Dear Family,
Our weather here changed almost overnight,
and we like it! We've had afternoon
showers several days, but other than those time the heat burned. But on Friday,
when Derrick's family flew in from Singapore, it really started to rain
hard--and it's been raining ever since.
It's cooled off and we decided we'd rather be soaked with rain then
soaked with sweat. Sam came to Manila
Monday night to work for two weeks, and Friday afternoon he met us to welcome
Derrick's family. We arranged for a
hotel with a great swimming pool near the temple. When they arrived one of our returned
missionaries babysat while we went to the Manila temple to do baptisms with
Zerah and Caelyn -- it was Zerah's first time so it was very special to watch
Derrick baptize his wife and children while Sam witnessed and Stewart
recorded. Then we were able to do
confirmations together. It was a great finish to five solid days of zone
conferences and mission leadership council, and we enjoyed the rest.
Saturday the children swam in the middle of
driving wind and rain in the pool and we definitely got our money's worth. Even
baby Ransom got in the pool. The water
was warm compared to the wonderfully chilly air! We had a few hours together before Sam went
back to work, Julie and Derrick went to the airport to wait for flights
(delayed several times), and Stewart and I went back to the mission for a
baptism (also delayed). We waited over
one hour for the baptizer to arrive.
When he walked in and saw that the mission president was there waiting
he was embarrassed and very apologetic.
Dad shook his hand and told him not to worry--things happen to all of us
to make us late. The humble man visibly
relaxed and smiled as he proceeded to the baptism. And it's true --the traffic is so
unpredictable and the weather slows things more.
We had visits this week from two of our
returned missionaries, one from Idaho with his family--our first visits from
missionaries who served here. Stewart
released a missionary from the district and gave a baptismal interview at
nights, just to keep him busy. We are
thankful for the Sabbath to rest (kind of -- Dad is visiting two stake
presidents this afternoon) and to have Samuel here with us today. It's
wonderful to have him here and I'll be sad when he heads back to Manila.
I received such nice texts from Dallin and
Hannah this week as they tend Sarah and Rocky's children in Switzerland such
as, "Being a mom is so hard!" (Hannah) and "Being a parent is
ridiculously tiring . . ." (Dallin)
and "I don't know what I would do without them in this move"
(Sarah). Seriously, we really appreciate
how you support and help each other--it means so much to us. And Fenton helped design and execute a new
baptism chart for the missionaries.
We have another busy week ahead with zone
interviews of all missionaries and a dinner with one of the stake presidencies
and all their bishops and wives. I
honestly don't know how we are going to do it since we have to leave so early
and return so late, so please keep praying!
We really appreciate your faith and prayers for us. We know that we are being helped, and so are
our missionaries. Two sets of sisters
have been stalked this week, but in both cases they are safe and were
protected. And Dad was prompted to show
up at one missionary apartment when they least expected him--there are so many
miracles here. If there's one thing I've learned the past 11 months, it is that
the Lord is in this work. It really is
the Greatest Cause on Earth (and Beyond!)
Love,
Mom
PS:
I promised Sister Brough I would put in a plug for their new movie,
"In Emma's Footsteps" playing in Centerville this week only.
Photos:
RM Elder Fish and family.
Manila Temple-best night!
Babysitting in the hotel with Sister Lelis.
Showering in the rain.
World's longest baptism.
New baptismal chart.
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