Fruits of Our Labors

Beloved Family,

This week was such a hectic one. 

We tried to repaint the apartment but we ran out of paint.  We had to drive 5 hours away in Calapan, just to get them.  That's on the other side of the island.  While there, we visited with our missionaries there.  We treated them to dinner.  They were so happy to meet with us.  They are just hard working young men and women who love the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We came back on Wednesday.  As soon as we arrived in our apartment, we had a call from the Mission Office and told us to help some missionaries who were having problems with their housing.  So, we had to drive back to Socorro, which is about 4 hours away to find housing for the missionaries.  We were blessed to find a beautiful house that met the missionary standard for housing.  I do not know how it all happened but things just work out so smoothly.  We knew for sure that the Lord is in charge.

On Thursday, we stayed in our area and had a small P-day.  We cleaned up our apartment and did our laundry.

On Friday, there was a Branch activity called BFF-Buiding Forever Families.  Here in the Philippines there is what's called a National Family Week.  Families just celebrate by being together as a family.  In the church, they make it bigger by having Branch activities focused on the family.  Our branch had a branch FHE.  There was a lesson focused on the "Family" and then the youth and SA had games and of course eating after the activity.  Other branches that we attended, also had a speaker and then each organization presented something.  The RS did the zumba.  The youth and SA also danced and then the Primary sang.  It was so fun to see everyone participate...  This program was introduced to Congress by a member of the church.  So, when it was approved it became National Family Week.  They have been celebrating this national holiday for the past 10+ years.

Saturday - We had to help missionaries in our area with some challenges.

Sunday - it was a regular fast and testimony meeting.  Even though it's Conference weekend, they do not view the conference here until the following week.  I tried to stay up at midnight, but I couldn't focus as my body was so tired and I was very sleepy.  This is the first time in my life that I wasn't able to view Conference in a timely manner.  I was sad but we just woke up early and viewed the Conference then.

It is so humbling to be in this area.  We are slowly learning the needs of the saints here in Mindoro.  In Spite of their humble circumstances, the saints are so faithful and love the Lord Jesus Christ.  The saints here are so kind to us.  People would bring us fruits and vegetables from their garden.  They are always so happy to share what they have.  We are so happy to serve here and be an instrument in the Lord's hands to help strengthen the saints in this area.   We are grateful for the experiences we have had in our lives that allowed us to be a help to the branches here.  We truly know this is where we needed to be at his point in time in our lives.  We love being missionaries in this area.  We are learning a lot and being humbled a lot.