THE QUEZON QUIBBLER: "Sister Hughes Po"

Dear Family,

This is conference weekend in the Philippines. The missionaries listen to conference with the members in Tagalog and we stay home and listen in English. Actually, we started watching last Sunday and enjoyed sessions throughout the week, since our meetings this week were minimal. We enjoyed each session and I've especially benefitted from following President Nelson's counsel to the women to study D&C Section 25. He also mentioned sections 84 and 107 and their connection to the priesthood power women have, and I have received some great insights from these. I also re-started my daily language study, which is hard for me, but I'm just visualizing new neurons forming in my brain as I study, and how I will have a "secret language" to talk with Mark when I return.

Yesterday we took our senior missionaries to a breakfast buffet at the historic Manila Hotel (MacArthur lived there, among others) and the American Military Cemetery. These trips always start off feeling like a burden--there is so much else to do-- but in the end we enjoy them and we appreciate all our senior missionaries do to bless this mission. The buffet was like being back in America with lots of familiar American breakfast foods like granola, french toast, pancakes, pastries, and bread and the seniors loved it. They were amazed with the beauty of the hotel where even the CRs were luxurious and clean! We always love going to the cemetery and are so thankful the designers put a roof over the monument to protect us from the sun. This time there were workers outside scrubbing each individual headstone. We always feel deep gratitude for the sacrifices of those who gave their lives for us. After the senior activity we went to a hotel and napped and rested and after his nap, Dad went to bed early. It was a good break.

Last Monday I went back to the nail salon for another manicure (less than $5) and quietly taught my "new person" how to pray. She wants to quit her job so she can keep the Sabbath holy and attend church, but has a goal for January 2020 for that. I encouraged her to find another job now and promised her God can help her. She didn't meet with the missionaries again this week because she spent her rest day helping her husband get his senior citizen status. I'm hoping for next week! In the meantime, my nails have never looked so good!

Being a senior citizen is a big deal in the Philippines. You only have to be 60 years old, and you get a 20% discount at restaurants, hotels and movies, express checkout line in stores, and exemption from VAT tax. Although the environmental conditions are dangerous (uneven or non-existent sidewalks, uneven stairs--no code here that every stair has to be same rise, which can be surprising sometimes- and very few crosswalks or enforced traffic rules), younger people always treat older people with respect. There are so many teenagers in the malls with their hands on their grandparent's arms, taking them shopping! If someone is older than you, you use the special term "po" when addressing them--which I get all the time. At first my senior status was just fun, but lately my increasing senior moments have led me, and those closely associated with me, to worry about my memory loss. But I have a plan which lowering my blood glucose (after I finish Sister Ogden's cinnamon rolls), more vigorous exercise, eating blueberries and dark chocolate and a bunch of other things I can't remember now.

Thanks to Dan & Amy and Derrick & Julie for hosting the Hunters last Sunday. Jil Hunter sent me an email telling me what amazing children I have. It's so appropriate that the two sons who returned from their missions to the Orem house (new for them) could be in the same ward with Elder Hunter who will return from his mission to the same Orem house his family just moved to! I'm glad they are enjoying the house and having lots of parties and reunions there.

I'm very thankful for the inspiration I received watching and listening to conference and for the principal of personal revelation. It's become very real to me in the mission as I strive every day to know what to do, and especially as I watch Stewart lead the missionaries and make inspired decisions. For example, our Sri Lankan sister has been a drag on her companions for 16.5 months of her mission and had basically stopped even trying. He put her with a devoted Filipina sister and although there's still dragging on the part of the Filipina, Sister W feels like she's working harder than she's worked in her entire mission and will finish with a good feeling about herself and her contribution. It's a miracle!

Thanks for your love and prayers--we need them every day!

Love,

Mom

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