THE QUEZON QUIBBLER: Elder and Sister Cook Come to Baliwag

Dear Family,

When Fenton flew out on Tuesday morning, I went back to work . Stewart took Book of Mormons (we ran out of boxes with our Book of Mormon challenge and they were a week late being delivered to the office) to four district meetings beginning early Tuesday morning. We had the Ogden to lunch and exit interviews the next day for another going away celebration and got to see their son, Garratt, who came to tour with them. They've been a fantastic help in the office, and a great example to the missionaries and we are so thankful for their service.

We had our Mission Health Council on Thursday and Mission Leadership Council on Friday where the mission president told the missionaries to "quit pampering themselves when they were sick and get out and work!" He taught powerfully that the main thing people we teach need is to gain a witness that the Book of Mormon is true -- then everything else will follow. He told them to be bold in inviting people to read, ponder and pray with real intent and explained what that means. The missionaries LOVE MLC because they get a chance to give their opinions and actually counsel the mission president. He has the unique ability to see the big picture and focus on what will make the most difference and readily accepts suggestions from the missionaries.

Saturday I went with Stewart to explain to a sister missionary that the Mental Health Advisor had determined she needs to return home for help with her serious depression. As Stewart asked about her home, we found out she doesn't know where her dad lives, her mom has worked in Kuwait since she was five, and the aunt who raised her moved to another area and is in the hospital recovering from delivery of her premature twins (both dead) and her own near-death. So she'lI go live with another aunt. It's hard to be ungrateful in this mission when I see so much suffering, but I am quite talented at doing it.

That afternoon ten RMs came for a mini-reunion they organized. We're happy they are all serving in their wards (one was second counselor in his bishopric--and he went home a little early for disobedience in the mission!) and most are dating. The culture here is to study after your mission, then work to provide for your parents/siblings and eventually get married, but usually when you're older. Hopefully these elders and sisters will not follow that culture!

We were invited to a special stake conference in Baliwag with Elder Quentin L Cook and his wife, Mary. They greeted us very graciously in the high council room before the meeting and Elder Cook asked Stewart to give a short testimony in stake conference. (Not me. Wahoo!) He said it's not often he sees 126 baptisms in one stake for the year and seemed both surprised very pleased that 96 of the recent converts had also attended at least one recent sacrament meeting. We read some scriptures together that he taught us from, then went into the VERY packed chapel. It was so reverent!

Three ward choirs all performed beautifully and the stake president and one stake member gave short talks. Stewart bore a powerful testimony where the Spirit was so strong. Elder and Sister Wakolo also spoke. Sister Wakolo brought up a good point: there are 115 stakes int the Philippines, Baliwag has only been a stake for nine months and now they have an apostle visiting. "Do the math on that!" she advised. Then we had the intermediate hymn and heard from Sister Cook who emphasized the importance of teaching the gospel to children and told about a disastrous FHE they had when their children were young, emphasizing that it's important to be consistent, even if you're not always successful in the individual meetings.

Elder Cook taught for about 30 minutes. He lived here in the late 90's, ten days after being called as a GA, so he knows the culture and was very complimentary of the Filipinos. He taught about the history of the Church in the Philippines and how remarkably fast its grown, because of their faith in the Savior. He testified of President Nelson and said he's unusually quick to make decisions because of his years as a heart surgeon. He ended with his powerful witness of Jesus Christ and then pronounced an apostolic blessing on the congregation. And the meeting ended after just 90 minutes. It was a wonderful to be there for the meeting and to see how gracious and kind the Cooks are. I heard security ask him, "Will you be shaking hands?" and he headed out down the center aisle and was swallowed up in the crowd.

Then it was back to reality: Stewart counseled with one sister on our way home, then we visited a sick sister in her apartment--stretched out on the kitchen floor with the fan blowing full-force on her. We've seen such growth in all the sisters in the photo below. The one on the floor arrived as a princess and is finishing in three weeks as a soldier!

We're so very thankful for your prayers and support--we can feel them and know they are making a big difference for us. Years ago Elder Cook taught: "We are unaware of hosts of blessings we receive from day to day." I know that's true for us.

Love,

Mom