May 28 - Memorial Day

Dear Friends and Family,

Today (Sunday) we had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Memorial Day Ceremony that was held at the Manila American Cemetery. It is a beautiful place and there is such a sweet reverent feeling there. It must be a sacred place because it is the resting place for so many who gave their lives fighting for freedom for all. Many terrible battles were fought in the Philippines, many atrocities committed and here those sacrificed so much are laid to rest or honored. The walls in the monument buildings are inscribed with the names of those who were declared missing.

The program was so nice. The opening prayer was given by a senior missionary who is serving as legal counsel adviser here. Prayers were also given by a rabbi and a priest. Talks were given honoring the sacrifice and courage of the many soldiers from both the U.S. and Philippines who fought together to be free from the Japanese oppression. The Filipino military band played the national anthem for the Philippines and the U.S. It was an honor to sing the Star Spangled Banner in such a sacred spot.

From Elder Tucker:

While it is important to recall the heroic actions of so many brave souls it may be more important to not forget what they fought for, freedom. Because of these and other historic battles freedom is secured in this country and religious freedom enjoyed. The Philippines have become a seedbed for the gospel of Jesus Christ to spread throughout the Asian area. It is such a rich blessing for us to be. We are proud to be Americans, to wear our black name tags representing modern day religious soldiers of Christ.

Living away from home sure makes one respect the sacred symbol of the American flag. We were thrilled and chilled to see each and every grave of the more than 17,000 buried dead adorned with the United States and the Filipino flag, side by side, bound and bonded as companions.

We express to each of you our love. Thank you for being an important part of this experience with us. God bless and keep you…

Love,
Elder and Sister Tucker

D&C 98:16

"Therefore, renounce war and proclaim peace, and seek diligently to turn the hearts of the children to their fathers, and the hearts of the fathers to the children."

May 20 - Tacloban

Dear Family and Friends,

Mabuhay! (Filipino greeting meaning Life/Live!)

Kent and I traveled to the Island of Tacloban for a couple of meetings on Saturday. This is a beautiful island with a challenging past. This is also one of the islands that Gen. McAuthur promised to return to and reclaim during WWII. The people are grateful for his return and freeing them from the Japanese. They have erected the McArthur Landing Memorial National Park (picture) We met with a sister who had been 4 years old during the war. She told us about her experiences of hiding from the Japanese during the day in the trenches with her uncles and of the Japanese atrocities she saw or was told. I hope she will write her story. We also learned about Typhoon Yolanda from a young man who had been on the island when it hit in 2013. He told us that most houses are built to withstand the wind and rain (they are built out of concrete) but no one expected the storm surge. The water rose so fast that it was up to his chest before they left their home. The water rose enough to cover two story houses. There was only one home in their village that was three stories and most of the people went there. Many homes and lives were lost in a very short time. Their family was blessed to have relatives in Cebu who bought airline tickets for them to come and stay with them. Their family stayed 2 months until electricity was restored on Tacloban. Many places have been rebuilt but a few things remain as they were left by the storm. Big ships were brought to shore and came to rest on top of houses that had been covered by water. So much devastation yet the people carry on and the earth heals. Tacloban is a beautiful place.

The Pathway students we work with are really wonderful. This week their assignment was to write an essay about something they believe. Some of them read their essays to the class. One shared his essay about being able to go to college and his Dad telling him that now the cycle of poverty could stop in their family because of his education. One shared about always loving to be physically active and being outdoors but when she had a child born with physical problems and they were at the hospital and doctor's office so much, she started running with a friend and they ran marathons; that got her through a very difficult time. One wrote about miracles using examples from the scriptures and a miracle of healing that he was part of because he was able to help give a Priesthood blessing to the woman. Besides their assignments, the class has become good friends with each other. A couple of weeks ago, a member of the class had his house burn down. The fire started in another house near them and burned several houses. Someone in the class gave us money to give to him so he wouldn't know who gave him the money. He was so grateful and humbled by the kindness. It is so sweet to see how this class has come together and really cares about each other.

