I haven't sent an update for quite a while for two reasons: First, we have been too busy, and second, we thought some of the things were doing would be boring. This rambles a little so be patient with me.

Everything here revolves around a six week cycle of transfers. Once each six weeks we get some new missionaries in, and several go out. President Mortimer calls the process of deciding who goes where with whom "working the board". We have very little imput to this process. We are now just learning this can be a very painful process for us. We have learned to love some of the missionaries more than either of us thought possible. Usually, this happens when we work we a set of missionaries several times. In the process of working with them we develop a bond with them that is stronger than you might think. When they get transferred it is painful, but when they go home it is almost unbarable. We know we will probably never see most of these missionaries again. It is something like telling your children good bye with finality.

During this cycle we have Zone Conferences with each Zone in the mission. There are times when it is good to see missionaries we haven't seen before, but it is always exciting to see how much each missionary grows and develops. In each of these Zone Conferences Pres. Mortimer will take a couple of hours and go into detail about some gospel topic. These "workshops" are amazing! Since he uses the same topic in each Zone Conference you would think it would get boring after a while, but it doesn't - his discussions/presentations just get better.

Mixed in with this we travel to Marinduque each 3rd weekend to do leadership training. I think we are on verge of making a break through there. I can't go into detail now, but later I will explain. Just know we are excited about our work there. There are families on Marinduque we love and look forward to seeing each month. One family in particular has brought a lot of joy into our lives. The Note family has been more than inactive for quite a while (like 20 years), but after some work and love they are attending regularly. They always insist we eat dinner when we visit.

This thought runs through everything we do and the things I list here: We have seem to have a big impact on people. I am not certain I fully understand it, but nevertheless it happens almost daily. I know some of it is the Spirit working through us, and some of it is part of the culture here where people give deference to older people, but in reality it seems beyond my comprehension. I fear you will think I am boasting, and I am not. I occurs to me that Diane is a significant part of this. It is amazing to see how people love her and flock around her.

We are back into the wedding business, but in a different way. I have lost track of how many couples we are working with right now to get them married so they can be baptized. They are scattered all over and it takes a significant amount of time to go hear and understand the problems each couple has (they are all different), and most require some financial aid to make it happen. Don't panic, we aren't selling the family farm to make this happen, but in most cases it costs about $10 to help them get to and from the various government agencies involved and then some time and travel on our part to secure the necessary documentation so they can be married. In one case we had to travel to Lopez to ask the Stake Pres. there to travel to Lucban (about 120 km) to merry one couple. Whatever it takes we solve the problems the younger missionaries can't (not that we are any smarter it is just that we have more freedom to travel than they do, and a little less fear of the bureacracy). We have also made some friends in the National Statics Office that help us.

Not long after we arrived here we met a family in Lucban where only the father (tatay) is not a member. He is wonderful man and we have been trying to get him to take part in the missionary lessons since we first met him. Last night he had the first lesson. I am not certain what broke the ice, but I think it had something to do with us just dropping in and talking to him about some fishing poles he makes and sells. If you get one in the mail for the kids it came from Tatay Paulines. When we get him baptisted there will be a big celebration! Last night two of the best missionaries we have ever met did most of the teaching - Sister Neuenswander & Sister Estrada. Sister Estrada has been out less than six weeks and she is just terrific! I will get a picture of them and send it to you.

Before we met with Tatay Paulines we went to Majayjay to work with Elder Guererro and his companion Elder Berbers. Several weeks ago we met a part member family there and we wanted to go back and make certain Christina is keeping her commitments. While we were there we ran into an older woman (87 years old), and her daughter sewing on an old Singer peddle machine like your mom learned to sew on, and some cute kids. There are some pictures attached. The little girl is probably a grand daughter of the lady sewing and a great grand daugther of the older woman. The bingo party was just some people getting together and having fun. It surprises me that the younger missionaries won't stop and just chat for a minute with people like this. We had a good time talking to them and they invited us to join in the fun, but since they were playing for money we declinded.

On our way from Majayjay to Lucban we crossed a river where some people were doing their laundry. Your mom wanted me to send this picture to you in case you are feeling like doing laundry with a washing machine is a pain in the neck.

Today we went to Bara (a small island in the middle of Lucena) with a set of sister missionaries to help a couple get everything they need to get married. These are very humble people in very humble circumstances. I couldn't bring myself to take any pictures because they would have known we trying to capture their poor circumstances. It is amazing how easy it is to love these people.

Mixed in with the pictures is one of Marecel Parafina with her sister and mother. You probably recognize Marecel. She and her husband (Noel) where the first couple we helped get married so they could be baptized. Her mother has been to our home for a family home evening and we have met her sister before, but both have tried to keep some distance between us and them. Just before we left for Marinduque last time we attended Noel's birthday and we got the attached picture that evening. The next day we took copies of the picture to all three ladies and gave Marecel's mother and sister and a copy of the Book of Mormon with our testimony and picture in it. Tomorrow night we teach Nanay (Marcel's mother) the first lesson, but her sister wants to wait to get married before we teach her.

Though we have had some trails this week and some frustrations we are completely absorbed by what is happening around us. It is hard to believe how many people we see each day and how much they appreciate our help. There is another story about a man who lives in Majayjay that will be interesting if we can find a solution to his problems. Each new set of problems we encounter seem to be just an order of magnitude greater than the previous. It is amazing how much help we get from above and disappointing how long it takes me to recognize His hand in all things.