The highlight of our week was breakfast and lunch with Derrick and Dan on Monday in Manila. It was fun to see them and get caught up on their families and talk and laugh together. Derrick brought me a bunch of stuff I ordered (too embarrassed to say what) and I really appreciated their help. They donated their old computers to people who could never afford even a used computer. The student I gave one to today --Paula Caviero--was overwhelmed with gratitude! She's been saving for over a year, but nowhere close to buying one yet.
It was downhill from there for awhile, with a new sister extremely homesick and hating her apartment and area and wanted to be transferred to live with another sister in her zone, also a new trainee of less than one week. We went from Manila to their zone meeting so Stewart could counsel with her and he decided to transfer her to another zone where she could get the extra help she needed to adjust. When the other trainee heard she was transferring, she passed out in the hallway and had a panic attack! I've never seen so much drama--or an actual panic attack --but when I visited with the MPW from QC mission, she said, "It happens all the time!" in her mission, so I guess we've just really been blessed. Since Tuesday things have been quieter and we are hoping for the best!
Good health news: the sister with kidney stone passed it on her own!
Bad health news: a sister with low grade fever for several weeks was diagnosed with 1) typhoid, then 2) dengue and now 3) pneumonia. (All in one week!) No actual basis for any of these, but the doctors have to give a diagnosis to prescribe medicine, so they seem to just make one up.
Although I'm writing about the problems, Stewart reads the missionaries' letters and sees that 98% of them are doing well. There were a lot of baptisms yesterday but unfortunately we had to attend a stake conference instead, where Dad did a superb presentation on "Come and See." The AC was turned up so high I felt like was back in the intensive care unit of the hospital--it was freezing on the stand! We returned for the session this morning with warm clothes and Dad wore his suit coat, which only comes out of the closet a couple of times/year. On the front row was a beautiful little family who were baptized last week--so much light in their eyes!
Dad set apart a new counselor in the mission presidency this week, so he will have help with baptismal interviews and stake conferences, when needed. He met with QC mission president about the upcoming split and helped him plan a suggested July transfer for the new mission president who comes to that mission June 30.
He patiently took the ten senior missionaries on an overnight trip to Corregidor Island. This involves a long drive through heavy Manila traffic, a stay in a little hotel on the bay, getting up early to wait in line for the boat to Corregidor, and a day on the island, going through the same tour we took last year. The weather was beautiful! Hot, but much cooler than in Manila, and with a fresh ocean breeze. We were reminded of the sacrifices made and of the horrors of war and the freedom that is not free. We had an excellent guide who told us about some heroic Filipino women who helped The Resistance when Japan occupied Manila, including a woman who was a leper. We were thankful to finally return to the mission home after the tour and 3.5 hours of driving (Dennis took the seniors) and by then Stewart was really sick with a cold. Hopefully the seniors had a great time.
Tomorrow we start zone conferences again. We are trying something new: only one zone/day, and Stewart will interview them (after he teaches) while the mission leaders carry on with the zone conference. It seems like the best way for this short transfer. He asked me to teach on "Lock Your Heart"--not the easiest thing to discuss -- so extra prayers for me this week. (I think I say that every week, right?) I do know this is important to do as a missionary. I love what Hannah wrote to me about it:
I think my main motivator for “locking my heart” on my mission was the idea that through controlling my feelings for other missionaries and members I was respecting their priesthood (goes for both men and women) and also respecting mine. Therefore I would feel more empowered because of my sacrifice would ensure more priesthood power in my friends and in myself. Also- tell them that they will look back on this time for their whole life and they have their whole future for romance so just trying to live full-force, regret-free in the mission is totally worth it afterwards!
Thanks for your prayers and support.
Love,
Mom
Photos
Dan and Derrick Visit Manila
Lovely family leaving stake conference
On Corregidor with gun that shoots six miles. And so much fresh air!!
Traffic -- If you look closely you can see the sign that says "NO COUNTER FLOW" (driving the wrong way down the street) but you can see a whole line of jeeps ignoring the sign and driving the wrong way down the left lane of traffic. Amazing!!
In one of the bunkers, we saw this opening --the white eggs around the opening are gecko eggs and if you look closely you can see one of the geckos
Mark's convert's other daughter and her 1-year-old baby -- I look like a giant next to her!
Manila Bay from hotel --good thing this isn't scratch and sniff because it doesn't smell as beautiful as it looks
Stewart at monument commemorating battles in Philippines
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