Last Letter

Dear Hermana,

I can't believe this is your last letter.  The time flew by for the first ten months.  The last eight months have been slower, but still--it's almost gone!  I will really, really miss your weekly letters.  When you leave Manila I hope you will still write to me, even though we'll be able to Facetime.  I just love being able to read and reread your emails again and again. 

And I've been happy to be serving as a missionary at the same time as you are.  I'm not nearly as effective as you -- not knowing the language is a big stumbling block--but I've learned so much from you.  And I feel like our whole family has been blessed for your service.  I hope the blessings continue after you return!

Last week we met the six other senior couples in Manila for a farewell dinner for Elder and Sister Bremner, who left today.  They were amazing missionaries and did so much good in 18 months.  They were in charge of our quarterly activity, and they planned a trip to the nearby island of Corregidor, where many battles of WWII happened and where MacArthur vowed to return (that's him in the statue).  The Americans returning and liberating the Philippines has been great for the Church because most Filipinos love Americans and are happy to talk to the missionaries.  Even if they're not interested in the Church, they're curious where they are from and why they're here.  They call all American elders, "Joe", (maybe from GI-Joe?) and the children yell to them, "Hey Joe!"

The trip to Corregidor took all day: ferry ride over, tram ride (with lots of stops) around the island, lunch, and return to Manila.  And then driving home in Manila traffic which took almost as long as the ride around the island!  But it was totally worth it.  As Dad said, "It was a vacation for our lungs!"  The air was so clean and the ocean was clear on the beaches--it was beautiful.  And I came away with a greater appreciation for those who sacrificed for freedom, both the Filipino freedom fighters and the American troops.  There were lots of blown out barracks, leftover mortars and ruins of caves and tunnels where both sides hid. 

The next day was our self reliance training for exiting missionaries, which we do five weeks before they leave since they have to go to MRC for a tuberculosis xray and Dad has put me in charge of.  Then Friday we had our New Leader Training and then our MLC meeting.  My part of MLC was a big flop, but Dad carried the day--the missionaries love learning from him. 

Friday night I got this photo from Sarah at the wedding dinner of Megan Knowles.  I felt a little sad to be missing it, but I got some more great photos, which I will try to add below.  (I wish I could figure out how to configure my letters like Amy so the photos are in the body of the letter, but I haven't figured that out.) . And I can't figure out how to life a photo from Instagram, so this is how you'll get it:

Dad and I split up to cover more baptisms on Saturday and split up on Sunday with Dad going to the district to church and do interviews.  Today we began a week of zone interviews which were thankfully not traumatic.

For our anniversary in 2016 you sent me this scripture:

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.  Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

It has come to mean so much to me in the mission.  Never have my weaknesses been so apparent and so constant.  Lately I've had times when I felt totally overwhelmed and immobilized by them, but His grace is sufficient.  I'm counting on it.

Love you,

Mom