Our Vacation Week.

Dear Hughes Elder and Hermana Hughes,

This week was the Mission President's Seminar, and what we thought would be a week of rest and relaxation.  I felt a little guilty packing for a fun trip when our missionaries would still be working.  But the guilt soon dissipated -- and so did the vacation.  We drove to Manila to board a  bus with the other mission presidents and wives.  Then we rode for six hours without stopping, the last three over very winding, slow mountain roads.  Yes, there are mountains in the Philippines!  We arrived at a resort at 4500 ft elevation complete with pine trees and weather in the 70's! 

I made an agreement not to complain on this trip, so I'll just briefly state the pro's:

PROs

cool weather

cleaner air

nature

flat sidewalks

mountain hotel (almost felt like Park City)

no barking dogs

inspired instruction

I wrote down the CONs, but then erased them. We met with our area presidency, Elder Bowen, Elder Haynie, and Elder Schmutz, and the other 20 mission presidents and our area medical and mental health advisors and the president of the MTC and his wife.  Right after lunch the meetings started and they went all day Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with breaks and lunch and an hour or two "rest" before dinner to catch up on everything back in the mission.  Lots of meetings and lots of instruction.  I enjoyed talking at the breaks or lunch with other mission presidents' wives and making new friends.

The area presidency taught at all the meetings and we learned a lot and got a lot of information.  I especially liked it when they opened a question for discussion and had comments from the  participants, because that really helped me understand.  Dad made a lot of insightful comments.  (I am going to try to have more discussion and less lecture at zone conference.) At one point, Elder Bowen had Dad come up and be his "object lesson" by holding a heavy suitcase up and out to his side for as long as he could.  I especially liked the presentations on The Divine Companionship and The Sacrament. 

Wednesday afternoon was a "breakout" session where the wives met separately from the mission presidents and discussed mostly missionary health.  The Area Mental Health Advisor, Elder Hoem, who was Dan's mission president, was particularly entertaining with stories of psychotic missionaries.  (And he reminded us that Dan is bringing his wife and children to meet him at Christmastime.)

Thursday morning was a tour day.  We left early in the morning to go to a weaving factory high in the mountains where they dye and weave beautiful cotton fabric.  It was so impressive to see the looms and the women artists who work them.  Then we had a tour of some native houses and plants in the mountains, then a dance performance of native dances.  The Filipinos love to dance and when invited, many of the mission presidents and wives joined in the dancing.  By lunch time we were starving, and enjoyed delicious Filipino food outside with the other guests.  Then we went to a tourist town to view the mountains from a look-out point and shop for souvenirs.  I had my photo taken on a sorry pony that had been spray painted pink, thinking the grandchildren might enjoy it.

We rode in the van Thursday with President and Sister Andrada.  She told me how her 24-year-old RM son was killed one year ago in a tragic accident. And then her aunt was killed crossing the street at the funeral, and another aunt hospitalized.  President Andrada's dad and brother both died. They are both so focused on the work and so full of faith, in spite of their challenges that it inspired me.  She interviews each companionship at zone interviews, checking their area book, planners, 72-hour kits, language study and medicine kit.  Do either of you get that kind of interview?

We really met some great people this week, including Hyatt's mission president.

Then we had the big dinner event, a Thanksgiving dinner and entertainment where I was informed last week that I would be giving the closing prayer.  This event took every ounce of patience your father has.  After the dinner there was group singing of Christmas songs (fun!), then a live band performed and the mission presidents and wives were invited to dance.  We watched and enjoyed the music, waiting for the 8pm ending time, as scheduled, so I could give my prayer and leave.  But it didn't end!  The Filipino mission presidents and wives and President and Sister Bowen loved to dance and the band let people take the microphone and sing (karaoke style), and it went on and on!  People started leaving and even Elder and Sister Haynie left, but the Bowens and the Filipinos danced on until past 9:00pm.  By then almost half the people had left and we realized there wasn't going to be a closing song and prayer and we left, too!

We were happy to board the bus and ride the six hours back to Manila and especially the two hours back to our mission home.  It was good to be "home" and back to our AC and barking neighbor dogs.  Dad was especially happy, and the next day was gone from 7am to 4pm working with missionaries in two different zones---so happy to be back to work!  I was sick yesterday, but felt better today.  And today Dad is sick, but hopefully he will be better by tomorrow when our next round of zone conferences begins.

Dad spoke at the Caloocan 1st Ward this afternoon.  Last Saturday he went with the bishop and the stake president of the Caloocan stake to visit a less active man in this ward.  The bishop reported he came to church with his family last week, and he was there again today--that was the bright spot of Dad's day!  And it was fun for me to meet him and his faithful wife and four daughters.

We're really thankful that Abby and Fenton went to Santa Clara for Uncle George's graveside service.  I may have forgotten to tell you that he passed away.  We appreciate them representing the family. 

Sam sent me this photo of the Panama Temple.  He stopped in Panama City for seven hours of a layover on his way to Costa Rica for a Thanksgiving trip. 

Dan and Derrick traveled to Mumbai, and Derrick said the church meeting was very interesting there--and having a cockroach on the pulpit added to the attention of the meeting.

I'm writing this Sunday night because I realize with our extra busy schedule this week I may not get another chance.  We have four days of ZC and then Thanksgiving Dinner at the mission home on Thursday.  I haven't seen Sister Cole, but hope she's still okay.

I love you and appreciate all you're doing to serve and bless.

Love,

Mom