Seven Weeks

Look at that sky!

Dear Family and Friends,

It really has been seven weeks! We have come to the point where we can't blame our newness for our faux pas. I have decided to try to shed the crazy-lady-being-bulldozed-image for the I-am-a-competent-person-somewhere-deep-inside-image. I hope it goes better than the time just after President Dahle was called to be the Stake President down at BYU. I made a similar commitment thinking the wife of the Stake President should have a more composed mature image, until the opening social luau where we were invited to the stage to do the hula. I blew that one from the get go. :-/

Last Saturday the Olongapo District held a cultural night that was partly to welcome the new mission president and his wife. They are so kind and gracious to us! It was over the top fun! There were Filipino costumed dances performed by the Relief Society Sisters, the young adults, the youth and the primary! There was a short video clip touting the attractions of the Philippine Islands. There is a popular saying: "Everything is more fun in the Philippines!" After Saturday night's event I would definitely want to come if I wasn't here already! At the end we got to stand and give extemporaneous closing remarks (President Dahle is SO GOOD at this!) then have our picture taken repeatedly with various members/performers. A meal of two kinds of rice noodles with mix-ins and toppings and a rice based dessert was served. It was delicious!

President Dahle has called counselors and a clerk, bringing a great sense of relief for him. He has been packing a great burden, and feels enormous gratitude for the prepared and steady men that will carry the load with him. He has really relied on inspiration for these callings. They are all Filipino leaders.

We shouldn't tailgate this guy!

Two nights ago our phone rang at 3:30 am with the anxious news that one of our Sister missionaries was probably having an appendicitis attack. Our completely competent STLs (sister training leaders) up in that area had already taken her by way of jeepney to an urgent care type facility. They were over an hour away from us, and needed to go to a real hospital quickly. How blessed we were that our wonderful Senior Couple, the Whites, were close-by. They brought her and her companion down to our hospital here at the base, then stayed with her through the whole process of getting a diagnosis and a plan in place for her care. I cannot overstate the blessing our senior couples are to us and our missionaries in a huge variety of ways! Thank you in advance to all of you who are preparing to join us here or to serve in other missions. You will be a GREAT blessing wherever you go.

There was loud and wild rustling in the garbage can last night! Lilly or Larry, whichever it is, is terrible at hide and seek.

FHE here tonight for one family and their missionaries, the assistants to the president. We won't be needing the bathtub rice cooker this time. :) We hope this will help them feel the spirit and give a chance to resolve some of their concerns.

We are doing well! Thank you for your constant prayers for us. We know you include our missionaries, their investigators and the saints as well. It is making a difference! The church is growing here as we all try to do our part.

With so much love,

President and Sister Dahle

Sister Mercy had just organized the missionary linen closet...including the extra drapes on the top!

Youth Cultural Show

Dear Family and Friends.

Apparently we miss our p-day every six weeks! Sunday night twenty missionaries on their way home came for a two night, one day stay. President interviewed, they had career training, ate a few meals, packed and repacked their heavy suitcases, bore final testimony in a closing meeting and they were off to spread turbo light throughout the world! Twenty families are experiencing one of the top ten happiest moments in life as I write this. Some of these sons and daughters we had come to know well in our short six weeks here, and we will genuinely miss them.

The outgoing group - we miss them already!

Wednesday morning we raced to the bus stop in Olongapo to greet and bring home eleven new missionaries! I was surprised to see MANY others of our own there too. Transfer day means the mission is on the move, and everyone with a new assignment packs up their bags in a hurry on Tuesday night and heads for buses going every which way. I'm amazed that these things happen without us even realizing what is going on! It's hilarious how little we STILL understand about this giant thing we are trying to do!

We loved bringing these new missionaries home, along with their trainers, for a meal (catered), some training and a testimony meeting. Then each off to their first field of labor with their nani (mother) or tati (father), again regressing to the role of anak (child). Before long these new ones will be the nanis and tatis, and make their trainers into grandparents. :) These are treasured relationships!

New Missionaries and their trainers

Saturday was the baptism for two families we had come to know! It was grand and beyond. One family of four had come to all our zone conferences to give the missionaries actual practice teaching and the family taught them right back! The thirteen year old daughter, who is now my special friend, brought her nonmember friend to her baptism saying she would now be her teacher! Yeah! The second was a family of two - the sweet grandma and grandpa were the ones that President went wading and teaching with the assistants to a couple of Sunday nights ago. They brought their two year old grandson along. Hopefully their children will be ready eventually. Who wants to come and have this kind of fun with us?!

