THE QUEZON QUIBBLER: Baliwag Stake Approved!

Dear Family,

I'm afraid this letter is going to be SO long. I asked a missionary what he reads in his girlfriend's emails about her mission and he said, "I just skip to the pictures, I don't actually read about her!" So feel free to skip to the photos.

We've had zone interviews the past two weeks, which means we travel each day to a stake center in the mission and Stewart interviews one zone of missionaries every day, sometimes two. We also welcomed two new couples to our mission. "Welcoming couples" involves having them to the mission home for a meal and orientation and sometimes they spend the night here. The Nelsons flew from Arizona on the first day of our interviews, but we were told by the area office they wouldn't arrive in our mission until the next day. Fortunately, my helper worked with me to begin a hamburger soup in the crockpot before we left, because that afternoon we were informed they were already here and wondering where they were supposed to go! We rushed home and I dumped the still raw-vegetable soup into a pot, made a salad and some biscuits before they arrived, and Stewart picked them up for 6pm dinner. The menu wasn't inspired as they don't really like vegetables, but they were so tired by then it didn't matter. They are our age and retired and will take care of the apartments, vehicles and baptism/confirmation records.

It worked out very well, because the next night -- when we thought they would come-- Dallin and Tanner arrived from Singapore. They brought lots of stuff we need for the mission and it was fun to visit until we were too tired to think. The next morning when Sister Cole came to ride with us to zone interviews in Baliwag, she was so surprised to see them! They were great guests, eating the leftover vegetable soup and sleeping without AC, which was broken in both their rooms. After we left they headed for Manila and the Military Cemetery and the next morning early to see the Ta'al volcano.

We continued interviews, planning on the other couple from New Zealand coming to the mission on Friday--the MTC had informed us of their schedule weeks before--and they were to stay at the mission home Friday before going to their assignment in Baliwag District on Saturday. We learned Wednesday night on our way back from interviews, that they would arrive the next morning by 8am! As I drove home in the dark from Baliwag I was so thankful we had eggs in the fridge and fruit and tried to think what I could make for breakfast the next morning. (You can't really "run to the grocery store" here. I got home after they closed and they don't open until 9am.) I worked Wednesday night and Thursday morning to have breakfast ready, and they arrived right at 8am. The Tohiarikis are of Maori descent and are perfect for the MLS assignment--they are converts who recognize the need for fellowshipping and love in a branch and have had leadership positions in the past. They had amazing training for their arrival in the Philippines: they lived in a campground on the beach in New Zealand for six months! This allowed them to (1) get plenty of fresh air into their lungs in preparation for the pollution here, and (2) their little house in Baliwag is so much better than their camper van that they feel like they live in a mansion! The other senior missionaries came at 10am and we had breakfast for everyone and they met each other and enjoyed their time together. Then the Ogdens took the Tohiarikis to Baliwag, and we set off for Montalban to interview missionaries. It was a long day, as we stopped on our way back from to visit a companionship of sisters where weren't getting along. Stewart counseled with one sister downstairs in the apartment while made small talk with her companion upstairs and then they got together and gave each other a hug--it was actually quite miraculous from my point of view.

Friday we were happy for only afternoon meetings since Dallin came back (Tanner flew home) and we had lunch together at the mission home. The next day Dallin worked to clean and organize my little storage room which now looks like a real office! He also helped me with lots of technology concerns and it was wonderful having him there. He helped me shop for mission stuff at S&R and in the evening we all relaxed and laughed a lot.

Sunday he went to our ward to church with me while Stewart went to do baptism interviews and met with a sister missionary who's experienced a lot of stress and pain. Then up to Baliwag District to interview a prospective missionary and check on the Tohiarikis. (He was able to explain to them their stove doesn't work because it uses propane and their propane tank was empty.) We had a delicious Sunday dinner together with Sister Cole (Dallin's #1 fan) and later Dad gave Dallin a blessing before he left for airport very early Monday morning.

Stewart interviewed five more zones of missionaries this week. He has to do what the apostles do -- assign 60+ of the 190 missionaries to serve in a different mission, beginning July 1. I don't think any of them want to be assigned to the other mission, but he has to do it, so he is thinking carefully and seeking inspiration on what to do. This week was tough for him, as he had to confront some missionaries about less-than-obedient behavior. He was surprised that a missionary told him he only planned to stay on his mission for a few months and then return to Taiwan for school! Another missionary he lovingly corrected (I heard Dad's end of the conversation--he was nice) ended up in the hospital with hypertension two nights later!

Speaking of hospital, Elder Donan's biopsy was confirmed malignant on Saturday and he had a successful thyroidectomy Tuesday morning. We visited him that night and were relieved his voice was strong and he was eating when we arrived. And his mom showed up from Cebu! What??? He stayed until Saturday morning but is back to work now, awaiting all the follow up. We are still wondering how we could have three missionaries with thyroid cancer in just 18 months in the mission--what are the chances?!

In addition to cancer surgery and a missionary collapsing in the street from hypertension, I sent another missionary to the hospital who was sure his kidney was damaged from a trike incident, who is fine. In other nursing news, missionaries got help from doctors on persistent vomiting, a facial boil, abdominal pain, uterine problems, pneumonia and a tumor. I complained to Stewart that he doesn't even know about 99% of the problems in mission--I try not to bother him as he has a lot on his mind already--but it's not true. He's been patient and helpful during this time without a nurse when all the decisions fall on me and I sometimes need help to know what to do. But we will BOTH be very happy when Sister Sommerfeldt arrives in a couple of weeks. Especially since our AMA went home, but not before a late night sending me prescriptions for eczema, stomach pain and worms.

The AMA has been so good to us and Heavenly Father has answered many of my prayers through him and other people these past two weeks. Dad commented in our Sunday School class about the value of simple

prayers, and quoted President Uchtdorf , ". . . the number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of greater importance." Mark answered my prayer this morning about the urgency of getting a prescribed med to Elder Donan.

Yesterday Dad got notice that Baliwag district is approved to become a stake May 25-26! That will take a lot of work from him that will go to the stake president.

I'm very thankful for all your prayers and know that things are better here because of them.

Love,

Mom

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