Dear Family,
We had a successful transfer this week. Six missionaries returned home, and honestly, the three elders' returns were miraculous. Two of them have been on the verge of being sent home for months, but they got second chances and more and finished their missions honorably. The third one had a difficult start to his mission. He was SO homesick, he cried every day for the first twelve weeks. His trainer threatened Dad that if he left him with him one more transfer, HE would be the one crying! He was given numerous great senior companions but struggled with his attitude and with learning Tagalog. Stewart had many private interviews with him, counseling him and encouraging him. Then, at about one year, he went on an exchange with the MTC missionaries and was companions with a MTC missionary and realized he DID know Tagalog -- at least better than the new guy! From then on he was fine. He trained a new missionary, became a district leader, and extended for six more weeks and trained another new missionary. It's a miracle!!
The next day when we receive the new missionaries is always a miracle. It's a very stressful day for me, trying to keep the missionaries interested as we train them while Stewart interviews. This time two fell completely asleep while I was teaching, which was a little demoralizing for me, but we got through the training and Stewart finally came in to assign the companionships--that's the miraculous part. I love sitting on the stand and seeing their faces when their companions are assigned. Very often it's Filipinos training Americans, or vice-versa, which can be challenging, but they accept it as the revelation it is. When the meetings finished it was pouring rain, and everyone got soaked getting to their cars or taxis or jeeps to go to their new areas. The new missionary from Arizona saw more rain in thirty minutes than he'd seen his entire life!
I gave a Book of Mormon to a woman in the mall who did my nails before I went to Utah for the reception. She told me then that her brother is a member of our Church. A couple of weeks ago she found me on Facebook (which is VERY big in the Philippines) and sent me a photo of her outside one of our churches in her brother's province where she'd gone for his wedding, and asked if I could teach her! I went Monday and tried to teach her, answering simple questions like "One God or Two?" ("Actually, 3!) and telling her how important families are, but the language barrier made it impossible to really communicate. She said, "I want to become a Mormon!" I invited her to listen to the missionaries. She said she would, but hasn't let them come yet. However, she said her colleague also wants a Book of Mormon, so I'm going back tomorrow to give it to her and hope I can arrange visits from the missionaries with both.
Derrick came again! We met him for lunch and then dropped him at the Manila Temple and he brought us important things like a new phone. I wish he could continue to come every ten days for the rest of our mission.
We had MLC Friday and were reminded what great mission leaders we have. We had great discussions and they taught each other.
We attended a baptism Saturday and were hoping that women or children would be the witnesses. The ward mission leader announced women witnesses, but the elders ended up doing it, so I'm not sure what happened. Hopefully soon we will see it! We attended our ward today for the first time in months and then came home and watched the first two sessions of conference this afternoon/evening. Next week they will show general conference in the buildings here. In Tagalog.
I love how Elder Holland taught that Christ is the center of general conference, and of everything we do. Stewart teaches this over and over and testifies about Jesus Christ and reminds the missionaries that is what they are here to do. His testimony of the Savior is at the center of this mission, and He teaches about the Atonement of Jesus Christ often.
This is pretty much my favorite mission scripture, since I'm not as good as Dad is at teaching or any other aspects of missionary work:
Be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come. (D&C 68:6)
Thank you for your prayers and your support. To those of you in Utah: enjoy fall!! It looks so beautiful in the photos.
Love,
Mom
Our sisters are so beautiful!
Baptism of 13-year-old girl (mom is member next to her).
Trainers with new trainees eating together.
Cutest twins being baptized -- it's a tradition the new convert has to bear their testimony after their baptism, and one twin was too shy, to they held hands and the other one spoke for them both.
New missionaries eating lunch--they have no idea what they're getting into!
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