July Interviews

Today we met and interviewed the missionaries in the Las Pinas Zone. My pictures only represent half of those serving in this area.

 

 I continue to be impressed with the faith and obedience of each of our missionaries. As of July 1st, these missionaries left behind the Manila Mission and became the Pioneers of the new Cavite Mission. With that change they gave up their opportunity to attend the Manila Temple. This has been, and continues to be a very difficult change for our missionaries. If the temple had been off limits to them from the beginning, this would be easier. But to take something so peaceful, comforting, and dear away from them is a very large obstacle to place in their path.

 

I AM SO IMPRESSED THAT THIS IS A WORRY TO THEM.

 

Can you imagine how touched I feel as I listen to these 18-21 year old missionaries tell me how much they miss going to the temple? I am truly humbled by their goodness - what an honor it is to work with them and be in their presence!

Visa Waiters

Two Elders from India came today and they will be with us for about a month while waiting for their Visa's to be reissued. Because they have not had an American meal for a year, I decided to make them hamburgers. I even grilled up some bacon to top 'em off. Welcome to Cavite!

 These are the 2 elders who serve in India.

I think we also had every cat in the neighborhood in our backyard while the hamburgers were on the barbecue. It smelled so good!

July Interviews

This week and next, we have interviews with our Marvelous Missionaries. Today we were with the Dasmarinas Zone and I took a couple of pictures.

If you drive into the main entrance of this chapel, you can not see the building until you come up a very steep hill. It is a beautiful sight to see as you reach the parking lot. Every time I go to this chapel I feel like singing, "High On A Mountain Top."

Good looking Elders! The Sisters had already left by the time I took out my camera - Sorry Sisters!

Funny Story: Before I left the mission home this morning I grabbed my name tag, quickly stuck it on, and ran out the door. President and I were greeted at the Dasmarinas Stake Center by the Zone Leaders. Then as missionaries arrived we started shaking hands and were lead to our interview rooms. It was then that one of the missionaries noticed my name tag. I had grabbed one of President Tye's name tags by mistake. President Tye made a comment about me being the boss - I was so embarrassed! I tried to think of all the places we had been that morning before someone noticed my name tag. From then on, the Elders were calling me President Tye. I don't think I will ever hear the end of this one!

San Gabriel District Conference

We had a great weekend with the members of the San Gabriel District at their District Conference. Priesthood and Adult Sessions were on Saturday, and the Youth and General Sessions on Sunday.

I believe my favorite part of the visit was not the 4 talks my husband gave, (sorry sweetheart), but it was the Youth and Young Single Adult choir - it was fantastic. There are no words to express how heavenly their singing was. I believe that angels were also singing with them, and you would have a very hard time convincing me otherwise. The Spirit was so strong as they sang.

 

After the meetings, President took care of temple recommends and I visited with some of the wives. As few of the young women kept peeking into the room we were sitting in. Finally one of them got the courage to ask if they could come in and ask me some questions. They were still a little shy, I think they wanted to know how old I am and other great facts. One of them even wanted to touch my hair. It never dawned on me that some have never seen hair a different color than their own. I loved being with these young women! I hope they will never feel afraid to asking me questions - I don't even care if they touch my hair!

 

The Heat And The Holy Ghost

 On Saturday we attended the Priesthood and Adult sessions of the San Gabriel District Conference. During Priesthood meeting, I could not go into the "air conditioned" chapel, so I sat on some stairs just outside the chapel to wait. After a little bit I became too hot so I went downstairs and found an open room with a little table that I could sit at and read my scriptures. I was so content with my little private space that I took this picture of it. I thought I was so clever and resourceful.

Pause for a brief story -

Have you ever heard the story of the frog who was put into a pot of cool water but unknown to him, the pot was slowly heating up. So slow was the temperature changing that eventually that little frog became cooked without even realizing it. Voila! Instant frog legs for dinner. Well, this frog and I have a lot in common.

