To help provide relief and comfort, Elder Taniela Wakolo, Philippines Area President, and his wife, Sister Anita Wakolo, visited Bohol after Typhoon Odette struck the province on December 16, 2021, leaving many people homeless.
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Elder and Sister Wakolo together with their two children joined with missionaries from the Cebu East Mission and Bohol Latter-day Saints in a service project on December 23 which included clearing mud that entered homes and walkways as well as cutting trees and cleaning houses.
The following day, on Christmas eve, Elder Wakolo presided over a Primary Children’s Devotional at the Tagbilaran Stake Center. More than 200 primary children, parents, and leaders gathered to listen, be inspired, and be comforted by the messages given by Elder and Sister Wakolo.
To the children, he emphasized the importance of being grateful to their parents, such as saying, "Salamat Tatay at Nanay.” He further highlighted how Jesus loved the little children as reflected on the Bible.
Sister Wakolo talked about being kind to everyone. She underscored the Light the World with Love initiative where Church members and their friends are encouraged to do acts of service and charity in celebration of the birth and life of Jesus Christ.
After their messages, the children gathered for a gift-giving activity. To add a joyful Christmas spirit, parents sang Christmas carols as Elder and Sister Wakolo, President and Sister Monroe, and local Church leaders led by President Jerome Galotera helped in distributing the gifts.
Reflecting on his Bohol experience, Elder Wakolo shared, “I heard so many stories from widows, widowers, Nanays, Tatays, Titos, Titas, Lolos and Lolas, leaders of many different churches, the youth, and many others. There were those who were telling their stories not by words but by joining a queue for 24 to 48 hours to get fuel, get a ticket to travel by boat to Cebu or come from Cebu.”
“One of the biggest lessons for me was to always strive to hear and feel the miracles in the stories and we can only achieve it if we listen with our hearts,” he concluded.