2016-06-16 Departing Missionaries

 After a delicious dinner made by Angel, these sisters cheerfully washed the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen.  Missionaries are the most helpful, amazing people on earth!

 After a session at the temple and a visit to the American War Memorial, the missionaries returned to the mission home for a chat about life after "death" and how they can clearly communicate the experience they have just had.  Then, we had the legendary dinner and a beautiful testimony meeting. 

 Elder Wilkinson's parents and brother came to pick him up and were able to join us on the last day of activities.

 Elder Thurber's parents were able to come as well.  It is clear to see why these missionaries are as amazing as they are when you get to meet their parents.

The Northrups are the only remaining senior couple in the office now.  They contribute so much and bring so much happiness into the lives of the missionaries and their parents because of Sister Northrup's posting pictures!

2015-06 Mission Leadership Council Music

One new highlight of our meetings has been incorporating more music.  We have been soooooooo blessed to have Elder Thurber and Elder Jo serve here and share their musical gifts with us.  They will be sorely missed when they leave at our next transfer!!!

2015-06-15

I Will Be The One”
Dear Sisters and Elders,

On Sunday we had the great blessing of listening to the Philippines Area multi-stake broadcast from Salt Lake City. Elders Neil L. Anderson, Brent Nielson and Ian Ardern as well as Sister Rosemary Wixom, gave wonderful talks. I am grateful for leaders who have been called of God. I am grateful that each of them have lived in, or visited, the Philippines and that they love us.

Elder Nielson focused on the common phrase here: "I will be the one" and Elder Anderson and others also taught the same principle. The principle is the one the Savior of the World understood in the Council in Heaven. When the time came He said: "Here am I, send me." Nephi said: "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded."

Each of you, as you applied to serve a mission, said: "I will be the one. I will serve the Lord as a missionary." The Lord loves you extra because of your faithfulness and your willingness to serve.

Having the courage to stand up and say "I will be the one" is absolutely essential if we are to return to our Heavenly Father. We must use our personal agency to choose the right. We must have the courage to "be the one" even if we are criticized or persecuted  or left alone.

This is the difference between those who stay active in the church and those who fall away. Those who have the courage to do what is right, regardless of the consequences. Those who have the courage to be exactly obedient. Those who will fulfill their responsibility no matter how hot and thirsty or tired they are. These are the ones the Lord can trust.

Sisters and Elders, now is the time to take leadership of your own life. It is time to get on your knees and make the decision about who you really are, and then to get up and serve the Lord as an independent, responsible adult. It is time to say to yourself, to the Lord and to everyone around you: "I will be the one to follow the Lord for the rest of my life. I will be the one who will stay faithful to my covenants even if the whole world falls down around me."

Remember Job, in the Old Testament. He lost everything. He was very sick, very poor. His friends and his wife all criticized him and told him to give up, but he was faithful and true.

He said:

19:25, 26 ..for I know that my Redeemer liveth...and though after the skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.

27:5 ...till I die, I will not remove my integrity from me.

The Lord blessed Hyrum Smith because he had made the decision "I will be the one." DC 124:15: ...blessed is my servant Hyrum Smith; for I, the Lord, love him because of the integrity of his heart, and because he loveth that which is right before me...

I invite each of you to say to the Lord with all your heart: "I will be the one."

We love you and pray for the Lord to bless you every day.



President Creg D. Ostler
Philippines Manila Mission

2015- 06-04 Mission Leadership Council

 A week ago, we welcomed "home" to the Philippines our favorite missionary, Elder Ostler, from the Georgia Macon Mission.  There is nothing like having a missionary son at the same time you are a mission president and wife.  After listening to his experiences, we have even more empathy for our wonderful missionaries.  Oh how we love them all!

  

 We also had the joy of welcoming back Elder Schroeder.  We are so proud of him and pleased with his arrival.  Manila Mission is so happy to have him!  He radiates a certain testimony and commitment.

 Thursday, we had one of the highlights of our month.  We got to have our Mission Leadership Council.  It's a time when all the zone leaders and sister training leaders gather at the mission home with the assistants and the president and wife.  We all counsel together about the concerns in the mission and receive revelation about what directions to take.  The zone leaders and sister training leaders take the plans back to their areas and teach the missionaries in their stewardships.  These are incredibly spiritual and wonderful meetings.  Sister Ostler usually ends up crying before the meeting even starts.  All they have to do is quote D&C 4 together, and it gets her tears started.  :)

 

 Our wonderful assistants!

       This is one of my favorite sights each month.....40 pairs of shoes representing 40 faithful missionaries and many miles of walking and knocking and talking and testifying.  "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of them that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace."

                                       Before the meeting started.......

We honestly could not be more blessed than to work with all of these dedicated, consecrated men and women, serving our Eternal Father by trying to tell the rest of His children about Him and His joyous plan.  We couldn't be happier.