Roger's birthday and our friend Vincent

Dear Roger!! Hi Birthday boy

We miss your happy smile and your cheerful face. What are you doing so far away? We always think of you and remember how much we love you and we pray to Heavenly Father that you will be safe.

One thing we think of about Roger is how much you like to help with work and projects, especially cleaning and helping your mom. I remember that ever since you were even smaller than you are now, you would drag a chair to somewhere so you could stand on it and help with chopping or washing dishes. Oh you are so good at all kinds of work!

Let me tell you about a boy in the Philippines that we know. His name is Vincent. He is just like you Roger. He loves to work. Any time I see him, he is helping. He helps set up the small chairs in Primary. He helps get out the hymn books for Sacrament, he helps the Branch President (that is like the Bishop) to pass out things to people. If something drops, he will run to pick it up for someone. If ever Grammy is carrying her bag, he runs up to ask if he can help carry something. One day we were at the church for a missionary meeting and he was there with his grandmother waiting for a Primary activity. After a while I wondered where he was, so I looked for Vincent in the building and I found him in the room where the baptismal font is. He had a small cloth, and he was polishing the glass.

Vincent is older than you—almost 7 years old—and he speaks a different language, but he is also like you in many ways, and is about your size. Most important is loves Jesus and in Primary I hear him singing Primary songs about Jesus.

We went to visit Vincent in his home. His mother works in a very far away place and hardly ever gets to be with Vincent, but he lives with his Aunt and his Grandmother. He has an orange cat who is very naughty and who scratched Grampy’s leg and climbed on the curtains.

While we were there we sang songs with the family and Vincent played for us his lyre, which you can see in the picture. They call it a lyre, but it is metal and he plays it like a xylophone. Vincent likes to watch and listen and help, so, though he is not always smiling, he is always listening and learning and happy and helpful.

Vincent reminds us of you.

Some of our pictures for your birthday blog are just for fun. Do you like the pig? He does NOT remind us of you, but he looks pretty friendly for a pig.

There are many families that do not have cars but they have a motorcycle. So, when their family goes somewhere, they ALL get on the motorcycle, even the kids. Hmmm looks not so safe right?

In this one can you see the sister behind the dad?

I think this boy is helping his dad drive. The sister is really tucked in. Can you see her too?

This part of the birthday sign is for you to color. Have your mom copy it then print it off for you and you can color it. When we finished at Vincent’s house we left the sign there for him to color. So you can both color the same picture. The picture is of some kids holding on to the iron rod, so Grammy made up an iron rod song for Vincent to sing and we learned it and sang it in a round together.

We are glad you and your family hold on to the iron rod, which means reading scriptures together. Vincent and his family do the same thing.

We love you Roger and wish you a very happy birthday.