The invitation for me to be one of the organizing committee members of our Mission Reunion last April 2025 was just in time. In October 2025, I was informed that I would be part of the team. The venue of the reunion was Clark, Pampanga. That is miles away from where I live. I need to book a flight to Clark from here, Cebu.
As all of you may know, I don't have a steady personal income, so I depend on my husband's income. But blessings come just in time when you need them. November is my birth month. Days after I knew when our reunion would be, my sister asked me what I wanted for my birthday. And yes, you guessed it right! I told her I wanted a round-trip ticket to Clark. In which she agreed willingly! Plane tickets solved! 😍
Just a little background about this reunion. Two decades ago, I served as a Full-time missionary for 18 months in the Philippines Angeles Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Where I served with the people in Pampanga and Tarlac. It was one of the best 18 months of my life. Being of service to others. Wearing missionary nametags. Teaching and inviting everyone we meet to come unto Christ.
Now, after two decades of being a return missionary, our Mission President, President Brimhall ( Mission Leader), decided to come back to the Philippines and reunite with the missionaries who served with him during his term. He is from California. His dear wife, Sister Brimhall, died 2 years ago. So he came together with his son instead.
The Preparations
As part of the official reunion committee, I kept the reunion's official Facebook Page updated and collected registrations. I created the Facebook page. After months of meetings and preparation, the day finally came!
Reunion! - DAY ONE
April 19, 2025, I flew to Clark via Philippine Airlines. When I reached Clark International Airport, I waited for the rest of the committee members because our former Mission President was also arriving at the same airport. Just hours in between. When we finally met, we waited for our mission leader's arrival.
While waiting, we did some catching up, and we were glad the most-awaited day had arrived.
And they (President Brimhall and his son, Brett) had finally arrived! We were so happy to see them in the flesh!! 😍
From the airport, we headed to the hotel where the two of them were booked for the rest of their stay in the country. We had a committee lunch meeting with them before proceeding to other matters of the day. Oh, what a joyful meeting!
As planned, the rest of the returned missionaries were housed in one of the Villas in Dia Town, Clark. As we were having our lunch meeting, many of the participants had arrived at the Villa, waiting for check-in time. Can you imagine the joy we felt as we gathered and gave updates about our lives? It's been more than two decades! Though we had technology. We chatted, video called from time to time, but it was different when we gathered physically! Wow! The joy was indescribable! What added to the happiness we felt was that we were all still brothers and sisters in the faith!
As we embraced old companions, there was an unmistakable sense of familiarity. We shared updates: marriages, children, careers, heartaches, and miracles. What surprised many of us was how quickly we reconnected—not just with each other, but with the deep sense of purpose that once united us.
We weren’t just reminiscing; we were remembering who we were and the faith that shaped us.
The Villa was the venue for our first gathering, Dinner with President Brimhall. We had a little program. We had selected people to speak. We sang hymns, and we heard President Brimhall's message.
A single photo cannot describe the spirit and joy each felt during this gathering. We also miss Sister Brimhall dearly. Every time President Brimhall mentioned her, we became teary-eyed. How we wish she were also around.
DAY TWO- Devotional
The Reunion will not be complete without us attending Sunday Service at the nearest congregation. The chapel where we used to have transfer meetings, a time when missionaries got transferred to other areas with new companions.
The Sunday Service was solemn and spiritual. It was Easter Sunday. We rejoiced about Jesus Christ's resurrection and were grateful for His love to all of God's children.
I had personally met the people I used to serve. Members from the ward, as we call a congregation. Had pictures taken with them also.
After Sunday Service, the Devotional followed. In attendance were the returned missionaries and their families.
During day one gathering and day two, devotional, we were all given time to give updates about our lives with three guiding questions. One of the questions was, "How did serving the mission bless your life?"
The most powerful moments came as we reflected on how those mission years changed us, not just then, but continuously, shaping our marriages, our work ethic, our compassion, and our resilience.
It was a spirit-filled devotional as we learn and heard each other's testimony of faith. I am out of words to describe what had happened on that Easter Sunday. As we filled our spirits with spiritual nourishment, we also gave thanks to Food Basket Catering for feeding our hungry tummies with the sumptuous food served during the two-day events. Excellent service too!
Our reunion did not end there. We traveled to Urdaneta, Pangasinan, on the Fourth day to attend a Temple worship at the Urdaneta Philippines Temple. Though some had gone home already, there were still a bunch of us who joined our mission Tatay to attend a Temple session. It was also my first time in the Urdaneta Temple.
We were once again spiritually nourished with mixed emotions because after this final gathering, we will not see our mission Tatay again. Because they will be going back to the US unless we visit them there. 😀
Before we left, we took a group photo (after the devotional and temple session) - years of combined missionary service captured in a single frame. We pledged to stay in touch, to meet again, and most importantly, to live lives that continue to reflect the light we once carried across distant lands.
Twenty years may have passed, but the bonds of a mission don’t fade. They deepen with time, strengthened by shared faith, laughter, and the knowledge that we once gave everything—and gained even more.
Here’s to the next chapter, and to the eternal connections that started two decades ago.
There is so much I want to say, but I am out of words to describe the feelings I felt on those days of the reunion. I am grateful I came and took the time to see everyone. I give thanks to the renewed strength and commitment to be a better disciple of Jesus Christ. I am grateful for the love this mission family has for each of its members. I am grateful to President Brimhall and his son, Brett, for coming over and spending time with us. THANK YOU SO MUCH to the Reunion Organizing Committee and to everyone who helped in making this reunion a memorable one.
Grateful to my husband, Arjay, who took care of the children when I was away, and for the pocket money 😅. And of course, big thanks to the plane ticket sponsor. 😍
THANK YOU!!
Until we meet again!
xoxo,
Met