THE QUEZON QUIBBLER: How Great the Importance to Make These Things Known!

Dear Family,

I had a great birthday today. We went to a 7:30am baptism and stayed for the sacrament meeting and saw Brother Nestor confirmed. His wife and five children are members and he's been taught before but finally had a desire to be baptized and his wife had the biggest smile! Then we went to a baptism in our home ward--too late for a photo but two middle-aged women were baptized and bore strong testimonies after their baptisms. In both wards the rooms were packed with members from the ward supporting the new converts, which is very helpful.

I invited ten missionaries to come to dinner (that's the maximum we can fit at the table with me and Dad) and didn't tell anyone it was my birthday and specifically forbad the assistants from having all the missionaries text me Happy Birthday, which they wanted to do. I was surprised to answer the door to see four sisters arrive for dinner whom I had NOT invited! Fortunately there was plenty of food and Stewart set up another table and it all worked out well, but they all knew it was my birthday--evidently the assistants cannot keep a secret.

It probably started when, in order to avoid the seniors bringing a cake to office meeting, I invited them to a birthday brunch for me on Friday morning, after the meeting. As a result, they brought gifts, Sister Ogden made cinnamon rolls and Sister Stoddard brought decorations, so my desire to avoid anyone doing anything backfired. But we did have the shortest office meeting ever, since they could smell the bacon & egg casserole baking.

We had zone conferences this week and saw all the missionaries. Stewart taught about repentance and the Atonement of Jesus Christ powerfully, and the mission leaders really helped the missionaries with their teaching skills. I introduced my presentation on the Christlike attribute of gratitude with a volcano experiment that I had fine-tuned by the last zone conference to not explode past the container below it. It was impressive, if I say so myself. Dallin built me a great power point with videos imbedded. I used my mom as an example of someone who always expressed and communicated gratitude IN her circumstances, even when there wasn't much to be grateful FOR. The problem with teaching a principle in zone conference or a talk is that I get tested on it in the days following my public presentation--that part is always hard for me.

We have a tradition that the missionaries who are in their last transfer share a short testimony at their last zone conference. One missionary, who cried every day for at least the first 12 weeks of his mission, stood in front of his zone conference with a big smile, testifying of the happiness that comes from sharing the gospel. It took him a year to start to be happy, and we honestly didn't know if he would make it--he had lots of extra interviews with Dad-- but he is training for the second time and is a successful district leader, and is serving his 25th month, at his request. It is such a miracle!

Worst part of week: Filipina sister who recently completed her training became quite depressed and wasn't able to function, in spite of help from the area mental health specialist and lots of interviews with Stewart. Our cautious nurse sent her to the ER one night when she felt she couldn't breathe, but fortunately she was not admitted. She decided to return home to her province to recover and heal. Our Mongolian sister also returned this week--not home, but she was reassigned to serve in Mongolia.

Best part of week: We received notice that a new senior couple have been assigned as Office Specialists in our mission beginning December 14!! The Ogdens leave two weeks later and Elder Nelson and Sister Nelson (apartment and BCR specialists) were beginning to have serious anxiety about doing all the jobs on their own. We are relieved and pleased--they will be a great blessing and have requested to serve for 23 months.

Tuesday was a senior activity to shop at a bazaar in Manila. Some of the seniors love shopping and some of them don't, so it was hard to be in charge (my companion totally deserts me when it comes to senior shopping!). But everyone enjoyed seeing the Christmas decorations in front of a house during our 3-hour drive to Manila. I didn't realize the Incredible Hulk is part of Christmas, but he IS green.

We were concerned and saddened by an email Monday from the Area about the new mission president in Naga Mission, President Kirk, having a stroke and asking us to remember him in our prayers. He's only been here for two months and is younger than me, but he passed away on Wednesday. We never met him. Sister Kirk expressed a lot of faith and her assurance that they will be together again. He's always wanted to return to the Philippines to serve again and with his wife. Her son came and will travel back with her Monday. It's a sobering reminder that we don't really know how long we have here. Every day is a gift . . . especially at my age. As Stewart taught in zone conference, "How great the importance to make these things known unto the children of men . . ." because of the assurance of life after death and the opportunity for eternal life that the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings.

Love,

Mom