Dear Hughes Elder y Hermana Hughes,
Transfer week means one thing to missionaries and another
thing to a mission president. President
Eyring emphasized to Dad to "you have to get the transfer right" and
he takes it very seriously, working on it beginning the day after the transfer
happen. This time he got a little behind
with his sickness last week, and it was down to the wire on transfers,
trainers, etc., but it happened just in time.
On Tuesday we had our smallest group leave -- only six missionaries --
but there were some great ones, including one of our best sister
missionaries. I am always so sad to see
them go--it's a good thing I've been on the other side of this (being a mom to
a returning missionary) or I would beg Dad to extend most of them.
The MTC manages the transportation, so it makes it very easy
for us. The shuttle service comes to the
mission home and picks them up Tuesday night, and brings the new missionaries
from the Manila MTC early Wednesday morning.
EARLY Wednesday morning! They
aren't supposed to arrive until 7:00am, but sometimes they get there sooner,
sometimes before us! Fortunately, the
assistants are great and are always there early getting things prepared. We beat the missionaries this time, and
greeted them as they came off the shuttle--all thirteen. Some looked rather haggard and some admitted
they didn't sleep at all the night before, which seems to be normal. They've all been in the Manila MTC at least
three weeks, so jet lag isn't a problem, for which we are thankful!
We train the trainers while the arriving missionaries get
set up and do their personal study, then we meet in the chapel for the arrival
day orientation. After his opening
remarks, Dad begins interviewing the new missionaries while the assistants, me
and the office staff do the orientations.
Then, after lunch we combine again, finish the orientation, and Dad
assigns their trainers. It's always
great to see their faces from the stands--some get more and more worried as the
day goes on, and they are usually relieved to find who is going to be their
companion for the next twelve weeks.
The next day was MLC and New Leader Training, which I
skipped out on to prepare food for the next day's Thanksgiving dinner. Friday we had 7-week training, which Dad
completely changed the night before to accommodate suggestions from the
MLC. That afternoon we had 13 guests,
our six senior couples and one of their friends visiting from the US, over for
Thanksgiving dinner. They love getting
together and talking. Sister Bremner,
who serves in the district (not that far in miles, but SO far in traffic), made
the most wonderful apple pies, and the best pie crust ever, and Dad was SO
happy when she left the last pie here for him!
I can't say enough good about these senior couples--they work so hard
and make such a big difference in our mission.
We are excited to be getting the Ogdens in July, and a couple from
Australia in January.
By Saturday, I was exhausted and had a headache, but Dad
left early and spoke at a stake/missionary meeting in Valenzuela. In the
afternoon/evening we took Sister Cole and Morris and attended two
baptisms. At one of them the two girls I
visited with the sister missionaries a couple of weeks ago were baptized, so it
was very special for me to witness that and feel 1/10000th of the joy a
missionary who finds and teaches an investigator feels. The 11-year-old is part of a less active
family, and the 16-year old has a classmate who is a church member, reminding
me again that the members are the key to missionary work. When Dad spoke at the end of their service,
he told them the angels are rejoicing at their baptism--not knowing both of
them had parents who had passed away.
Yesterday I redeemed myself by speaking undertime at stake
conference. I was so happy, because it's
the last stake conference of the year!
But then Dad told me they start again in January. The best part of stake
conference was meeting a 70+ less active woman who Dad visited with
missionaries and a bishop three weeks ago and has come to church every
since.Afterwards, Dad drove to the
district, Baliwag, for the afternoon and returned in the evening and we broke
our fast with Thanksgiving leftovers.
Delicious, including 1/2 a pie!
We love you, think of you often, pray for you often, and
talk about you to the missionaries often.
We're so thankful to be able to serve with you. I identify with Hannah when she wrote that
the mission has revealed her weaknesses -- that is certainly true with me. Sometimes I feel I'm not progressing, but
sometimes I see that although my progress is incremental, it is happening. It's so great that we can change and
improve! I hope I leave this mission a
happy, uncomplaining person with a great memory.
Love,
Mom
Photos (not in order):
One morning we were surprised that the blind salesman the FM brought to
the mission home were the parents of one of our missionaries!
Some missionaries get lots of packages -- Filipinos rarely
receive them. This missionary was as
embarrassed as Dallin at all the packages his mom sent!
Departing and incoming batches
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