Elder and Sister Whiting in the Philippines: 52* Celsius!

Sister Whiting has such a fun & different writing style than me--I told her I'd help with the blog this week - hope I don't bore you to tears.

Se we've had about the same temperature in some parts of the mission as back home - 52* - except home is Fahrenheit and we're Celsius! 52*C is about 125*F. Can you say HOT!! We're so grateful for air conditioning! & for the power not being off too much! & the young Elders & Sisters really are our heroes!

We've had a busy week. Tues. just back from Baguio, we had to take another Missionary to Manila via Clark Medical City (hospital to get an MRI) - long day.

I ordered 3 dozen cks for Jun-Aug rent; Sister Whiting assembled a bunch of Orientation manuals & Departure binders.

Fri nite we rode with President & Sister Clark to San Jose (after they had attended to a Sister who was thrown off a trike & rolled 50 yards down the highway - luckily/blessed she's ok with just scrapes & bruises) for dinner with Stk Presidency & Bishops & wives - Sister Whiting & I haven't really taken to any Filipino food - we came home & had Coke. But good people - they're all 'pioneers' in the Gospel in this land.

Our office Elders, the Assistants, & the Sisters in our 'home' Ward all had baptisms yesterday. 2 were at the same time in different buildings, so we divided up & attended both - Sister Whiting drove back to the Office in a thunderstorm - rain like I can't describe / never see in Utah!

While I was fighting heat & traffic to Post Office Friday Mom visited with another Sr couple from Ogden serving in Manila Area Office on their way to I.T. train a stake (needed a potty break) - had a great visit with some white people!

One of the baptisms was a 79 yr old grandpa--I kept thinking of an old song made popular by an old group named Afterglow:

The Touch of the Master's Hand
by Afterglow

The auctioneer held up an old violin
And surveying the crowd asked with a grin
What am I bid for this old violin?
And he held it up with the bow
A dollar or two? Who'll make it three?
Perhaps it has no real value said he
But what am I bid for the old violin?
And he held it up with the bow.

Well no one spoke, and the auctioneer sighed
And took the old fiddle to set it aside
When far in the rear there arose an old man
Who walked to the front of the row
He lovingly brushed the dust from it's face,
Tightened the strings, put the bow in it's place.
Then drawing the bow with a move sure and slow
The old man began to play.

With a touch of the Master's Hand,
The old violin sang a song from within
And the listeners began to understand
The Touch of the Master's Hand

The old man concluded, then shuffled away
And the auctioneer looked where the violin lay
Then raising it up he turned to the crowd
With a voice that was humble and low
Who'll start the bidding? A thousand said he;
Two thousand once; and who'll give me three?
Three thousand going, and three thousand gone;
He whispered, then turned away.

Well some in the crowd were confused and amazed
What changed the value from night to day?
Is the old violin not the same as before?
It seemed they could not understand:
Many a life, scarred and battered with sin,
Can find a great change like the old violin
When our eyes are opened, our hearts touched from within
By the Touch of the Master's Hand.

With the Touch of the Master's Hand
The old violin sang a song from within
And the listeners began to understand
The Touch of the Master's Hand

With the Touch of the Master's Hand
Like the old violin our heart sings from within
When we look on His face to understand
It's the Touch of the Master's Hand.

Love you each one so very much!
Elder and Sister Whiting