She came home one evening with a different look on her
face. She barged into our room and said it has to come from her because it may
become a big deal to others. We looked at her, my wife and me, and asked what
is she talking about?
Then she blurted: “I’m going on a mission!” She said she
had given it a lot of thought – six months of thinking and weighing things.
Some months back, she asked me about serving a mission. My quick response was: “Sisters
are not really “required” to serve a mission; unlike the brothers who are
commanded to serve when they are able.”
I also told her that serving a mission isn’t a walk in
the park, that it requires hard work and sacrifice. I told her that she can
finish her studies (she’s an incoming senior taking up Landscape Architecture
at the University of San Carlos) then she can go and serve a mission if she
really wants.
She said she has made up her mind. Her decision didn’t
surprise us and so we told her that if she has the desire to serve then she has
to start the ball rolling. I gave her hard copy of the Missionary Application and
told her to read it then fill it out with pencil. I was then bishop of the ward.
I told her that after she’s finished filling the form, we
need to sit down so I can tell her what to do next and at the same time
interview her. In my watch as bishop, Kiyo was the seventh missionary applicant
I had interviewed. The magnificent seven are: Ervin Loreno, Jason Osumo, Jinky
Villoso, Kathia May Aguirre, Anthony Gracia, Jon Nathan Aldemita and Kiyo. So
far, Ervin, Jason, Jinky and Mai-mai have come home with honor.
So we proceeded with her dental check-up with Sister
Aldave. Then we had her laboratory work prior to seeing a doctor for a physical
examination. Then she had to save some money for her portion of support. When
all these were finally done, I sat down with Kiyo as we filled out an
electronic missionary application. Before finally sending the form, I asked her
for the final time if she’s truly prepared to serve a mission. Just like the
others I had the privilege of interviewing, I asked her two more times, just to
make sure, before I hit the send button.
We were able to trace her application. I would log-in at lds.org
and find out one night for example that her papers are already with the area
presidency in Manila. Then later we found it was already forwarded to Salt
Lake. At least when we (Kiyo and I) last looked the call has been issued!
Now the waiting. The call takes only a few days to be
issued; it’s the sending of the call to the missionary that takes a longer
time. Kiyo was finally advised that her call had arrived. It was supposedly
given to her Saturday evening but then our stake president changed his mind and
said she can claim it next day. So we drove to Arlington Meetinghouse to get
the call from President Maandig. He requested Kiyo to open it but Kiyo said she
wanted to open it in Sikatuna. Kiyo was nervous on our way to Sikatuna. Her
hands were moist and cold.
When Kiyo was waiting her call we told her that the
“world” is her mission – she could be assigned anywhere. After she received her
patriarchal blessing she told us that she knows where she will be called. She
said it’s indicated in her patriarchal blessing that she will serve in the
“land of her forefathers” of sort of like that. She’s aware of the fact that
Mama, Jason and me all served in the Manila Mission. Would it be cool to serve
in the same mission? Then there’s Iloilo Mission or the land of my birth. How
about the US, Latin America, Hong Kong or even Japan? The anticipation grew
each day as we anxiously waited for the call.
When we finally arrived at the meetinghouse, members have
gathered in the cultural hall. The whole ward was there. Kiyo nervously tore
open the envelope and then read: “you are hereby called to serve as a
missionary… in the Philippines Butuan Mission!” For Kiyo it was an answer to
her prayer. She would love to serve wherever the Lords wants her to serve but
she said she will freeze if assigned to a mission where they have winter! She’s
right. With a paperweight frame, she will truly freeze in let’s say Utah
winter.
When my wife posted Kiyo’s opening her call in FB, comments
from people we know and don’t know flooded her account.
This is it, we told Kiyo. We sat down and listed the
things she would need.
First – set of scriptures. Astrid, upon my request,
shouldered this.
Second – luggage. Inday Julie sent $100 for this.
Third – camera. This is for Mama and Chona to take care.
Fourth - temple
endowment. Kiyo have to attend a temple preparation class to be issued a temple
recommend.
Fifth – work with missionaries. I have to drive Kiyo to
district meeting of the missionaries every Monday morning. She also worked with
the sisters in Labangon and Capitol.
Sixth – cooking skills. We have to request Kiyo to cook
breakfast or dinner so she can cook in the mission.
Seventh – hard questions by investigators. I had to
scribble some notes and discussed it with her. These include some of the
hardest questions I have ever been asked as a member of the Church.