The Primary President was not able to be at church today and asked me to do sharing time for her. She had it all prepared and ready to go. The subject was tithing and the scripture was Malachi 3:10; "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house; and prove me now herewith saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it." In Senior Primary, one boy shared how when their Dad was in college and they were very poor and often wondered what they were going to eat. He said they paid their tithing. Then one evening, they went to the door (this is Primary so we don't get all the details like if someone knocked or rang the door bell so use your imagination) and there was a pizza. They didn't know who had left it but they were very grateful for the food. My heart was touched not only by his story but by the fact that he knew the story and he was just a toddler at the time. That meant his parents were teaching their family about tithing and sharing their testimonies. How about you? As you read this, take a minute and think about blessings you have received through paying your tithing. The windows of heaven truly are open and pouring out blessings as we obey this command.

We love you and pray for God's blessings to be upon you.

Love,
The Tuckers

Picture 1 - The plaque at McAuthur Landing

Picture 2 - A local tricycle (they are a little different in each area)
Picture 3 - A solar powered Jeepney (if you look closely, you can see a TV inside)

Picture 4 - Memorial Landing
The last two pictures are of some of our Pathway Group

We were talking to Tiffani the other evening and started talking about pictures. She said I should share more pictures but as Senior missionaries we have been counseled not to put our pictures of having fun on social media or any public place. Tiffani said I could share more pictures with the family. I'd love to share more of what we do with you so I will be sending extra pictures to you and no one else.

In our last letter, I told you about the storm surge after typhoon Yolanda. They cut off part of one of the ships that got pushed onto the land and came to rest on many houses. I'm also sending a picture from the back of the ship of the houses that have been built between where it landed and the shore. The ship ends at the stairs to the back of it.

I also told you about my new friend Belen who was 4 during WWII. Here's a picture of the two of us (Yes, I feel like a giant next to many of the Filipinos).

Finally I am sending a picture of Filipino life - the Ice cream man - he played the tinkling music that ice cream trucks in the U.S. play and a Tacloban jeepney.

May 11 - Amazing

Dear Friends and Family,

Greetings!

We are grateful to be here serving among so many good people. We understand that life ever marches on and some of you, our family and friends, are struggling. We pray for you and hope you have the peace of the Lord to comfort, help, and guide you.

Serving in the Dental Clinic has given me opportunities to associate with the new missionaries. This past group of missionaries that entered the MTC was amazing. They came from Tonga, Mongolia, Indonesia, Cambodia,Thailand, and China as well as all over the Philippines. Some wonderful translators came with small groups from different countries. I didn't know how the different languages worked here but I'm learning. The missionaries from China, Thailand and Cambodia, etc, are usually called to return to their home country to serve their missions. They arrive here from their countries in small groups (2-5 missionaries) with a translator. The translator lives in their country and when they have a group coming to the MTC, the translator will travel to the Philippines with them. The translator stays with them for the 2 1/2 weeks they are here then travels back to their home country with them. I am amazed at how well it all works and at how wonderful the translators are. I had an opportunity to have a conversation with the translator from Cambodia, Sister Chin. She speaks great English. She is so kind and capable. Each of the translators has such a loving spirit about them and what a blessing they are to these missionaries. They even come to the Dental Clinic to explain what will be happening to the missionaries when they have appointments. This really helps to calm the missionary if they are nervous or don't understand what will be happening. I can only imagine what it would be like to come from one of these countries, not understand the language, and be ushered to a dental chair. We are so very grateful to associate with these humble, brave missionaries who just come and do what they are asked. It's good they get an explanation of what the Dental Clinic is about and that together with their group, they figure out that the dentists are really trying to help them, so they come. It is an honor to be here with them and feel of their strength to face so many unknowns so that they can serve the Lord on their missions.

These wonderful missionaries from so many countries give new meaning to the words," I will go I will do...I know the Lord provides a way". I know the Lord will provide ways for us to accomplish not only His work but all the work we need to do. There is comfort and peace about all the unknowns found in so many scriptures.

One of our favorites is D&C 84:88:"And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." We rely on this promise so much as we venture into unknown places and situations.

I don't always remember to ask Elder Tucker to add in his thoughts to our email but I remembered this time. His letter follows:

The scope of our mission assignment has not changed but it seems we are expanding our duties to assist in other ways. Karen and I were asked to go train a group of teachers in a stake nearby (that’s a relative term here) 😉 as part of the stake’s effort to get teaching onto a higher plateau. There were 70 individuals who came to learn and improve their skills. We had been given about two months notice to prepare so we were really ready and had a wonderful experience. The benefit of doing this is that there has been a lot of talk and we’ve now been asked by another stake to come do a similar training for them. Most who are reading this know that teaching is in my veins so this is exciting for me. Any way that we can bless the lives of the Philippine people is something that we cherish.

