Happy Sunday--February 21, 2016

Happy Stake Conference. It was good. Not much in English but the spirit was still there. It is always a wonderful privilege and feeling to sustain the prophet and apostles of our church. We were the only Americans there besides one Elder. I also saw friends from the office and the La Torres and got to meet their three beautiful daughters who are 13 and 11 (twins). After church Wendy, Brad, and I made our way to the Manila American Cemetery. It was beautiful. I was struck with a lot of emotions. It is so clean and nice in the middle of this dirty city. The Philippines gave America the land for free and it is not taxed. If it were not for America, the Philippines would be part of Japan today. The memorial in the middle of the circle-shaped cemetery has the name of every missing American or Filipino who died. They also have these amazing giant mosaic murals of all of the war plans for every battle or area in the Pacific. I did not always understand them but I especially loved seeing the battleships and knowing about Grandpa Hansen's battles in Luzon and Leyte. There was even a mural dedicated to the submarine efforts and I thought of Grandpa Henderson. Lots of emotions rolled through my head but I couldn't stop thinking about (and talking about) those two. I also thought a lot about that July 4th in St George when Grandpa Hansen bore his testimony in church and talked about his friends who did not make it. I couldn't help but think if some of them were there or their names etched on the walls. I am so grateful for my freedom and for men and women who fight for our country. I am overwhelmed with gratitude and a love for my heritage. It was well worth the trip and I was so happy we went. There was even a picture of the USS Pennsylvania (Grandpa Hansen's ship) leading the pack of battleships in the brochure I picked up. A few weeks ago I used Grandpa Hansen in my FHE lesson and talked about his time in the Philippines. Can't remember if I wrote home about that. That evening Brad and I went to the YSA FHE at our Sunday School teachers' home. It last three hours and was a lot of fun. We visited a lot and then finally had the song, prayer, thought. We also introduced ourselves and played a little get to know you game. Filipinos think EVERY WORD anyone says is funny. I love it. The sisters brought an investigator and taught the lesson. I absolutely love the sisters. Sometimes I wish it was me serving a mission with them instead. I think of my cute friends and tear up almost every time I see them. I get along really well with Sister Lloyd. This is her first area and she is beautiful and from New Zealand. The game consisted of lining up in two lines across from each other and blowing a ping pong ball the the other side. Very sanitary. Don't worry but our team won the whole tournament and we got to first! I had already eaten dinner but tried everything. Some really good fish, some (sadly) cold lumpia, and an ulam with hotdogs in it. There was Filipino Spaghetti but I was seriously stuffed from the three cups of green beans I had eaten just before we came. For dessert we had "mango float" and I loved it. Just layers of cream and sweet and condensed milk, graham crackers, and mangos. It sits in the fridge over night or at least for awhile in the freezer or something so the graham crackers are kind of soggy but it reminded me of when we used to dip them in milk :) The Filipinos are loud and I love them. It was a very good Sunday indeed. Even if we got home from FHE at 10 pm! I am so grateful to be making friends and to have this beautiful gospel in my life! I am so grateful for all my missionary friends spreading that beautiful message across the globe! I love you all.