MINISTERING

The last two weeks have been busy ones wherein we have been dealing with sick missionaries (see last two blog entries) and trying to find housing for additional missionaries coming in mid-November (three houses/apartments) and three more locations by November 1^st for turnover of existing contracts.  So far, I (Russell) have one of the six signed up, offers out on two more and still searching for the remaining three.  Being one who likes to have everything well organized, the housing issues (like the driving challenges) are perhaps how I am being taught patience.  I can’t say yet I am learning patience, only that God is providing the lessons.

Recently I started going out with a member of the Tayuman Ward Elder’s quorum presidency visiting inactive members after our church meetings on Sunday.  Two weeks ago, we visited three families.  One was a former member of the branch presidency. He and his wife had not been to church for a number of years.  He is currently suffering with cancer and has a great deal of difficulty getting around. After talking for a while, I asked if he would let me pick him up for church next week.  He said he would think about it. It wasn’t until a couple of hours before church began last week that he decided to take me up on my offer. Not only he came but his wife, son and daughter-in-law.  And when I got to church, I found five members of another family we visited the prior week had come.  It was nice to see these members who had not been in church for a while warmly greeted by the other members of the ward. It was also good for me to experience some success in ministering to the spiritual needs of others; a change from my regular duties of administering the housing needs of the mission. 

Eileen's Dengue Update - two new missionaries diagnosed positive for Dengue this week. 

Late night update-we just finished an amazing evening with a couple from our apartment building.  Eileen first met the woman and her daughters at the swimming pool, then we met them on the elevator again a couple of days ago. The woman was just returning home from the ER where she had been treated for an infection. We talked as the elevator went up. This brother's aunt and his mother are members of our church in Idaho.  We invited them for dinner this evening and to meet with the missionaries  and they happily accepted. They returned home with Eileen's marked up copy of the Book of Mormon. They preferred English over the Tagolog version that the missionaries offered them. We hope to be able to continue meeting with them weekly. 

We drove into Pasig which is close to Manila to see this apartment. Everything was new, it was just  a tad bit small (think 25 sq meters). When I asked the broker if this apartment had a bed room, she said yes. It had a bed, and it had a room. They were just all together. This is a photo of  the whole apartment. The thing that really clinched it as a "no" was when President Alder found that a washing machine couldn't be put in the apartment. There was an inexpensive laundry store on the main floor, but he didn't want someone else doing the missionaries' wash.

Here is the "bed" in the "room."  Since missionaries need separate beds, one would get the bed and one would throw a mattress on the floor.  This rental didn't happen.

This tiny apartment had a beautiful view of Manila

When we realised the tiny apartment wouldn't work for us we wandered the streets looking for signs such as this one.

This was a row of 3  houses/rooms Russell visited while visiting members.

Eileen with the sister missionaries and the couple being taught. They were truly delightful!  The brother has problems with cataracts and was struggling to read. I too (Eileen) struggle to see the words in books at times.  Fortunately I had my mother's lighted magnifying glass that he was able to read with.