It's been a hard week but a good one. We see pictures of the Fall leaves and hear about "the hunts" and we get longing for home and dry weather! But, we had several Tender Mercies at the Temple this past week. There were sixteen Elders and Sisters from Pakistan who are at the MTC and received their Endowments. A family from Pakistan was also here. The mom and dad and a daughter were sealed and were able to complete all the work for their parents and grandparents. I asked the daughter, who is 27 what it is like to be a Christian in Pakistan and she said,"It's awesome!" Missionaries can't proselyte there, and members meet in someone's home for Sunday services, but they are embracing the Gospel in numbers. These three gave up their jobs when they left to come to Manila and may not even have a home to go back to when they returned, but they were so happy to have completed their work. Another couple, from Malaysia, came with a full-time missionary couple from California who extended their mission to accompany this couple to Manila. The Malaysian couple were unique in that she only spoke a local dialect of Bahasa, and is blind; he walked with crutches, and had limited English. They were also excited to complete their own and their parent's temple work before flying home. I am sure the missionaries will receive extra blessings for extending and helping this couple out. It makes one grateful for the ease and closeness of Temples in the states!
Saturday, I was asked to assist a young woman get checked into the Temple. Her name is Kim and she was all alone. No family members, friends or even an escort. I took her through the process and told her we would find an escort who would assist her. She later made it known to Sister Reyes, she wanted me to do it. What an honor and privilege! It brought back fond memories of being with Dani last December in the Manti Temple.
The cleanup from Mario is still ongoing. The flooding was pretty bad around here. People lost roofs and had major water damage to their home, and we are expecting our 7th typhoon, Vongfong, to get here in a few days. So far we have been blessed to only lose our internet connection for a time. Some, have lost everything, but pick themselves up and start again. They share what they have with others even though it is not much! They pray for those who are hungry and homeless. They watch out for their neighbors. Hmm....I think there is a lesson with a principle here. What do ya' think?
I loved Elder Holland's talk during Saturday's Conference about our responsibility concerning the poor. Wonderful advice and I encourage everyone to listen or read it again. If I weren't such a Techno Tard, I would add it here, but oh well.
Parting thoughts:
"There is no end to the good we can do, to the influence we can have with others. Let us not dwell on the critical or negative. Let us pray for strength; let us pray for capacity and desire to assist others. Let us radiate the light of the gospel at all times and all places, that the Spirit of the Redeemer may radiate from us. "
- Gordon B. Hinckley
"At some time in our lives each of us needs to be lifted up from a depression, from a sense of foreboding or inadequacy, or just from a plateau of spiritual mediocrity. Because it raises our spirits and helps us resist evil and seek good, I believe that the feeling of uplift that is communicated by reading the scriptures or by enjoying wholesome music, art, or literature is a distinct purpose of revelation."
—Dallin H. Oaks, "Eight Ways God Can Speak to You"
We love and miss y'all! RWYA and KoKo!
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