Christmas 2007

It has been a while since we have updated our blog. The reasons are varied, but for the most part we have simply been too busy. Much of what we have been doing cannot be discussed in a public forum like this. We have learned to appreciate all that it takes to make a Ward and Stake function well. So many times we have wanted to transport people from here to watch and see how you do it there. We are grateful for those of you who serve with a humble willing heart.

We have been busy setting up an apartment in a small town south of here called Cantanuan. We have long wanted missionaries there, but there has been a shortage of missionaries due to several missionaries going home. Now we are starting to get more missionaries in and we will open four areas next week, including Cantanuan. Attached is a picture of a family that lives across the street from where the missionaries will be living. We talked briefly with this family and they are anxious to have the missionaries visit them and share the gospel with them. Not only is our mission changing because we are getting more missionaries, but when we first got here we had about 80% American missionaries and 20% Filipino missionaries. Now things have turned almost completely turned around and we have almost 80% Filipinos. Sadly, some are the only members of the Church in their families. Regardless of where they come from (we have missionaries from the U.S., New Zealand, Pakistan, Samoa, and the Philippines) we love them all. They have become much like our sons and daughters. I have attached a few pictures of the missionaries so you can get a feel for these remarkable young people.

Our Christmas was different than any we have had in the 38 years we have been sharing Christmas together. Rather than immediate family we had to reach out to those we love here. For the most part it the missionaries and members we have come to love. A family we will always love is Noel and Maricela Parafina and their son Ashley. This is a family we started working with to get them married so they could be baptized. If we could we would bring them home with us. We had another family (Paul and Connie Merkle) who we have worked with similarly. It is so rewarding to have them in our home with their children. Connie has a son who is two months old. I have included a picture Paul and Connie with their new son.

We also went to the Social Services Compound here in Lucena with the missionaries to put on a Christmas program for the children they foster there. These children have been abused and used to the point when we went during the summer they would not go near anyone who looked like an adult. This time they hung on us and played games and sang songs with us. I think I am beginning to understand the love our Saviour has for children better. I wish I could fix all the wrongs that have been done to children but I know it isn't possible (at least not right now, but He will take care of that I promise). I know better what it is like to love unconditionally though.

We also allowed a few of the American missionaries who are close (physically and emotionally) to us to use our computer to call their parents on Christmas. We worked out a schedule so they could call and we could call too, and set up a table to use for their companions to study while they talked so he would be within sight and sound of them (mission rules). I hope it helped their parents, and it helped us not to focus on how much we miss all of you.

This is a special time of the year in the Philippines. Flowers bloom all year long, but I was particularly surprised at the pretty flowers that bloomed just before Christmas. I have attached a couple of pictures you might find interesting. Poinsettias are in bloom, but I didn't get a picture - sorry they are truly amazing in how vivid the colors are.

We have the opportunity to go to the temple in Manila once every six weeks. We go with another senior couple Elder & Sister Ganir. They too are from Idaho. We have the Stake President in San Pablo, Pres. Fabrous, take us in when we go. Traffic into Manila is restricted by the last number on your license plate, so we can't drive in on Fri. or Sat. Having him drive takes the pressure off me because it would be easy to get lost and going in just once every six weeks isn't frequent enough for me to learn all of the short cuts he uses. Driving here is difficult enough without having to worry about getting lost. On our last trip I took some pictures of the temple grounds just after dark.

We love our work and the people we work with beyond anything we can describe. We have discovered that there is a special bond that comes between us and those we serve and serve with. We consider this bond to be a tender mercy given to those who serve our Saviour. Our work has helped us understand better the meaning of the scriptures to "organize yourself and prepare every needful thing". We feel closer to our Saviour and love Him more each day. We trust you are being blessed in our absence, because you are in our prayers and we know our prayers are answered. Perhaps when the time is right we can explain in private some of our experiences we have had. Trust me when I say the gospel changes lives. Sometimes it makes people happy and other times it creates problems for them. Sometimes people recognize the truth right away and others struggle with it for ever. It brings great joy to us to see people come to know and love our Savior as we do.