What it's all about...

Our shipment came! It's Christmas!!!

I think our house lizards have been multiplying and replenishing. The baby ones are so cute, and they aren't quite as fast to run and hide. I wonder if the larger one that leaped out of President Dahle's cereal box this morning was the same one I evicted from the three hole punch. Hopefully he will learn his lesson and choose a more subtle and less obvious abode. :)

With love and gratitude to you for the prayers and for the support you are to us!

President and Sister Dahle

Office Elders and AP's - our tatis ;)

Dear Family and Friends,

Apparently we hadn't quite reached the 'rainy season' yet. Today Sister Mercy informed me that the real rainy season is August and September! And yes, it has been torrential the last few days. But, starting in mid to late October and through February it is cool and beautiful with the occasional shower! We can also look forward to the -ber months, which is the Christmas season! Yes, that's September on! What could Hobby Lobby do with this?! For all of us who tend to jump the gun anyway, this is livin'! And finally, true hot and blazing summer is March through May. So when do you want to stop by?

Two miracles just for me: a caterer who does the shopping, cooking and shows up with a gorgeous meal for however many starving missionaries there might be- he is fearless. I no longer have to try to buy the right unfamiliar veggies and fish and bring them home to a

patient but appalled Sister Mercy who then has to make do. She can assist 'Brother Caterer', which I know he appreciates more than she appreciated me as her helper. I appreciate not having to think about any of it. I will be in charge of vats of spaghetti and gallons of sauce for the bi-monthly or so FHE.

Miracle two is Sister Mercy herself. She is a cleaning and organizing wizard...she too is fearless. She scrubbed collars and cuffs today with a special scrubby thing on a board in a tub while sitting on the floor of the laundry room. Those shirts were begging for...ha. Sorry, that was unplanned I promise! And when her work time is over she sits down for a rest and we visit. Her husband is listening to the missionaries and she is so thrilled. When she gets home today she will read the Book of Mormon with her kids. She appreciates this job, and I really appreciate her!

Last night after returning from three sacrament meetings in a row (that's what happens when you arrive at a church building at 8:45 am and just stick around) President Dahle had a grand adventure! But first you have to hear what happened in one of those sacrament meetings. The mail system is a little problematic so mission calls, the actual big white wonderful envelopes, come here to the mission office and we get to deliver them to the appropriate branch president if we are going that way. President Dahle had three in his case. One of the young men knew about his and planned to open it at the pulpit (how's that for branch business that puts the branch on the edge of its seat). Apparently this happens from time to time, and seems to pique the spirit of the youth. Then, the bp stood to announce there was another envelope ...for his own son...a surprise for the whole family including the mom. A thrilled and humble young man opened his call and read it through tears: Hong Kong, China. The third was for their friend in the next branch who decided to open his at home so his less active brother could take part. A fourth friend still awaits his call. They will be power houses in the mission field!

So, President Dahle went out teaching with his Assistants last night. There was a bamboo foot bridge to cross and flood waters to wade through using partially submerged sand bags as stepping stones and all in the dark. They were up in it nearly to their knees! This stuff doesn't even slow our missionaries down. Including the sisters! After looking at his shoes this morning I understand the condition of the footwear that piles up on our front porch every time our missionaries gather here. But the real point is the family that awaits at the end of the path! The teaching and the spirit that bears witness in the dim light of one hanging bulb. One of those families will be baptized this Saturday! He came home exhilarated!

Tomorrow our first zone conferences begin. I will introduce a little workout they can do in the three square feet of their apartments and tell them to take their vitamins and drink more water. Rainy season is also sickness season, and we need to come out with our dukes up! I usually get assigned a spiritual teaching too, but maybe not this time since it's in about 13 hours and I haven't received a topic.

President Dahle will teach and train with vigor and warmth. He knows what to say and how to say it. The assistants will give their famous last words since two of the three go home next week. And another miracle caterer in the south part of the mission will put out a meal. Then there will be an activity planned by the AP's to celebrate the breaking of the mission record for baptisms in July. I am looking forward to every minute of this week.  We will repeat tomorrow two more times in the north and central parts of the mission. Sunday our 19 departing missionaries come into the mission home for preparatory activities and leave us on Tuesday morning. New missionaries and their trainers come in on Wednesday, and after short start-up trainings the cycle begins again! We live in six week increments I think.

Thanks for listening! We love you!
President and Sister Dahle

The sights and sounds as we travel....

Let's hope we never need one of these!

Rice planting

Rush hour!!!

Picturesque isn't it?