There were other needs but I guess they were not very
essential. Kiyo was to report to the MTC on September 26. So from the date she
received her call, she had more than 60 days to prepare. And prepare she did.
Her scriptures won’t be delivered until the first week of
September so she used Mam Sir’s. I told her that if in case her scriptures
won’t be delivered in time, she can bring Mam Sir’s scriptures and when she
gets hers then she send back Jason’s scriptures. Things happen. Sister Osumo
didn’t get her scriptures until she was already in the MTC, through Elder Perez
formerly of Labangon Ward, who is currently serving in the Caribbean.
One Monday morning while were driving to Labangon, Kiyo asked
me: “Pa, ma miss ko nimo?” I was taken aback! I think it was two more weeks
before she goes to the MTC. I said: “Of course, Inday!” I told her that
thinking of you being away for 18 months make me miss you a lot. I told her;
however, it’s part of the game….like when Mam Sir left for his mission in 2010.
I have to bear with it.
We (my wife and me) accompanied Kiyo to the temple for
her endowment. That was September 11.
I was tasked to buy her a pair of garments. When I got
the TG’s they were big for her! I forgot my daughter is petite or even smaller
than petite. We have to change some pairs of garment we bought at the
distribution center after the session. It was a great blessing to be able to
attend a session with my wife and Kiyo. We encouraged Kiyo to attend more
sessions before she goes to the MTC so she can comprehend what the endowment is
all about. She did.
As I said earlier, things happen.
President Taylaran was late for Kiyo’s setting apart! I
don’t even know why it was delegated to a counselor, the setting apart. During
the time of President Montera, the stake president sets apart the missionary.
My wife was already losing her cool. We were planning a few more things like
taking a family picture in our neighbor’s studio but then they were already closed
when we arrived. We also to buy some other stuff for Kiyo but then we were
exhausted already.
Geccie and Mary Ann, two of Kiyo’s friends slept at home
so they could come with us when we drive Kiyo to the airport. ZB also wanted to
stay with us but then I received her text too late to say yes. I don’t think I
slept much that night. I woke up at around 3 a.m.; drove to MacDonald’s to get
Kiyo something to munch knowing they don’t offer anything anymore in the plane.
After saying bye to Jason and James, Sister Osumo finally
boarded Puti with Geccie and Mary Ann. Ayi and Leah also made it so they rode
with us. Ayi and Kiyo were classmates at Zapatera Elementary School. The drive
was smooth because there was no traffic. We took pictures at the pre-departure
area. In one shot I caught Mama’s tear as it was welling on her eye! I took a
picture of Kiyo as she was making her way to the pre-departure lounge.
Carlo was in Manila on the day Kiyo was to fly there. So
he waited for Kiyo at the airport and drove her to the MTC. He took pictures.
And as we got them, posted them on FB with the other shots we took at
Mactan. When Carlo brought Kiyo to the
MTC there was a little commotion. MTC staff claimed that they sent a van to
fetch Kiyo from the airport and was surprised when she appeared at MTC’s
doorstep. Carlo told the staff he’s Kiyo’s uncle and that there was no advice
that she’ll have transport from the airport. Had we known, Carlo explained, “I
won’t be here to pick her up” Another guffaw from our stake leaders. Well, Kiyo
knows her way to the MTC but then I don’t know about the welcoming party from
the MTC.
So for the whole day of September 26, Sister Osumo’s FB
page was bombarded with pictures of her at Mactan, Manila airport and MTC!
Sister Osumo had Sister Paca as companion at MTC. They
got along together very well. Sister Paca will be assigned in Laoag Mission. A
picture of faith and diligence, she lost her mother and brother when Ondoy hit
Cagayan De Oro some years back. But it didn’t deter her from serving as
missionary. Sister Osumo has in her batch sons and daughters of missionaries
that Mama have known while serving in Manila Mission.
After 12 days at the MTC, Sister Osumo finally arrived in
Butuan Mission. President and Sister Torres welcomed her in the mission office
and assigned her in Buenavista. This is a town some two hours west of Butuan
City. Her trainer was Sister Sanchez
from Paranaque.
As of this writing, Sister Osumo already had several
baptisms and had a follow-up trainer in Sister Garciano from Mandaue First
Ward.
We were able to speak to her on Christmas Day and she
sounded fine and very upbeat! On December 26 she will be out three months
already!