December 18, 2011
Dear Family and Friends,
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| Elder & Sister Dietrich |
This has been an eventful week at the office. The routine is pretty much the same and we have been busy. Late Tuesday evening, our new office couple arrived from the MTC in Provo. The Dietrich’s will be a great addition to the mission. They are from Indiana and have known President and Sister Stucki for many years. We were able to meet them on Wednesday and begin to orient them somewhat to the office. We discovered that the new office building will probably be ready for us to move in next week (we just need a firm date that we can plan on – not the back and forth maybe maybe!). So plans may have to be changed again.
Thursday we had our Mission Christmas Party. It lasted most of the day. We started in the chapel with a Christmas Program and then the senior couples took the missionaries into several rooms and we had a gift exchange. What a fun experience. Someone had purchased a pair of purple Barney slippers that quickly became the favorite gift to ‘steal’.
It was a riot and our room just went nuts. It was really fun. Next we had a dinner of roasted pig. The roasted pig or ‘lechon’ is a Christmas tradition in the Philippines. It took 2 whole pigs to feed all the missionaries.
Finally we had the talent show. Sister Stucki had wanted the senior couples to do something for the talent show and suggested that we act out the nativity for our talent. We couldn’t get together to decide on something so we didn’t make it on the published program. On Wednesday evening after dinner with the new couple, I teased the couples that we should at least sing something funny such as 'Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer' and said we could ‘tweek’ it a bit for the mission. Sister Stucki liked that idea but the couples weren’t convinced. Early Thursday morning after my study time, I sat at the computer and wrote some new lyrics. The couples loved it and wanted to sing it at the talent show, so we were back on the program. Funny thing was, as we sang, none of us could really remember the exact tune so it really sounded like some ‘rednecks’ singing. Here are the words (you have to think like a missionary to really appreciate them - the 'EDSA' is a very busy freeway in Manila,'kasama' is Tagolog for companion, 'lechon' is roasted pig and of course a 'jeepney' is a jeepney)
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| Elder Glodo & Barney slippers |
It was a riot and our room just went nuts. It was really fun. Next we had a dinner of roasted pig. The roasted pig or ‘lechon’ is a Christmas tradition in the Philippines. It took 2 whole pigs to feed all the missionaries.
Finally we had the talent show. Sister Stucki had wanted the senior couples to do something for the talent show and suggested that we act out the nativity for our talent. We couldn’t get together to decide on something so we didn’t make it on the published program. On Wednesday evening after dinner with the new couple, I teased the couples that we should at least sing something funny such as 'Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer' and said we could ‘tweek’ it a bit for the mission. Sister Stucki liked that idea but the couples weren’t convinced. Early Thursday morning after my study time, I sat at the computer and wrote some new lyrics. The couples loved it and wanted to sing it at the talent show, so we were back on the program. Funny thing was, as we sang, none of us could really remember the exact tune so it really sounded like some ‘rednecks’ singing. Here are the words (you have to think like a missionary to really appreciate them - the 'EDSA' is a very busy freeway in Manila,'kasama' is Tagolog for companion, 'lechon' is roasted pig and of course a 'jeepney' is a jeepney)
Santa got runned over by a jeepney
Tryin’ to cross the EDSA Christmas Eve
You can say there’s no such things as miracles
But for me and my kasama we believe.
He was at the mission party
Singin’ carols and having fun.
He ate one more plate of lechon
Then after that he said he’d have to run.
We were walking to the bus top
We saw the accident that night
So we asked the jeepney driver
If he had Santa directly in his sight
Santa got runned over by a jeepney
Tryin’ to cross the EDSA Christmas Eve
You can say there’s no such things as miracles
But for me and my kasama we believe.
So the driver said that he was busy
Looking for one more paying fare
There were only twenty riders
Ten more could fit with plenty room to spare.
The ambulance was stuck in traffic
It couldn’t move an inch
Luckily for us two Elders
We stepped up to help Santa in a pinch.
Santa got runned over by a jeepney
Tryin’ to cross the EDSA Christmas Eve
You can say there’s no such things as miracles
But for me and my kasama we believe.
I asked him if he knew where he came from
Why he was here and where he will go
I was tryin’ to get some information
But Santa said, “Young man, I’d really like to know!”
So we taught him the Plan of Salvation
While he laid there on the street
When I asked if he had any questions
He said, “So, when’s the next time we could meet?”
Santa got runned over by a jeepney
Tryin’ to cross the EDSA Christmas Eve
You can say there’s no such things as miracles
But for me and my kasama we believe.
So we thought that we would bless him
Cause he’d done so much for us
Right after the anointing
He sat right up and said, “I think I’ll take the bus.”
Oh, we had found our golden contact
It was a miracle darn right
So if you ever get discouraged
Just remember our experience that night.
Santa got runned over by a jeepney
Tryin’ to cross the EDSA Christmas Eve
You can say there’s no such things as miracles
But for me and my kasama we believe!
Friday after the Dietrich’s were able to get their drivers license, we took them to their apartment. They are living in a high-rise apartment building on the 10th floor. They don’t have screens on their windows but being on the 10th floor they shouldn’t have to worry about mosquitoes. Saturday was spent moving them into the apartment and going to the grocery store to get them set up.
Sunday we attended the English branch here in Manila to introduce the Dietrich’s to the Branch. They will be attending this branch rather than driving out to the province to attend a Filipino Branch. Our Chinese convert, Sister Irene was confirmed in Sacrament meeting. I wish I could have somehow captured the look on her face as they finished the confirmation and she opened her eyes and looked up. That look of joy will be forever written upon my soul. What a delight. After the English meetings we took the Dietrichs out to our branch to have them experience the Tagalog version of church. I was able to teach the gospel essentials class again and also spoke in Church. They asked Mom to speak next Sunday in the Christmas Sacrament meeting. We love our little Branch in Bulihan.
We are well and enjoying the work. Holiday traffic is not the greatest joy, but this too will pass. The elders asked if I would go on a teaching appointment with them on Wednesday evening. We taught a single sister that owns an air-cargo/freight business. She has 3 adopted children and they attend the international school (they speak English, French and Tagolog). We had a really good discussion and it was good to teach again. I talked to the mother about the possibility of flying humanitarian missions and she was very interested in that idea. I hope to speak with the Area Office Welfare Services about using her as a resource. She has already flown numerous missions to areas in the Philippines to provide disaster relief.
We hope all is going well with each of you. We pray for you every day and know that Heavenly Father is watching over you. You are great. Thank you again for your prayers, love and support. We love you all. Remember to BE good, DO good and BE men and women of Christ. And as always, remember to say your prayers. MERRY CHRISTMAS to all!!!!
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| Manila Temple Nativity |
Love,
Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, Janene and Grant
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