Saturday
was a regular routine: prayer, throw in a load of laundry, exercise,
shower, dress, read scriptures, breakfast, and go to the Center. Then
Elder and Sister Cushings came; he had an Institute teachers meeting.
She stayed with us and visited. We went home for lunch and returned at 4:00 for the Aaronic priesthood commemoration meeting. I got some ideas for our grandsons. At 6:00
we hurried to Mandurriao for Antonio Lastimose baptism. He and his
girl (his first wife died) were married by President Suya and witnessed
by President Aquino Thursday.
They will prepare for the temple next year. She was already a member
and never married. After, we hurried to Molo; Elder Enje had a family
baptism plus one, a total of five for his last six weeks in the
mission. He leaves on Tuesday. When he goes home, he will baptize his mother. He is such a happy, positive person. I will miss him. Home at 8:41, full day☺️
Sunday is fast Sunday. The mission fasts on the 1, 3, 5 Sunday's starting at noon Saturday. We attended Mandurriao Ward and witnessed the confirmation of Brother Lastimose. We attended Sunday School, went home and broke our fast, then to Leganes Ward where the split Ward meets together every fifth Sunday.
President Suya spoke concerning the responsibility of members to find
investigators for the missionaries. The Bishop brought us lunch along
with the Ward specialist sister. They don't know we are self
reliant😄. But she shared a drink of chopped pineapple, lemon grass,
and calamansi. It was delicious! We were full already but we were
polite. However, I gained weight this week😁, just .3k. It will take a
week to lose it. Then we attended the SR Graduation of the business
class. There were six graduates; 3 members, 3 of other faiths. It was
great! They finished all twelve lessons of the Foundations Principles.
The one young man talked about his business and wanting to provide for
and to protect his family. It was awesome. Ray and I got to stand
together and say a few words and they all thanked us for our
inspirational comments. This is such a fun ward and a fun mission. We
came home after 4:30, had popcorn and listened to conference; Saturday am session with L. Tom Perry who passed on to eternity at 3 am
today--a great advocate for the family. He will be missed. I am so
grateful that we are part of a living church and that the Lord will
inspire and reveal His will for a new apostle to fill a place in the
Quorum of the Twelve as the youngest serving member.
Monday
we picked up the sisters; Sister Daroy is going home so we got her
luggage, took them to the mission office, spoke with President Aquino,
then we took the sisters to SM. I got a "boy" hair cut😝. We bought
hamburgers at McDonald's to celebrate my Dad's birthday, June 1; he liked
to grill us hamburgers outside for his birthday. McDonald's was the best
I could do in the Philippines. We spent the rest of the day in the
Center. One girl came in to renew her loan and Ray was able to serve
her. We talked with April and Mike. They began the move and will stay
in a hotel tomorrow night.
Tuesday
we missed district meeting because of career workshop for outgoing
missionaries. There were eight to attend, Elder Carnahan was the only
foreigner. After the workshop, we returned them to Arevalo and they
left on the plane. Sister Daroy and Elder Enje are gone😓. Sister
Nitura said she would always remember us: how I rubbed Sister Jensen's
feet while she was holding Sister Baui. We also were able to talk with
Raymond and Julie---it was fun to visit. After that, we went home and
ate and went back to the Center. We left at 5:00
to visit with our new landlord, President Sorillas. Then Darlene came
for our meeting and we made arrangements for next week with Boiser and
some of North Stake business graduates. On the way home we stopped at
McDonald's for chicken a la cart and apple pie and ice cream. mmm
Wednesday Elder Watkins, our zone leader went into the hospital yesterday at 6:00am
to have his appendix out. He is recovering in the hospital. So in the
early morning I had a two hour massage. It was painful but helpful to
my shoulder which has been hurting and painful for four months. Ray is
doing some therapy on my shoulder 3 times a day and the massage helped,
too. Ray did the wash while I had the massage. We went to the hospital
after that to see what we could do. I stayed at the hospital while Ray
took Elder Fogavai to his apartment to get the phone charger so they
could do some phone work. We visited a bit and then drove home in a
rain storm. It rained big drops. Yea for a slight heat relief....😓
for the wash that now needed to spin again and be rehung inside. After
lunch we went shopping, went to the Center, and then took Elder Fogavai
some dinner and some breakfast for tomorrow with a wheat muffin for each of them. We visited some and then went home. Transfers are tomorrow with new missionaries so we will go to Arevalo to see how we can help. Elder Watkins will be released from the hospital tomorrow.
Thursday
we have missionaries to care for today. How amazing the Lord is! We
had our most open week...wondered what we were going to do to use our
time wisely.....Our district leader, Elder Frandsen from Texas,
assigned way out in San Miguel, is being transferred. We will pick him
up and his luggage and companion and take them to Arevalo. While we
were there, we turned in our mileage report, told them how much to cut
our rent check for and for when to Sorillas. We went shopping and
waited at the Center for the call from Elder Watkins to pick him up from
the hospital for him to be discharged. Sister Aquino called and we met
the financial secretary at the hospital with the payment for services
and took the elders to their apartment. Went home.
Friday we picked up our zone leaders and took them to the leaders
meeting at Arevalo, went to the Center, had lunch,then picked the elders
up again. Elder Watkins mostly slept through the meetings. He doesn't
feel great but this is the third day since surgery. I believe he will
begin to feel better now. They went home and slept. We went home and
cut up watermelon to take to the Sorillas for their son's homecoming
dinner. Lots of people were there but we took two watermelons cut up.
We really enjoyed ourselves. The elders came an hour late but eating
was just...well, we were just to have a blessing. Kyle is the returned
missionary son and he blessed the food in Tagalog. Most people here
speak Ilongo but his mission was Tagalog and he has mostly forgotten
Ilongo. It was a good dinner and enjoyed by everyone. Home at 9:00.
Ha long. Sister Robinson
