The Big Guy Turns 60, 4th of July greetings, Dist. Pres dinner

P-day/B-day at the beach--glad senior couples are allowed to swim

 Happy 4^th of JULY!!!

It is not even on the radar here.  But we remember, and wish you all well as you celebrate.  The United States of America, is a miraculous land, and we are grateful to be associated with it.  We love it here, where we are being well cared for and where we see new beauties every day, but we still miss home. We will picture our family and friends in the U.S. barbequing, parade attending, and/or fireworks watching, and we will say a prayer of gratitude for each of you, and for the country you celebrate. Don’t start anything on fire!!!

He has still got a little wind in him to blow out the candles with some help

Speaking of loving it here: Last week was Elder Cropper’s 60^th birthday!!  We went on a little b-day/p-day/ get-away. We left Amlan Tuesday, traveled to the south end of the island conducting a couple of missionary apartment checks, attending a companionship study, and taking another companionship to lunch along the way.  We then drove to a resort Dean had checked out and spent Tuesday night there, all of Wednesday and left early Thursday morning to take care of more missionary stuff that day in Dumaguete.  It was short but sweet and even productive (yes, one companionship is on our outer darkness list of missionary slovenliness—soon to be repented of) and felt like a great way to celebrate the old guy turning 60 (the official age of a senior citizen here in the Philippines—he now gets the premiere perks, like our own grocery line). We got lots of birthday wishes from home and from here, and even got to celebrate with a family in the branch Thursday night.  Their daughter’s birthday was a day after Elder Cropper’s so we had them over for FHE, dinner and birthday cake.

Well the rain is officially back!  Rainy season normally begins around June 1 but apparently it was a month late and now it seems as though Mother Nature wanted to make up for being late by bringing the rain in like a lion.  It rained so hard yesterday afternoon, all night, and today it’s just moderate to heavy, but never letting up.  Don’t worry, we have our mud boots.  It’s time to relearn the Visayan word for mud, “Lapok”.

5 district presidents, (it is an optical illusion, we are not that big)

For the last three months we have been working to reactivate a man who was called as the first district president of the Tanjay district in 1990.  He and his wife both became less-active upon his release.  We would meet with them about once a week and we felt like that was starting to push our welcome, but as time went on it got to be a bit more comfortable as we got to know each other better.  Our visits became less awkward and the spirit always made it into each discussion.  As we talked about the gospel they both began to remember the spirit that had once converted them.  They would follow through on their reading assignments, although coming to church was the biggest commitment.  They had friends and acquaintances who were still attending church and by coming they knew that once in church they would be back.  We have told you some of this story before. He was one of the miracles of District conference. Last, last week (that is a Filipino construct.  They say “last last week” and mean “week before last”, or they say “next next week” and mean “week after next”.  I kinda like it) they attended church together and were so warmly received by old friends who hugged and gave back pats etc. 

The first Tanjay district president and wife

For the last month we have been planning on having a dinner at our house for all the past and current district presidents and their wives.  It happened last last night.  We had gotten commitments from all and a confirmation from all again.  Out of the seven presidents we had five show up.  One, at the last minute had to out of town, and the other had a sick wife.  The brother who had been the first president was here with his wife and really that was the main reason we were having it.  He is really a smart and sharp guy with a rich and deep spirit.  The church needs him back.  He and his wife came and they had a great time, told a lot of stories, gave a lot of history, and we felt the spirit.  And, oh by the way, ate a lot of food.  (It is interesting to type with ants on your key board). One of our goals in having the dinner was to help the men and their wives remember their past service as a means of recommitting them to moving ahead. We asked them to bring photos and then we had them each fill out a questionnaire to spark and capture memories.  The current President was there, and each man took a turn offering him advice, which he really appreciated. The food was great, and the setting amazing out on the patio of the resort.

There is a word in Visayan that I focused on teaching at a Relief Society conference Saturday.  The word is “hinumdumi”.  That means, the command form of remember.  To remember is a commandment and a gospel principle.  In the book of Moses in the P of GP, we are told that the first scripture that was created by inspired writings and revelations by Adam and his posterity was called the Book of Remembrance. Helaman told his sons Nephi and Lehi to “remember, remember, my sons”.  Alma the younger was struggling in the torment of repentance, until his mind caught hold (he remembered) the teachings of his father regarding Jesus Christ and the Savior’s ability to remove both spiritual pain and physical pain.  Moses taught the Israelites that the law needed to be taught to their children so they could remember it.  Moroni taught us to “remember how merciful the Lord has been from the creation of Adam down until the time that you should receive these things”.  The principle of remembering is part of the principle of being grateful or “nagpasalamat-on”.  Well that is what we are working to do when trying to reactivate those who were once enlightened by the spirit: help them to remember –remember.  It is such an interesting phenomena to see these wonderful people as they start to verbalize their memories.  As they do, you can see a light come on that shows on their face.  It can’t be hidden; this light just shows like two headlights shining in the dark.

Well this good brother and his wife have been going through this remembering process and their lives are changing.  A glow behind their smile, their eyes are brighter, they are happier.  This couple is not the first ones we have seen go through this process. And the record of the district is beginning to come forth—we will compile the notes from that evening and begin the Tanjay Book of Remembrance. 

The word for the week is – hinumdomi.  I think that can become part of our thoughts and prayers that we do more remembering, and ask Heavenly Father to help us with our memories, so we can feel gratitude to Him.

P.S. sometimes people debate about who wrote which post.  I, Sister Cropper, write most.  This one, he wrote parts, I wrote others.  He always does the pictures. FYI