THE QUEZON QUIBBLER: The 17-Minute Miracle

Dear Family,

I witnessed another miracle this morning--I actually spoke in church for the longest time ever: 17 minutes! A bishop asked us to speak in his ward in our stake several weeks ago. (Of course they really want Dad to speak, but they often invite me to say a few words, too.) Thursday Stewart mentioned he had a sore throat, and by Friday it was bad. He still spoke at our MLC and our Sixth Week Training meetings but cancelled the AP meeting afterward because he was feeling so sick. By Saturday morning he was coughing and feeling terrible. Fortunately, we don't have many meetings in the coming week, but he was dreading having to speak this morning. The bishop has been waiting for weeks for him to come, and he wanted to keep his word, so yesterday afternoon he asked me to speak as long as I could. We were given a total of 30 minutes. I usually speak for five minutes or maybe ten, so I agreed I would try to speak for ten or more. I prepared all evening, but by 9pm I was out of gas and I timed the talk and stretched it -- by speaking slowly--to ten minutes.

This morning he wasn't feeling much better. Our neighbor's yapping dog started early at 3:30am, so he didn't get much rest. I'd prayed for extra help in order to be helpful to him as well as the ward members, and I didn't feel as nervous as I always do. By 8:27am it was my turn to speak and I mostly followed my notes, but I felt so calm and so convicted about what I was speaking and testifying about, that I spoke slowly and even added some thoughts to what I'd planned to speak. I was amazed that I remembered some things I'd thought I might say and
it was "given me in the very hour" some other thoughts, so that when I sat down Stewart was so thankful--I'd taken 17 minutes! And then they announced the closing song before Dad spoke: The Time is Far Spent"!

Afterwards he had a baptismal interview in Montalban. This stake will not be in our mission after July 1, and the San Rafael Ward we went to is just at the foot of a beautiful mountain. I expected to wait outside the classroom while he interviewed the baptismal candidate, but I was surprised to be invited in. The couple who want to be baptized have been living together for eight years and have two beautiful children. When we saw them, we assumed they were already members because their faces were so light and glowing. As I listened to the baptismal questions, I felt the Spirit so strongly--especially the one about a living prophet. Stewart asked the man, "What does it mean to you to know there's a living prophet?" and I felt the Spirit as he answered, even though he was speaking Tagalog (missionary translating). Dad went through tithing, word of wisdom, law of chastity, etc. to make sure they both understood what they were agreeing to. I felt so grateful for President Oaks inspired decision about 15 years ago to allow couples who have lived together faithfully for more than five years to be baptized. Since there is no divorce allowed in the Philippines (last country in the world without this option), this couple can still participate in the covenant of baptism and receive the Holy Ghost and participate in the ordinances and blessings of the gospel. They're not allowed to be endowed, but someday the law will change and they will be able to. The father spoke mostly in Tagalog, but with a big smile he exclaimed in English, "I am so excited to be baptized!"

Tuesday was Exit Day for seven missionaries, although only four left that night. It was a miracle that two of them lasted their entire missions and I was honestly so proud of them and relieved to see them go. Stewart helped them in ways they don't appreciate yet, because they don't realize how close they were to being sent home, but they not only finished, but finished well--but I was still relieved to see them go. One elder who came in the fall returned home Saturday, but Stewart handled it with such kindness and love that he hopefully didn't feel like a failure and will stay active in the gospel.

Wednesday morning we welcomed eleven new missionaries--and they were even better in person than their photos and recommendations indicated. Stewart interviewed them all and said most are converts with very strong testimonies. Ten are Filipino, which means they either speak Tagalog or will learn quickly, so that's wonderful for the mission. They were the most reverent, receptive group we've received, and I was blessed in my presentations to the trainers and then to the trainees. It's always a very long day for me, even though we were finished by 2pm. Dad kindly dropped me at the mission home on his way to take a companionship to their apartment and to stop to talk to an elder, and I tried to work, but napped instead!

From last week's interviews, I had to laugh at two of the sisters I talked to. One, our dear 32-year-old Pakistani who tells everyone she's 25, showed me the scratches on her arms from fighting with her companion. I tried not to smile and was happy to tell her, "Talk to President about this!" The other is a sweet, shy Filipina who fell and injured her wrist on Christmas Eve and has had medication, xrays, physical therapy and is still experiencing severe shoulder pain two months later, even though two doctors have assured her there is absolutely nothing wrong with her shoulder--its just stress. She's told her companion she just wants to go home. Stewart went to her area and visited with her Sunday and told her she would be transferred to her old area (that she loved) with her old companion (who she loves) and suddenly she didn't want to go home--she was smiling and happy when he left. She confided to me, three days later, that the zone leaders had given her a blessing and her arm was totally healed--she even showed me how high she could raise it! She said, "It's a miracle!" and I smiled because I know how the relieving of stress contributes to "miracles".

I drove to a nearby baptism on my own yesterday and scratched the mission car as I tried to squeeze in one gate without opening the other side. But it's always wonderful to witness this ordinance--this time a ten-year-old girl joining her mother as a member of the Church. And last week we saw a 16-year-old join, welcomed by her two aunts.

I made a fun visit to a little school for 4-5-year-olds run by our stake patriarch's wife. She funds it herself, and was excited for me to come because they've run out of money and haven't completed the school room yet. I brought her two boxes of children's books generously donated by Julie, and they were SO happy to receive them! She involves the parents and relatives as helpers and teaches poor children in her neighborhood to read. It was humbling to see someone quietly going about doing good. I felt the Spirit as the light streamed through the space and I watched a great-uncle helping his niece's son. It seemed a reflection of the Savior's love to see people following His example, going "about doing good." It's one thing to do good when you're specifically called by a living apostle--that was an easy choice for me -- but it's a higher level of goodness when someone just chooses to do good because they see a need a fill it.

Much love,

Mom

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