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17 July 2012


Hi Everyone,
 
The temple is closed for two weeks for maintenance, and they are also fixing cracks and painting walls in our apartment complex..  At some point, they will be cleaning our air conditioning unit and putting in a new filter, washing windows and cleaning curtains, and any other things that need fixing or cleaning.  The building has been a mess.  Most of the couples have gone to their homes (that is the Filipino couples) and others have gone to tour different places, but we weren't invited, so Lyman and I have been walking the halls of every mall in Cebu and getting a few things we need, and getting our exercise also.
 
Sunday we visited a ward with Pres. and Sis. Mortimer.  The chapel had a nice stage but for the congregation there were no benches just plastic chairs.  Well, if that wasn't bad enough, they didn't have AC, just ceiling fans, and then, about 5 minutes into the service, the power went out and never did come on again.  Of course, it was an extra hot day!  I kept saying to myself,"patience in thine afflictions!"  They had all the windows open and there was a breeze that wafted  through every so often which helped tremendously. However, the small room where we held Sunday School and Sacrament meeting was horribly hot and it felt like we were in a can of sardines.  There wasn't too much English spoken during any of the meetings, but we caught the spirit of what they were teaching.  Well, with the windows open it was difficult to concentrate on the meeting because all we could hear was a bunch of chickens clucking and roosters cock-a-doodle-dooing."  I had to chuckle because it was like holding church on the farm!
Since it was their ward conference, they had a meal afterward.  Most of the food was pretty good. I'm still not used to some of their food. This seems to be a tradition in this culture.
 
When we go to the mall, we take handout cards about the Church and have been giving out a few. We go by taxi and when we go home and give them our address we'll say the "LDS Temple Complex" and they don't know what we're taking about, but as soon as we started calling it the "Mormon temple" they know exactly what we're talking about and where it is.
 
The people are quite funny here.  If you tell them something they already know they say, "Yeh, yeh."  At every mall there are security guards to check your purses and bags for weapons , I guess.  Really strange, but good--it sure employs a lot of people. They are also at the door of every business.  There is a lot of shoplifting, and theft, and dishonesty that goes on here.  We've had several people pick-pocketed.  I bought a purse with a long strap so I can wear it around my neck.  It's all very interesting.  You have the rich and the poor and not much in between.
 
Well, I must get to bed.  Hope all is well with all of you.  We do love it here and the people of the church are wonderful.  We've learned so much in the temple and about the gospel from these humble people.  The Lord truly is directing his church--it is his work and we're grateful to be part of it.
 
Thanks for all your e-mails.  We love hearing from all of you.
 
Love,
Linnea and Lyman (a.k.a. Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa)

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