Dear Family and Friends,

Has this month gone by as quickly for all of you? It has been the slowest at times, but when we look again it's hard to imagine that we only have 35 months left! :-D

The mission home

One of our guards - we have three

The mission office, AP Apartment and Office Couple Apt

There is a church inbetween

Highlights: Since Dennis also acts as the President with Keys for the five Districts in our mission, we have had the privilege of traveling up and down and all around to sign temple recommends and do some of the baptism interviewing as well. We have met and visited with many members, and the District and Branch leaders. While Dennis does the interviews I sit outside the door and enjoy conversing with the families that come along. The churches are great social centers, and no one minds waiting, even for hours. We continue to be educated.

There are certain questions that come up in every first meeting, starting with 'how old are you?', followed by exclamations of beauty or youthfulness. Then it's how many children, grandchildren, where are you from, even favorite color. Yesterday, someone commented that they had exhausted their English repertoire and didn't know what else to say. The light bulb came on! These are the questions they practice in their English classes. They aren't really dying to know how old we are, or our favorite color, or are they? :) In all cases, or whatever the motives, there is genuine kindness and even interest I think.

In one of these stops we met a medium sized brown dog, Buddy, who is a most faithful attender at church ... Stays the whole three hours. He belongs to the Branch President in Tautog, and never misses a meeting. What an example! There is no air conditioning in their building so the door stands open; he comes in every time and is an accepted and welcomed member! Why does this not even seem strange to us?

Saturday night we were so lucky to be available to attend a baptism, finally! It was for some of the same group that had been at the mission home for FHE last Monday, so that was especially fun. There were four. Three stood to bear testimony after. These are the times we miss knowing the language the most, and hope that we will at least learn enough Tagalog to understand more than just the sweet spirit with which they testify.

I was in the middle of working on a missionary medical issue and had to slip out of the baptism for a few minutes. While I sat just outside the open doors, I observed a cat and a frog enter the church in pursuit of the plentiful array of flying insects that were attracted by the bright lights inside. Paws and tongues flew in a great hunting expedition. The frog seemed surprised and uncomfortable when he found himself on the white tile floor, however, and turned around to exit but made a wrong turn and ended up trapped behind the door. I wondered about helping him out, but then he squeezed his fat self through the crack between the opened door and the jam. Resourceful, just like his human counterparts.

We hope you all enjoyed celebrating Pioneer Day! One branch chose Come, Come Ye Saints on Sunday, and I wondered if that was planned or coincidental. It wasn't mentioned otherwise, but Dennis and remark regularly about the pioneers we live amongst. So many of them are still in their teens, sometimes the only members in their family, sometimes shunned. One family is living in a home supplied by their church, and when the matriarch was baptized, that church cut off their electricity. They carry on, carry on, carry on.

We love you, and thank you for your prayers! I know their power has stood me up and carried me along countless times this first month of adjustment. We have both needed that help.

With love,
President and Sister Dahle

Is it really week four?!?....

Hello from the wet and green Philippines!

The beauty of the rainy season is, it's beautiful! Green everywhere and cool(er). We've seen the locals in jackets and shivers. We haven't acclimated quite that much yet.

The typhoon was an event. We had some missionaries here still from a temple trip so we were enjoying their extended time as company. A tiny Philippino Sister missionary came to the kitchen, dashing my fears of having to dig out cold pizza and peanut butter rations, and by gathering up the odds and ends and successfully lighting the contrary stove, made a feast for our crowd! Miracles!

There was plenty of destruction throughout the islands, but these resourceful people hardly skip a beat and just get busy cleaning up and making do. We watched out the back window as parts of the tin roof from the shanty behind us blew away, and four men suddenly appeared up there putting out a big tarp and securing it with anything heavy enough not to blow or wash away.

Jeepnies! No two are alike!

Elder and TWO others inside. 

Rice fields

Water Buffalo

We have met every last missionary in our magnificent mission, and they are the reason it is magnificent. What a group! Their collective fervor and faith is a huge power for good. They come from every imaginable background and unite here for one purpose...to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. They find, teach and baptize. They reactivate and love members. They are about their Father's business.

One of our Assistants had a birthday party/FHE here Monday night. This big house was full of families ready to be baptized or newly reactivated. He showed them the Joseph Smith movie, then had them share how they felt after. That is the power I am talking about. Forty people, give or take, had a terrific experience with the Spirit and felt the strength of gathering together. So very fun.

