Thirty-four Years of Marital Bliss

Could these two naïve kids have ever guessed back in 1990 that all these years later they would have five children, five grandchildren, be retired from work, and yet be working harder than ever? And doing it in half a world away in Singapore, where the temperature is always about 90 degrees warmer than their wedding day? I'm not sure they would have believed you if you had told them.

And yet here we are! On the day of our anniversary (Winter Solstice, as it is most years) we were in Malaysia, accompanied by Vivian’s mother, brother, two sisters, and two nephews.  Yesterday our brother-in-law and another nephew also joined for the rest of the visit.   There has been A LOT going on these past couple weeks, putting us behind on life in general and this blog in specific. So here are a few highlights since last we wrote:

Settling into the Apartment. Last time we shared a bit about our new digs. Vivian is still planning to write a blog post on moving in Singapore, but spoiler:  We are now settled in and enjoying the place. Being a 15-minute walk from the office is delightful, both on our available time and on saving the cost and intensity of the daily trains. We definitely miss some parts of our previous place but feel that it was a good move for us and for those that follow.

Our new digs

Decorating for Christmas

Staying Busy in the Work. We both really love working with the missionaries and mission leaders, but some periods are more intense than others. This is one of those times.  In this past week Vivian and/or I:

• Counseled with fifteen missionaries from six missions

• Counseled with a companionship in distress

• Sat in council in three Mission Health Councils and one Area Health Council

• Trained a mission for an hour via video at a Mission Conference

• Facilitated a self-reliance course with nineteen missionaries

• Assisted with a missionary transfering to a service mission

• Worked with local providers and missionaries on medication

• Met Family Services’ first full-time employee in Asia

• Worked with mission leaders on deploying an app to some missionaries

Some of this work is proactive (trying to prevent and mitigate issues) and some is reactive (helping missionaries with the issues that do come). All of it is rewarding, but there are times when we get a message from a missionary or mission leader asking for help and we wonder how we can possibly do one more.  Yet somehow there is always just enough.

Departures, Transfers, Arrivals, and Reconnections. It feels like we just went through the losses and gains of transfers, and this time it wasn’t just our perception:  the transfer window this time was actually a week shorter.  Given Christmas and the math of dividing into 52, one or two transfers a year are five weeks instead of six.  As with previous transfers we saw some beloved missionaries return home and some leave our zone, while at the same time we gained some wonderful young people we have either known elsewhere or just met. Our Zone saw the largest number of changes we have ever had, with every companionship but one changing. We also had our third straight transfer with two new missionaries from the MTC. 

Today we had a special experience as one of our Young Single Adults opened his mission call.  He was assigned to serve in the Germany Berlin mission starting April 28th…just two days before we complete our mission.  He is over the moon excited as that is exactly where he has wanted to go since we met him a year ago.  It was amazing watching him open his mission call via Zoom.  We were on the airplane preparing to return from Malaysia to Singapore, and were delighted to see a couple dozen returned missionaries in the virtual crowd, including the senior couple we replaced in Singapore YSA and in mental health.

We also had the choice experience while in Malaysia of seeing missionaries that we previously served with who now are in KK, either serving or who have completed their mission and returned to home there. Such reunions are always so sweet, as we'll experience again at Zone Conference in a couple weeks here in Singapore.

Photos:

1: Our friend Elder Gaadong who recently completed his mission

2: The mighty KK Zone, with Foley's and Vivian's mom

3: Last night of Institute 2024 - what a great semester!

4: Singapore YSA Ward Christmas Party

5-6: Surprise visit to the YSA Ward from the Asia Area President and his wife (sadly the week we were gone!)

7-8: The departing and incoming missionaries of December 2024.

Welcoming Visitors.  As you have seen in this blog, we have been blessed with wonderful visitors from home throughout our mission, and the pace will accelerate these last four months.  Two of our sons will be coming, one with our daughter-in-law and granddaughter.  I also have a sister and brother coming with their spouses.  They are all very understanding of the missionary work we are here to do and we love being able to integrate them into our lives here and have them meet some of the people and places that are so important to us.  Hopefully you will see a bunch of fascinating guest blog posts!

Photos

1: The troops arrive

2-3: Sunday dinner and games

4: Made it to Sabah!

5-10: Gaya Island resort

11-13: So much food and celebration

Praise to the Man.  219 years ago, on 23 December 1805, Joseph Smith was born. This morning as I was studying The Book of Mormon which he translated through the power of God, these beautiful words of Elder Kyle McKay echo through my mind. I add my testimony to Elder McKay:

Joseph Smith is now part of that heavenly priesthood of which he spoke….He is not far away from us, and on the other side of the veil he is still working with us, and with a power greatly increased, to roll on this kingdom. With joy and thanksgiving, I raise my voice in “praise to the man who communed with Jehovah.” And above all, praise to Jehovah, who communed with that man!

Joseph Smith, born 23 December 1805