Hi,
I am in shock.
This is going to be so much harder than I ever
imagined! But it's getting better. Last night I wanted to jump in the car with
the Bertins as they drove off.
We had a wonderful week of training from apostles and
general authorities last week. I searched the first two days for a name tag
that read "Meservy" so I could meet Hannah's mission president, and I
found them, talked with them, had dinner with them, and then sat with them
through a concert. They are wonderful
people and have sacrificed a lot financially to be able to come on this
mission. I'm so glad I could meet them.
I also met up with one of my friends from Primary (we were
in the same class at about age 4 or 5) whom I remember well because his dad was
our bishop and his mom our Primary chorister who picked me to sing a solo. Anyway, he's in the presidency of the Seventy
now, and it was fun to talk with him and meet his wife.
All week we were taught in our discussion class by Elder
Lynn Robbins and Wednesday night culminated with a dinner with Elder Neil
Anderson where he bore powerful testimony to us of the Savior. Then we dashed out to catch our flight. Abby was home when we returned, which was a
big surprise since I didn't think we'd get to see her before we left! After about 30 minutes we left to catch our
flight and found out on the way that it had been delayed/cancelled, so we went
back home and it was too late to make another connection to Asia, so left the
next day instead. Unfortunately, that
meant we didn't get a chance to go to Singapore as we'd planned and see Derrick
and his family. But we got to spend a couple
more hours with Amy, Dan, Sarah and Rocky.
We arrived in Manila late Saturday night and made it to the
hotel early in the morning, sleeping a few hours and then having a training by
the area authority. I honestly can't
remember much of what he taught -- my brain is scrambled -- but we got big
binder of information to study. Then we
headed Saturday afternoon from Manila to Quezon City -- about 17 miles away --
which took about 2.5 hours in a driving rainstorm.
President and Sister Bertin were on their doorstep to greet
us and were so kind. They drove us to
the church that should be about ten minutes away but took about 45, where they
showed us the mission office. Then back
to the mission home for dinner--Sister Bertin had some delicious soup for us --
then she taught me about her duties and gave me some good suggestions. It's kind of a blur now.
When I woke up this morning I felt so worried about
everything. I don't understand what I'm
supposed to do. I feel scared and
anxious. Fortunately, we didn't have to
go to meeting until 1pm and we didn't have to speak, so I had a few minutes to
study and read my scriptures, which gave me some calm. Church was good. I felt better there. The people were so nice and kind, although
the classes and most of the testimonies were in Tagalog. When we walked out it was pouring so hard I
thought that we would float away!
Tonight we had a meeting here with the office staff and
assistants. I am a zombie.
I feel so much better than this morning, though. I can feel the fasting and prayers of our
family and I know the Lord is blessing me.
Dad is loving this already.
He bore a strong testimony in fast meeting today. Tonight at our meeting
he testified that there is no more important thing we can teach in this life
than the gospel of Jesus Christ.
This coming week we have MLC tomorrow and zone meetings
every day of this week Tuesday - Friday with double zones. I'm not sure what is going to happen and how
I will get through this. I am also in
charge of feeling 60 people each day, but hopefully Sister Bertin has that
organized and in the freezer and my helper, who I will meet tomorrow, will take
care of it.
Thank you for your prayers.
Love,
Mom
Eight new couples going to Phiippines
Elder Craig Christensen and me -- before and after
With the Bertins
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