November 6, 2012 Blog

 November 6, 2012

Last week we took our car over to Panay on the ferry.  We did really well for being the only white people on board.  On the return trip Dan had to back onto the ferry as it had only one entrance for loading and unloading so it required backing on.  We were the first vehicle so that made it a bit easier.  The ferry from Bacolod to Iloilo had openings on both ends of the ferry so loading and unloading are much easier. We went to Panay for a week.  We drove all over the island to familiarize ourselves and to meet with our service missionaries.  We arrived by ferry on Tuesday and returned on Monday.  Saturday Dan trained the priesthood brothers in their cluster meeting of all the leaders from the Island.  While he was teaching, I sat in the Institute and caught up on some of my correspondence.  I also met Sister Scott, another senior missionary couple from Snowflake Arizona.  Amazing another senior missionary from Arizona. She has only been in the Philippines two months.  She is a wonderful woman and I had so much fun showing her our family photos and getting to know her.  She told me that her youngest daughter had been trying to have a family for five years and was not having any success.  Her children got together and encouraged her husband and her to serve a mission so her daughter could get pregnant as a blessing from their service.  Amazingly, her daughter is already pregnant.  What an answer to prayer and a blessing for their willingness to serve the Lord.  We pray for similar blessings for each of our children from our willingness to serve here in the Philippines.  (We do not need any blessings for ourselves, so we pray our children will receive the righteous desires of their hearts.)

Later President Ardern, the second counselor in the area presidency came in to sit on the comfy couches for a rest and we visited for a little bit about PEF.  He was so excited about the proposed changes.  He confirmed that in the Philippines we needed to continue to provide for four year programs, but believes we can find outside resources to provide scholarships so participants do not have to incur so much debt.  He also is very excited about adding a mentor component to the program.  He made me feel so much more excited about PEF!  I am so excited to be a part of the program here and help the young people better their lives.  What a blessing this is for us. 

I love reading the updates from all of our friends and family on Facebook, in emails and letters.  I don't feel so isolated when I hear about your lives.  I need to tell each of you not to worry when you hear about Philippine weather issues, because we live on a pretty sheltered island and rarely suffer from the tragic weather of the other islands.  If you hear of tropical storms and do not hear from us directly you can always check our mission president's Facebook (his is Marlo Lopez) and he puts at least bi-weekly mission status reports.  If we are not traveling we come into the office and have internet to try to keep you informed, but we do not have internet at home.   Please do not worry about us.  The Lord will protect us.

Now on the spiritual side (if you don't want to know just skip this part).  I was suffering from severe homesickness.  I so missed our children and grandchildren.  I just felt so bad I was scheming up ways to come home to see everyone.  I have never felt so depressed before in my life.  I do not know why someone who has endured and triumphed over so many sorrows in one lifetime could not remember the healing power of the Atonement of my Savior when I needed to feel it.  When I was divorced I knew to pray for the Saviors healing power and he did lift my sorrows.  When our daughter Holly died, I relied on the comforting spirit of my Savior and he lifted my burden and gave me the strength to move forward with my life and support our family.  Even though I struggled understanding why losing my sister Karen to cancer was so difficult for me, I knew that the Lord would lift my burden if I but asked.  In my darkest hour I just have to ask for the healing and uplifting power of the Atonement to remove my burden and it is done.  Yes, I am a slow learner!  I did finally remember and thankfully did ask for that same blessing with regard to my homesickness and I immediately felt normal again.  Yes I still miss you all, but I am able to go about my responsibilities with joy and happiness!  I am so thankful for my testimony of the love of my Savior and the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I love my Father in Heaven and my Savior, Jesus Christ.  I love reading the Bible and Book of Mormon and learning more about God's plan for me through the teachings found in the scriptures. I love our prophet Thomas S. Monson and the wonderful teachings we were able to hear at General Conference and cannot wait for the talks to be available here in the Philippines.  I love reading then over and over.  When we get to Manila in December, I will buy a copy of the November Ensign so I can have a paper copy to read and reread. 

I love each of you and an thankful for your part in my life.  We pray for you each day by name.  Sometimes too long (or too big of family) and then dinner is cold.  Oh well small sacrifice for us, but so worth it.