The MRC- Mission Recovery Center

(L-R) Elders Nance, Viloria, Sister Obeira, Elders Amen, Tadena

 As a respite from the rain I thought I would mention one of the unique things found only in the Philippines. That is the Mission Recovery Center or commonly referred to as the MRC.  There are 17 missions throughout the Philippine islands. When a missionary becomes ill or has been injured, depending on the severity, they are sent to the MRC to allow them time to recover. Currently the MRC is a rented home in one of the subdivisions near the area office. Construction is ongoing with the new MRC which is the old MTC being remodeled.

Elder Nance

While we have waited regarding our housing we have been staying in the MRC. Our stay their has been wonderful. We have been able to interact with a number of missionaries who are recovering from various illnesses or injuries. While their they are cared for by a senior missionary couple- Elder and Sister Fleming. Sister Fleming is a nurse and is busy almost 24-7. Some may think that it is a luxury for the missionaries to stay their and not recover in the field. From one who has been in the MRC for 9 days the missionaries would prefer to be in the field. For the most part being in the MRC can be very slow and BORING!

Sister Obeira and Elder Viloria

I applaud the church for the forward thinking in establishing this facility. I can only imagine the nightmare that mission presidents would have in dealing with sick and injured missionaries. With having a central location to send missionaries the church is able to build relationships with physicians and hospitals. Once local people realize that the church can be a very reliable customer doors open quicker.

The missionaries who now are at the MRC are waiting for the rains to subside so they can return to the field or go home for further recovery. One missionary has recovered from dengue fever and another recovering from a trike accident. The elder recovering from the trike accident was in a crowd of people when a trike lost control and plowed into a crowd. Fortunately the missionary only suffered a broken leg. Others in the crowd did not fair as well.

Today will be a day of packing kits. The four kits that will be put together are food kits, hygiene kits, sleep kits and baby kits. As of now we are just waiting for the trucks to arrive. As soon as they do the missionaries and volunteers from surrounding stakes will come and help put them together. When that is done the kits will be loaded into trucks and then delivered, most likely by the military, to areas of need. It will be another busy day in the Philippines......

jsf