Today we went again to Pisapungang with Burgos Branch members. Because the village is so far away from the chapel, the faithful branch president and members take sacrament meeting to the new members there three times a month. They do this in the afternoon--after they have had their regular block of meetings in the morning. This is true ministering. Today we joined them, and instead of not understanding what was being said in Tagalog, we didn't understand what was being said in Ilocano--the language of the tribe. We did learn a couple of words in Ilocano, but we have forgotten them already. ;) Brother and Sister Fallorin, the chief and his wife who Elder Whiting baptized, were so happy to see us, and they thanked us for making the sacrifice to attend. That made the travel over the rough road and the heat and humidity all worth it. We had driven in with the branch president, but we chose to walk out. It was evening by then and we enjoyed the walk since it was relatively cool and all down hill.
We finished another transfer this week, sending home a wonderful group and welcoming another wonderful group of missionaries. It is a challenging week with long hours and lots of emotion. It drains us all. Now we begin to prepare for Zone Conference in three weeks. President Clark has asked us to teach a 45 minute workshop reminding the missionaries of their purpose. We've got some work to do to put that together. In addition, we are getting another senior couple the end of July and we have been charged with finding housing for them in the area of the mission they have been assigned to. So, we will do for the Dansie's like we did for the Pugh's--find and furnish a house for them. Thank heavens for the zone leaders and missionaries in the area who will do most of the leg work for us in finding a place. We really really appreciate their help.
We got a wonderful letter from Dennis and Georgia Dawn Clegg this week! Included with the letter was the following quote, which we love and wish to close with:
"We once knew well our Elder Brother and our Father in Heaven. We rejoiced at the prospects of earth life that could make it possible for us to have a fullness of joy. We could hardly wait to demonstrate to our Father and our Brother, the Lord, how much we loved them and how we would be obedient to them in spite of the earthly opposition of the evil one. Now we are here. Our memories are veiled. We are showing God and ourselves what we can do. Nothing is going to startle us more when we pass through the veil to the other side than to realize how well we know our Father and how familiar His face is to us."
--President Ezra Taft Benson--
Mahal Kita,
Elder and Sister Whiting
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| Jeepney of the Week |
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| Elders Thacker and Fillmore are worn out at the end of Transfer Week |
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| Cattle in the road. Is this Wyoming or the Philippines? |
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| Huge thunderheads. The rainy season is just around the corner! The sky in the Philippines is big and beautiful! |
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| Sister Whiting navigating the half washed out bridge on her way from Pisapungan |
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| Under the Banana Tree. Sister Whiting rocks the skirt and hiking shoes look! |
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| Down the hill to the meeting in Pisapungan |
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