Our Awesome Missionaries

Here is a message from my Dad:

"These past few weeks have afforded our missionaries the opportunity to see the vision of a new way forward in our work. Much of what we do now will be different. We are committed to utilizing our new smart phones to accomplish our purpose. We have made a good start, but we have much to learn regarding how to reach people with these tools. Fortunately, these missionaries are wired to discover new ways to effectively use these phones. This technology has its challenges as you can imagine but the potential for good in our work is huge. We can work out the challenges as we move forward and discover righteous ways to utilize these devises. Our work will now have three main components: utilizing our technology, working more intensely with members, and providing more meaningful service. We are developing a vision around these initiatives. What an exciting time to be doing this work!"

"After we received our smart phones in May we were able to get back on our six week schedule.  The six week schedule includes transfers, missionaries leaving, new missionaries, MLC, Zone Conference and interviews.  During this quarantine time we are only able to transfer a few missionaries and we have not received any new missionaries since the end of February.  All of our meetings and interviews are now done on Zoom or Facebook Messenger.  It has been such a blessing to our mission!  Even though we would love to have these meetings in person, we have tried to make these opportunities to talk and teach our missionaries meaningful."

"We do not know what we would do without our assistants and office elders.  They work so hard to keep our mission running smoothly!  In addition to all of their work in the office, they do all the work regular missionaries do.  They also travel around and move missionaries, clean out empty apartments and collect bikes that have been left at the empty apartments.  We try to show our appreciation by feeding them - they love it!"

"This is our security guard, Airjay.  During the pandemic has had to work many more hours than usual.  He shows up everyday cheerful and ready to help us with anything we need!"

"Sometimes the Elders talk Brad into trying real Filipino food at some of their favorite places.  It's always a great way to make new friends.  He loves talking with the people as the explain what they have prepared for all of them to eat."

"One of the things we brought with us to the Philippines is a pickleball net and paddles.  Our house is located right next to the church.  The parking lot was being redone when we arrived.  After it was finished as they were painting new basketball lines, we asked them to include lines for pickleball (Thanks Elder Lindenlaub).  The Elders and Sisters have loved learning how to play.  For quite a while during the quarantine we were not allowed to be outside doing any sporting activities.  They gradually started to allow it!  One day the missionaries asked us to come to the office and they surprised us with matching shirts for all of us.  It has been a lot of fun introducing something new to them and they love it!  Sometimes people stop the missionaries and ask them what game they are playing at the church."

"Saturdays are usually the days that baptisms take place.  We always love it when we are able to attend.  Once the government gave it's okay for small religions gatherings, we were able to do baptisms again.  Many of them were scheduled to be baptized before the pandemic and quarantine but had to wait.  We meet so many wonderful and kind people at these meetings!  Usually after the meeting we are treated with some delicious food."

"We cherish the video calls we have with our family!  We love to have FHE with them and play games after.  The time difference is a bit tricky.  We are 14 hours ahead.  We make it work though and we love every minute of our time on the phone with them."