November 19 - Butuan

Dear Family and Friends,
Happy Thanksgiving!

We look at the calendar and see it is November. We remember the crisp fall air, the beautiful fall leaves, and the smells of the holidays. Here the weather is pretty much the same all year - beautiful green and hot. We are grateful for the decorations that remind us what time of year it is.

This past week-end we were able to go do some stake training in Butuan. It has been several weeks since we have been able to help with a group training and I didn't realize how much I missed that part of our assignment. Even though it was the first time we had been there, it felt like coming home to be teaching and bearing testimony again. Because of the airline canceled our original flight back to Manila, we weren't able to stay there for church on Sunday. It is always a delight to meet with the Filipino saints and feel of their love.

While we were in Butuan, we had a few hours to see some of the city. Our AATS, Elder Davis, and a friend took us to two museums. Outside both museums were children and watching them was our favorite part. Here, like other places we've been, the youth often gather in the parks and learn dances.  Where they perform or do these dances, we have no clue but we have seen it often enough to know they love it. Another group of children were out in the street playing a game with a can and one flip flop. It is called Tumbamg Preso (the direct translation, Fall Prisoner, doesn't really describe it) It involves an empty can in the middle of the street and the children playing each throw one of their flip flops at the can and try to knock it over. We watched them run to a line and back but couldn't quite figure out the game. What we were impressed with was that children figure out games with very little and they were having lots of fun together. Money and things aren't required to have a happy childhood.

Nephi tells us," Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ having a perfect brightness of hop, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." (2 Nephi 31:20) Our Savior made the fulfillment of this scripture possible. The turmoil in the world does not need to spread to our homes and hearts. We are the keepers of both and we can press forward with faith.

We love you all. Thank you for your prayers. They strengthen and sustain us.

Love,
The Tuckers

This is a picture of the young people learning a dance. I love their school uniforms! . When they saw me taking their picture, several turned and smiled - they love having their pictures taken.

The children who were playing the Tumbamg Preso game. The index finger and thumb in a L shape means handsome.:)

November 12 - The Ber Months

Dear Family and Friends,

We hope it's ok with you that we share some of the culture of the Philippines in our letters. Our work isn't always news worthy but we are having a wonderful experience and want to share some interesting things with you.

The 'ber' months started in September but this year the Christmas decorations didn't really get going until after Halloween. We didn't see many decorations for Halloween last year but this year there were a lot more. There were still some buildings that had their Christmas trees up in September though. I was expecting them to put up the same decorations each year but they didn't, they are totally different. I thought you'd enjoy seeing some of this year's decorations.

Elder Tucker and I were able to witness a miracle this week. A brother had been asked to be an Assistant Area Technology specialist. He contacted us and said he couldn't do it. He had worked with ICS in the Area Office several years ago and had some bitter feelings about the circumstances that led to his departure from that job. Kent wanted to reply but felt he should wait. The next day, the brother sent another email and said he would pray about it. The following day he wrote and said he and his wife had prayed about it and decided they would accept the call. We met with the couple yesterday to train them and before we left, he shared with us that he had been carrying that resentment for years and didn't realize it. Through their prayers, he had finally been able to let go and be free of the hard feelings. He seemed free and excited to serve. This change he has chosen has bless him and his wife. It was sweet to talk to them and see the gift of release and forgiving accepting this calling brought.

Last week in Sacrament meeting, a sweet sister shared her testimony of the temple and her temple recommend. She said she had kept her temple recommend with her all the time from the time she got it signed. It was the day before she went to the temple for the first time. She said she usually left her computer and wallet in the living room but because she waned to keep her temple recommend close to her, she put it and her computer by her bed that night. During the night someone broke into her apartment and took some things. When she got up in the morning and opened the bedroom door, there was a knife on the floor outside her door. She saw she had been robbed but she had not been disturbed in the night. She knew she was protected because she kept her temple recommend by her side. She still never goes anywhere without it. I had never thought about our temple recommends bringing us protection but when she bore witness of it, I felt her faith and testimony. The temple means so much to her, it is something she treasures. I have taken the nearness of temples for granted until I came here and heard the stories of sacrifice from families who saved and worked to get to the temple one time. There are missionaries who go to the temple for the first time after they come to the MTC and their companions are their escorts. I think of the times I have been blessed to be an escort for someone going to the temple for the first time, what an honor it is to be with them. These missionaries parents never get that . I honor them for their faith and willingness to send their children on missions completely giving them to the Lord and not being with them during this important part of their lives. Would I be able to do that? I hope so.

We close with Alma 38:9;"And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. Behold, he is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness.' I love that Alma wants his son to learn about Christ from him, his father. It seems this is what we are encouraged to do in our homes - teaching of Christ and bearing testimony in our homes. How grateful we are for parents who had testimonies and did their best to teach us. We love to speak of Christ and are grateful for Him - that he is our light and our Savior.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love,
The Tuckers.


Halloween decor in the lobby of our apartment building

This year's tree and peacock- they have lots of lighted birds and animals.

I loved this little guy having his picture taken with the giant squirrel

They do a lot of painting by hand - no stencil, no sprayers.