Mission Mom's Memo

May 23, 2011

It was wonderful to talk to so many of you on Skype this past week. We hope Eldon had a fun “surprise” birthday. Amy and Josh are loving the class they are taking together and learning so much about the human physiology. We cannot believe how big our babies are getting to be, and how much William and Maryn are talking and walking; they certainly are not babies anymore. Jacob and Connor and Robert were having such a busy time playing firemen and superheroes that it was an effort to pull them away to talk to Grandma. Camille will have a lonesome month without Lincoln, and if the humidity in Alabama is anything like the humidity in Cebu right now, Lincoln is going to have a hot, dripping sweat time while he is assisting with the clean-up following that terrible tornado. The training that Liz has undergone for her new job as a facilitator at the challenging rope course sounded grueling, but we’re glad she will have a flexible schedule, and with her attitude, she will have fun and make it fun for those corporate and community groups she assists as they build team work and problem solving skills. Dallen had a great time with the YPO group he guided at Zions; we hope more great, financially advantageous opportunities come from that experience. Congratulations to Robert for winning a new bike at the end of his school’s reading challenge, and to Kjerstin for her role in Rumpelstiltskin. Kjerstin and Eldon auditioned for roles in “The Wizard of Oz”; that will be fun if they get to be in that production together. Connor’s preschool program was so darling and we were proud of him—seeing the video was almost as good as being there. Emily is on the final stretch for her Masters degree--two more weeks; we are happy that Natalie’s family is making the effort to drive from Oklahoma to Chicago to attend Emily’s graduation, and that Elizabeth is flying to Chicago so she can drive back to Utah with Emily when she finishes up everything. Family support is so appreciated. We are grateful for your love and prayers.

We just received a graduation announcement from Maurissa; she is valedictorian, music sterling scholar (of which I am sure Laurisa is proud also), all-state in tennis, swimming and golf, plus she is receiving her associates degree from UVU at the same time! She has been busy. Kristi says Maurissa will be going to BYU even though she had several offers of great scholarships and financial helps from other places.

May 28---

WE have been so busy at the temple. During the summer break large groups come from the outlying islands and stay for three to four days. The group we worked with in the baptistery yesterday and today were from the Mati District on Mindanao; they traveled 12 hours on a bus and then had a 12 hour boat ride before arriving at the temple. They brought 47 youth for baptisms and many adults and some younger children who were sealed. They are so thrilled to be able to come to the temple. They were supposed to leave to catch their boat by 4 pm but came to do one last baptismal session at 2 with us. We watched the clock very closely; we usually let the girls and boys do 10 baptisms and 10 confirmations, but we had to cut back to 5 each at the end to ensure that we got the group out on time. They promised they would be back next December—but we won’t be here. Hopefully their temple experience will strengthen their testimonies. Mindanao is one area we are forbidden to travel to in the Philippines; there are so many Muslim terrorist groups in that area. No American missionaries are allowed there. But the saints who come from that area are so strong.

This week we have also had youth (67) from Panay, an island about 12 hours away, and Negros (45), several hours away by boat. The group from Negros had been here last July and I remembered their faces. The first day they were here I was at the reception table in the foyer and one of the boys saw me from the large beautifully etched window that looks up from the baptistery into the foyer of the temple, and he waved wildly and grinned. I walked over to the window and recognized him as one of the boys who had been especially attached to me when they came before. His name is Jade Palzario (Coloso St. Brgy. 6, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental). I was delighted that we got to work with his group the next day. Because the Presidency has divided the baptistery coordination up between six couples now, we only work in the baptistery three days a week rather than the five we had been doing. During the very busy season, there are three four hour shifts in the baptistery Tuesday through Friday and then we work in the temple doing other ordinance work for the other three hours of our shift. At first I was disappointed that we didn’t get to be with all the youth all the time, but I realize how taxing the work can be and I also appreciate that we will be going home in five months and someone else needs to know how to run the baptistery, and I know how inspiring it can be to work with the youth so the blessings are shared now.

I am late sending this so without writing more, here it is. We are trying to put together plans for our two week break in July. We will probably be traveling to the Manila area. We love you!