January 18 - This and That

Dear Family and Friends,

Greetings!

This week has been quiet. We've been making appointments and plans for upcoming travel. That's why I decided to give you a little journey through our days. In the past few months, we have collected pictures of unique things we see in the Philippines. I'll send more another time.

We were thrilled to see Pres. Nelson's announcement and press conference. Our love and trust in God were strengthened as we felt the assurance that this is God's chosen prophet today. We are ever grateful for Pres. Monson's life, teachings and example and know he is happy to be united with his wife and family again. What a blessed people we are to live in a day that we can hear and see God's chosen leaders speak all around the world. "Surely the Lord God will do nothing but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." Amos 3:7 We thank thee oh God for a prophet. Let us each prepare to listen and heed .

We love you,
The Tuckers

#1 getting our drivers license - this place has got two low buildings on either side of this covered center area that is open in the back. It is a chapel. While we were there they set up for the noon service.

#2 The man in the white tee shirt is standing in front of the medical office where we went to get our height and weight verified and our eyes tested before going to get our drivers license.

#3 A sign for the chapel that is in the mall. It is awesome that they have so many places to worship here. People can take a few minutes out of whatever they are doing and attend a short service. We were shopping in a mall and the noon mass was being broadcast over the speakers throughout the store.

#4 this is a sign is at the Cebu Airlines gate area - it made us smile, hope it does the same for you.

#5 We liked this sign at the ferry station

#6 These are used for cleaning. The broom with the short handle is called a Walis Tambo. Walis means broom. Tambo is a type of reed used to make this soft broom used for smooth floors like hardwood or tile, not carpet). The bundle is called a Walis Tingting (the midribs of palm leaves are used to make a tinting which is usually used outside on the ground. It is stiff.)

January 7 - January

Dear Family and Friends,

Greetings!

Between Christmas and New Years our office was closed so we had a few days to entertain ourselves. We can go to movies but in Manila during the holidays there is a film festival and all the movies are in Tagalog no subtitles) for two weeks so we didn't go. What we ended up doing was go on an adventure to some malls we hadn't been to yet. That may sound like a short adventure but there are over 100 malls in Metro Manila and no, we haven't set a goal to visit them all. They are all unique and beautiful. I'm including a couple of pictures taken of the inside centers with holiday decorations. We, along with a lot of Filipinos, visited a monument in Quezon City. It seemed to be a good place to visit on New Years Day. There were a lot of food carts that we didn't buy from but found interesting (2 pictures. If you don't know what balot is, google it. The chicken skin cost - 10 peso or 20 cents U.S.)

We had the fireworks show of a lifetime (except we hope to see it again next year too) on New Years Eve. We went to another missionary couple's apartment to watch because they have a better view. Fireworks shot into the sky from about 50-60 different locations all at once from about 11:30 to 12:30 pm. Our whole panoramic view was filled with explosions of light and color. I tried to take a picture and have attached one but it doesn't do the show justice. A friend was able to take some great pictures that I've included.

Our scripture for the week reminds us of what great things Jesus Christ has done for each of us"...salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement, which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, they must unavoidably perish..." (Mosiah 13:28) We're so grateful for the Savior; his perfect example, his magnificent gift of the atonement, and for his arms reaching out to embrace us in his love. We are honored to be serving Him in this beautiful place.

Much Love,
The Tuckers

January 1 - Happy New Year!

Dear Family and Friends,

As the 2017 comes to a close and we think about all we have experienced this year, I am filled with gratitude for our many blessings. We have learned more and more about how blessed we are in the United States. For our letter this week, I want to share with you some of the Christmas projects a few of the missionaries carried out here in Manila.

These missionaries purchased supplies for and assembled 600 newborn kits (a blanket, a onesie, 4 disposable diapers, 3 real diapers and diaper clips) to take to 2 charity hospitals here in Manila. These are the hospitals where women go to deliver their babies when they don't have any money to pay.

One hospital, where they gave out over 300 kits and sang Christmas carols, has gowns for the women to wear and they have beds. Two to four women will share a bed. Their families bring them food to eat because the hospital doesn't provide meals. The second hospital, (1st picture this is the ward where mothers stay after delivery) where they gave about 200 kits and sang Christmas carols. This hospital only has gowns for the women to wear during delivery then they change into their clothes. They have to share beds or sit in a chair but they do give them meals there. The women seem happy and comfortable - they are grateful for the help they have and really don't know that it could be any different.

These missionaries also had received donations from a couple of families to buy Christmas toys for children in a care center called Mabuhi House (remaining pictures). It is a place where they do surgery on cleft palets, repair eye problems, correct club feet and fit for prosthetic legs. They were able to buy each child in the center a nice toy and buy a few toys to leave at the center. Elder Tucker was able to go with these missionaries to deliver the toys and help get some of the toys working.

We have been richly blessed to know these good missionaries who are aware of needs and know how to help. It is overwhelming to think of all that could be done here but comforting to realize that any kindness shown is not only fills a need but also deeply appreciated.

In Mosiah 18:28 it says,"And thus they should impart of their substance of their own free will and good desires towards God..." I felt a sweetness as I thought about these and other sacrifices made and services rendered all around us as well as at home this year. This letter is a tribute to all those who have brightened another's life and lifted another's burden this season. Thank you all for your thoughtfulness and your love to those in need around you. We can't all do everything but we can each do something to serve our Savior ad our fellow travelers in this life.

We love you.

May your new year be bright.

Love,
The Tuckers