Report from the Philippines!

Dearest 16^th Ward Members and Friends:

Well, another week has flown by while we stand blithering about what’s next and what we need to do.  Actually, We have now completed our first full round and training class and everything has gone very well.  We are now 4 days into helping our second group.  Our first class had a district of missionaries from Taiwan.  This class has a district from Hong Kong and another from Mongolia.  Last class the Filipino missionaries spoke predominantly Tagalog (with English); this class they speak Cebuano (and English).

The missionaries are so sweet, so good, so humble, (sometimes so poor)!  This mission experience is a great opportunity for them to reach up and out of very difficult circumstances and try to lift themselves up to greater opportunities.  We are subdued by their desire and devotion!  You should hear them sing!  It floods your heart with the Spirit of the Lord. 

Today, Debbie and I took a tour of the 3 new buildings being constructed on the MTC campus.  Even though built by local contractors and workers, and lacking many of the standards and building codes required in the U.S., the Church is striving to assure that these facilities will be marvelous!!—and they are.  The assembly rooms, the classrooms, the residence halls, the office areas are spacious and accommodating. 

The new MTC gym has a full NBA basketball court (although missionaries only play half court!)  There will be 6 BB standards and a jogging track around the facility.  A wood floor or a cement floor!—that is the question!?  Lots of room for storage, large water tanks, generators, a water treatment facility and more. 

We feel humbled to be called to serve at this time and to help transition to a new generation of training and facilities here.  One can see the vision of the Brethren for Asia beginning to unfold.  Our capacity for training will double soon and another phase of two more buildings may someday be possible.   

We send our love and appreciation to our dear ward members and friends.     

George & Debbie