We had district conferences this week and saw all the missionaries. Some are looking a little rough, but most are doing well. Stewart is getting more complaints about companions, etc. in the weekly letters and some are worried about their family's situation at home, but all-in-all they are doing amazingly well, considering this was their ninth week of confinement. We were really hoping the restrictions would be lifted, but they are not. We are going from Enhanced Community Quarantine to Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine which we think means that some factories will be opening. However, the government has given every barangay the option to stay on Enhanced Community Quarantine if they want to, so we will just wait and see.
Even though it is discouraging that the Philippines remains completely locked down, including all international and domestic flights, in spite of only 800 deaths (last year 18,000 died from regular flu), we have MUCH to be thankful for. Here are our top five:
1. Typhoon Ambo passed by us with little effect. Earlier in the week the eye of the storm was predicted to go directly over our mission, but it moved to the east and we only got the far edge of it, which meant about six hours of heavy rain and strong winds. All missionaries were safe although a few lost electricity.
2. Electricity! We have a new appreciation for electricity since ours went out for about eight hours during the storm and our generator is broken. Fortunately no missionaries had to be evacuated to the mission home, so although I'd forgotten to charge all my devices and we had to throw away some food from the refrigerator, there were no serious side effects. We are especially thankful for air conditioning ("air con" here)!! The heat upstairs in the bedroom wasn't too bad because things cooled dramatically during the storm, but as soon as the wind died down we thought we might die of heat. Stewart took a cold shower and we were very thankful when the electricity came back on at 1:30am.
3. Young mission leaders taught well at the district conferences. They all had power points they'd prepared on their phones and shared their screens like professionals. Considering they were all teaching in a second language, they are amazing. One of the blessings of the lockdown is seeing the Filipinos step up in their leadership ability.
4. Our subdivision is a safe and beautiful place to walk. Stewart was helping another mission president with his smartphone roll-out and he mentioned they cannot leave their compound, which is next to the church, so they walk round and round their Church for exercise. We have a two-mile loop, we don't have to wear masks, and our neighbors are friendly. We both love being able to get some exercise most days.
5. The blessings of the Spirit. Stewart taught the missionaries about faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and I taught about the importance of having the Spirit in our lives, especially as missionaries. Of course, the teacher always learns the most, so after giving my presentation in eight conferences, and listening to the missionaries teach about how they recognize and understand the Spirit, I am even more thankful for His influence in my life. It's amazing how it works through Zoom meetings, through phone calls and texts and whenever we are receptive. I am thankful for the peace and comfort it brings, especially in challenging times.
We hope to have more good news next week.
Love,
Mom
Photos
For regular zone conferences, the missionaries love to have a photo of their zone afterward. So we still do it at the end of the district conference. Here's one from this week.
A beautiful tree that is blooming in front of the church (not every subdivision has a Catholic Church inside it!)
This district leader (center) is training two new missionaries in addition to his regular duties.
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