February 15 - In Manilla

Dear Friends ad Family,

Magandaga Hapon! (Good Afternoon)!

We have been able to spend this week in the office but we've had plenty to do. Since I started working in the Dental Clinic, we get up at 4:30am. We need to be there at 6. We could leave at 3 in the afternoon but we usually stay later. I thought we would have more time in the evenings but it works out to be the same amount of time because we go to bed earlier. A new group of missionaries comes to the MTC every 3 weeks on Friday. They are each screened by a dentist. Sometime during their stay at the MTC, the dentists do the work on those missionaries who need it. The dental work is intended to be something that will help them so they don't have problems with their teeth while they are on their missions. There are some countries that have good dental care, like the U.S, that missionaries from there usually don't need any dental work. Missionaries from some other countries as well as the Philippines almost all need some work. I love meeting missionaries from so many countries - China, Mongolia, the Ukraine, India, Thailand, Taiwan, Fiji, Australia, New Zealand and others. They come with such a glow and enthusiasm to serve. It is an honor to be part of this work that blesses so many.

Since we've been in the Philippines, we've been so impressed with their ability to have prayer everywhere. We listen to the radio on our way to the office every day and at 6 am the station we listen to has a "Driver's Prayer" . It's all in Tagalog so we don't understand any of it but the tones are prayerful. The first time we heard it, we thought that it sounded like a prayer then at the end the announcer said it was the Driver's Prayer and she wished us safe driving for the day. Also, when we've ridden on ferries, they have a prayer. It comes on the video screen (They show movies or videos during the ride) as we leave the port. This week I have included a few photos of the prayer. I love that they do this here. I appreciate a prayer for our safety.

We are so grateful for the gift of prayer, for a loving Heavenly Father who communicates with us - He both listens and guides and blesses us. In D&C 112:10, we are encouraged with these words:"Be thou humble; and the Lord they God shall lead thee by the hand and give thee answer to they prayers." Even more than ever, we depend on prayer as we strive to serve however the Lord might need us and to bless our family and friends We and have felt your prayers and they strengthen and sustain us. Thank you. May God bless each one of you.

Love,
The Tuckers

February 8 - Laoag, Baguio, Tarlac

Dear Family and Friends,

Hello! It's hard to believe it's February already!

We've had some great experiences the past week. We were in Laoag for two days for training and got to see a dear friend, Elder Luke Anderson, who is serving in the Laoag mission and just happened to be within driving distance from where we had our meeting. The Facilities Manager was kind enough to arrange a meeting and we were able to meet with him and his companion for a little bit. It was so sweet to talk to him, to see that he still has that glow that is around a missionary who has fully given himself to the work of the Lord. I have included a picture of Elder Anderson and his companion. I've also included a picture of a basketball hoop. There is a place to play basketball in every city, town and village here. This one is in the church parking lot.

We happened to be in Bagio for the opening parade of their month long Flower Festival. It was a really fun parade. Most of the participants were children. The costumes were fun and each group had a small group of musicians with them and their instruments were lyres (looks like xylophones) and drums. Adults dressed in black pushed the cart things that held the lyres and the children marched along and played. Baguio is a beautiful city in the mountains with fresh air and pine tress. There are lots of buildings but also lots of trees. The parade and Baguio are our next 4 pictures.

Our final trip for the week was a short one to Tarlac which is a little more than 2 hours away. We had training there and came home the same day.

On Friday night we were home and able to go see "The Greatest Showman". We loved it! What a treat to see a movie that has morals and values, great music and dancing, and let us walk away happy and uplifted.

For our last picture, I just wanted to share with you a picture of the most amazing dessert we found. We buy it at a Korean dessert place called Hobing. It is a light dessert made out of milk that is like shaved ice only milk, and fresh strawberries with whipped cream on top. They have other flavors but so far, strawberry is our favorite.

We close with a scripture from Alma 32:37; "And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow we will say; Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit." It is so easy to get casual in or distracted from nourishing the gospel 'tree' within and this scripture reminds us that if the tree is going to grow, it must be nourished with "great care". All the care is what will bring forth the fruit. When studying the scriptures, there are so many gentle reminders from the Spirit about how to take better care of the gospel seed that grows in our hearts.

All our best to you,

Love,
The Tuckers

January 31 - A walk, a tour, and ashes

Dear Family and Friends,
Hello!

Last week some of the Senior Sister Missionaries went to visit a Purple Center - the school that a wrote about several months ago where some of the children from the poorest place in Manila can attend. We also visited the neighborhood where the children live. I am including a few pictures from our walk through the neighborhood (more photos on Facebook). One Sister took the pictures for the group of us so the photos aren't mine, thanks go to Sister Teri McIver for sharing her view of what we saw. My respect for these beautiful people has grown. They work so hard to live yet they smile and most don't appear to waste their efforts feeling sorry for themselves or feeling entitled. I admire their ability to survive and keep going.

The Seniors went on an outing to Corregidor on Saturday. It is an island in the mouth of Manila Bay that has been used to defend the Bay from intruders. The island is the biggest in the mouth of the Bay. After the U.S. helped the Filippinos gain their independence from Spain, the U. S. established 4 military bases on the scattered islands at the mouth of the Bay. The Japanese took the island during the early part of 1942. McArthur was ordered to leave the island several times before he finally left but he returned to re-take the island in 1945. I'm sending pictures of the island, a bombed barraks and a memorial to those who gave their lives there.

We continue to learn and our responsibilities better and some things have changed. I (Sister Tucker) have officially been asked to serve in the Dental Clinic at the MTC. I have been volunteering there for a few months. The two sisters in the front office are finishing their missions soon so they needed someone to Take their place. . A sister who just arrived and I will fill those positions. Elder Tucker will continue to work in ICS full time. I will join him for part of each day in that office and we will travel together. There really isn't enough to do in ICS for two people, maybe one and a half so I felt I should find something to do to serve more fully and Dental will be a good fit.

We've decided to make a better effort at posting pictures on Facebook so I will include a few of the same pictures in my letters that I put on Facebook. If you would rather just follow on Facebook and not get emails, just let me know or put in a friend request on Facebook if you would like to see more pictures, less words.

With all the people in all the nations there are in the world, we often hear stories of miracles in every place. We don’t know how it is done, but we know God watches over all His children everywhere as Ammon proclaims in Alma 26:37 ;”Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever.” We are grateful for our Father’s loving care for each of you, our family and friends. We are grateful for your prayers and we keep you in ours.

Love,
The Tuckers