I should try to at least get 2 letters off to you in July! Where has the month gone? It has been an interesting month, with it being vacation month for the General Authorities! We did have our Area President here, because he takes his summer Vacation in December, because he lives in New Zealand, and it is winter there now! His Counselor, Elder Bowen, has been gone the whole month. Plus so many families from our American ward have gone home for the summer, and our good friends the Lacanienta's got to go home for 3 weeks, because they have extended a few months! So we have been missing everyone! They are all coming back this week-end, plus another counselor to Elder Ardern, and we are getting a new DTA. It certainly hasn't been dull around here, but things will pick up, when everyone is back in place! We are excited to have Elder Haynie join our area Presidency.
We are having a devotional on Monday morning to welcome the new DTA, and Bishop Davies will be speaking to us.Bishop Davies is one of the counselors in the Presiding Bishopric. They have been asking me to join the choir , so finally I went to a practice, and got hooked! The choir is beautiful, and I feel it an honor to get to sing with them! I am the only white face in it though, but we are singing on Monday morning at devotional, and then again the next week devotional, when Elder Haynie will be introduced, and speak! What an experience that is for me! I can't sing like I use too, and can't reach the high alto notes, so I kind of drop down into the tenor notes, I'm sure the lady standing by me thinks I am strange! It is fun to go to practices, even though every one talks tagalog, and laughs, I just join in with the laughs! Filipinos know how to have fun!
We had an earthquake drill today! We had to tuck and duck under our desks, and then when the second bell rang we followed the traveling team as we ran out the office, and stayed together as we were accounted for out side, they had some of the people fake problems, and the emergency team came back and took care of them! It was a good practice!
We have had some beautiful amazing storms lately. The sky turns so dark gray, and lightning, and thunder that almost shakes the buildings, then the wind and the rain come so fast and so powerful! It is like sheets of rain, and it is amazing, it puddles up every where, and then when it is over, you think it is going to be cold, and you step outside and it feels like a sauna! However, last night Richard and I went on a walk and there was a little breeze, and it was a little cooler, but not for long. We were pretty hot by the time we got back to our tower!
Richard gave a great lesson in Gospel Doctrine class last week, we have a challenge in our ward to finish the Book of Mormon by August 31, and we were way behind with where we are in it, so we decided to join the challenge and figured how many pages we needed to read each day to finish it by August 31, and we are right on target! I love to study with dad, and I always learn so much, and together we discover things we have read so many times, but finally read it for the first time! It is amazing the inspiration and love and comfort we get from reading that wonderful book! We are so grateful for the Book of Mormon, and the teachings in it, and the help it gives us!
Every day is a new experience for us, or we see something we have never seen before, it is just an adventure! I love serving in the Temple, and the people I am blessed to work with are wonderful! Yesterday as I was assisting at the veil, a sweet Filipino Sister come through the veil, and how hard it was for her to say some of the words, and I thought how well would I repeat back the words in Tagalog, if the situation were reversed! The temple is closing for 6 weeks on sat. night! We are going to miss it!
I have probably rattled on enough! It is always good to talk to all of you, so glad Emily and Susie have their girls camp behind them! It is hard to believe Davis gets released in 4 days! Thanks to Jessica for posting his last beautiful letter on Julia's blog! Love getting Julia's letters and feeling her sweet spirit! Richmonds letters are wonderful too, and we pray for him as he masters learning the language! We pray for Brad and Aimee to have a safe trip to Brazil, and can't help but think about how exciting they must feel to get to see Davis, and visa versa! We hope and pray all of you will be safe and careful as you continue to celebrate the summer, and activities, and vacations! Thanks to Emily and Angie for getting packages and things together to send back with people that are coming to the Philippines! We really appreciate it!
Elma and Rex leave for the MTC on Aug.10, their daughter Jill just had their 48th grand child, a little boy. So happy for them. Karma and Koyle are through with their mission in Sept. or Oct. I guess time passes! We continue to pray for Scott, for a full recovery, and for Karlin with the challenges she has right now! Griffin comes home in August too.
We love you all so much, and appreciate all you do for us! Thanks for your support and prayers and love! Always let your light shine! Feel free to write us any time, we love the letters and news from home!
Love to all,
Mom and Dad
Grandpa and Grandma
Elder and Sister Anderson
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