Taller and Fatter

Dear Family,

Our life here continues strange and somewhat solitary, so different than we expected the end of our mission to be.  Stewart conducted interviews over Zoom this week, and interviewed 60 of the missionaries, with the remainder being interviewed this coming week.  There were a lot of, 'Can we PLEASE have a transfer'? questions and 'What will happen when you leave us?" questions.  The missionaries love talking with him and it's his favorite part of this calling-- the one-on-one with the missionaries.  He was happy to hear from Elder Simene, whose family came to Manila for his father's surgery, that they were finally able to fly home to their island. They were at Clark Airport awaiting return flight when all domestic flights were cancelled.  With no money for a hotel, they lived for 68 days in the chapel in Angeles City before finally getting a "sweeper flight" home.

More good news:  Metro-Manila is going to General Community Quarantine (GCQ), so the rules and restrictions should be relaxed somewhat beginning tomorrow.  Dennis explained that it depends on the area --his subdivision is going to be completely locked down for four days next week --but it should relax in most areas.  Sister Cross reported the bookstore is open in the mall, and I hope the beauty salons open soon. In some areas, you cannot leave your house if you are younger than 21 or older than 60.  We took the sacrament to the Bocaue sisters today, and one of them can go out, because the other two are under 21.  There are two elders in San Ildefonso that Stewart interviewed this week who are growing bigger each time he sees them.  They are both 18 so they cannot go buy food, and the ward members buy their food and bring them lots of delicious meals.  He noticed they are growing taller (no haircuts) and fatter (no exercise)!

We were told by Area that transfers are still not allowed and that the MP Seminar will be held in a Zoom setting next week.  We hope they give us permission to transfer after the seminar, because we have missionaries who have finished their missions and are wanting to return home and missionaries who are really needing a different companion.  We were informed that we will receive two sisters, one from Pakistan and one from American Samoa, back to our mission who were evacuated 11 weeks ago to the MTC but still cannot return home, as well as several assigned to other missions who cannot travel to those missions.  (Stewart almost sent Sister Javed home about eight times, and it's ironic that instead of going home early she's already served more than 19 months and will continue serving until Pakistan opens again!)

 I went to the office one afternoon to give English tests to departing sisters and returned feeling SO thankful for our wonderful office elders and assistants--they are keeping everything going at the office and doing well.  We ended up with 16 baptisms last week, and there were some held yesterday as well.  It's so great for the missionaries to finally be able to baptize people and see the fruits of their labors. We invited the assistants, office elders and office couple over for a steak fry Friday night and the rain stopped pouring down just as Stewart needed to go outside to grill. 

Today we took the sacrament to the Bocaue sisters and celebrated birthdays with them.  They are quite isolated and always happy to see us.  Tonight we spoke at the MTC in Manila, which has 100 Filipinos who've returned from serving abroad and are waiting to travel to their new assignments, and some missionaries who served here from Polynesia, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, etc., who cannot return home.  They sang beautifully and it was fun to teach missionaries in person again instead of over Zoom.  I accidentally went in the men's CR, and my breath mint flew out of my mouth the first minute of my talk, but other than that, it went well.  Stewart taught about trials of faith and having resilience, which was perfect for this situation.  The missionaries like the air con and food at the MTC, but would like to get on with their missions.

Tomorrow begins the last month of our mission.  It's certainly different than we expected, but we are still hoping to leave the missionaries well-prepared for President and Sister Liston, and are really hoping we can meet with the missionaries in person again.  We're also hoping and praying that the Philippines government will issue visas to the five American mission presidents & wives assigned to serve here.  If not, they will assign Filipinos to serve as "interim mission presidents", but we would love for the Listons to arrive as scheduled.  

In the meantime, I'm trying to eat as much mango, dragon fruit and pomelo as possible!  And remembering that Jesus Christ is in this work and He will provide a way to accomplish His purposes. 

Love,

Mom

PHOTOS

Steak fry w/ assistants

Celebrating birthdays with sisters

President and Sister Clark, MTC President & Wife are amazing. This is the only MTC in the world still open, and they are running it well, despite many challenges.

Sisters at MTC who served in QCN ( except far right sister)