My birthday came, as it does once a year, and was wonderful. Co-workers at work made cake, sang, gave gifts and celebrated with me there. Hubby and Naws took me out for lunch. My mother cooked dinner for the whole family, including my niece and nephew who were there. In fact, my nephew-in-law, who works at the MTC (where MIB is) brought me a card from MIB with a recent photo soon to be posted). My children, husband, family, friends and neighbors all made me feel special on this special day!
Short kiddo story: My four-year-old was carrying in his pocket a little jewelry box. There was nothing in it, but he was keeping it in his pocket and distraught about a gift for me for my birthday. After some time, Hubby was able to drag out some more insight from Naws concerning this little box. It turns out, Naws wanted to get me a necklace for my birthday and he knew they came in little boxes. It was very cute!
Cheers to "another 38 years!!" Mabuhay!
Friday was my Church's Christmas dinner. 250+ people signed up to attend and at least that many did! It was a great turn-out. It started with a visit from Santa and crafts for the kids. Music, Food, great music and more food came next and then... the clean-up. So many stayed to help clean-up and stuck it out until the bitter end. But because there were so many, the end wasn't bitter.
It was wonderful to see all those, who volunteered, wash dishes, sweep, mop, move chairs, take out trash and ask "what can I do." In the past a few others and myself would be cleaning at the church until 11pm or so. This year - I left by 9pm!
Salamat! Salamat ("Thank you," in Tagalog) to all of you who stayed to help. You really do make a difference. Your many hands lightened my soul! At a time of year where time and energy is in high demand, I personally felt your service!
Mabuhay!
MIB is doing well. He has a great way of having fun everywhere he goes. He is loving the letters and packages that friends and family are sending. He loves to hear from everybody. We were fortunate enough this last week to catch him on email - so we were able to email back and forth for a few minutes before he had to run off to other things.
He did emphasize that his favorite form of communication is on DearElder.com. It is a great way to get letters to him FAST. In fact, any message sent to them by noon, Monday through Friday is brought to the MTC that same day - so he gets your mail that very day. It's easy and FREE. Go to DearElder.com, select "write a letter," put in MIBs name and select Provo MTC for location. Type your letter and hit send. THAT'S IT!! They print them, stuff the letter in an envelope and hand deliver it to the MTC.
It get's even better - You can do the same thing when he leaves for Bacolod. Instead of choosing Provo, MTC for the location, choose Philippines, Bacolod and they deliver (weekly, on Fridays) up to the Salt Lake City location where the church sends out all the "pouch" mail. It normally takes 2-3 weeks to get to Bacolod from here, but again, it's easy and FREE.
MIB says it works great for him. So, take a moment to send a few sentences to him on DearElder.com :)
MIB send his greetings and thanks to all of who have been sending him letters and packages, the support has been great! He is loving the MTC, enjoying the people there and learning so much.
I try to use Tagalog in my messages to him, for my learning and for his. He said he would tell me how to say whatever I asked. So if there is something you want to learn how to say in Tagalog... just ask!
Please remember MIB in your prayers.
Salamat.
MIB sends his thanks to all who have corresponded with him since he's been in the MTC. He loves the letters and packages. He is somehow, still hungry all the time.
Here are some more vocabulary words to use when you write him -
Gutom ako - I am hungry (He must use this one a lot)
Maganda ko - You are beautiful
Mabuhay - Long live
Totooang simbahan - The church is true
Salamat - Thank you
Mahal Kita po - I love you w/respect
If you only use one phrase this week, I hope it's "Salamat!"
Mabuhay!
Good times - Everybody has them, but some choose not to recognize them. Just like the lyrics, "It's wanting what you've got, not having what you want" So, being that it's the month of Thanksgiving - get thanking! Is it family, friends, health, food, shelter, faith, hope, freedoms, what? EVERYBODY has something they can be thankful for, everybody!
I am thankful for my family, both immediate and extended. I am amazed, what I thought the "norm" was, really isn't. I'm glad we functional as well as we do! My hubby and children bring smiles to my life everyday! (They bring other things too, but we are focusing on the good! :)
I'm thankful for my friends, old and new. I learn and grow from them and enjoy their kind words and especially their comments to my blogs!
I'm thankful for the health I have - and the fact that my body works as well as it does even when I don't do the best for it! I'm VERY thankful for my families health!
I'm thankful for all the yummy food I get to enjoy. Especially the fruits and vegis that grow - and the farmers that grow them!
I'm thankful to live where I do. The freedoms I enjoy, the comfortable home I have to live in; the warm bed at night and hot shower in the morning would be pure luxury in some places!
I am so so thankful for my faith. I cannot imagine living without the understanding of purpose and accountablility that I have. The more I exercize my faith, the more it grows and the peace inside me grows!
I am so thankful for Jesus Christ and his atonement, and for Heavenly Father's willingness to let him come to earth.
I am thankful for technology that allows me to sit here in my comfy home and share this with all of you who chose to read it!
Be Thankful - It feels so good! Roll with the Good Times!
What are you thankful for?
Mail - when anticipated so greatly, is like sunshine! We have received sunshine from MIB!! He's doing well. His companion likes basketball too - so they get along great.
I've always been told that missionaries eat very well at the MTC. In fact, Jared said he gained 21 pounds (in just 19 days!) during his stay at the MTC. However, MIB says that he is always hungry and thirsty. Strange! I'm sure care packages would help his hunger and thirst. I figure that he's being fed so well mentally and spiritually that his physical body is feeling left out. : )
Yet, we can all feel good knowing that they have Sobes (his favorite drink) there, so he's drinking well!
He's having fun with the Tagalog language. Leave it to MIB and his companion to make up songs in Tagalog to brings a smile to all those who hear it.
He did give us some vocabulary, you may want to learn it too and use it when writing MIB, or whenever you have a conversation in Tagalog : )
Kumusta? - How are you?
Mabubi - Good
Magandang umaga - Good morning
A no ang pangulan mo? - What is your name?
Oo - Yes
Hindi - No
Mag- Inggles? - May I speak English
I do believe that I would probably use "Mag- Inggles?" the most, but I'll work on the others as well. Hopefully you'll give some a try too. Check back again for some more language lessons, and of course for more updates.
Magandang umaga!
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