Hello Aseanhive friends and family!
This week all christians around the world are celebrating the Holy week.
We commemorate the life of Christ, his ministry, his betrayal, crucifixion, death and his resurrection.
It starts on Holy Thursday where we commemorate the Last Supper and when he established the holy communion.
Followed by Good Friday, his crucifixion where he was nailed onto the cross, hands and feet and around 3:00pm he died on the cross at Calvary. So good Friday is really a day of mourning for the son of god died for the sins of the world.
Black Saturday, I remembered when I was young my grandmother told us her grandkids about black Saturday. She said they called it black for after Jesus' death the whole earth went pitch black that even on the noon day where the sun suppose to shine brightly but it was so dark. It was like the heavens were devoured by darkness, a sad and a bit of frightening when my grandma was telling us that story. I remembered crying when I was a little girl for I was sad about what the bad people did to Jesus and after she told us the story which was our bed time story, I couldn't sleep thinking about what she had told us. I was six or seven years old that time. Funny that even as a grown up I could still hear my grandma telling us the story like it was just yesterday.
Our parents won't let us go outside and play during the Holy week. We just stay at home and play inside or do Household chores, to not be loud because we are keeping the holy week holy. We pray and attend mass and do
Some procession wherein we bring lighted candles and pray while walking on the streets following the giant figures of Jesus and Mary.
Now, since it's a new generation a lot of people take this time to do church visits or they call it "Bisita Iglesia". People visit as many churches as they could and do the stations of the cross. They pray and commemorate all that happened before and during Christ's crucifixion. I believe there are 14 stations. Each church would put up their own stations. Some churches place their stations on the hills like you have to climb the hills following the 14 stations.
It has been a custom and a practice to some to do a sacrifice. People would inflict pain on themselves, we call this "penitensya" or penance in English.
They would slice or cut their backs with blades then bat their backs using bamboos that's why blood would come out due to the batting.
Here is a video I took last year when we did a road trip during Good Friday. We wanted our son to see what practices people do during the Holy week specifically during Good Friday. You can see on the video people carrying the cross. We even saw one carrying a very big and heavy cross made from a very big wood. There were women as well not just men.
After seeing many people doing their penance, Our road trip last year ended us being on the beach. Watching the sunset, admiring it's awesome beauty, it's awesome wonder. Being with my family spending time with them and just being happy. Grateful that we are intact amidst the pandemic. It was truly a time for contemplating and just be grateful for the many blessings we received.
Others take this opportunity to go home have a break from work for this is a holiday in our country and people would go home to their provinces and be with their families in the countryside. For some this is vacation time like going to the beaches and just travel.
For this year Holy Thursday, we made it far more different from the previous years that we do.
My husband, my mother-in-law and together with our church mates travelled four hours to visit our temple. This was truly a day to remember for my husband hasn't been here for almost three decades already because of his inactivity in our church. My mother-in-law as well for 8 years. So coming back here with them was truly a happy and wondrous moment for me. Adding happy memories in my memory bank.
We visited the house of the Lord and performed ordinances inside his home. A very beautiful and great way and day to think of Christ while renewing our covenants with him.
What I loved about our temple is the temple grounds. It is well kept for this is the house of the Lord so everything must be in order and must be kept clean and beautiful. I had to roam around the big and spacious place.
Since it's summer, the flowers in the garden are all blooming. They are spreading happiness and joy all around.
What I loved as well are the many paintings you will see inside the temple. These are just some of the paintings.
We have an underground walkway. This connects the temple to the annex buildings on the other side. The MTC or missionary training center, the temple administration office and other offices also the Patron House. The patron House is like a hotel, where members from far away places can stay here overnight and beside it is the cafeteria. I wasn't able to take some photos though, probably on our next visit I will take photos.
Before members have to cross the road with the heavy traffic because this is the main hi-way so to prevent having accidents the church built an underground walkway that is air-conditioned as well.
My skirt looked so happy it felt like summer so while waiting I took a selfie.... Haha
No photos allowed inside the temple for the place is sacred, take note not Secret but SACRED.
This ends my blog and I hope you enjoyed reading it and felt joy and happiness looking through the photos.
So, how did you spend your holy week holiday?
Thank you to our friend 
Thank you for dropping by and see you on my next post.
Don't abandon ship when the going gets tough, stay in the boat and continue on with your steadfast faith in Christ.
God speed everyone!♥️🥰🤗