Words that Jump Out

I've been thinking about what I want to accomplish in Activity Days this coming Friday and I think one portion will be about scriptures that jump out for attention.  Obviously Joseph Smith had James 1:5 jump out for him when he was young. On my last go around with the Book of Mormon several versus jumped out and now on this second time through a few more have jumped out.
I think I'll use the verse in Ether 3:5 "Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this. We know that thou art able to show forth great power, which ^alooks small unto the understanding of men."
Too many times the tender mercies and prayers that are answered are over-looked as answers from God because they 'look small' to us or those we explain our miracle to. 
For instance my former companion, Sister Littler had a story about two children who were lost when it was getting dark and knelt down to pray for an angel to guide them home. They soon heard the cowbell of their milk cow on her way back to the barn and knew if they held on to her she would bring them home. They were very disappointed that their prayer had not been answered. 
A little six-year old boy in our ward heard the story of Joseph Smith and went on his knees to pray for an angel and was surprised when young woman asked him what he was doing? Neither of them thought about the fact that God answers every prayer and as Jeffrey R. Holland has explained, "we are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with—here, now, every day. Some of them reside in our own neighborhoods." That young woman may have come as an answer to this six-year-olds prayer though neither thought about it. 
My activity for Friday, will probably be making pillowcases and showing the kids how to make a quilt. We have been asked to make comforters as a service project for all those who have been distressed by typhoons and those affected in the civil war going on in the southern islands. I may have missed the quilts at girls camp this year but it looks like we will be making quilts here!
The last thing I'd like to have happen next Friday is Sister Stewart teaching the kids a song that they can go and teach their family. 

If those who read this blog would like to contribute their favorite scripture that has jumped out lately (and why), I would love to share it with my Activity Day kids. Answer before Friday!  (ah your Thursday) - Thanks:)

Unmindful

I'm having a great time sewing again. But every once in awhile I am brought to the stark realization that I am not going to be saved from myself.
Technology here is not for the forgetful or inattentive. Hence, the holes in my ironing board. I'll bet no one has sued anyone over hot coffee in the Philippines (and won).

A light touch with a hot iron instantly melts the fabric on the ironing board cover

It is especially irritating to do it 3 different days

This iron (well all the irons I've seen) have no safety turn-off or even steam. Turn it on and it gets hot. Now I'm trying to scrape off the melted material without scraping off the teflon. 

River Review

Two blue poles - the man in orange - that he would swish over the water towards the lines with debris

Ah, what are they doing? Is this a type of fishing or are they checking something out? The man in orange would paddle with the big paddle and then when they got close to the lines he would take both of the blue poles and flick them over the water towards the lines with debris caught in them. What are they doing?

It was very hard to figure out why they would paddle slowly along and then stop or coast while the man would "fish" or something

All down that side of the river checking things out with the blue poles

I love how helpful the kids seem to each other in helping friends over the wall

I did realize today I'm going to have to be more careful - they young boys seem to have a more European attitude toward nudity and I inadvertenly got several shots of swimming boys who didn't get their clothes wet

Happy Birthday Elder Stewart

It's that time of year - Happy Birthday

We had the trimmings for a party

And all the guests turned up too!

Nice to have a reason to party

With lots of good friends

Elder Andersen visits the Philippines

Elder Andersen at the devotional at the MTC

This has been a very busy week for Elder Andersen and his wife. They have been to the 100 stake celebration last week (it was phenomenal!), last Sunday a special Stake meeting to organize the 100th stake, visiting many locations, devotionals in the Area and MTC, and tomorrow he will be presiding at the MTC dedication and Sunday he has a Conference. I do not have his travel plans but they must be complicated as he is showing up everywhere. At the MTC devotional he took the time to shake everyone's hand.

Jeffrey shakes Elder Andersen's hand while I say hello to Elder Schmutz

Listening to Elder Andersen, Jeffrey and I were amazed how detailed his advise was for our mission and life. Point after point seemed to be dedicated straight to our heart. Of course those points are for a personal journal, but still it was amazing. His wife got up and testified to the ideas I had noted.
Elder Andersen had some really awesome snippets from Australia from the Book of Mormon. He had an Elder from the MTC read in a powerpoint section by section President Monson's last General Conference talk. It is only two minutes and well worth looking into again.

Restorations

New facelift at the MTC

These men are out in all kind of weather hauling buckets by pulley and mixing cement in just the right color proportions

They scale up and down the scaffolding with ease

The face of experience and dedication

There is always a project being built or restored on this campus

These are the men who scale the tallest building to care and fix. These men have been putting a new façade on the old MTC while others work inside to renovate the rooms. I love watching them work as they take meticulous care in every line and step of the job. They balance on these poles and sometimes have only thin boards to stand on.

Interesting sights

Riding a van through the Philippines is a taste of everything. I asked Sister Stewart to get some of the things I could see from the back seat. She responded beautifully and got some nice shots - and some interesting one too.

Laundry always catches my attention. How much time it takes, having whites, scrubbing and then hoping no one is burning trash when you take the time to hang it out.

This is never an everyday sight as I live in the middle of metropolis, so these fields and mountains are wonderful

The green field are usually flooded so there are raised "lanes" for people to walk on

Going to and from our destination we watched the children go to school and then come back from school

When Sister Stewart got tired her hand snapped a pic of her knees (I have two or three of these)

Always hopeful of making a sale (notice how the man in purple squats - I have seen people do this for a half hour)

All of the children I have seen wear a uniform to school. The styles seem to be from the 50's. Some are more progressive but not most (If is ain't broke, don't fix it)

Satellite dishes, various goods and no window screens

I love this land