Cebu ERC Stuff

February 24

NEWS FLASH - Filipino Driver's License in Hand

This afternoon at about 1:15 p.m. we arrived at the Lapu Lapu Land Transportation Office.  The way had been cleared by my male escort contacting various well placed church members who have contacts in the city office.  Again, after a short wait, we were ushered into a glass-enclosed Aircon office and visited with a very nice motherly, wisdom-filled woman, the Director.  After clearing a few, what appeared to be, game stopping hurdles, she approved our application and shortly I was again outside for a digital photo and e-signature.

Back in the office, interspersed over maybe 30 minutes, this very nice woman asked, explored with us: do you Mormon’s believe in God?  Are you Mormon’s Christian?  I showed her my badge that has the name of the Church.  Do you believe in the Bible?  As we waited for the paperwork to clear, several times my very wise guide asked the lady if she would like us to step outside, she said, no stay here, it is okay.  She was assured by all our answers, most being very discreetly handled by my local escort, including an invitation to come and visit the Cebu City Temple Open House.  She told us that she has scripture study with her family each day.  After my escort complimented her on how orderly her office was run (implied, he didn’t mention this to her: in striking contrast to the Mandaue LTO) she volunteered that she has folks outside who don’t like her.  She does not allow the fixers to come into this office.  Coming and going from this office we were warmly greeted by members of the church that happened to be there at the time.  My escort called to the lady’s attention several LDS members on her staff or that work in this area that are known to her.

Bottom line, the rejection of our applications in the other two locations somehow opened the door for us to relieve this sweet lady of some very normal misconceptions about the church.  So, interestingly, my quest for a Filipino License ended in a very natural discussion about the church, a somewhat unusual-meaningful missionary moment. 

.S.  As we returned to our van to leave back to the office we found ourselves hemmed in by a “parking lot” of cars on each side and back.  My escort hopped out, sized up the situation, then asked several self-appointed young men behind us, who “manage” the parking outside the LTO: “come on boys, let’s move the small truck that blocks our ‘back-out’ exit.” They literally lifted it up a step at a time and moved it forward about 4 foot, enough for us to back out.  Cost: P20.