This should be a picture of happiness

Just looking at this picture should tell you that I am happy and things are working out just like they are suppose to. Not so.

Pillow cases for the Albos family

Saturday happened to be a day of frustration and disappointment. The sewing machine wasn't quite the dream I anticipated. It was only because I prayed very hard asking the Lord if I could please finish these gifts for the Albos family that the 8 seams needed to complete this job got done.

After going to church, I can see a correlation between those who attend meetings and come to church functions who look like the Lord's children but fail to stand for the Lord when under pressure, and this machine that looks like a sewing machine. They both look and act in certain circumstances like the real thing but crumble when put to the test.

My kind, loving husband told me he couldn't stand to see me so frustrated at the end of the day, so he has budgeted for a real sewing machine (with sure-use warranty) and we are going to go get one this week.

Keep posted for the rest of the saga.

Look what I got on Friday!

Huafeng FHSM-700

I am so excited to have a sewing machine to play with! I found it online and was surprised by how light and small it was. I found it is finicky with materials and the correct needle but it will sew up cottons just fine. Since I'm starting out with pillowcases for a family this is just right. It is so small you could pack it up in your suitcase and it is very light weight.

Pinky finger weight

So now another adventure begins! I have a whole class full of soon-to-be eight year olds who will need a comforter - even if its just the small kind.  Life is so good and I am so blessed!

Good Morning!

Good Morning Quezon City!  I am amazed how fast the sun comes up here. Around 5:30 am it is dark and at 6:30 am it is full light.

Nighttime is almost the same. 5:30 pm the kids are playing basketball on the street and by 6:40 pm it is too dark without a flashlight or street light.
The beauty of this place fills my soul.

Reminder of God's timing

We had another interesting day at the MTC Dental Clinic yesterday. First off a young missionary came in with problems with her braces poking her in the back of her jaw. Missionaries are strongly encouraged not to have braces during their missions as there is no guarantee of ongoing orthodontic care. This sister had her braces removed and then Dr. Burtenshaw fashioned a plastic retainer for her. I thought it was awesome to watch him make a mold of her teeth, cut out all the extra mold material, then put it on a plate and cover it with a plastic that he cut out a retainer by hand in between tending patients.
Just before he had a rest break,  the field missionary arrived over an hour early, so he went right on to take care of her and then when the field missionary's actual time came the MTC called in about an emergency missionary who had been having trouble with her wisdom teeth. She had checked out on the initial screening because her teeth looked good, but had been having problems with her wisdom teeth growing in.
I just watched in awe as the Lord co-ordinated travel plans (which here in Manila are a nightmare) to enable multiple people to be helped and also that the sister in the MTC would have the signal of pain to be able to have her teeth taken care of now with a wisdom tooth expert, instead of a few months from now when it would cost her money and of course time away from her endeavors. The missionary getting her braces off was able to come back in and get a retainer so she doesn't lose the progress she has already made in straightening her teeth.Then of course Dr. Burtenshaw took care of the rest of his scheduled missionaries.
I don't have a picture of the doctor bent over asleep, I was afraid it would wake him up to click a picture.

Field Missionaries

It was fun to rub shoulders with the missionaries from the field this morning. One couple drove seven hours yesterday to get here. They live on an island just south of Manila and drove from one end of the island to the other, got on a ferry for another 3 hours, got off the ferry and traveled to Quezon City. They stayed with some missionaries then early this morning arrived for their dental appointment. Another elder from their mission got dropped off by other elders and an hour later a sister came with the sisters that are in our home ward. We had a nice crowd. The Burtenshaw's got talking and found the young elder is going to be a football player for BYU so I told him we needed his picture so we could all say we knew him before he became famous.

Burtenshaws with soon to be famous elder and the Wilcox from  Preston, Idaho

The Wilcox decided to wait for the other two to get finished so they could drive them over to the mission office. They had driven a car into the city and replaced it with a van to bring back to their island, so they had room for all.

Quezon City Missionaries

The sisters next to the oldest elder are from our ward.
It was a fun hubbub and mix of interesting people from all over. Their spirit was infectious and wonderful to be around. We were all laughing before they left - even the young elder who got some teeth extracted.

Ahh, I feel so loved!

Jeffrey got home from church today with some notes from my Primary class.

Love from my Primary class

Conference

I am actually suppose to be in church teaching Primary, but on Friday afternoon I came down with something that turned into a fever and pain and has been getting better ever since. Last night around midnight or 1am I wandered out and saw Jeffrey watching Conference but didn't feel able to stay awake and listen with him. Early this morning about 4 am he was watching another session and I joined him. Awesome, powerful, and I have so many "to do" things squirreling around in my brain that I need to write them all down. We both went back to sleep after. I didn't feel up to going to church just yet so I stayed home and watched the Priesthood session.

Wow, Elder Bednar gave the talk I missed to the Philippine MTC Missionaries, in General Priesthood Meeting! I was moved, touched and cried just a little while he so eloquently taught us the difference between a call to serve God and an assignment to a particular place.
I want to add my testimony that both parts of the call - to serve and the assignment - are inspired and important. A month ago when Elder Bednar stopped to address the MTC Missionaries he spoke on this subject and changed the lives of many who were there. (See March 2 post)
As to the importance of the assignment, I had read in the Doctrine and Covenants about going East, West...it mattereth not... before my mission and was determined not to be disappointed wherever I served because I felt it really didn't matter where I went. I just hoped it wouldn't be Taiwan or somewhere I'd stick out too much. In my heart of hearts I felt I went to a random mission that needed a missionary.
Going to Canada was cool because my dad went there, although I went to the West and he went to the East.
It was about 20 years later while I was writing to my own missionary children that I was hit with the realization that my missionary assignment wasn't random. I wrote to my missionaries about one of the tracting success stories of my mission where a lady let us in because her husband was a member though not active. While she was talking about her family and husband I felt a similarity with an uncle's family and asked her what his name was. We found they were the same family and an instant bond was created. She invited us to supper and we helped just a little on a painting project. My companion Sister Littler told them at supper that we could come back if we were able to teach some practice lessons. They readily agreed. I got transferred the next month and was surprised one evening to get a call from Sister Littler that when they taught the baptism challenge lesson the mother and oldest daughter had never been baptized and accepted the challenge.
I happened to be visiting Arizona when Rachel was 3 months old and told my uncle about meeting his brother's family. He asked if I knew the rest of the story. The oldest daughter had just gone on her own mission!
While writing to my missionaries a few years later, I looked back analyzing, and realized I was the first missionary from our greater family to go on a mission and I just "happened" to be on the one street that one particular family would let the missionaries in - and be loosely related.
Assignments are inspired and I need to do my very best service in life because only God knows and plans who we are suppose to cross paths with as random as it seems.
I'm wondering who the sister missionary in the MTC in March whose assignment was relocated will meet and cross paths with and find out God was watching out for her all along.


The irony of not wanting to stick out because I was white and tall the first time I went on a mission compared to white, tall, old and fat sticking out in a crowd hasn't been lost on me. I'm pretty sure the angels in heaven have a great sense of humor. Luckily the Filipino people are loving and accepting.

I have a greater awareness on this mission that there are people I am suppose to meet, serve and hopefully share God's love with. Listening to Elder Bednar helps me refocus and make new commitments to do good. Actually all of the talks this morning have strengthened my resolve.