Larry's Sunday in Cebu

November 28, 2010

Dear Loved Ones,

We attended our church meetings today in Lapu Lapu 2nd Ward. We had to take a taxi about ten miles to get there over a big bridge to Mactan Island. It was our first time attending church on that island and the taxi driver and I were just following a map to the church. The driver stopped to ask directions and the person sent us on a wild goose chase. I had the feeling we needed to go back to where we were so the driver stopped and asked a tricycle driver and he directed us back to another church near where we had asked the first time. I directed him down the same street we had been on and we drove past the church without seeing it. I was looking for it on the wrong side of the street. We were finally directed back to the church and realized we were less than one-half block from where we first asked for directions. We went in and found out that Lapu Lapu 1st Ward was almost finished with their sacrament meeting so we attended Lapu Lapu 2nd Ward which was a real blessing and guidance the way it worked out. The Mandaue STake Presidency was there to sustain a new bishopric. The Stake President, Romeo Duero, read the letter from President Monson and the First Presidency calling Brother Ronel Quinco to be the Bishop. That ward had been without a bishop for over 2 months. The Bishop who was released had gone to Indonesia to work. His family is still in the ward.. After the release and sustaining, all the Stake Presidency, the new Bishop and the new Elders Quorum President spoke. The Stake Presidency all gave very inspiring talks on tithing. The 2nd Counselor told how when he asked his wife to marry him, she said yes and they both agreed that they would keep all the Lord's commandments, so while they were holding hands and looking into each others eyes they started listing all the commandments they could think of, tithing being one of the important ones. They knew they needed to start a budget but didn't know how so they started by using the envelope method President Fantone had used on his mission. They had a different envelope for each of the various categories that would need money during the month with the addition of a tithing envelope (missionaries generally don't pay tithing because they do not make anything) and they were to put money in the tithing envelope first. Do you pay a full tithing on all of your income first before you pay for other things? 90% plus the Lord's blessings is always more than 100% of our income.

Some have asked several times how we did it on my salary and I can tell you it was because we always paid our tithing in full. I know the windows of heaven are opened to those who pay a full tithing. The blessings of the Lord are with us so much here. We have so many rich experiences and it is so wonderful to feel the spirit of the Filipino Saints. Many of them have such hardship stories but their testimonies are so strong. We send our love to you.

Dad/Larry