Week 15

December 14, 2010

Dear Family,

Another week has passed. Thanks for the package. I love the books. I have read about half of President Monson’s biography. It is great. Not a lot has happened this week. We traveled to Manila on Wednesday afternoon to have dinner and say goodbye to the Smith’s. We will miss them. The new senior couple, Elder and Sister Peterson, are from Arizona. They will also be here for 23 months. The Lord has sent a very strong senior couple to our mission. They will be a great asset to the work here. We spent Thursday and Friday in Manila with the new couple showing them how to get to the Temple, the Area Offices, the Mission Office and the Mission Home (most importantly we showed them where Sam’s was and made sure they had a Sam’s card – it’s a little bit of home). I hope my driving didn’t discourage them. The office Elders and the Assistant’s drove the Petersons car to their area and we enjoyed the company of the Petersons in our car as we took them to Naic on Saturday morning.

We also had interviews with President Howard this week. He is a tremendous man and has done a remarkable thing with this mission. There is talk going around that they will be splitting the Manila Mission when he goes home in July. That would be exciting but again that is just talk. We will be going back to the Mission Home on Saturday to attend a meeting with the Stake Presidents and District Presidents in this area. Normally I wouldn’t attend this meeting but President Howard asked if I would attend. We are close to creating another Stake in our area and I think he wants me to know what is going on since he will be leaving in July and he doesn’t want to lose any momentum we have gained in creating this and another Stake in Naic. We also have the Branch Christmas party on Saturday.

These Philippine people are some of the most beautiful people I have ever seen – they are so kind and courteous. They do so much with so very little. I pray that I may have a grateful heart and not take everything that we have for granted.

Well, we are doing well. We are healthy. We are happy. We love the Lord’s work. I often feel that I am not doing enough. However, I can see the Lord’s hand in our lives and I look for his guidance each day. I love that I can kneel down and not rush through my prayers. I love the time to read and study the scriptures. I love to be able to ponder so many things. This gospel is true. It is for everyone and I am convinced that it is the only way to bring about a lasting peace in the world. Thank you all for your love and prayers and support. We couldn’t do this without you.

Love,

Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, Grant and Janene