Eternal Family @ Cebu City Philippines Temple 13 Nov 2015

Today is our important day. Today is the purpose why we come to Cebu Philippines.

We woke up early in the morning, took our bath and took a cab to the Cebu Temple which is located at Gorordo Avenue in Lahug.

We arrived there early and went to the cafeteria which is in the Patron’s House to have our breakfast.

We were not so get to use to the Philippines food served.

We were a bit surprise as Pilipino really love rice so much that, even their breakfast too served rice, of coarse comes with some side dishes such as fried egg, corn beef, anchovies with soy sauce, etc.

Their dishes generally taste a bit salty for us. But it is still ok that we can have it.

After our breakfast, we went to the Distribution Centre as we would wait for Elder and Sister Hadley there at 8.00am.

As with his help, he managed to make our programs as 9.00am our initiatory session, 11.00am endowment session and follow by 1.00pm our family sealing session.

It is really very thoughtful of both Elder and Sister Hadley helped us on the arrangement and confirmation on our sealing time and date.

Elder Hadley too, helped us to arrange helper to look after both Issac and Annabelle, before both of them can able to enter to the temple for family sealing session at 1.00pm.

During when we were at the Distribution Centre busy looking at the church materials which we might buying back home, I was surprised that I heard a familiar voice.

I thought that voice sounds like Brother Felix, and I turned back and saw Daddy was happily talking to someone whom back facing me, and looked like really Brother Felix. I walked up and he is!

Our family were so surprise that Brother Felix is here at Cebu with Sister Joyce too! After which Sister Joyce told me that, this is a surprise that both of them for our family.

They were trying very hard to keep it as a secret and show their ‘poker face’ whenever we were talking about our planning of the Cebu Temple trip for the past few months. She said, only Brother Rueben knew about it, because the couple asked Brother Reuben to check and confirm that we had booked our flight tickets on our temple trip.

Both Daddy and I are so touched with their loves to our family. We are the member of the church now is because both of Brother Felix and Sister Joyce Yong invited us to this Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

They witnessed our family growth from how we were a broken family up to now a reunite family in the teaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our family is our testimony towards Christ’s love to us.

Brother Felix and Sister Joyce Yong too, witnessed our story as well. Their family are so special to us and we are like family friends. Their presence here at the Cebu Temple really a surprise to us!

Elder and Sister Hadley were happy seeing both of them too. We are truly happy for that moment that both of their presence made us feel great and wonderful!

We have our group photo before we went in to the Temple. The children would join us later at the sealing ceremony in the Temple.

From the very first session, I really can feel the spirit that I just cannot stop my tears from rolling down my face.

The very first moment when I was hearing the blessings during the initiatory session, my eyes were wet. It is really a beautiful and wonderful blessings from Heavenly Father given unto His children, just I cannot recall the beautiful phrases, wordings that was whispered to my ears.

After going through the endowment session, and eventually after we passed through the veils to the celestial room.

Both Alvin and I were so happy and after a while, we were leaded to the Sealing Room after which we would be sealing as a husband and wife. Brother Felix and Elder Hadley are our witness of our sealing ceremony.

My tears can’t help but keep on falling during the time sealing with Alvin. At that moment when I was looking to him face to face, my mind was recalling from the first day both of us divorced, signed the divorce petition and how we were here at the temple today.

It is really amazing, how the Lord love our family, how the things happened for a reason, how the whole picture that Lord had planned for our family, the puzzle falling into pieces and into their own place at the right time. It looks so crystal clear to me that, Heavenly Father really love us so much. Alvin’s eyes were wet too…

After our sealing as a husband and wife, the kind temple workers brought in our two lovely children, Issac and Annabelle were smartly dressed by the temple helpers. Issac was in white shirt and pant; Annabelle was in white dress with a white colour hair band on her long hair too, and she looked so pretty.

Four of us were at the centre of the altar, and we were sealed as a family eternally. We feel so happy and grateful for our day, and with our friends witnessed our big day. After, we were allowed to go out from the temple and took photos with our temple clothing. We had taken a few photos with the temple as background.

It is really a wonderful and amazing day for our family.

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Issac Surprise Birthday 12 Nov 2015

It is actually not really a surprise for him. Before we on our trip, we have already told Issac that, we will be flying to Cebu Philippines for our family temple trip on his birthday!

That point of time, he was so happy! Issac told both Daddy and Mummy that, he does not need any birthday present for his birthday already. Going to temple will be his birthday present.

Both of us were so touched for his reply, he is such a obedient and good boy! How blessed we are to have him as our son!

Daddy purposely went to book a birthday cake for Issac from Berry’s Cake House at Taipan.

He had to bring back the cake yesterday evening during fetching the children back from Mahkota Tuition Centre.

The cake was supposed to bring to the air port so that we can blow the candles for him at the KLIA2.

We woke up early in the morning and get ready for our pre-booked taxi at 7.00am. It was just in time. We put on our luggage and headed to KLIA2.

We were there early to check in our luggage. After knowing the weight of our luggage, the Air Asia ground crew suggested us to buy more luggage for our way back as it seems like it will definitely be more than what we had purchased.

