This has been a very stressful week for me, but as usual, it turned
out alright. My companion thinks I'm shut up in my cabin on the
cruise ship eating crackers from home instead of enjoying all the free
food and entertainment benefits of the cruise, and he is right -- I
need to relax and enjoy more!
Tuesday we had the phone roll-out meeting for four zones, two in the
morning and two in the afternoon. And we also did flu shots for over
70 missionaries that day. I was so proud of our tiny, 80-pound
missionary, Sister Dumdum, because she howled when she got her
immunizations when she arrived, and cried at last year's flu shot, but
she was all smiles this time. These missionaries change and grow in
many ways. It was a little crazy feeding lunch to all four zones
together, but we survived. The next day we did it again, rolling out
phones to the remaining three zones, along with their flu shots, and
the missionaries were amazingly reverent and respectful.
Then Friday the meeting I've been dreading for six months: the Last
Conference with the three zones who are leaving. I was very blessed
in my presentation and the missionaries were reverent and attentive.
It felt like a funeral when we arrived, but Stewart turned it into an
inspirational, uplifting send-off to a new adventure! I hope they
felt our love and trust in them as they transfer to new mission
tonight at midnight. They will be a great help to President and
Sister Welch. We had a special lunch with lechon (roast pork) and lots
of rice and meat and they picked the carcass clean but left a lot of
salad. They also got flu shots and their mail and a gift from us and
then headed back to their areas. One of our favorite zone leaders
compiled a Book of Remembrance for us with photos of each departing
missionary and a kind note from each of them.
I've been so anxious about the missionaries understanding that their
purpose remains the same even though they are reassigned, and that
their assignment was inspired through Pres Hughes's priesthood keys,
and that they need to sustain their new mission president, that I felt
huge relief when we drove home. I immediately fell asleep, but woke
up for dinner with the seniors at Frankie's Chicken Wings at the mall
(not recommended) and then slept for eight hours that night! With 55
less missionaries, no districts and two counselors for Dad instead of
one, a big load has been taken off. I wondered what we'd do with all
our time, but Stewart did exit interviews for departing missionaries
yesterday, I tried to catch up on the six months I've neglected the
mission photo book of arrivals/departures, and tonight Stewart is in
the ER with a missionary who collapsed in intense abdominal pain in
Jollibee's CR. Fortunately, it was at a nearby mall, so Stewart
hurried over and he was leaving in the ambulance as he arrived.
Another big blessing is that the hospital is three blocks away,
because ambulances do not travel fast in metro-Manila traffic.
And as of 5pm tonight, we have officially served for two years. I
take great comfort in this scripture: "I can do all things through
Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13) I keep waiting for
it to get easier or go faster, but that must be reserved for the last
year when I learn to get out of my tiny cabin and go do all the free
stuff on the cruise ship!
Love,
Mom
Jeepney -- heading back to Baliwag with new smartphones.
Sister Dumdum is the sister sitting with a huge smile!
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