Elder & Sister Ward

Hi Everyone, Well, church on Sunday was quite interesting.  They say they speak English here, but it's really half English mixed with Cebuano and whatever else they speak, so it was really hard to follow what they were saying, but the spirit testified that they really know the gospel and the teachers were very good.  They fill the chapel and it's a huge one.    We've had a very interesting day today.  It was announced Sunday that Elder Russel M. Nelson of the Twelve Apostles was going to be here to give a devotional Wed. evening.  He came to the temple and went through a session at 2 p.m.  I didn't get to see him because my shift ended just before his started.  But Lyman and I did go to the devotional.  It was very good, of course, and so interesting to see him in person.  He told about what parents should be teaching their children.  He had all the primary children in the audience stand and sing a verse of "I Am a Child o...

Grandma, Grandson, & Grandpa in the MTC: Temple Missionaries at the MTC: Hong Kong Airport: Philippines Apartment: Hard at work with the remote: He found his FOXNews:

Hi everyone!   I'm sorry my last letter was so negative--I was so tired from the switch in time that I should have waited until I had a clearer mind!    I forgot to mention it was a 15 hour flight from L.A. to Hong Kong, that's why it added to the drama.   We are just loving it here.  The people are so warm and friendly they really make us feel at home.  A couple that finished their mission a couple of weeks ago also had the last name of Ward, but don't think it was any relation, but the people are so cute when they see our name is Ward they say "they"'were the first ward and we are the 2nd ward.   The temple is small but very beautiful.  There is a whole fenced-in compound which includes the temple (and the grounds are beautiful), the mission president's home, the temple pres.'s home and this 3 story apartment building.  We live on the third floor in a one-bedroom apartment; it is quite big actually and completely modern w...

Hi everyone!   We finally made it to Cebu.  It is in the mid 80's with 90% humidity, but it really isn't too bad. I'm thinking of writing a book entitled, "Hell over the Pacific" which would tell about our hellish flight over the Pacific in a jet liner that was so packed one could hardly move!  I sat next to the window, Lyman was in the middle seat and a little Chinese nan sat next to the aisle.  He was very congenial whenever we had to go to the potty, but it was such a hassle!  (Maybe I should call book "Nightmare over the Pacific!--whatever it was still HELL! ) Anyway, we arrived in Hong Kong about 5:30 a.m. and had to sit in the airport another 10 hours before we caught the plane on to Cebu.  That flight was EVEN WORSE!  Lyman and I were the together in two seats, the middle had 4 or five seats across and then two together one the other side, but the seats were even closer and tighter than ever.  But we finall...

Hi everyone,   We have just ended our first week in the MTC.  We've had a wonderful time and experience getting to know other missionary couples and learning "How to preach the gospel"in classes.  Wow! there is a lot to learn.  We've had great teachers and a lot of fun roleplaying.  However, it has also been a very spiritual and rewarding experience.  Our bodies have ached as we've walked from building to building, but the more we've kept going the better we feel.  So eventually we'll get back into better shape, hopefully before we reach the Philippines.   Tuesday night we had a devotional with Keith R. Edwards of the second quorum of seventies.  That was a wonderful evening. Next week we'll spend in the Provo Temple getting instructions and listening to the brethren.  It should be very helpful and rewarding.   We've been able to see our grandson, Alex  Guerrero (our daughter Julia's boy),  who is also here...

We are flying to the MTC in Provo on Sunday the 29th and will leave there after two weeks for Cebu Philippines on May 12th. You can still e-mail us at this e-mail or at  ljdyasward@gmail.com .  We will  have a Magic Jack Phone so you can call us at  208-649-7705  if you ever have a need to contact us in a hurry.   Our temporary mailing address is, Bro. and Sis. Lyman D. Ward  Cebu City Philippines Temple  Gorordo Avenue Lohug, Cebu City Philippines    We're nervous and anxious but are looking forward to new experiences with faith.  Our love to all, Lyman and Linnea

Lyman's heart doctor gave Lyman the okay to go on our mission, so it is official now that we can resume our call to leave on our mission to the Cebu City Philippines Temple on April 30.  We received our call the day after we got Lyman home from the hospital after having 2 stents put in his heart, paracarditis, and kidney failure.  But the Lord has blessed him to where his kidney function is back and his heart is doing well, so we're back on schedule.  It was touch and go for a while.  So we are excited and grateful. We enter the MTC in Provo on April 30th, spend two weeks training for temple work, and fly to the Philippines on May 12 via Hong Kong.  We'll be gone 18 months.  We  are ready to go!  Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers in our behalf.   Lyman and Linnea