 

At first I took off the little short sleeve sweater I was wearing. (we wear sweaters because sometimes the chapels get a little cool.) Then off came my shoes as the cool tile felt good on my feet. But I was slowly getting warmer and warmer, and I had no water with me. I knew I was hot, but I didn't realize just how hot I was getting. I thought how nice it would be to lay on the floor and just feel the cool tile all over my body. But I didn't want anyone to see me on the floor and think something was wrong. Feeling completely exhausted, I laid my head on the table and thought of the heat. I wondered how the birds could sing and be so happy outside in the humidity and I thought about my cool husband upstairs in the chapel. I breathed deeper to get some more air,  and then, I passed out.

 

The next thing I remember was my husband calling my name to wake me up. He said he called me a few times, but when I finally heard him I jumped. He had to help me stand up. He led me out of the church to our car. His plan was to let me sit in the front seat and have the air conditioning cool me off. He took me to the passenger side of the car, left me there, and by the time he got to the drivers side I was gone. Fearful that I had passed out, he ran to the other side of the car again, but I had sat down on the ground. Yep, I was out of it. He got me in the car, turned on the air conditioning and asked the Assistants to sit with me until the Priesthood meeting was over. You see, he left in the middle of the meeting because as he was sitting on the stand, he had the distinct impression to come and find me. Isn't it amazing how the Holy Ghost warns us? I am so thankful that my husband was listening. I could have been frog legs!

 

Mission Leadership Council

Today was our first real Mission President assignment -

Mission Leadership Council Meeting.

We decided to hold the meeting at the Mission Office. I started making the food yesterday and ended up baking the whole day. Everything was excellent, but packing it all in the car and driving over from our home to the Mission Home was hard work.
 

I made Shoyu chicken, rice, cabbage salad, and banana cake. I also made oven baked Carmel corn to eat during the meeting. Filipinos don't eat a lot of salad, instead they enjoy putting veggies on top of their rice. BUT, they loved my chicken and thought it was Chicken Adobo. I have a huge rice cooker, and I could not believe all the rice these young strippling warriors loaded on their plates. I LOVE TO COOK when I see that someone has appreciated it. Every mom does - so tell your mothers you love the food they make for you!

 

 

 

 Back to work.

 The amazing office couple.

MLC is over and President Tye is back to work with his Assistants.

Being with the missionaries make us happy!

 

Senior Couple Blessings

This is a picture of three of our wonderful Senior Couples. Yes, I said three - having 3 Senior Couples is something to brag about in the mission field, but we are blessed with FOUR! Aren't they a beautiful sight? Each of them have distinct responsibilities in the Cavite Mission. One couple serves in the office, another loves and assists the members of a District, and then another finds apartments for the missionaries. They each have many responsibilities besides the ones listed and I am touched by their selfless service. I know they get tired, I know they get hot. I know they miss U.S. grocery stores, grandchildren/great grandchildren, and dishwasher soap (Me too!); but from the minute they walked into the Mission Office today, I noticed something about them - they radiate LOVE. Their happiness and joy is contagious. The office couple will drop whatever they are doing to help me when I come in. When I couldn't find cookie sheets at the store, one of the sisters gave me hers. Another couple gave me some powdered sugar - and that was a huge blessing because finding powdered sugar in the Philippines is difficult. I am anxious to meet the last couple in this great foursome! I know they will also be an inspiration to me and President Tye . We could not make it without them. They left family and friends, plus the comfort of a warm shower and air conditioning to serve in the Philippines.

In the Cavite area are BLESSED X 4.

 

The First Day

Today is July 1st and is our official first day "on the job." We got up early and out of the house by 7:30. Our destination today was the Drivers License Office. President Tye will be the "designated driver" while here in the Philippines, and I will need a license for identification purposes. It took us 5 hours from start to finish. Most of that time was spent standing in lines. We started out in a building that had no air conditioning. In that building we had photo copies taken of our passports and had a medical exam done. (checked eyes and weight) The rest of the process was handled outside. Even though the heat and humidity outside was bad - it was better than being inside.

 

And here is the proof that I was there all day:

 

While standing in the heat, the Assistants bought us some water and cookies. They really are the best at keeping us happy. And they even took me grocery shopping. Now that's valiant service!

Here are the Assistants helping President with his laptop.