June 18 - Intramuros

Dear Family and Friends,

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

June 11 - Letter

Dear Family and Friends,

Magandang gibi (Good evening)

Tuesday marks our completion of one year in the Philippines. We have learned so much in our first year here. We hope now that we are trained, we can serve even better than last year. Kent has refined our training plan and we have been blessed to have opportunities to teach in settings other than our Technology Area. I can't say we are technology experts but we sure know a lot more than we did when we arrived a year ago.

It's so interesting how things work out. Before we left, I went back to college to get my Associates degree. One of the required classes that had been added to the requirements since I left school almost 40 years earlier was a computer class. It was a fast paced class and I had to work hard to keep up with the teacher and the other students who grew up speaking "Computer". That class has turned out to be a great blessing to us in our work here. I learned some basics about power point presentations and excel. We are using both quite a bit in our work here. Power points (Kent actually makes most of those but I've made a couple too) for the training and teaching we do and excel in the dental clinic. At the time I was taking the class, I wondered if I would ever use that information again. It turns out that what I learned there has been more helpful than most of the other classes I took.

As things change in all of our lives, there are joyful times and difficult times.. The scripture that echos in our hearts at all of these times is Psalms 3:5-6:" Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direst thy paths." We know our Heavenly Father is aware of each one of us and He will help us through the smooth and the rough places in our paths of life. We can depend on Him. We can trust Him. He loves us and wants us to come home to Him. He will help us.

Warmly,

The Tuckers

I am sharing some more pictures of our good memories here.
The pictures are:
1- a 32nd floor view of metro Manila
2- You may have to enlarge this pic to read the sign next to the street. It says "Beware of Snatchers"
3- Two sweet little girls we met at church while on the island of Cataduanes.
4- Love all the wires!

June 3 - Looking Back

Dear Family and Friends,

Hello! We've been in the Philippines for almost a year so I thought it would be fun to share some pictures from the past year. Hopefully I won't repeat very many of the ones I've already sent. It has been a wonderful year.

We've met so many nice people. It has been hard to say good-bye to some missionary couples who became great friends but have completed their missions and have gone home. But then we get to meet the new couples and realize how blessed we are to become friends with them.

Progress is slow in our assignment. Like so many areas of our lives, there is an ebb and flow to our work. We are trying to get AATS called in each of 29 areas that the Area Presidency helped to align for our assignment. We'll get someone in one area then someone else will finish their mission in another area. Most of those we work with in the different areas are Church Service Missionaries, meaning they serve while living at home and doing all the regular things they do. Some of the missionaries will request an extension of their missions so they can continue working with technology in their areas. It is better that they train the local people because they can speak the right language and the people can understand them. There are more than a hundred and fifty languages spoken in the Philippines - 8 -13 major ones (depending on which Google site you read) but only Tagolog and English are taught. We often help with training meetings and feel like the people understand most of what we say but they are reluctant to ask or answer questions. Most Filipinos understand English pretty well but are reluctant to speak it because they aren't very sure of how well they speak and don't want to embarrass themselves. Having local people called to teach and train technology is the best way to help every stake and district become self-reliant in technology. Our job is to encourage callings to be made and to train those who do receive callings. In a couple of weeks we will be going to Cauayan to what we hope will be the ideal meeting - Stake Presidents, and Stake Technology Specialists. We feel we can reach them better with smaller group meetings - we'll let you know how that goes.

In Sacrament meeting today, a sister shared a scripture that helped her through a very difficult time when she was afraid she was going to fail the exam that would let her go to school to become a doctor. 2 Timothy 1:7 " For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love and of a sound mind." Too often I don't recognize my anxieties and frustrations as fear but when I finally do, I know that fear does not come from God. He can and will help all or us conquer what we fear.

All our Love,
The Tuckers

Now for the pictures...
1-The first is of a Primary room in Olongapo. All the church buildings we have been to in the Philippines have white tile floors. The chapels have benches but almost all other chairs are brown plastic.
2- Early in our mission we traveled to Guimaras, an island known for it's delicious mangoes. We had a mango pizza. It is the best pizza I've ever eaten.
3- This man (I think he has feather dusters and some kind of microfiber cloths to sell) is one of many people who come out into traffic to sell their wares. They will stand at the side of the road until a light turns red or traffic is heavy and slows then they will come out to sell whatever they have. We have seen them sell nearly everything you can imagine - water, chips, rolls, bread sticks, single cigarettes, coke, balloons, flowers, dusters, peanuts, really just anything.
4- I love seeing signs like this in different towns.
5- Our mall recently added this special place for pets - a dog park and cafe
6- Lastly - this man carries his hammock with him whenever he is with his truck. I guess you never know when you might get a chance for a nap. To be fair these people work very hard - often 10 to 12 hour a day, 6 days a week.

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.