THE QUEZON QUIBBLER: Mission Tour Success

Dear Hughes Elder and Hermana,

The mission tour was a success! We prepared like crazy on Monday and Elder and Sister Bowen arrived at the mission home 30 minutes early, but we're used to that -- you never know with Manila traffic. They spent about 90 minutes visiting with us, asking what's going well and what our challenges are. We listened carefully and learned a lot about working with the missionaries, the office staff and the couple missionaries. Elder Bowen was especially pleased that Dad has been out working with the missionaries and with the gifts and talents he brings to the mission. They have similar approaches to goals and vision of the mission and enjoyed talking together. Sister Bowen is amazing -- they just returned from SLC for conference three days before, but they were attentive and alert and so kind.

The assistants and couple office staff came next, which was a little awkward, as he told our amazing office couple that he would never use them in the office -- he would have them working full time with the members. He pointed out that our eight couples are the most in any mission in the Philippines--we really hope that continues. Sister Cole and Sister Morris arrive Wednesday!

I'd made Kimberly's chimichangas and a green salad for lunch and they loved them--Mexican food is their favorite. Then we drove to the office/chapel for MLC. He taught the mission leaders for almost two hours, then went into the chapel where the missionaries were assembled and he and Sister Bowen and Dad shook all their hands (I was in the bathroom, or "comfort room", as it's called here).

Half the mission was there for the 2-6pm meeting. I gave a 7-minute talk about the Book of Mormon, Dad spoke to convey his love for the missionaries --even the disobedient ones -- and the Sister Bowen gave a powerful talk about acting in faith through our words. Then Elder Bowen taught about being obedient. It was pretty embarrassing when he asked the group who had gotten up at 6:30 ("arise" not wake up) for the past 30 days and only three or four missionaries raised their hands. Yikes! He said, "I feel a lack of power in this room." He taught that arising by 6:30 is the easiest rule to keep in the mission. Then he taught about the importance of planning for 30 minutes/day, testifying to 30 people each day (only in the Philippines -- won't work in Hungary!), and teaching 30 lessons a week. He also taught about the urgency of the work and about quiet dignity in all we do. At one point he asked the missionaries, "What do you do in your spare time?" Of course, the answer was, "You have no spare time --you've given it all to the Lord." (Afterward Sister Bowen emphasized this doesn't apply to us--although we've yet to see any!) . His main point is that OBEDIENCE + Faith in Jesus Christ = MIRACLES/power from God.

After a short CR break, he taught for another hour about the Abrahamic covenant and who we are -- children of Abraham with the spiritual inheritance and power to take the gospel to the earth. It was pretty amazing teaching and done with a lot of energy considering his jet lag. At the end of his talk he had Dad and I come back up on the stand and asked the missionaries to name good qualities each of us have. It was super awkward for me, and most of their complements weren't true, but one elder we'd had to dinner recently said "Good cook." I liked that. The favorite quality they named for Dad came from a socially awkward elder who called out, "Dispenses justice!" We laughed so hard!

After the conference we took about 20 minutes to get photos of each of the five zones, then we took them back to our house for dinner. I had lasagna, roasted broccoli and bread ready for dinner, and they seemed to enjoy it, but I think the fatigue hit them Sister Bowen started to look a little sick. They were happy their driver was there at 7pm to take them home. Normally they stay at the mission home for two or three nights, but he had an early meeting at the area office the next morning so they drove back to their apartment in Manila--which is a good thing since the GA bathroom leaks into the kitchen and is currently torn down to a cement floor.

They met as at Don Antonio chapel the next morning at 7:45 am (we were there about 6:30am) and again began by shaking the missionaries' hands and the whole thing was repeated--except Dad gave a totally different talk, this time about having the Spirit. His talks are always powerful. I was surprised how much I learned, listening the second time to the same teachings again. Dad and I both appreciated being able to learn from them again.

Afterward we had lunch with the missionaries (photos below) and waited while Elder Bowen interviewed about six missionaries. I realized Sister Bowen waits around A LOT! She was very kind to visit with me and give me advice. After the interviews we went with Elder Bowen to inspect missionary apartments. He checked the refrigerator, inside the cupboards their bedrooms, their sheets, their smoke detector ("Oh, I think it's in this pile of pamphlets somewhere!") and was very thorough. Then he hugged each missionary and told him he loved him, and left a blessing on their house.

The second apartment was a little harder to find and Google (Dad called her, "Sister Google"), took us down the wrong road which became skinnier and skinnier and full of such colorful people Elder Bowen was a little worried he would get mugged when he had to get out of the car to direct Dad in backing our of the alley. There was a cock fight in progress, but the people were friendly (as always) and we finally found the right apartment on a much better street. I thought it was filthy, but Dad said he's seen much worse. Again he gave them hugs, left and blessing, and was happy to leave. On the way back to the chapel to meet his driver he told us about being imprisoned as a young missionary serving in Santiago. Hannah, he served in some of your same areas!

We admit to being relieved when they drove away, even though we learned a lot and enjoyed having them here. We celebrated with leftovers and Haggen-Daaz ice cream bars. Hurray! I tried to get Dad to watch a movie the Bowens had recommended we watch, but a few minutes into he asked, "Can I just go to bed?" and miraculously fell asleep at 8pm, and no missionaries called and he slept for nine hours!

Exit interviews Friday and Saturday blitz with the missionaries, which I'll let him write about. Last night we spoke at the Malolos stake conference and this morning again at the general session. I love seeing the missionaries there. They invited us into a classroom after for a "snack", which turned out to be a huge plate of fried chicken, vegetables and a giant serving of rice. (President Fernando, the stake president, has been a mission president and an area authority and has a great stake. He served in his wife's hometown as a young missionary, and she was called to serve in Malolos while he served in Cebu!)

I found again that I am almost always tested on what I speak about. I often fail the tests, but I learn a lot in my preparation--I just struggle to actually apply it.

After Elder Bowen's conference a few missionaries have called to confess, turn their private phones in, etc. This is my favorite quote from the conference: "If you get offended by something I say, don't blame me. Blame the Holy Ghost. Then repent!"

The coming week we have exiting and arriving missionaries, including Sister Cole who is going from living alone in a 21,000 square foot house, to sharing a 250 square foot apartment with another sister. It will be an adventure for her!

We appreciate your prayers. I am amazed at the difficult problems Dad faces almost every day. Thank you for praying for us!!

We love you and are happy to be serving at the same time as you.

Much love,

Mom

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