THE QUEZON QUIBBLER: Happy Mother's Day

Dear Family,

The highlight of the week for me was watching Violet get baptized in their lake. We pulled over to the side of the road on an extremely hot day, and the lake looked frigid! I'm really thankful we could "participate." I also loved the Hughes Good News video this morning -- thanks again to Hannah, Dallin, Sam, Celeste and everyone involved--so fun and creative!

Another highlight was getting out of the house to visit missionaries in the Bulacan on Friday. With only five minutes notice before we dropped in to deliver food, the elders' apartments were less than clean and the sisters were immaculate. They were all very happy to have a visit and know they are loved and not forgotten. Dennis's pass got us past all the checkpoints, but not into some subdivisions -- sometimes we just had to wait for them to walk to the gate and visit while the security guards looked on.

We had a call with Elder Bangerter of the Area Presidency and the other eight MP and wives under his direction and everyone had a short time to report on the situation in their area. I was amazed that even some missions without smart phones are planning to baptize over 100 people when this ends . . . if it ever does. The missionaries are very resilient, and everyone (including Stewart) emphasized only the good things that are coming from the confinement; however, when he visits the missionaries in their apartments (he goes to visit most days) they are VERY hot and very tired of staying inside. But we continue to be blessed and they are finding ways to contact people, give haircuts with dull household scissors, and cook a lot of rice and ulam. I am really praying that we can have missionary meetings again before we leave so they can meet together and uplift and inspire each other. And get transferred!!

We had a secret transfer last Monday to promote some companionship unity, but we've be counseled not to transfer missionaries until the quarantine loosens. We will meet in Zoom district conferences again this coming week. All the American Mission Leaders (our new name) mentioned how good their missionaries are getting in speaking English. They are forced to talk with us now and cannot hand the phone to their foreign companion!

Most of all I'm thankful for my angel mother. I had the added blessing (God must have known I needed remedial training) of living with her for 21 years and then returning for 2 additional years when Derrick and Dan were small and when Abby was born. I learned so much from watching her Christlike example and know that she still loves me and cares about me from the other side of the veil. I hope this doesn't happen soon, but it will be great for all of you to meet her (or see her again) and feel her love for you. I know she is pleased with you! As I thought this morning of how I could honor her, several of her common phrases to me came to my mind: "return good for evil", "an obedient child is a happy child" and "you love those you serve", all of which I am still working on. I hope I live a long life!

I'm getting lots of Happy Mother's Day texts from missionaries, and I loved this quote by President Joseph F Smith, sent by a threesome of elders: "The love of a true mother comes nearer (to) being like the love of God than any other kind of love." I had a true mother. I hope I can grow up to be like her.

Love,

Mom

--There are lots of little shops in front of peoples' homes all though the Philippines where you can buy food and snacks. I was surprised that our across-the-street neighbor, who owns shoe stores (now closed) is selling seafood and fish from his carport. I went shopping and got some amazing mangos and tuna belly for our dinner. This is their family (minus one daughter) and they love American cookies!

--Visits to sisters

--The apartments are well stocked with food -- and lots of the missionaries need larger clothes to accommodate their eating + limited exercise lifestlye