August 28 - Tuguegrao and Pathway

Dear Friends and Family,

This past week we were in Tuguegarao to do some training. We stayed for church on Sunday and attended a ward that met in a rented house. It was a wonderful experience. So exciting that the Spirit attends every meeting no matter where the meeting is held. In wards we attend other than our own, the people sing the hymns, read the scriptures and say the Sacrament prayers in English. Other than those things, most speak in their local language or dialect. We can usually follow along with the main ideas of the talks or lessons but not the details. One brother who spoke in Sacrament meeting read something in Illicano or Tagalog but then when he started to speak, it almost sounded like he was singing or chanting a beautiful song. Afterward, the friend we attended with said he spoke a dialect that they nicknamed the "language of the birds". It was delightful to hear him speak and feel the Spirit even though we didn't understand a word. In Relief Society, the teacher asked me a question. I was able to answer the question before anyone else so it wasn't too intimidating. We usually don't make comments in classes because we don't know what has been said and don't know if what we say will go along with what they are talking about or not.

Another great thing that happened this past week was Pathway graduation. It was the first graduating class from the Area Office site. We have come to love each of the students and will miss our weekly gathering with them. Because most of the students work at the Area Office, they have advanced education degrees but they took the class to learn and improve their English skills which in turn will improve their opportunities for promotions. We have been happy to see not only their English improve but also their confidence in speaking English and standing in front of a group. They gained so much more from the class than English. Two students cut up their credit cards during the first semester as they learned about life skills and personal finance. I didn't realize how much I had grown to love and would miss these students until they were lining up in the hallway getting ready to march into graduation. It was then that I realized that our gatherings really were done. Elder Tucker and I, another missionary couple, the the wonderful wife of the DTA (Director of Temporal Affairs in the Philippines), will be able to continue to facilitate the next group that starts in September. Last year we didn't have a clue about what we were doing or what to expect when we started with the first group. Now that we've done it for a year, we are excited to start again and look forward to the growth that we will see in the group as well as in ourselves . This has been an awesome experience!

While doing some reading in the June Ensign this week, I found a scripture that I hadn't really noticed before in an article by Elder Gary B. Sabin titled, "Place Your Trust in Him". This verse is in Nahum 1:7 " The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him". It is such a sweet reminder that the Lord knows us, is aware of us, and will help us - each and every one of us! I don't know how it is done but I do know that it is true. He knows each of us and our circumstances. He loves us and watches over us. We are never alone.

We love you all - 

Love,
The Tuckers

Picture 1 - Elder Tucker and our friend in front of their church after the meetings

Picture 2 - Our Pathway graduates lined up ready to go in

Picture 3 - The Pathway graduating class. Pres. Wakolo (2nd counselor in the Area Presidency) is in the center front with Bro. Almeida (the DTA), Elder Tucker and Elder Kaneen (the two on the front left)

Picture 4 - Just a snapshot of life -Mothers walking with their little ones to school.