Dear Family
We had five days of zone interviews. I take the missionaries
into another room (office or classroom) while Dad interviews them. I'm supposed to only talk to them for ten
minutes, so they're ready when their companion is finished. Talking to so many strangers was difficult
for me, but it's getting easier and some of them are super easy to talk
with. Others don't speak English so well
and I have a difficult time understanding them.
Some come from very supportive families, some are the only members in
their families and they have been disowned.
Several come from families that do not know how to operate a computer
(and are probably too poor to have access to one) and they don't hear from
their family their entire mission. Some who comes from member families say
their dad tried to persuade them not to serve a mission because he needed her
help to support their family. Some
haven't seen their mothers for years because they work abroad. Almost all have
so much faith and are so happy to be missionaries.
We still have four zones to go this week: Monday-Thursday.
Then next weekend Dad has to decide on the transfers. We are getting 12 new missionaries in ten
more days. Please continue to keep him
in your prayers. He is very positive
about everything here. (Except the
yapping dog next door.) He loves being in Asia and sees past the poverty, dirt
and pollution to see the vibrancy and beauty of the country and the
people. He loves the missionaries and
his calling. When he is fast asleep and
the phone rings, he wakes up and says, "Hello Elder!" in such a kind,
friendly voice the elder probably thought he was just hoping he would call! He never minds going to meetings or
appointments and is very patient and cheerful.
The missionaries love him and the members get big smiles when he greets
them in Tagalog.
We have been blessed this week in many ways. Friday afternoon we happened to be at the
office, although we planned to be at home, and an investigator came in for a
baptismal interview that he had forgotten all about. And since the office is 30-75 minutes of
stressful traffic away, it was a good thing.
Friday morning we accidentally hit a jeepney on our way to the office
but no damage was done to the other car (jeepneys are small buses with
indestructible back side bumpers) and Dad cheerfully paid the driver $6 to
compensate and get him to move since traffic had backed up for a mile. The best blessing was Fenton coming on
Tuesday night. He immediately made
friends with the office staff and the assistants and talked to lots of
missionaries as they came in. He went on
splits with the assistants in the afternoon, helped me with my technology
concerns in the evening, and stayed the next day to be there so our shipment of
belongings could be delivered, even though we would be gone. That night he helped me decide where to put
things until he was so tired, then he still had to work after that.
We were sad to say goodbye Friday morning but so thankful
for his help. He facilitated the mission
secretary doing the newsletter which took a huge load off of us. And he gave us the idea to use have food
delivered to our home, which will be a great help if we can arrange that. We are SO hungry by the end of the day! Like Derrick's visit last week (which I
didn't even think to take a photo of), it was so great to benefit from their
help and feel their love. I appreciate
it so much.
The greatest miracle is the missionaries. They go out all day in the heat and the torrential
rain, get soaked to the skin regularly, and just keep going. They love the people and even some shy ones
have confided they love to "find" by talking to everyone. One, who said he was very afraid of rejection
before his mission, said it doesn't bother him anymore at all. Hopefully we will have time to get out and
work with the missionaries soon.
I am thankful for:
--A great bed. The
mission home has the most comfy bed ever.
--Hot shower. It
feels good even when it's hot outside, although we have air con
--Members. They are
so loving and everyone wants to shake our hands and try to pronounce our
name. Usually "Hew-jess" and
Dad always teaches them "Hughes rhymes with shoes" and they laugh!
--My family. I know
you are praying for me and I feel your love.
--My companion. He is
amazing.
I still haven't gotten up the courage to drive, but maybe
this week...
Love,
Mom
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