We had the most wonderful past weekend with having the opportunity to talk to each and every grandchild over Skype. After Kim’s coming home from the hospital with the delivery of Tressia, our newest granddaughter, all of the grandkids were at her home on Saturday evening, even now Julian, our previous Brooklyn NY kid, is in Utah as his parents are looking for new work opportunities and we networked with them. One by one – each family group at a time visited with us, then collectively - they all sang a couple of Primary songs and said goodbye. It’s a long way across the Pacific Ocean, but having Skype somewhat offsets the challenge of the distance.
Sister Morello and I are a bit under the weather with both having head colds, sneezing and blowing our noses all of the time but with the air quality in Manila being full of sorts of pollutants/stuff, the having a head cold is a somewhat regular, quarterly event. I have been taking both a calcium and multi-vitamin pill each day and generally have NOT had any serious health problems but this occasional head cold and/or a small cough, seem natural to most senior missionaries. No matter, life goes on and we are doing very well overall.
We are beginning to build-out a schedule of visits for September (our first road trip in our new assignment.) Some of the outstanding projects here on Luzon need to be either re-energized or closed out. First we investigate the find out all of the challenges and disconnects both on the ground and in Salt Lake (with HQ) then we visit and dialogue with all of our partners to get things either re-stated and/or closed-out (ended). Every project has a beginning, middle and eventually an end; many of the Church projects seem to have a challenge with ending.
Lastly our additional focus is to develop a network of senior, service missionaries (volunteers) throughout our entire region - to carry out the LDS Charities efforts and sustain the work- no matter or not - if there are senior full-time missionaries working in the office. This takes time and patience but is so much needed here to sustain and magnify the efforts. Filipinos helping Filipinos, speaking and understanding one another and doing good. A worthy and challenging goal, but this is our real objective.
Still learning more and more each day about our new responsibilities and duties – still a whole lot to learn – in a very short time frame.
May each of you be blessed and granted your every righteous desire; we love and miss each of you.
With Love,
Mike & Pauli
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