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

January 18 - This and That

Dear Family and Friends,

Greetings!

This week has been quiet. We've been making appointments and plans for upcoming travel. That's why I decided to give you a little journey through our days. In the past few months, we have collected pictures of unique things we see in the Philippines. I'll send more another time.

We were thrilled to see Pres. Nelson's announcement and press conference. Our love and trust in God were strengthened as we felt the assurance that this is God's chosen prophet today. We are ever grateful for Pres. Monson's life, teachings and example and know he is happy to be united with his wife and family again. What a blessed people we are to live in a day that we can hear and see God's chosen leaders speak all around the world. "Surely the Lord God will do nothing but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." Amos 3:7 We thank thee oh God for a prophet. Let us each prepare to listen and heed .

We love you,
The Tuckers

#1 getting our drivers license - this place has got two low buildings on either side of this covered center area that is open in the back. It is a chapel. While we were there they set up for the noon service.

#2 The man in the white tee shirt is standing in front of the medical office where we went to get our height and weight verified and our eyes tested before going to get our drivers license.

#3 A sign for the chapel that is in the mall. It is awesome that they have so many places to worship here. People can take a few minutes out of whatever they are doing and attend a short service. We were shopping in a mall and the noon mass was being broadcast over the speakers throughout the store.

#4 this is a sign is at the Cebu Airlines gate area - it made us smile, hope it does the same for you.

#5 We liked this sign at the ferry station

#6 These are used for cleaning. The broom with the short handle is called a Walis Tambo. Walis means broom. Tambo is a type of reed used to make this soft broom used for smooth floors like hardwood or tile, not carpet). The bundle is called a Walis Tingting (the midribs of palm leaves are used to make a tinting which is usually used outside on the ground. It is stiff.)

January 7 - January

Dear Family and Friends,

Greetings!

Between Christmas and New Years our office was closed so we had a few days to entertain ourselves. We can go to movies but in Manila during the holidays there is a film festival and all the movies are in Tagalog no subtitles) for two weeks so we didn't go. What we ended up doing was go on an adventure to some malls we hadn't been to yet. That may sound like a short adventure but there are over 100 malls in Metro Manila and no, we haven't set a goal to visit them all. They are all unique and beautiful. I'm including a couple of pictures taken of the inside centers with holiday decorations. We, along with a lot of Filipinos, visited a monument in Quezon City. It seemed to be a good place to visit on New Years Day. There were a lot of food carts that we didn't buy from but found interesting (2 pictures. If you don't know what balot is, google it. The chicken skin cost - 10 peso or 20 cents U.S.)

We had the fireworks show of a lifetime (except we hope to see it again next year too) on New Years Eve. We went to another missionary couple's apartment to watch because they have a better view. Fireworks shot into the sky from about 50-60 different locations all at once from about 11:30 to 12:30 pm. Our whole panoramic view was filled with explosions of light and color. I tried to take a picture and have attached one but it doesn't do the show justice. A friend was able to take some great pictures that I've included.

Our scripture for the week reminds us of what great things Jesus Christ has done for each of us"...salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement, which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, they must unavoidably perish..." (Mosiah 13:28) We're so grateful for the Savior; his perfect example, his magnificent gift of the atonement, and for his arms reaching out to embrace us in his love. We are honored to be serving Him in this beautiful place.

Much Love,
The Tuckers

January 1 - Happy New Year!

Dear Family and Friends,

As the 2017 comes to a close and we think about all we have experienced this year, I am filled with gratitude for our many blessings. We have learned more and more about how blessed we are in the United States. For our letter this week, I want to share with you some of the Christmas projects a few of the missionaries carried out here in Manila.

These missionaries purchased supplies for and assembled 600 newborn kits (a blanket, a onesie, 4 disposable diapers, 3 real diapers and diaper clips) to take to 2 charity hospitals here in Manila. These are the hospitals where women go to deliver their babies when they don't have any money to pay.

