Settled!

Missionary Madi and Sister Duke had a crazy week and spent much of it trying to get moved into an apartment rather than working. Missionary does not like it when she cannot work. Palo, is a southern suburb of Tacloban City. The area they are serving in has awesome things like trail mix and cereal,which apparently she cannot resist. They are happy to be in their area rather than having to travel to teach each day. The sister's are only allowed to work from 8:00 AM until 6:00 PM at night. The area is too dangerous for them to be out after dark. This area was one of the last rescue areas responded to after the storm and the last mission area reactivated due to to damage. They feel very blessed to be able to share the gospel with those who have lost so much. The plan of salvation means a lot when you have lost those closest to you.

 Even when it is faint, hope is still there!

 

Missionary Madi! XO

Palo Philippines

Missionary Madi is in a new area. Missionary Madi is speaking a new language Waray! Missionary Madi's has a new companion, Sister Duke! Missionary Madi is serving in the area that was hit the hardest by the typhoon, Palo!

Our church! Lots of work to do in Palo!

"So I have been transferred to Palo, Tacloban. the area that got hit the hardest of all the areas in all of Phili. they say that about 95% of the people died. So we will be doing all we can to help that 5% because there is a reason that they are still here. The people are amazing and even though I have no idea how I am going to help them and I don't understand at all what they went through. I know that I have so much to learn from them. To be honest though I am a little freaked out. This is the last area I wanted to be transferred to which is exactly why I am here of course! (haha)"

 Phili Pride!

Goodbye's

Some people come into our lives and quickly go. 

Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, 

and we are never, ever the same. 

-Flavia Weedn

Missionary Madi was sad to say Goodbye to Sister Samayla and her people in Cabucgayan.

FAREWELL PARTY FOR MISSIONARY MADI!

Mothers Day

Sacrament Meeting in the Shepard Ward was the best ever. There are 18 missionaries serving from the Shepard Ward. The bishopric contacted each missionary and asked that they send a Mothers Day letter. A sibling of each missionary got up and read the letter. It was amazing. It was wonderful to feel if only for a small moment the presence of each of these incredible spirits. The thoughts that were shared were touching and it was one of my all time favorite sacrament meetings. We are extra lucky in our family as Kenzie, Missionary Madi's identical twin was able to share her letter. What a touching moment for our family.

BLESSED BEYOND BELIEF!  

Skyping with Missionary Madi was awesome. The connection was so much better this time. She totes forgot to tell me "Happy Mothers Day!" I made her tell me before we were done. Last time we Skyped for Mothers Day it was election day so the missionaries could not work so she was able to talk as long as she wanted. This time it was one hour and she was being obedient. It was awesome to see her face.

Utah

Missionary Madi loved the Mission Tour and being reunited with so many of the missionaries that have been separated. What a crazy adventure this whole Tacloban Mission has been for these Sisters and Elders.

Sister Kramer and Sister Dumas!

Missionary Madi got POST! Kenzie sent her this super cute Utah necklace. Missionary Madi loves it!

 BE HAPPY FOR THIS MOMENT!

THIS MOMENT IS YOUR LIFE!

Crazy Sister Missionaries!

Mission Tour - Philippines Tacloban Mission

"My whole mission. It's not really that big anymore but it was soooooooooo fun to see everyone!"

"Another amazing week here in Phili.

We started off this week with a bang and went to TACLOBAN!! And had a mission tour and we got to see the whole mission. It was really fun and the trainings from President Nielson (area president) and his wife were so cool. All of us sisters had a training with his wife first and when she was done I was like we can be done because it was that sick. (idk)I don't know why but the way she teaches is amazing. I received so many answers to my prayers it like the first 20 minutes so nindot (translation - awesome, great, sweet, cool, amazing - you get the idea)."

15 MONTHS! EXCITED!

I would have never believed that we could do this. 

Our lives have been "Blessed Beyond Belief" because of this beautiful sister missionary.

We Love Her! We Miss Her! We Support Her!

Never a Day goes by that she is not in our thoughts and prayers. Love Her!