He realised that today is Issac’s birthday then he wishes him happy birthday! After, we just purchased at the Air Asia sales counter at the KLIA 2 air port.

We decided to blow the candles and eat the birthday cake at the DOME restaurant. We ordered some drinks and sang the “Happy Birthday” song to our dearest son. It was a yellow bumble bee cake.

After that, we just go straight to the boarding room. On the way to the boarding room, we passed through the duty free shops along our way. We were window shopping around. Then only we went in to the boarding room.

We met with Elder and Sister Hadley in the boarding room, together with Brother Sega. Elder and Sister Hadley are so kind in accompanying us to the Cebu City Philippines Temple as this is our first family temple trip, whereby we will be sealed together forever as a family.

We were planning on this trip few months ago, booked the air flight first, including the luggage needed, on board meals for each one of us and the seats as well. After 2 months we only book the hotel. We were on board at time.

It was quite a surprise that after all the air stewards and stewardess done their duty.

Suddenly there was an announcement was made, and mentioned that there was a very special guest on board that today is his birthday and today is his first flight ever to overseas, then invited Issac to go out.

Issac was so shy and smiling whereby he did not want to go out, until the air steward came to him.

All the flight passengers were singing the birthday song to him and the Air Asia flight attendants gave him the Kit Kat birthday treats!

He was so shy when he came back to his seat. He was the focus point in the air plane. So proud of him!

There was an uncle very kind of him, bought a cap from the Air Asia merchandise and gave to him as a birthday gift! Both Daddy and Issac went up to thank him. All the Air Asia crews on board including the pilot also draw a special card to him.

Today really was his special birthday!

After, then only Daddy told me that, that was requested by Elder Hadley. We are so appreciate with his gentle and kind thoughts on our family.

We arrived at the Cebu- Mactan International Air Port around 3.00pm, whereby we met with one of the friend of Elder Hadley here in Cebu, his name is Aden.

He had arranged 2 cabs for us, Elder and Sister Hadley together with Brother Sega in one cab, our family in another cab. We straight away go to the temple ground and get familiarize with the area first.

The temple was located in the middle of the low income village area. We passed through so many small lane and houses, even though Cebu City is the 2nd largest city in Philippines but their infrastructures still a bit behind us.

The electrical cables flying around above our head and the water piping can be seen just along the road sides. The roads is a bit small lane compared to our Malaysia’s road. We can see the children wondering at the roadside. It is a bit jam too.

After a while, then suddenly we saw the temple statue of the Moroni on the top of a building from far, then we knew that we are arriving at the temple ground. The Cebu temple is so much beautiful and looks elegant. The design was so simple and clean as we can see from the external from far. We were so happy.

We unloaded our luggage to Brother Aden’s cab, as he would drive us to our hotel later. Elder Hadley brought us around to the Patron’s House, he got to meet and knew Sister Leah whom knew his family members which served at the Cebu Temple before. He introduce to us too. Then he brought us to the Distribution Centre to select our garments first, at least tomorrow during at the temple, we were not so rushing.

After which, Elder Hadley assisted us and took us around on what we needed to do and know today, then Brother Aden sent us to our hotel. Both of Elder and Sister Hadley went to the Temple for their sessions.

During our journey to our hotel, Brother Aden shared with us his testimony on how he came to know about the church. Daddy and him chatting along our journey.

We arrived our Bayfront Hotel Cebu around 5.00pm. I had informed the hotel earlier when back in Malaysia that we will arriving this time, as Daddy afraid that the hotel might release our room if we do not check in at 3.00pm. We thanked Brother Aden for his assistance.

After we settled down, we took our bath and get changed to our casual clothing, then we just walked to the nearest shopping mall to look for our dinner.

We passed by a lot of the restaurant, due to may be it was the dinner timing, thus all of the restaurants were packed with people. We just went in to one of the less crowded restaurant, and ordered our meals.

“Unlimited Rice & Unlimited Ice Lemon Tea” was the first thing I saw. Pilipino really loves eating rice. Daddy ordered one dish called Flaming Platter. The waiter really burned the whole platter up before serving to us!

Only 5.30pm, we noticed that the sky outside the windows was getting dark, just like 8.00pm in Malaysia. Well, this is Issac’s birthday dinner meal in Philippines.

Happy Birthday, Son!

我俩。。。

We have a photo before we fly off tomorrow to Cebu, Philippines!

Playing Time…

Both Issac and Annabelle were playing at the Parents Room at Citta Mall while waiting for the art class start.

Always have some patterns to pose!

Children Day Celebration Treats ^^

Today is the children day celebration at school. I am preparing the hash brown egg nests for Issac’s class celebration.

These are about 30 egg nests that I made early in the morning for the children day celebration.

Alvin’s Fins & Gills

These are Alvin’s swimming pets... He told that he just feel relax when ever looking at them... How nice.

Meeting with Elder Jones

Our family feeling joyful when we met up with Elder Jones again during the Kuala Lumpur District Conference at Wisma MCA today.

Elder Jones is one of the missionary whom teach our family after we were baptized and joined the church. Our family were continued to be teach by the missionaries including him. He is from Australia.

The children love him too, as he is a very funny guy and loves to play with the children.