We received 22 new missionaries on Wednesday, and it's been a challenge for Dad to find places for all of them. With a much smaller mission, our numbers are growing and we are not getting anymore units. Fortunately, he had the apartments and their companions and the Arrival day went miraculously well. The Spirit was so strong as he assigned the companionships--I've seen this process already 20 times, but it's still amazing. All but seven are Filipino, and most speak Tagalog, so they will adjust and be effective sooner than the "foreigners." That doesn't mean the foreigners can't be effective--even if they don't speak the language, they can be helpful when they have the Spirit. And they are "finding tools" since most Filipinos are curious about white people and are willing to talk with them.
Tuesday we said goodbye to some great missionaries and were particularly thrilled one of them completed her mission. It's miracle! We'll especially miss Elder Cadayong, who served 25 months, the last several as Stewart's assistant, and Elder Binabaye, who baptized over 70 people in his two years. About a year ago, he asked Stewart to release him from being a district leader because, "I just want to baptize people." Many RMs miss their missions, but he texted me the next day, "Sister Hughes, I miss my mission and President Hughes so much!"
We celebrated 42 years of marriage Friday with office meetings, Mission Leadership Council, lots of missionary interviews for Stewart and dinner at the mall eating Vietnamese Pho. And Stewart said I could chose any movie and he would watch it with me and stay awake. And he did!
Stewart attended a Blitz early Saturday morning where two zones of missionaries worked with members of two different stakes to find members in an area where there have never been missionaries. They taught lots of lessons to non-members while they searched for the members. Later that morning he met with the eight stake presidents and the Area Seventy in a CCM meeting. In the evening we attended a baptism, returning home in pitch darkness. (It is always dark by about 6pm here.) Many cars and motorcycles choose not to turn on their lights at night, the traffic was extra crazy and pedestrians were crossing in dark clothing. Then suddenly a bus came hurtling down the wrong side of the street at about 40 mph and rushed past us! Fortunately we got home without being killed or killing anyone--I'm really thankful Stewart is such a good driver.
Stewart taught the mission leaders powerfully from D&C 108:7-8 about being leaders by their example of strengthening the people under their stewardship "in all your conversations, in all your prayers, in all your exhortations, and in all your doings." And he does that every day as he meets with the missionaries, the members and everyone. Today in Sunday School the teacher asked him to share how we are an example to 160 missionaries. He stood in front and humbly taught that the missionaries are an example to us--even the new ones-- and we learn from them all the time. As he taught in the front of the class, he noticed one of our RMs from Mindano in the classroom. He stopped, went over and shook his hand, and told the class that this RM, Elder Mirabueno, is an example to all of us. He taught the taxi driver the gospel on his way to the mission home from an emergency appendectomy and gave him a Book of Mormon. Stewart taught that we are all examples to each other, and we can all learn from one another.
Love,
Mom
Saturday temple endowment -- these missionaries were a threesome. The trainer (far left) sent the two new trainees out to work while he did an exchange with another missionary. They taught lesson one to the man with the glasses. He later told them, "I couldn't understand your Tagalog--I couldn't understand I word you said! But I felt something, and decided to read the pamphlet you left and then I wanted to know more." One year later they are all at the temple together!
Departing batch.
Saturday night baptism.
This is the size of many Filipinos. I am 99.9% of the time taller than them!
All the missionaries get a photo taken with us that the mission secretary sends to their parents. This new American elder is 6'7" tall! At 5'7" I am taller than most Filipinos, but this missionary will really stand out!
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