Families Can Be Together Forever

Taken at our family reunion in 2016.  Ruth is on the far right linking arms with Deryl

This week my dear Sister-in-law, Sharon Ruth Cooley, passed away after a valiant battle with Leukemia. She was a good woman, a loving wife and the mother of 13 children.  She will be deeply missed.  My brother Deryl, recently posted on Facebook his feelings about the “Plan of Salvation”, also known as the Lord’s “Plan of Happiness” and how it comforts him during this painful, temporary separation from his beloved wife. 

“From the furthest reaches of my memory my Dad concentrated on teaching me the Lord’s Plan of Salvation……As a youth, I felt confined and trapped by the gospel of Jesus Christ, it was not that I did not believe it was true, it was I just felt overly confined and wanted to do what I thought would make me happy, Which usually was some form of instant gratification, and which did not make me happy. Finally, at the age of 21, I realized I was a 21-year-old 'hippy' going nowhere but downhill fast. Like Christ, my Dad never gave up on me and was always there trying to get me on the right track. That is the beauty of the Plan of Salvation, Christ is always ready to forgive and help us get back on track, without putting any limit on the number of times we fall. Realizing the eternal aspects of the Gospel of Jesus Christ at this moment in my life gives me comfort in knowing Ruth and I will only be separated for a short period of time, and how much she has added to my eternal existence."

I love you, Sharon Ruth Cooley”. Posted on Facebook August 14, 2019

Our Week in Photos:

Last one eating.  Three sisters were going to throw away food, so he took it and ate it.  He was brought up not to waste food.

Shooting a few hoops after the Zone Conference.  Looks like President Roberts made a basket!

Enjoying lunch with the missionaries during Zone Conference

Teaching with the Missionaries

All Missionaries like to take Selfies.

Happy Birthday to James!  James is one of our guards who takes care of us 24 hours a day.  He also carries my groceries upstairs, opens my car door when we drive in the parking lot and orders our pizza when we wanted it to be delivered. (When we call Shakey's Pizza, we can't understand them and they can't understand us)  

Working with the Spirit but without the Internet

Our internet service at the Mission office was out for 2 days this week.  We thought it was a hardware problem in the office, but it turned out to be that I didn’t pay the bill and they cut it off.  Oops, My Bad!! We had to walk over to the church to get WiFi. 

Thank goodness, it was kind of a slow week!   Sister Roberts and I had lots of opportunities to work with the Missionaries, attend baptisms and prepare to speak in meetings.

One family that we visited last night was very sick.  The poor mother and her small children were all fevered and coughing.  They can’t afford to see a doctor, but my un-educated guess is that they had the Dengue.  It’s very common here, even among the Missionaries, and is carried by mosquitoes.  When we went to visit them the area around their little hut-home was infested with them.  That night the Elders and I gave her a priesthood blessing.  Her brother-in-law was there and offered a very heartfelt prayer of gratitude.

We returned this afternoon with some home-made chicken soup that Sister Roberts prepared.  The mother seemed very grateful.

The afternoons are incredibly hot and humid!  Even in the shade, you feel like you are sitting in a sauna.  It's enough to make you wish you were the one getting in the baptism waters.  It’s incredible how refreshing it feels to get back in our air-conditioned car.  I so admire our dedicated missionaries who go out day after day and find the Lords elect in this extreme climate.  God Bless them!

Teaching about the plan of Salvation 

Ang Akalat Ni Mormon

We had a visit from Elder Wakolo of the Seventy.  What a warm and kind man he is.  Of course, most of his time was spent with our Mission President and his wife, but we did get to meet him and talk with him briefly before he and his wife went out teaching with the Elders and Sisters.  I asked the Elders if they were scared to go out with a General Authority.  The look on their face said ‘terrified’!  However, when they came back, they expressed what a joy it was.  So many things in the gospel are like that.  The thought can be terrifying, but the experience is pure joy.  Serving as a Senior Couple is another example.

Here is a link to an article about him in the July issue of the Friend:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/friend/2019/07/its-his-church?lang=eng

A Weekend in Bambang

This weekend we traveled for 2 ½ hours to Bambang at the south end of our mission for a district conference.   Bambang is surrounded by lush green mountains and rice fields.  It was noticeably cooler than Cauayan. We delivered some mail and packages to missionaries living in the area. One sister was bubbling over with joy because she received her package the day before her birthday. 

 After a meeting on Saturday we enjoyed a meal with the District Presidency and Elder Baquiran at The Grill Hub in the hotel where we were staying. 

 Elder Baquiran’s wife ordered a large feast of various Filipino dishes for us to share.  Our favorite was a grilled fish stuffed with diced tomatoes, onions and spices. 

On Sunday, the chapel and the cultural hall were filled beyond capacity by members from six branches (congregations).   A few faithful members stood at the back for the entire two-hour conference meeting, because there was no place to sit.  I was impressed by their profound reverence during the meeting.  Just before the meeting started, President Roberts and I were asked to give our brief remarks.  It used to make my legs weak and my stomach tighten to stand and speak before a large group.  After the meeting, I met many new friends and I am afraid that I won’t remember their names the next time I see them.  I wish everyone would wear a name tag!

Eight of the Twelve Missionaries in the Bambang District

I don't know why these Beautiful people want me in their picture.  I'm often asked by the people I meet to take a photo with them.  The lovely young women to my right just received her mission call.

Members patiently wait for their turn to leave the crowded parking lot.

"Feed My Sheep"  

LOTS OF JOY WITH SOME SADNESS MIXED IN

Returning Missionary / Joyful Reunion with her Family

The last 2 weeks have held a lot of firsts for me.  Serving as a Counselor in the Mission Presidency means a lot more than just sitting on the stand and presiding at meetings.  I now have the privilege of conducting several different types of interviews.  Those can be difficult just based on the purpose of the interview, but when you throw in the hurdle of a language barrier, it seems almost impossible to go ‘in-depth’ as I should.  Sometimes I wonder if I did any more than scratch the surface of a gospel principle or transgression issue.  Most of the members I have interviewed have enough knowledge of the English language that they can understand what I am saying, but they lack the confidence or ability to express themselves in English.  I have a greater appreciation for what it means to rely on the spirit.

One of the sweetest experiences of my Mission was to interview and release a Missionary who served in another mission and was returning home to her family in Cauayan.  As she talked about her Mission experience, I could tell that she had experienced a mighty change in her heart.  Her parents were not very active but she had great faith that she could be a positive influence in their lives.  Her eyes were red and full of tears when I told her that she was honorably released and that she should remove her Missionary badge.  I couldn’t help but cry with her a little bit.

Another special treat was to learn that our former Mission President and his wife would be traveling to Mesa to attend the wedding of one of their former Missionaries.  They surprised us by stopping by our home in Mesa to meet the sweet family taking care of it for us.  They even stopped at one of our favorite Mexican food restaurants.  It was almost like we were there with them.  We loved it!!!  Except for the fact that we were fasting and could almost smell those delicious hot plates of food.

Sister Roberts found a Pineapple with hair like hers

 ....and of course
 there is always
the processing 

Saying Goodbye to Departing Missionaries

The first photo of the new Arrivals

of departing and arriving Missionaries. 

Both are experiences we love! After an evening of interviews, dinner and testimony, follows a morning of goodbye's, welcomes at the airport. Then a long day of orientation and transfers to new areas and companionships.

Orientation

Ready to Go.

Sharing some delicious pizza with the Assistants and President and Sister Craig

Elder Rusch was one of the departing Missionaries this week.  He has a special place in Sister Roberts heart because he was her trainer.  We have enjoyed working with him in the office almost the entire time we have been in the Mission.