I have been busy keeping up a Facebook page for the MTC and also posting on my personal FB page, I have neglected this blog for a while now .....
So many wonderful things happen to us daily while serving here. We meet new missionaries every 12 days, each with their own unique life story. Some make you laugh, some make you cry, some leave you in awe. One particular Elder comes to mind. At age 15 he suffered from a stroke. It took him a year to learn to walk again. He came to the MTC at age 20, with a limp and a determination to strengthen his body and mind in order to serve the Lord. His companion would help and encourage him every morning to ride the exercise bike to gain more strength in his bad leg. This Elder also had a great sense of humor and always made ​​everyone smile. He was a great example to all of us of forgetting about yourself and working for the good of others. He wanted to be the best missionary he could. After he left the MTC, he soon had and MRI and it revealed that he had a slow growing brain tumor. It was inoperable and would one day take his life. He was given a choice ... he could go home and be with his family or he could stay on his mission. There was no way to tell how long he had, but he expressed that he wanted to stay on his mission. He said that it was because of his stroke that he found the church, and he wanted to serve so that he could tell others about the truthfulness of it so that they could experience that joy he has felt as a member. WOW! That story helps me to want to serve better and faithfully. It makes me count my blessings each and every day. I want to be like this Elder in expressing my love for my Savior, Jesus Christ. 

We have also had some fun adventures here ... we have been on outings with other senior missionaries who have given us a glimpse of the Filipino culture and also strengthened friendships. we do not get away from the MTC for long periods of times except occasionally, but that is ok. We are not here to be on a vacation, we are here to serve. 

We love getting emails and "real" letters from family and friends. We are so thankful for email and Facebook so that we can keep in touch with so many people. I watch these young missionaries watch for letters from home, even though they get to email home weekly. There is nothing better than getting a letter to hold and feel. We also get to skype with our family whenever we can, so that is always an exciting time. It is great to see everyone and to help the grandkids remember us!

We hope you all know that we love you and thank you for your support as we serve. Some of you are not members of our faith, but love and support us anyway. We have such strong testimonies of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We personally have gained a witness for ourselves of its truthfulness. We know that Jesus Christ is at the head of this church and that he leads and guides it through his servants. We know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God. I love this man! We also know that Joseph Smith is a prophet and was chosen to help restore the Lord's church in these latter days. Nothing would give us more pleasure than to have each of you find the joy that we have found in our membership in this church. We know that the Book of Mormon goes hand-in-hand with the Bible, and it is a 2nd witness of Jesus Christ. One of my favorite stories in it is how the Savior came and visited the people who lived here on the American continent after his resurrection. He came and walked among them, he let them see and touch the marks on his hands and feet and he wept with them. He blessed the little children. He taught his Gospel to all the people. If you were to ask me if there was something you could do for me, I would ask that you read this book, and with a sincere heart, ask God if it is true. The power of the Holy Ghost will manifest the truthfulness of it unto you. I love the saving ordinances of the holy temple and the peace that going to the temple brings to me. We live across the street from a temple here, and it is so inspiring each and every day to see it out the window and to be able to go there and participate in the work there. We are so grateful for having been sealed together as an eternal couple, not married "till death do us part." We want to be together forever, along with our family. Even though some of you do not agree with our beliefs and our ideas, we are thankful that you love us enough to encourage us as we serve. We pray that through our serving on a mission for what we believe in, that you will also serve in ways to show your beliefs and to be good examples of them.