Dear Hughes Elder and Hermana Hughes,
This is the last letter to Hughes Elder --today is his last
p-day. We've had beautiful weather here the past week. The temperatures have been 75-85 degrees and
often there's a breeze. Filipinos are
wearing jackets and we are loving it! We
can go for walks after 6am and it's still cool and nice.
It was WONDERFUL to see you and talk to you on Christmas
day. The best part of Christmas! Although having Fenton and Sam here was also
very fun. Fenton came late Friday night and Sam was on the same flight Sunday
night. Sam's flight was delayed four
hours but he miraculously made the connection in Japan, and I waited on the
couch for him to come early Monday morning.
I was so tired after all the fireworks he couldn't wake me with his
texts and calls and had to jump the fence and bang on the door! We didn't realize how Christmas works here:
on Christmas Eve everyone goes to bed early.
We stayed up late and tried to go to sleep about midnight, just the time
they wake up and shoot guns, light illegal fireworks, and make all sorts of
noise! I'm pretty sure the 200 dogs in
our subdivision barked ALL NIGHT. Dad
didn't sleep at all.
We had a quiet morning opening presents (that took 10 min)
and talking and having our traditional strata. My favorite presents were a book
on the Converts in our family -- both Dad's side and mine, and a quilt Abby
made me. It was a simple celebration, but so great to have them here. We went and stayed at a hotel near the
airport Christmas afternoon to (1) Sleep, since more fireworks were forecast
for Christmas night, and (2) Enable them to make their early morning
flight. They are skiing in Japan and and
plan to return Sunday night after attending church with Maria.
The week before Christmas was very stressful with Christmas
zone conferences in the mornings, roast pig for lunch (Filipino traditional
food) and a talent show in the afternoon.
Evidently the past mission president showed a movie in the morning, so
the missionaries were a little disappointed to have a real zone conference
instead, but they loved the slide show which Derrick fixed at the last minute,
staying up until 2am for us. (Note to self:
do not assign technology-related projects to missionaries over 60!) We
were super relieved when it was all over.
We know a lot more for next year.
More stress came with a missionary who wanted to go home for
his brother's funeral. Dad tried to talk
him out of it, but he insisted, and the area president gave permission for him
to go and come immediately back. Strangely, he left with everything owned so
we're not sure he's coming back -- we'll see if he's on the return flight this
afternoon. We are learning how different
the Filipino culture is and how it needs to be replaced, in many instances,
with the Gospel culture. That will take
time. In the meantime, Dad's prayers
have changed from, "Bless the missionaries to be obedient and effective,"
to "Bless the missionaries to be as obedient and effective as they can be." Some just don't have the Gospel background
yet.
One thing I can testify is that God is involved in this
work. I have seen so many miracles as
Dad teaches and works with these missionaries.
Elders who were disobedient and ineffective are working and trying
hard. The culture is slowly
changing. And we are both developing
patience! We visited a district meeting
Tuesday where a Filipino elder who was just called as district leader taught in
broken English with humble power. The
other missionaries -- most of whom are more fluent and experienced than he--
listened and supported with love. Lives
are being changed, and it's not always the converts. Many of our missionaries need to be
converted.
And so do I. It's
very gradual, but I am trying to improve and I am feeling your support and
prayers. I'm excited for this week when
Sarah, Dan and Derrick come with their families and Dallin returns! We will take lots of photos, Hannah.
Love,
Mom
Favorite Christmas gifts
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