Dear Family,
We have been here from Utah now for a little over three weeks, and it is hard to believe we were ever home! We have been so busy, and it is hard to believe it is almost Nov. First Halloween, which is celebrated more here in Eastwood, than in our Mission Provinces, as far as decoration anyway! Thanksgiving is coming up, but of course that is an American tradition, however, we as a zone are getting together for a big Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving day, where we have all been assigned to bring something. The Area Presidency will be with us also!
Dad and I were invited to a sealing today of one of our missionaries, and he ask Dad to be the Witness! What a beautiful experience of feeling the spirit, as we watched Ian Adop be sealed to his beautiful bride! It was all done in Tagalog, except the actual ceremony! Her Mission President was the other witness! They thought it quite rare that both Mission Presidents could be there! The Family insisted we come to the party after wards. We thought we would show up, for a few minutes, and when we got there, the other mission President arrived, and the party started! We were treated like royalty! They had us dance the first dance, pictures with the Bride and Groom, first to go through the buffet line, and we were both on the program! they wanted Dad and I to say a few words, as well as the other mission President and wife! What a party! All these decorations, and a wonderful Filipino Buffet, with pork, pork adobo, Lechi, Liver, and piles and piles of rice! Lettuce, carrots and cucumbers, water melon, they kept bringing plates of food to our table, after we had gone through the line! All the different meats, rice, everything was cold! We had a great time, and we were back to our office by 1:30.
Last Wed. Elder Schwitzer and his wife flew in from Utah. Elder Schwitzer is the Dr. over all missions. He is also the one that talked at conference about the grandson playing the piano, titled, "Let the Clarion Trumpet Sound". Anyway he had meetings and tours of hospitals and things, and his wife wanted to go shopping, so they ask Sister Arner, and I to take her shopping! The 2 MRC Sisters went with us too! We had a driver, and a security guard with us all day! We took her to Green Hills, and we had the funnest day, helping her find souvenirs for her children and grandchildren! She bought frog wallets, purses and bracelets! Then we went to a pearl booth, and I just can't tell you how much fun we had! one of the sisters liked the length of the pearl I had around my neck, so I took it off to measure with the pearl necklace she was having made. In the process, the pearl fell off my chain! We searched everywhere for that pearl, ladies from the other booths, the security guard, the pearl lady we were working with, told me to pick out another necklace and she would give it to me, they all felt so bad that I lost my pearl that I have had since 2008. I keep saying its ok, we will come another time and buy another pearl! Anyway we never found it! We ate a delicious lunch at Chili's, and visited and had an enjoyable day! About 5;00 we dropped her off at the Hotel, and the driver took us on back to the office! When I got to the office there was a message for me to call Sister Schwitzer at the Hotel! I called her, and she said, I dumped everything out of my purse to see what I had purchased, and at the bottom of my purse was your pearl!! We laughed, squealed and rejoiced! She called it a miracle! How it ever dropped in her purse i will never know, but it has sure made a fun story! Dad and I went to the Fireside they spoke at on Sunday night, and afterwards, she couldn't wait to hug me and give me my pearl! Then she said she was free on Friday afternoon, and would Sister Arner and I go shopping with her again! What an experience!
It is so good to be back at the Temple serving there on Wed. Mornings! It is always a spiritual experience. Last Wed. one of our Missionary RM Sisters got married, so we got to go to her sealing as well! Such a thrill
We had 130 missionaries come in on intake day last Friday, and I enjoy being with all these wonderful new Elders and Sisters on their first day!! They don't like the shots though, and sometimes I have to comfort the crying Sisters! It's all good!
The couples need to get away occasionally, so Sat. we had a couple outing! We visited a school that helps the squatter children that normally wouldn't be going to a school, they are mostly street kids, and this man had a vision and a little money, and now has volunteers, and stores that donate a few things to give them a little nutrition for their day! We bought so many school supplies for them and delivered them! We got a delightful program from the children that range from 5 years to 18 years old! They were so cute and love being taught manners, music, exercise, and etc! Then we got in a trolley and rode to INTRAMUROS, which is what is left of the walled city in Manila, we saw where it was bombed and ruined during the war, and it is so sad,because of all the work put into it! built in the 1700! Then we ate a delicious meal in the walled city, at a nice place, and then went to the highest place in Manila, where we could see all of Manila, and the cities all around it! quite fascinating! It was a great informative day! We were tired, and hot by the end of the day! Then it took 1 hour 45 minutes to drive the 9 miles back to the office!
Monday night was family home evening with the couples! We had a service project making sock dolls for one of the children cancer hospitals here in Metro Manila! It was fun, as we worked together to make these little dolls! We named them, and laughed about how some of them turned out, but so cute and unique!
They have given Dad and I a Family to home teach, so that should be good and interesting as our ward covers all the outlying areas of Manila! This family said they could come to our apt. or we could meet with them after church! We also received a calling in our ward, that of being SS teachers. Our class is the temple prep class! There are about 3 couples and one single that wants to get ready for the temple!
We have our first class next Sunday!
Dad is super busy all the time and is amazing to me, how he keeps track of it all and what he sends to who, and what he gets back, and arranging for all the reinstatement's and releases and the airline tickets, and so on! It is over whelming to me, but I am so glad I am there to support and help him! He got an email from a Grandma and Grandpa, who grandson is coming to the Philippines on his mission, and they ask dad for his address, and wondered if the Philippines had Ramen noodles! He got a kick out of that one! The Philippines has more than enough noodles, and of course out in the provinces there are no address, and we didn't even know what mission he was going to! His hand is doing well, he works with it every day, and does a little therapy with it! He is a little disappointed on how tight his middle finger is and how lose his ring finger is! I think with time and getting his hand more limber it will look better! I have faith anyway!
Halloween is coming up, and we hope you all have a good time, and be careful, and don't eat to much candy! Hope all the Oct. birthdays had Happy birthdays! Lilly,Kallie, Angie , Emily, Boston, Jim and Julia, and Grandpa Hatch would be 107 if he were alive on Oct. 30! What a wonderful man. I miss him, and the love I always felt from him!
Congratulations to Davis and Alexa getting engaged! They have chosen Sat. Jan. 9 to get married in the ST George Temple! Dad is getting his letter off to the !st Presidency to get permission to seal them in the Temple! We don't know plans there yet, but we know Susie's baby is due on Jan. 7! So that is exciting!
It is getting late, and it has taken me a couple of days to write this, dad has already gone to bed, so I guess I had better close! We sure love you all and pray for you all the time, and we love to hear from you, and all the things you are doing! We pray for your happiness and safety! We feel so grateful to have all of you wonderful children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and we thank Heavenly Father each day for that blessing in our lives! Our prayers go out to the missionaries as well, and we love to hear from Julia and Richmond! we are so very proud of them! Our prayers are with those preparing to go on missions too! Always be obedient, it is so important!
We love you all, and we love our mission and the opportunity to serve the Lord, and help the work progress! Happy Halloween!
Love, Mom and Dad
Grandpa and Grandma.
