November 17 - Hello

Dear Family,

Hello!

We loved our trip to 100 Islands. The first day there we hired a boat for the day. The boatman would take us to different islands and wait for us while we explored. We ziplined between islands, snorkled, did a helmet dive, had a picnic (some places only sell Filipino food so we brought peanut butter and honey). The day was perfect! The water was just right for snorkeling - not cold at all! We saw a couple of giant fruit bats flying - they are as big as a good-sized hawk. There is a huge statue of Christ on one of the islands.

Our second day there, we went to a beautiful waterfall. The picture doesn't show all it's beauty. There were smaller pools cascading down the ravine that were so pretty but I wasn't able to get a picture of them. The really nice part was that the water is refreshing, not cold. The waterfall is on private land and was just opened to the public two weeks ago.

Now that our AATS Conference, we are settling into a schedule during our days.I am spending half of every day in the dental clinic while Dad works on our technology business. I have been organizing records and labeling/organizing the dental inventory. I'm learning about burs, paper points and all kinds of things. I help with panoramic x-rays on missionary intake days. Today I was asked if I would like to learn how to be a dental assistant. I figured I might as well, I enjoy all opportunities to learn. I just hope I can learn quickly and actually be of help to the dentists. I hear it's a pretty steep learning curve. :)

Just so you know, we won't be able to mail Christmas presents to you this year. We are buying some little treasures that we will bring for you when we come home. We have found a few things here that we haven't seen anywhere else so we have started a collection.

You are always in our thoughts. We hope you will call us on the holidays when you are available. Our Thanksgiving isn't celebrated here so it will just be another day in our schedule. I know we get Christmas and New Year's day off but we're not sure about any of the other days.

We love you and miss you.

Love,
Mom and Dad
XXXO

#1 Waterfall

#2 Zipline

#3Some islands

#4 The bat is flying above the tree

#5 that is Turtle Island on the left

November 16 - Thank You Pres. Trump

Dear Friends and Family,

Hello!

This past week the Area Office was closed for three days because of the ASEAN Summit (Association of South East Asian Nations). Almost all of Manila has the day off because of the traffic and security. There are really no "alternate routes" for some of the streets. So we went with two of the Area Office couples on an excursion to visit 100 Islands National Park. Our choices were to have an adventure outside Manila or sit in our apartments for 3 days. I couldn't decide whether I should admit that or just not write for two weeks. Not every missionary couple has this kind of opportunity and we are grateful to have a chance to see more of the Philippines. We have heard about how beautiful this country is but having spent most of our time in the city, we just haven't seen it. We saw some very beautiful places on this trip - the Philippines really is a land of many sights to inspire.

The beautiful things we saw reminded me of a truth that the world denies or tries to explain with a "Big Bang" theory or other theories. I am grateful to know that the heavens and earth were created by God and not a random happening. 3 Nephi 9:15 -"Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are..."

I will close with a scripture that I love and yet too often forget to heed. Philippians 4:8-"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." I love this reminder from Paul that we need to look at the good around us. I do not deny there are troubles and problems but I know if we focus on the good, we will be better, we will see the good in others and feel the peace of God.

Warmly,
The Tuckers

November 7 - Conference

Hello Family and Friends,

We had a really nice conference with 12 of our 15 AATS last week. We were very happy that so many could join us. It was great to have one of the Area Presidency as well as the DTA each give devotional talks for our conference. There were a few snafus but I learned a long time ago that when planning any activity from wedding receptions to conferences, if you plan on something going wrong, which it always does, you are better prepared to handle it because in your mind, you've allowed for it.

Pres. Haynie from the Area Presidency shared some statistics about the Philippines that I thought were very interesting. The Philippines ranks 4th in LDS population in the world. The U.S, Mexico and Brazil are 1,2,and 3. Out of 156 functioning temples, Manila is the 3rd highest for live sealings. 70% of the people in Asia who attend Sacrament Meeting are in the Philippines. That number does not include the Filipinos who are working in other countries (there are many families here whose primary income is from a family member working outside the Philippines). His main message however, was encouraging each of us to ask ourselves, "What can we do to help thr rising generation?" The younger generation today doesn't remember a time without electronic devices. He shared with us Elder Ballard's statement that we should "Make technology your servant, not your master." Technology is such a great blessing but it has many challenges associated with it. It can be both good and bad depending on how we use it but it seems to be the language of the rising generation so we need to help them to learn how to use it for good. The following quote was also shared with us. every time I hear it, I feel a witness that it is true and am grateful to live in such a time as this.

“I maintain that had there been no restoration of the gospel, and no organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there would have been no radio; there would have been no airplane, and there would not have been the wonderful discoveries in medicine, chemistry, electricity, and the many other things wherein the world has been benefited by such discoveries. Under such conditions these blessings would have been withheld, for they belong to the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times." 

Joseph Fielding Smith Oct 1926

This time I am including a pictures from our AATS who attended the conference as well as pictures from a zoo we visited with two other missionary couples on our day off. The zoo is built in an area where there are bunkers from WWII. They have used the bunkers for shelters, exhibits, shops and storage.

A little explanation about the bunker picture - it includes some locals in front of the bunker. Yes, the woman just has a cloth on her head - they wear cloths on their heads a lot. Often they will tuck a cloth (small towel or washcloth or bandanna or whatever) into the back collar of their shirts. All just evidence of how hot it is here, sweating is a problem and they want to protect themselves from the sun.

The crocodiles are being fed pieces of chicken. You can buy a piece of chicken for $4, they give it to you attached to a string on a pole, then you dangle the chicken until you get it low enough that one of those bad boys will jump up and get it. The walkway above the crocs is made of a heavy metal with high mesh fence sides. :)...just don't lean over too far!

All our best to you,
The Tuckers

October 29 - Visitors

Dear Family and Friends,

Greetings!

We didn't write last week because we were blessed to have our daughter, Tiffani, and her family come to visit us. We spent all the time we could with them so our letter is delayed. All our pictures this week are taken during our time spent with them because those are the funnest things we did this week. We really enjoyed our visit to a place called "In Art Island" in Quezon City. I think that was our top rated activity, bowling was probably our next favorite. I won't label the pictures because you can tell the difference between the two. :)

This is the week we've been making final preparations for the conference we've been planning the past couple of months. Our AATS will be coming to the Area Office on Thursday and the conference will continues until Saturday. One of the things we've planned for them is a session at the temple. Most of them look forward to our conference so they can have time at the temple. Travel is so expensive that it prohibits them from attending very often. As we talked to our co-workers about some of the details for the conference, we found out that most Filipinos do not have temple clothes. The more I learn about life in the Philippines, the more I realize just how much I take for granted having lived in the U.S. all my life. Today I am especially grateful for temples within traveling distance, comfortable cars to travel in, and temple clothes that patrons can rent at the temple. Temple patron housing is across the street from the temple. What a blessing that is that the members can stay there during the time of their temple service. It provides a place to sleep, eat, change and bathe before going to the temple. It isn't air-conditioned but that doesn't matter at all to them.

2 Nephi 9:52 -"Behold, my beloved brethren, remember the words of your God: pray unto him continually by day and give thanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts rejoice.

Love, The Tuckers

ps. I just realized that I didn't send this last week as I planned - oops!