We've just begun a really great week in the mission. Yesterday morning, we were able to sit in on a devotional for all church employees with Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve, his wife, Kristin, Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the Presidency of the Seventy, Bishop Gerald Causse, and our Area President, Ian S. Ardern. The main message of that seemed to be being wise with the church's resources, working smart as well as hard, and, from Elder Oaks, paraphrased, Life is about Growth, and we only grow through challenge and adversity. There is no growth from prosperity. He also counselled us to expect belt-tightening in lots of areas.

Then last night there was a special broadcast to all of the Philippines which was filmed at our chapel and we were in the audience. It will be shown Sunday night to everyone else. The messages there were specific to the Philippines and the problems here, but, the answers were universal. To really know the Savior we must study the scriptures daily. We need to keep our baptismal covenants, fulfill our callings, pay our tithing, and be good parents. Elder Oaks also said that as the only Christian nation in Southeast Asia, the Philippines is key to carrying the gospel to China and the rest of Asia. When we were on our cruise to London last year, Mike Wilcox spoke of how grateful he was to the Catholic church for preserving Western Culture at a time when much was being destroyed. Here, also, we sometimes feel great antipathy toward the Spanish Catholics for their oppression of the gentle Filipinos. However, it was they that brought Christianity to the Philippines, and saw that it was so well entrenched. So while we might decry their methods, and the lack of any infrastructure left behind, we can be grateful that this is a believing nation. Nearly every jeepney has a Christian name, phrase, or picture on it, and there are many large billboards with scripture or scripture-based homilies.

Today we have a mission-wide meeting with Elder Robbins this afternoon, and then on Sunday, another stake-wide meeting with him instead of our regular Sunday schedule. This is all very special for missionaries, but especially for the Filipino people. To have the church recognize them in this special way is really wonderful.

We are leaving shortly this morning to go try to negotiate for a new apartment for some missionaries whose home was sold out from under them. We are really praying for success because our time runs short!