Lots of cars with Winston.
And lots of time on the floor. I'm surprised he didn't get sick.
We're home. We had a great week in Manila with lots of cousin time and it was great to see Dallin, Sam and Fenton. The best though, was seeing Mom and Dad doing their work. We saw the start to some of their meetings on Friday. Dad, as expected, was a natural, and all of the missionaries love him. Bonita has coordinated everything- I heard her mention to a Senior missionary that she only expected something to last for 17 minutes! That's a tight ship, and probably very difficult to manage with so many Elders and Sisters and the Filippine schedule. (Traffic fluctuated immensely. We arrived an hour early for church when the same drive earlier in the week took 90 minutes longer.) But she's doing it and gracefully.
An hour early to church.
Cousins.
Manila reminds me of Bangkok. In just a few years, I've grown used to clean streets where poverty and need are not visible. Every time we left the hotel there were reminders that life isn't easy, that personal grooming or cleanliness isn't a necessity but a luxury. That homes with doors and windows aren't a staple of life, but a roof of any kind (tarpaulin, sheet metal, bamboo or cardboard) provides shelter and privacy. Air conditioning even seemed extravagant. The hardest thing I saw was when a father was bathing his son, about 2 years, in a gutter a gutter of slush with a small water bottle and a bar of soap. The child was standing on his father's feet so his own feet would remain clean until his shoes were replaced. I know the gospel can improve one's life, not only Spiritually, but in physical circumstances too. This was evident in a meeting that Sarah and I attended on Tuesday.
Tuesday's meeting was with The Academy- like a business school program run at Stake level to members, they meet once a week and are given a short lecture and run through case studies, break into groups to run through additional examples and then group back together again. All of the people we met were attending because they have or would like to start their own small businesses. One man was a chicken farmer, another woman had started a preschool, another who had begun selling popsicles to 7-11's and on jeepneys. She now sells them wholesale to others and they selling more than 30,000 popsicles in a week. It was inspirational to be in a room with so many who are proactive. Diligently trying to improve their lives, the Academy program also encourages them to try again and again- as every effort won't be successful.
Dallin coming home and Sunday were the highlights. Mom bore her testimony in Sacrament meeting, you could feel the love she has for those she is serving. I spent 2nd and 3rd hour in the nursery. 10 children and 7 women sat in a classroom twice the size of my dining room table. After a structured 1st hour, we spent the 2nd hour playing with the children and visiting. I got to speak with all but one of them. These women are inspirational.
Fire ants in the toes.
We had a family testimony meeting at Mom's house after Ransom's blessing. I've thought a lot about something Derrick said, that we might have "joy through hope" in the atonement of Jesus Christ.
I sometimes get bogged down by small details, being late to commitments, getting "stuff" done... the way life works out- your list never is complete, you are never on time to everything, your homes is sometimes chaotic... and I'll let that stuff get to me and replace any joy that might come from the experience. But there is hope. I can change. I can be a more cheerful mother and companion. I can be better tomorrow than I am today.
On a more significant note- the gospel has the power to change us eternally. Look at Alma, a man who wanted to destroy the gospel, and after 14 years of service he and Ammon visit the Zoramites and his soul is pained by wickedness. And yet, he understands their souls are precious and desires with all of his soul to bring them light. (Alma 28:14 "...joy because of the light of Christ unto life.")