We had the opportunity to bring a returning missionary to his home and family after President Dahle gave him his release. They were too poor to all come and meet him, so he was making his way to them. We drove as close as we could, then parked. He invited us to come, so led us along a narrow, sometimes treacherous path lined with lean to's and shacks of every description, some barely earning the title of shelter, but home, still. The beach just a step or six away, covered in all kinds of debris probably left there by the storm. Dogs of every color greeted us with indifference (miracle - as dogs in general are probably my number two fear in life...right after being swept away by the tide and had for lunch by a great white). The families we passed were cheerful as they cooked or cleaned up their evening meals at trail side. We eventually arrived at his home where a sweet mom came out and tearfully greeted her son. Younger sister and brother and older brother too. All so composed! Dad was up in the coconut tree out back cutting several coconuts to gift to us. We went inside to a spotless and comfortable home, intruders I guess, on a wonderful family reunion. But they treat us like celebrities and want pictures with us. What dear humble people! I can't say it enough. They send these sons and daughters out with such faith. We are changed.

Driving to Guisguis

RM and his family

We are nearing a month here. I would by telling a big fib if I said every moment has been my happiest. I am weaker than I suspected and have dissolved more than once into the loud howls when I let my heart dwell on the hard parts. However, I am surrounded literally by young adults making the same sacrifice with courage and joy. I repent speedily. The president, yes I have to call him that, is in his element. He is doing a beautiful job, and feels this work in his bones. He is fiery and softer in his heart than ever.

Thank you so very much for your many prayers and encouraging return notes! We love you and appreciate your thoughtfulness!

With love,
President and Sister Dahle

Sister McNaught's (right) last day in the mission.

I drove the van!!!!...

Dear Family and Friends,

Before I forget, some have asked about this so here it is:

Our mailing address:

Km. 140 National Highway
Mangan-Vaca, Subic
2209 Zambales
Philippines

Life is good!!

We are settling in a little more each day. We have been on the road steadily as we go to our missionaries two zones at a time, to teach, be taught and so President can interview each one. This has been a choice experience for him! The faithfulness he encounters is humbling. 

Tuesday night we went out teaching with a pair of our Sister missionaries! They had a new family they were excited about so we drove up to San Felipe and took them to the lesson. It was another new experience that astounded us. These young missionaries can really teach! The family was warm and bright. It was taught in Tagolag with a little English thrown in. They taught the Restoration and we could tell what was going on by the visual aids and the pamphlet reading. The Sisters did a fantastic job! The family responded really well. The ward missionary that was there helped the father say the closing prayer! Our Sisters wrote contact info and a message in the front of a Book of Mormon and left it with an invitation to read it...how could they not?!

We have also been to a beautiful black sand beach (for about five minutes) and put our toes in the water. It was so warm! (Just threw this in here for those who haven't decided about putting in their papers to join us. :-D ) We were staying at a hotel there so we could continue farther up the road in the morning instead of going up and back that far.

We enjoy playing basketball and jogging around the compound here for exercise. Four sisters live close enough to ride up on Mondays and play with me. The APs and office Elders shoot around every morning and sometimes President Dahle joins them. Our first morning here I played with them too, and miraculously sunk my first shot! Instant respect! The Elders about tipped over that the mp wife is, in their words, athletic (well, sort of). Basketball really is a great missionary tool here. There are hoops in every church parking lot, and the young people gather! This is more than we have played in 30 years. :) 

It's interesting how you can fall flat into bed at night knowing you could never have the energy to get up again in the morning. No way! Then morning comes and by miracles alone we are able.

I HAVE DRIVEN our van down to the base and have done some grocery shopping. It was exhilarating to begin my way back to being a little independent again.  Sister Mercy (first name) came with me. She was so brave! :) She is the sweet Pilippina sister that has worked here at the mission home off and on through the years. She is a friend too, I hope. She showed me how to make rice in that enormous cooker! Then we deep fat fried fish and chicken and she made a yummy sweet and sour sauce. Yes, I was party to deep fat frying!  Oh my. :)

Tomorrow we get to go to Manilla to be fingerprinted and go to the temple with our missionaries that leave in the next six weeks. A bus will come for us at about 4:45 in the morning! At least we don't have to drive there, which is a really good thing! It will be so nice! The twenty or so missionaries that are going will be spending the night here tonight since it's so early. :-D. We are having 35 for dinner, (young single adults are invited) then an FHE, which is why I must get moving right this very minute! Thankfully, Sister Mercy is already here getting started!

Sweet Sister Mercy - my copilot and cook! What a saint!

Thanks again for your prayers. 

Love,

President and Sister Dahle