We hope you are well and finding the joy this season can bring. "Light the World" is such a great way to help us remember Christ and all he is and was as well as encourage us to follow His example. I love the short videos and challenges on Mormon.org. The lights on the Philippine Temple grounds were lit on Friday (picture) - they are another light in our world this Christmas season.
We had a special Christmas devotional last week. The Area Presidency did a program with many beautiful musical numbers and Pres. Bowan shared an inspirational Christmas message. Each department was asked to prepare a song for the second part of the program. Our manager chose one that I love called,"Christmas in Our Hearts" I had never heard it before. It is a beautiful song with a beautiful message. Listen to it here:
Our assistant in Davao invited us to come and help with a training he had last week. Davao is in an area which hasn’t had non-native missionaries there for quite some time. The members there treated us so kindly. We could feel the power and responsibility that wearing the missionary name tag represents. The meetings there went well with a great turnout. 30 were expected and about 60 actually came. It was great to have so many there. Afterward we were able to drive around Davao with a driver and a few of our new friends. We stopped and had a drink of fresh young coconut water called “buko”. After the liquid is gone, the man cuts open the coconut and we ate some of the young coconut meat which is nothing like the dried coconut we get in the U. S. The next day we went to church and again were so warmly received. We both were able to teach and bear our testimonies at the training and in Sacrament meeting. The Lord truely does help us beyond our natural abilities when we are in His service. A member family invited us to their house for dinner after church. I have to say they served the best Filipino food I've tasted! The sister made a pork roast called Hamonada that was amazing - so good! She also served a chicken and vegetable dish called Afritada that was delicious. She had a lovely fresh salad and fresh fruit and of course there was rice. Everyone we met was so very kind - it is easy to love these wonderful people.
As we were reading the scriptures together last night in 2 Nephi 32:3- "....I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry." I felt a sweet witness from the spirit that what Nephi wrote was true. God does hear our all of our prayers. There are so many things in this world that we individually have no control over. We cannot control others-their attitudes or actions or words- only ourselves and we can choose to have faith that God will take care of all of our loved ones (and us) in ways we may not even be able to imagine. He is a loving Heavenly Father and knows how to help and comfort us perfectly. Sometimes I want to fix things in my human way yet find that if I wait, God has a much better plan than I could imagine - it isn't aslways without pain but it is always right and sometimes a lovely surprise!
Much Love,
Elder and Sister Tucker
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