Our traveling is picking up again as we head into a new travel time… we’ve been away for two consecutive weekends and will do so again this coming Saturday as well. We hear often that we should take a Monday off to make up for the weekends we work but I remind everyone that we’re volunteers, non-paid and having a day off in a luxury. If needed we’ll take a day but we’re here to work and that’s what we do.

I am reminded again and again of the tender mercies of God to us and those we love. I absolutely know that our loved ones are being blessed because of our service. I also know that God is aware of each of us and will bless us as we serve others. It’s His plan. We love you. We miss you, but we would not be anywhere else right now. It’s an honor to be serving full-time. Until next time…

Love,

The Tuckers

I've included pictures of the Cambodian missionaries. and a couple of the temple. The temple has been closed for renovations for 4 months and opened again May 1. We were so excited to see people on the temple grounds again. The black and white picture was taken by a friend.

April 30 - Summertime!

Dear Friends and Family,

Hello!

It's the middle of summer here and hot! It's also humid but it is humid every day so that's a given. School got out the first of April and will start again around the first of June. It's hard to think of April and May as summer, we are so used to these months being for showers and flowers. There are lots of bright, beautiful bougainvillea in bloom right now. We love seeing them line the streets in some areas.

This past weekend, we were able to attend a Coordinating Council meeting (A meeting of stake and district presidents, mission presidents and other invited church leaders, conducted and presided over by an area authority 70 ) in Tarlac, about a 3 hour drive northwest of Manila. Kent spoke to the Priesthood leaders about how having technology specialists can be a blessing to them and he encouraged them to call specialists for each of their units. He also made a great PowerPoint for them. He is getting really good at creating Power Points to teach with. He's made dozens of them by now and who knows how many more to come. Meeting with these leaders is a great experience. There was such a feeling of cooperation and willingness to help us help them. These leaders care so much about helping their members and fulfilling their responsibilities. It is wonderful to know there are leaders and members all over the world living the gospel and doing their best to further the work of the Lord.

After our meeting in the morning, we drove another 2 hours south to Olongapo which is near Subic Bay(a former U.S. naval base). There we were able to do training with a newly called AATS, Bro. Angel. We know the Lord prepares people to be able to serve in these callings. Bro. Angel works with computers for his job and knows a lot more than we do about them. He was humbly waiting for us to share with him what his purpose and parameters were before going out to serve. What a humble and good man!

When we meet new people, I like to find out about them and their families and get them to share stories with us. Bro. Angel said he has lived in Olongapo all his life. I asked him if he was around when Mt. Pinatubo erupted. He remembered it well. Clark Air Force Base was close to the volcano and he said they had 24 hours to evacuate the base before the volcano erupted. He had to help find housing for the Air Force people as they were moved to Olongapo and Subic. They had to be housed with the Navy people. He said the biggest challenge was finding the right places to put the different ranks of military personnel because a private couldn't be housed with an officer and officers of different ranks had to be housed with similar ranking officers. In spite of the volcano disaster, protocol had to be followed. I asked him how his family fared after the eruption. He said his house had wooden trusses so his roof didn't cave in when they got about 18 inches of ash that fell but most of the metal roofs fell in. I'm always amazed at how resilient the Filipinos are. They have had so many disasters here yet rely on themselves to carry on. The government here doesn't take care of the people like ours does and there aren't enough agencies to help with everything so they take care of themselves as best as they can.

Today in Sacrament meeting, the closing hymn was "I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go". As we sang,"But if, by a still, small voice he calls To paths that I do not know, I'll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in thine: I'll go where you want me to go.", I was reminded that when we came here, we had no clue about what we were going to be doing. Yet, the Lord has led us along and bit by bit, he has guided and directed us. We have no idea what the coming months will bring to our calling but we do know that we are willing to do whatever needs to be done because with His help, we will be guided to be able to do His work. What a blessing it is to be here!

We are working hard and trying to make a difference through our service. It is amazing how the Lord will take us as we are and with His help and grace, use us to do His work. We miss you all but know we are doing what the Lord would have us do right now. Thanks for your prayers of support.

Love,
The Tuckers

Photos of a bougainvillea, a sari-sari store and a sunset in the city.

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