Hi from Quezon City

It's been a stressful week!  I made the mistake of saying, "We haven't heard anything bad from the missionaries since we've been here," a few days ago and since then we've had a lot of problems.  And someone just called and said, "My companion has been gone for three hours!" You won't get a letter from him tonight.  He's too busy sending missionaries home.  He sent one home Thursday and a think two more are being sent home in the morning-- they are downstairs in the mission home now.  It's getting ugly.  I really thought all the missionaries in this mission were obedient. 

But in happier news, I made it through two stake conferences, giving three talks in two days.  They were only five minutes or less so it shouldn't be a big deal.  The people in these stakes are so kind and loving.  All three stakes we've visited so far have had wonderful choirs, always dressed in white and they sing beautifully.  The Filipinos love to sing and they ALWAYS sing all the verses of the hymns.


I made rice again for the missionaries and it was better.  Not great, but okay.  The Americans loved the chicken haystacks and the Filipinos tolerated them.  We had New Zealand ice cream -- my favorite -- and the Filipinos said their favorite was halo-halo, which I have no idea how to make.  I'd better get some lessons.  I don't think they have salads here, because I made enough for six, fed 12 and there was a lot left over.  (The better for us--we LOVE leftovers!)

We did four days of zone interviews this week and then, the night we finished, DAN CAME!  We had dinner together at the mission home and had time to visit at night and in the morning.  He was so kind to visit his old mission president who is the area mental health advisor at the area office.  He's helped a lot of our missionaries and he's been SUPER responsive since Dan's visit Friday. 


Do you know if sister missionaries are allowed to wear matching clothes?  I took this photo at stake conference this morning.  



The missionaries on the stairs were here for dinner tonight.  I think one companion must have been in the bathroom.  I love the calendar page I photographed here.



There are so many really great missionaries here.  They have faith and a desire to do what's right and work so hard.  I'm really thankful I'm not the mission president -- I can just love them and trust that they are the "good" ones until I find out they're on their way to the airport a few months early.

Well, it's past midnight and I'm not thinking too clearly since we had to wake up very early to drive to stake conference.  You never know when to leave because the traffic can be so bad.  This morning we got there in 45 minutes when it usually takes over two hours. (It was in the building closest to Manila Bay, which is so dirty and polluted it's really sad.  And the shacks that are along the bay are even more sad.  We all live like kings!) And we were there for the stake conference yesterday an hour early.  (Better than late when you have to sit on the stand!) 

It's a good thing this is God's work.  Thank you for your prayers for us.  Especially Dad, although I have to speak at zone conferences this week AND a fireside, so I can use some, too.  But mostly Dad.

Love you,
Mom

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