Each missionary who leaves home undergoes a test and transformation, leaving father, mother, brothers or sisters.  Many of them have no father or mother, often both parents are deceased and the missionary has been raised orphan.  Some of them are very homesick for their family. 

            So many of them crave the warmth, shelter, loving security of parents.  They are almost desperate for physical reassurance.  I read numerous letters each week from the missionaries.  One elder recently said in his letter, President, will you give me a hug?  Later, I responded by giving him several hugs.  He and other missionaries just melt and weep in my arms.  So many express their love to Sister Taylor and to me; so many refer to us as papa, mama, daddy, mommy, father, mother!  The missionaries adore Sister Taylor and they hug her as often as they can.        

            They call us their Mom and their Dad,

            But, sometimes it makes us so sad.

            Yet, when they have none,

            It gives us the fun

            Becoming their parents so glad. 

One sister from Taiwan, a very charming intelligent, outspoken sister, having attended BYU-Hawaii, would in good humor, repeatedly call out to me, “Daddy!”  I had to respond, also in good humor, “I’m not your Daddy!”  I learned that she had no real father, had been forsaken as a child by her father.  In one of our final meetings, she drew near to me and asked me to give her a hug, which I declined, but I shook her by the hand and told her that from my hand to hers is a “great-big-hug!”  We send to each of you, a great big “virtual” hug! 

Love, George & Debra. 

Recently, we had a large group of primary children visit the MTC.  See Sister Taylor’s “I Hope They Call Me On a Mission,” attached. 

I Hope They Call Me On A Mission

I hope they call me on a mission when I have grown a foot or two.

I hope by then I’ll be ready to teach and preach and work as missionaries do.

I hope that I can share the gospel with those who want to know the truth.

I want to be a missionary and serve and help the Lord while I am in my youth.

Newel Kay Brown

“While I was on summer vacation I was able to visit the Philippines Missionary Training Center with my ward family and friends. We got to sing in the “Big Room” my favorite primary song, ‘I Hope they call me on a mission’. I got to see the missionaries study and pray in their class rooms, but the best part of all was when Sister Taylor asked if I wanted to measure myself on the door casing to see if I was tall enough to serve a mission? I wasn’t tall enough yet, but she told me that it would be just a day or two before I grew a foot or two. I just can’t wait!”

Putting On the Whole Armour of God

Putting On the Whole Armour of God

 Debra Taylor 2011

One of the most inspiring and moving sights to me is to see our missionaries with their bronzed skin and black eyes in the temple, all dressed in pure white, ready to receive their endowments. They are “beautiful beyond all description”.

            A few of the missionaries, who have already received their endowments having the word “ESCORT” pinned to their chest. What an honor to be the escort of a new missionary receiving their ordinances of salvation and exaltation.

            What do I say to prepare the missionaries to enter the temple for the first time? What do I say concerning their personal endowment and the covenants they will make with the Lord?

            The first thing I say is that I am most honored to be with these missionaries who are worthy to enter the “House of the Lord” and walk where Jesus walks. I share my testimony of the love Heavenly Father has for them and of His desire to bless them with all that He has.

I show the missionaries the “Prayer Roll” where they can write the names of loved ones who need God’s intervention and healing.

I wait for the missionaries as the wonderful temple ordinance workers wash and anoint them before putting on the “whole armour of God”.

I share Ephesians 6: 11- 18:

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God:

 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

I invite the missionaries to think of the symbolism and blessings of their washing and anointing, wearing the garment, and being clothed in the Priesthood of God.

There is no place in the entire world where we can be better prepared for the challenges and trials of this life, than in the Temple of the Lord.

Isaiah testifies, “God…hath clothed me with the garment of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10).

I weep beholding their beauty  as they express to me, “We are so much grateful! We are so much grateful!  Salam at Po!”  

I echo, “Yes, so much grateful! Salam at Po.”

Manila is a Thrilla!

Perhaps you are getting tired of receiving these un-periodic “messages from Manila.”  I apologize for either cluttering up your computer or cluttering up your brain: 

From Provo we came to Manila

Hoping our message might thrilla’

We thought it was fun

But when day was done,

We found they were just plain silla’ 

To the isles of Philip we came

Writing missives mostly thought tame

But it was a shock

That caused some to talk

That our messages really were lame!   

  

Please see Sister Taylor’s “Putting on the Whole Armor of God,” attached.