April 14 - Miracles

Dear Friends and Family,

It seems like one of the themes of Conference was "...by small and simple things are great things brought to pass..." (Alma 37:6). Sometimes it is immediate that a small thing will bring about something great. Other times it is the small things repeatedly done over a long time that will bring a great change, even in ourselves.

It has been hard for us to explain what we do here but this week we received a sweet email from the technology specialist in Legazpi that helps put what we do in perspective. Elder Magno is a church service missionary serving as an Assistant Area Technology Specialist , AATS (they LOVE acronyms here). He is a great example of one who magnifies his calling. Besides working with us, he has another calling and has a young family. In his calling, he is responsible for technology in 6 stakes/districts.I am including a copy of his letter so you can get the full story. The letter is as we received it (unedited). As you will see, his English is very good - wish we could say the same for our Tagalog!

"Happy Sabbath 

I just want to share this with you. 

Today is the re-broadcast of the general conference in every stake and districts in the Philippines. This morning i was prompted to visit one of the district and in my mind i know it was Tabaco District. Early i arise and go to that district center. Once i got there i observed that there are lot of members eager to view the broadcast. The sunday morning session was very spiritual but the later part the audio and video coming from the satellite is starting to become static however the broadcast seems fine. Later in the afternoon when Elder Dieter Uchdorft turns to speak (not sure of the spelling) the satellite feed disconnects due to hard rain. It lasted for about 15 mins and i can see members feels dismayed. At first i was hesitant to approach the leaders to help but my body reacts and go derictly to the satellite facility room. I asked them if they had a downloaded copy which i thought they have but they are not sure. The DTS and the district president have ask me what would be the fast solution for these. I grab my laptop and hard drives that contains the downloaded broadcast and cast it out to the projector then resume the video. It was a success eventhough delayed however we recieved good feedbacks that the downloaded video is much clearer (720 pixel) than the satellite feed. It was a lesson for us that time to always have a back up and rely on the promptings of the spirit. 

Before i leave the chapel i met the dts and his assistants (4 of them). My efforts was appreciated by the leaders but back in my mind i asked myself "what would happen if i didnt follow the spirit to go there?". 

It was indeed the power of God that pushes me to go there eventhough it was not on my plans. This was a remarkable experience for me and my added testimony that God is hastening His work by means of Technology. 

I know that this Church is true. 

I love this calling and it shows me how the Lord performs miracles in a different angles. 

I feel so blessed 

Elder Ezra Dwayne Magno
AATS LEGAZPI

We can't say it any better than he did - the church is true! the Lord does perform miracles! and God is hastening His work by means of Technology.

Love,
The Tuckers

PS-Just for fun I am including pictures of ways our little neighborhood is decorated. They are very creative with road barriers (the planters), hiding utility spots with art, and cross-walks.

April 5

Dear Family and Friends,
Hello!

Wasn't General Conference great?! Some big changes happened that we have an opportunity to use to bless lives and serve more effectively We were especially happy to hear that a temple for Cagayan De Oro was announced! What a blessing it will be for the people who live on that island to be able to have a temple in their midst. These wonderful people take challenges in stride and don't waste time complaining about the difficulties they face. Cagayan De Oro is on an island that much conflict and unrest including militants trying to take over cities.

Kent and I were on an island called Siquijor (seek-i-hor) at the end of March. I thought you might like to see the beautiful beach and starfish we saw. The stand with Coke bottles is actually a "gas station". The woman and her daughter who run the stand will use the funnel to fill the tanks of motorcycles that need gas. There are 2 kinds of gas, red and green. The third picture is of a cemetery on the island-all graves are above-ground. I wish we had the time and means to submit info to Billiongraves (an app you can use to help record grave sites in cemeteries).

Our scriptural thought for the week has to do with general conference and what we experienced and now what each of our duties are… D&C 1: 14 “And the arm of the Lord shall be revealed; and the day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of his servants, neither give heed to words of the prophets and apostles, shall be cut off from the people.” Our challenge now is to do as instructed and move forward with faith. It is an exciting time to be alive and we are so grateful for living prophets and apostles. We’re blessed to be serving and trust all is well with each of you.

Thank you for your love and prayers.

Love,
The Tuckers

March 24 - It's been a while

Dear Family and Friends,

Hello!

Our biggest news for the month of March is that our daughter, Aubry, had twins (by c-section) on March 1st. Jude came to the world weighing 7 pounds 12 ounces. Two minutes later, Thea was born weighing 6 pounds 2 ounces. Mom and babies are all doing well. I guess with e-mail I have a captive audience to share pictures of our twins. 😀

My apologies for not sending emails for a few weeks this month. I hope no one thought I just skipped them - sadly I skipped everyone and I'll do my best not to let that happen again.

I am learning a lot about many things though serving in the Dental Clinic. The sister who has been the front office manager, Sister Adams, and her husband will be finishing their mission and going home at the end of April so I am doing my best to learn all I can from her. One of my responsibilities is to set up the appointment schedules for the dentists. There are a lot of factors to take into consideration when making the schedule. One of those things is the days the missionaries who come to the MTC who have not been endowed go to the temple. In the past that was just one day that they were not available for appointments. The Manila temple closed for remodeling for 4 months the first of January so the missionaries are going to the temple in Cebu to receive their endowments. That trip takes 2 days. I was told the wrong days and so scheduled several missionaries that didn't come for their appointments. I felt like my mistake had wasted much of the dentists day. But then, as sweet Sister Adams pointed out, miracles began to happen. That day we had 4 missionaries come in who didn't have appointments but needed to be seen and because of my error, they were able to get the help they needed. I am so grateful that Sister Adams was able to see what I missed, that the Lord can even turn mistakes into blessings. The Lord is in charge and knows all that is needed and when.

Today we helped with a training in Naga. It was delightful to meet with the saints there who have callings that deal with technology. I'm including a picture of the view outside our hotel room (Naga is about an 8 hour drive from Manila but we flew). It is so pretty and green there. About 7 am, I heard what sounded like a choir singing. I opened the window and realized it was a recording and then a man was speaking over a loud speaker. I heard the choir several times and the man's voice but I couldn't make out the words. My guess is that it was a morning mass. I saw a couple of men stop and listen. It's so nice that people here are able to share beliefs in God on a community level.

The group picture is of those who attended the technology training today.

Are you excited to hear from our new prophet, President Nelson, and our other leaders next week? We love General conference and the spiritual feast it offers. Whether we are at the Conference Center, at the church, or in our homes, we can feel the Spirit just as promised in D&C 6:32 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, as I said unto my disciples, where two or three are gathered together in my name, as touching one thing, behold, there will I be in the midst of them-even so am I in the midst of you." We pray we will all feel His spirit as so many thousands will gather in His name to hear His word through His servants and as we sustain them in conference.

Thank you all for caring for us.

Love,
The Tuckers