Hello!
Our news this week all centers around Elder Anderson's visit to the Philippines. It has been an honor to be here while he, Pres. Soares (President of the Seventies) and their wives have been here. They began their visit by attending the 100th Stake Celebration cultural performance on Saturday night. Elder Anderson gave closing remarks at the end of the performance. The next day, he presided at the multi stake conference where the 100th Stake was formed and the new stake presidency was sustained. We saw him again on Wednesday when both he and Pres. Soares spoke at a devotional for the Area Office Employees. Thursday night we were invited to a devotional for the missionaries at the MTC. Elder Anderson came to the meeting early and shook hands with every missionary. He spoke for a while,encouraging us to read the Book of Mormon (among other things). He then invited his wife to speak and he would address us again following her remarks. Usually the wives speak first then the apostle will speak last. It was so sweet to hear from his wife. She told us that she had heard him talk many times but this talk was different. She reviewed his talk and shared what she noticed that was different, what the spirit knew we needed to know, and she bore witness of her husband's apostolic calling. Elder Anderson followed with his witness of our Savior. It was such a great meeting.
Elder Anderson was able to be more personal and relaxed with the missionaries and the area office. He has a fun way of relating to the crowd when it isn't a formal setting. We are amazed at his energy and ability to speak so many times in the course of his week here. Besides the meetings I already wrote about, he has had meetings with area managers,will dedicate the newly built addition to the MTC tomorrow, and preside at another stake conference on Sunday - and those are just the things we know about
Elder Anderson asked us all to make note and remember Alma 26:27" Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success." He told us that when, not if, things happen that make us take a deep breath and cause us to say "what have I gotten myself into?", we need to go to God in prayer and petition his help and then carry on and patiently wait for Him to help - and He will help.He talked about being a mission president in France and seeing some of the challenges the missionaries there faced. He said he prayed for them often,asking how he could help solve the problems. His answer was that he could not but God could. No one else can give you comfort like God can. (He said this much better than I just did).
What a blessing to have prophets and apostles in our midst today! They are witnesses of our Savior in our day. We are so very much grateful for all our leaders for their love and dedication to the Lord's service and for all their service to minister to us.
We love you all,
The Tuckers
The cultural performance grand finale. The children in yellow on the front row did a dance called Itik Itik - the duck dance. It was so cute!
Elder Anderson greeting the crowd.
Elder Anderson with the missionaries at the MTC
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