June 25, 2012
!!!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANT DOUGLAS !!!!!!!
Dear Family and Friends,
Hello again! This week has gone by so quickly. It is
just amazing how fast time is moving. We have had another wonderful week. We are doing well. There is still so much to do
before we leave and we hope that we can accomplish everything that needs to be
done. We finished our apartment checks on Tuesday after attending a great
District Meeting. Our missionaries are the greatest. They are working so hard
and doing a wonderful work here. We were very impressed with the District Meeting
and the manner in which the missionaries teach each other in their training
meetings. Preach My Gospel has made such a difference in the way missionary
work is done. We often look at each other and say that we wish we could have
had the Preach My Gospel manual and the associated training when we were young
missionaries.
Wednesday we spent most of the day at the Family
History Center. Our Branch Family History Consultant came to mom on Sunday and
asked if she would teach her about the computer and Family Search. We had 5
sisters come to be trained and to work on their Family History. It is fun to
see their excitement and they love to be together with each other. Mom is so
good with them.
After our meeting, three of the sisters volunteered
to show us the place where the Branch Activity was going to be on Saturday. We
went off into the rice fields in the van – can you guess what is coming? Well,
we got somewhat lost. Of course the dirt roads were rain soaked and muddy. The
sisters were certain that the place was just at the end of the road. Two of
the sisters got out in order to ask someone for directions and I followed them
up the road (path) in the van. They got directions from a farmer and we then
tried to back up – well, yes, we got stuck again. One of the sisters got out of
the van and put her hands on her face and said: “We really have a problem now!”
The farmer looked at the van and went back into his house to find something to
help us. I got out of the van and looked at the situation and with a prayer in
my heart I asked mom to get behind the wheel and I would try to lift the wheel
out of the rut. Someone was watching over for us. I was able to lift it enough
to get it out. We then made a 15 point turn to turn around and head back out.
One of the sisters said that I was a professional driver. I replied: “No, a
professional driver would have turned around in a 3 point turn. But thank you.
You are very kind.” If the rain keeps
up, we probably will rent a tricycle to take us to the activity.
I won’t drive that one again. Sorry, but
we didn’t take any pictures of this adventure except for the scorpion we met
while making that 15 point turn.
President and Sister Peterson asked if we could meet
them in Brookes Point on Thursday morning. They had arranged to meet President
Corneilio of the Cabar Branch at his home. He is a rice farmer and they have
been harvesting rice this week. We had the honor of learning about his farm and
also riding a carabao. What a treat. We loved it. This is something that I have
wanted to do ever since we came to Palawan. The carabao was so gentle and to my
surprise, they are really difficult to ride. There is nothing to hold on to and
the way they ‘sway’ or plod along from side-to-side with their loose skin makes
it difficult to maintain balance. The little Philippino kids make it look so
easy!
President Cornelio has 2 hectares of land. He farms
one hectare and rents out the other hectare to another farmer. He told us that
Heavenly Father has blessed him so much this year. Normally he is able to plant
and harvest two crops in a year, but this year he was able to have three crops.
He has such a sweet family. It was so good to be with him for the day.
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| Us with the Petersons |
Sunday we had our monthly Branch Fireside. This is such
a wonderful branch. They are always so excited to see us. They wanted me to
talk about ‘Feasting upon the words of Christ’. This time I worked on having
the slides in Tagalog. I hope they got something from the fireside. Most
importantly, I hope that they felt something there.
We are under thirty days now. That is exciting and
scary all at the same time. We miss everyone so much. Thank you all for the
Father’s Day greetings. We hope that you are all doing well. We hope that the
summer isn’t going by too fast for you. We hope that you can enjoy some family
time together. We love you.
Thank you once again for your love, prayers and
support. We couldn’t do this without you. Remember to BE good, DO good, and BE
men and women of Christ. And, always remember to say your prayers.
Love,
Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, Janene and Grant
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