Each Life that Touches Ours for Good...

Our Batch.  President Kirk is to my right.

Last week was a week of smiles and tears, as we went about in the service of the Lord.  In the early hours of Monday, President Bradley Kirk of the Naga mission suffered a massive stroke.  He passed away on Wednesday morning, with his beloved wife and one of his sons at his side.  The Kirks were in our batch (we came out at the same time).  We met at the MTC, so had only associated with the Kirks for those few days and as we travelled by plane to the Philippines.  But there was a connection, as there is with all of our batch.  We had a special connection, in that both President Kirk and President Craig had served missions in the Philippines as young men, and were both so excited to return with their wives to serve.  We mourn along with the Kirk family and the missionaries of the Philippines Naga Mission.  But in that mourning, we also have joy.  Joy in the gospel of Jesus Christ, that has brought us here at this time; that promises that death is not the end.  Joy that we will see and join our loved ones again after they leave this Earth.  Joy that we have been blessed to rub shoulders with President Kirk.  Joy in Heavenly Father's plan, and knowing that He knows us and loves us and has a plan for each of us.  We are humbled by this knowledge, and also by the tender mercies of God in allowing President Kirk to return to the Philippines, even when He knew it would only be for a short time.

We are blessed to serve here with many people who also touch our lives for good.

This little girl had so much fun taking selfies with my phone while President Craig was teaching her father, who was recently baptized.  I have met her a few times, and I am always captivated by her exuberance for life.  She is the same age as our Mindy, so I kind of feel like I am with my grandchildren when I am with her.

On Wednesday we had our New Missionary and Trainer Meeting.  This meeting is held about a month after the new missionaries arrive, to go over how their training is going, but I think it is also at a time when they might need a little "pick me up".  The adjustment to missionary life is at times hard, and I loved to see their joyful faces as they saw their batch-mates again.  Since 5 of our new missionaries are serving in Tuguegarao, we decided to hold the meeting there, rather than at the mission home.  So we left Cauayan early with the Assistants, and picked up the other two companionships on the way.  These new missionaries and their trainers are so vital in the mission.  The new missionaries, who are so excited to serve, yet experiencing hard things as they become accustomed to missionary life, and their marvelous trainers, who guide them and push them and help them, are the best of the best.

Last week I told one of our security guards that I had never eaten fresh coconut.  So on his next shift, he arrived with coconut, and we all got to taste some!  Our security guards not only keep us safe, but they bless our lives in many ways.  They help us park, they open the door for me, they help carry packages, they open the gate and stop the traffic so that we can get in and out safely.  AND they bring coconut!

Also, we are grateful for the Assistants, Elder Montague and Elder Bodily.  They work so hard and help us so much.  They are diligent and faithful.  We never have to wonder if they will complete an assignment.  And even with all the time they need to be at the office, they still manage to be examples to the other missionaries of how to be a missionary.  They contact everywhere we go.  They teach and testify and baptize.

We are blessed by President Capitulo and President Roberts, who are President Craig's counsellors in the mission presidency.  They help so much to ease the burden of a mission president who has 5 Districts to care for as well as about 180 missionaries.  President Capitulo puts miles and miles on his motorcycle each month, and always with a large smile on his face.  He loves to serve the Lord.  President Roberts is a senior missionary, and also looks all the mission finances. He is also so very busy, but doesn't complain about the extra responsibilities.

Look at all of those shoes!  Many of them are worn out, worn out in the service of God.  The missionaries who belong to those shoes are members of our Mission Leadership Council and District Leaders, who lead and set the culture of our mission.  They know how to work and minister. We love them.

I love to see people enjoying their job, more so when it is a job many would find dull and mundane.  These traffic officers in Ilagan keep the traffic moving and keep a smile on everyone's face!

We are also thankful for our family, and for their support.  We are thankful that they find the time to make Facetime calls, so we can watch our grandchildren grow and remember who we are.  We are also thankful that they look after each other so well.