Greetings! We hope you are enjoying summer. Last year when we arrived, we were told it was rainy season but it really didn't rain that often. It has rained everyday for the past 2 weeks and I don't mean once a day and the clouds go away. It is cloudy most days and rains on and off throughout the day.
We were blessed to have Elder Christofferson here and to be able to hear him speak at a devotional for the MTC and the Area Office. He spoke of Pres. Nelson's recent talk about personal revelation. I had the impression that this talk is very important because the message was being repeated. We should all read it again. Within his talk were several nuggets of insights and some of his own experiences that personalized the message of our need to learn how to receive personal revelation. This was a special talk for me because he answered two questions that I have pondered off and on for several years. When apostles come to the Philippines, they have a very busy schedule that tires much younger men. The people we work with in ICS (Information and Communication Services) were all out of the office for a few days and some all of the days Elder Christofferson was here supporting him with all his technology needs ( microphones, computers, etc). These good people work very hard behind the scenes to facilitate all the work that apostles do while they are here in the Philippines.
This month for our senior missionary outing on Saturday, we went to the oldest part of the city of Manila called Intramuros which means "within the walls". The walls were built around the city around 1600. Unfortunately, this is also where the Japanese made their last stand near the end of WWII so much of it was destroyed in the fight for control of the Philippines. To begin our tour, we met at a non-profit school where they help the children in the area who are struggling with regular school. On Saturdays, they have a music class. We were there when it was time for the class to start so the children played and sang 3 songs for us. Their instrument is called an Angklung and the children shake them to make the sounds. I've included a picture of the instrument. The Pasig river borders one side of the walls of Intramuros and there is a nice golf course out side of other sides of the wall. I have included 2 pictures from the walls. Our guide told us that this golf course area is the only open space in Manila. There are very few parks in all of metro Manila and those are mostly in gated residential neighborhoods.
Kent's turn to write...
Our work has its ebbs and flows. At times we are crazy busy and then other times we want for things to do. This coming week we have some exciting meetings scheduled. We are helping with a training for all the stake and district presidents and their stake technology specialist in one setting, together. We’ve not had that opportunity before and hope the meetings will have a positive impact on their technology use. That gathering will occur in Cauayan, about an ten hour drive from Manila… (we’re flying not driving).
We are pleased to be serving and trying to make a difference. President Monson shared this thought years ago, ‘The Redeemer chose imperfect men to teach the way to perfection. He did so then; He does so now.’ CR, Apr 2004. In our own imperfect ways we’re trying to serve well.
President Nelson’s emphasis on the Holy Ghost and his critical role in keeping us safe now and in the future is ringing true in our lives. We pray that all our loved ones will live worthy of having the needed companionship of the Holy Ghost daily. Elder Oaks taught this, “The idea that scripture reading can lead to inspiration and revelation opens the door to the truth that a scripture is not limited to what it meant when it was written but may also include what that scripture means to a reader today. Even more, scripture reading may also lead to current revelation on whatever else the Lord wishes to communicate to the reader at that time. We do not overstate the point when we say that the scriptures can be a Urim and Thummim to assist each of us to receive personal revelation.” Ensign, Jan 1995.
Read, ponder and pray every day.
We love you all,
The Tuckers
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