One hospital, where they gave out over 300 kits and sang Christmas carols, has gowns for the women to wear and they have beds. Two to four women will share a bed. Their families bring them food to eat because the hospital doesn't provide meals. The second hospital, (1st picture this is the ward where mothers stay after delivery) where they gave about 200 kits and sang Christmas carols. This hospital only has gowns for the women to wear during delivery then they change into their clothes. They have to share beds or sit in a chair but they do give them meals there. The women seem happy and comfortable - they are grateful for the help they have and really don't know that it could be any different.

These missionaries also had received donations from a couple of families to buy Christmas toys for children in a care center called Mabuhi House (remaining pictures). It is a place where they do surgery on cleft palets, repair eye problems, correct club feet and fit for prosthetic legs. They were able to buy each child in the center a nice toy and buy a few toys to leave at the center. Elder Tucker was able to go with these missionaries to deliver the toys and help get some of the toys working.

We have been richly blessed to know these good missionaries who are aware of needs and know how to help. It is overwhelming to think of all that could be done here but comforting to realize that any kindness shown is not only fills a need but also deeply appreciated.

In Mosiah 18:28 it says,"And thus they should impart of their substance of their own free will and good desires towards God..." I felt a sweetness as I thought about these and other sacrifices made and services rendered all around us as well as at home this year. This letter is a tribute to all those who have brightened another's life and lifted another's burden this season. Thank you all for your thoughtfulness and your love to those in need around you. We can't all do everything but we can each do something to serve our Savior ad our fellow travelers in this life.

We love you.

May your new year be bright.

Love,
The Tuckers

December 25 - Merry Christmas

Dear Family and Friends,

We hope you all have a very nice Christmas.

We we've been pretty busy the past couple of weeks so we haven't written. Because our work in ICS is light right now, I've (Sister Tucker) started working in the dental clinic at the MTC a few hours each morning. It's nice to find more ways to contribute here.

Elder Tucker and I were blessed to be able to go to the MTC to do some caroling on Friday night. The new group of missionaries arrived on Tuesday instead of Friday last week. It was nice they could arrive a few days early and get settled before Christmas Day. The MTC president and his wife have planned some great activities this weekend to bring the spirit of Christmas to the elders and sisters. They have had special decorations in the cafeteria and special meals are planned. While caroling, we took a little gift and a special personal reading list for the missionaries. For Christmas Eve they had a special devotional with the Area Presidency and included music the elders and sisters prepared. Today, Christmas Day, they have arranged a service project (assembling hygiene kits) that we get to help with and a fun program and each missionary got a filled stocking. It has been sweet to be invited to help with the missionaries at this special time of year. Their light and enthusiasm warms our hearts.

During this past week there has been an increase in the number of children and families in the street (literally in the streets) asking for money. They come into the street between the lines of cars at stop lights and when traffic is heavy. We have been told that they are brought in from the country areas the week before Christmas and the ones who bring them get a cut of the money they bring in. We have also been cautioned not to give them money. We decided to do something a little different. We packed some ziploc bags with food - a drink, chips, vienna sausages, small pouches of cheez whiz, cookies and crackers - and we handed those out. It is fun to see their faces when they get food, we think they get to keep the food they get. One little boy did a happy dance as he left our car with his bag. It didn't feel right to take their pictures so I don't have a picture of that but I am including a picture of a stop light. If you look closely, you will see it is in the shape of a star. The green light is in the shape of a Christmas Tree but when the light is green, we do not slow down so no pic of that.

I've also included a picture of a nativity in a display in one of the shop windows near us. I thought the sign was sweet. you may have to enlarge the picture to read the sign.

"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:7. Like you, we have been reading more about Christ in the scriptures this month. It is hard to grasp the enormity of who our Savior is and all he has done for us. His time on earth began like all of our lives, as a baby. He was born in very humble circumstances. He learned line upon line. He loved and healed and served and taught. He felt our pains and our joys. He died that we might all live again. He is our light, our Redeemer, our brother, our friend. He made it possible for us to return to our heavenly home. Now it is up to us to do our part. May we each determine to become more like our Savior during the coming year. That will be our gift to Him...and to ourselves for we will be better for it.

Love,
The Tuckers