Philippines Fireside With Elder Banks

April 27, 2014 Lehi 26th Ward, Lehi North Stake

Traveled down to Lehi, Utah to listen to Elder Ben Banks, Emeritus Seventy. He and his wife Sister Sue Banks had previously lived in the Philippines for a number of years (four or more). Due to the fact that few Americans know the Philippines like he does. This energetic 82 year old traveled back to the Philippines after Typhoon Yolanda charged with the task of inspecting and finding missionary apartments. His goal and the goal of the first presidency of the church was to get the Philippines Tacloban Missionaries back to their mission. The members of the church living on the island of Leyte needed their missionaries back. Here are a few facts he shared with us.

-The Philippines is a country of natural calamities and natural disasters.
-Typhoons are common occurrences in the Philippines. A typhoon is usually rated a 1, 2 or 3 based on it's strength. Typhoon Yolanda or Haiyan had to have a new category assigned to it as it is what they call a super typhoon and was rated a 5. Strongest storm recorded in the history of this earth.
-President Andaya will go down in the history of the church. No other mission president has lost every one of their missionaries. Lost his mission home and everything that he had. Had their mission closed.
-Not one of the missionary apartments was livable. All apartments had to be changed, cleaned, and have major upgrades to be habitable.
-As Elder Banks worked with the members to prepare apartments. He required that every missionary apartment have a toilet that flushed and a shower (not necessarily hot water but a shower with running water). He also purchased new refrigerators for most of the apartments.
-The members of the church were paid $10.00 (400 pesos). When the apartments were inspected and they everything was done perfectly and nothing additional needed to be done. The workers were paid a bonus of $5.00 (200 pesos). $15.00 can feed a Filipino family for weeks. This was a lot of money for them.
-Barangay - is what we would call a neighborhood, village or town.
-Elder Banks personally inspected every apartment. He was in the Philippines and traveled all over Leyte and Samar for 3 months. Working 10 hour days.
-Elder Banks welcomed each one of the returning Tacloban missionaries. He then traveled personally with each group to their new apartments. The leaders of the church and Elder Banks required that the missionaries had the best apartments available in the different barangay's.
-Elder Banks shared his emotional account of the pure destruction and devastation throughout the island of Leyte. He emotionally shared with us all the incredible event that has happened in the lives of our missionaries that will change them forever.
-The new housing provided to the people of the Philippines is nothing more than a ply-board home. No insulation or electricity or running water. However these modest structures are stronger and nicer than most homes in the Philippines.
Elder Ben Banks sacrificed his time and energy to serve our children. He loves our children. He loves us. I am thankful for his service on our daughters behalf. What a testimony of service.

Once again is was a blessing for all of us missionary parents to be able to visit and share our missionaries lives together. What an awesome support system this has turned out to be. Our missionaries are so delighted when we send them pictures of the mission parents sharing our lives with each other.
We were able to visit with the parents of Sister Estes, Sister Brown, Sister Dumas, Elder James, Sister Schaap, Sister Weber, Sister Hogge, Sister Bingham, Elder Lowe, Sister Henshaw, Elder Hughes, Elder Oaks,. The list goes on and on. I wish I could have chatted with more people but I was busy visiting with Sister Lori James making travel plans lori@funsunandcruise.com.Sister Schaap's mom Olga and I.

 

 

 

 

 Sister Dumas Mom, Denise and I.

Name That Movie.......

"This week has been soooooooooooooooooo sick. Seriously jam packed of miracles. I really want to share them all with you but I am so lazy to type....jk jk I'll do my best. First we are swarming with new golden investigators."
Missionary Madi and Sister Samayla have so much fun together. They are keeping busy and love teaching the gospel in the Philippines. They are being blessed to find those who are searching for the gospel in their lives. She is learning to rely on the spirit to lead and guide her. "Being led by the spirit is such a cool feeling. It is really the key to missionary work gihap." Bringing the happiness of the gospel into the lives of those she meets and teaches is what it is all about.

"Funny story of the week....my comp has braces and a little kid asked her the other day "sister naa ka sing sing sa imong ngipon" or you have rings on your teeth.

It was funny for us....I have a Phili sense of humor...."

 

Missionary Madi Lou Who! Looks like she is serving in Whoville and has some very Whoville Hair. 

Missionary Madi and the whole branch were able to participate in a community service project. They went and provided some assistance with yard work. They did some sweeping and pulled weeds. From her pictures I would use the word "work" loosely. It looks more like they had more fun acting out scenes from Harry Potter than working. Check out the Phili version of the Nimbus 2000. They look like professional Quidditch players to me. Service with a smile (and a machete)! P.S. I learned water in the blue containers is for drinking.