Family,
I promised to write about Quinton L. Cook’s talk when he visited and I haven’t yet, and I have some time now. Today is p-day. We cannot write letters any other day. This morning we got up at 5:30 to go play basketball in Danao, 20 min. away. Usually our district and some ward members from Danao play. It was fun. It gets so hot that by the second game your shirt is completely soaked. The members here are really good and so is my companion. Somewhere along the line I lost my basketball skills, but they are slowly coming back.
This really is one of the most beautiful places in the world. I love it here. The word beautiful in Visaya is nindot. Nindot is also used for awesome, sweet, amazing, great, super, so it is hard to really show that you are excited about something. You can add a few emphasizers so it is nindot hayod kayo! But that’s as exciting as it gets.
When Elder Cook came he talked a lot about our serious responsibilities as missionaries here on Cebu because we have a temple so close. We are obligated to teach that message. He also prophesied that the Philippines would open the doors of missionary work to the rest of Asia, that this country would play a key role. We have a big responsibility here as missionaries. We need to prepare the people here for the second coming of Jesus Christ, because it is indeed coming. He also gave a fireside to the members. In that fireside he talked about the importance of families. He prophesied that disasters would be coming. Not only hurricanes and earthquakes, but disasters with our own families. We need to strengthen our brothers and sisters, both in our families and in the church. I feel like Satan is working overtime right now. New temples are being built all over the earth. The church is growing and expanding. We need to each do our part.
President and Sister Hansen had the opportunity to feed Elder and Sister Cook dinner. President told me later that he expected Elder Cook to tell some funny stories or something like that, but the entire time he was serious. Elder Cook said that we don’t have time to lose our focus now. There is too much work to do. In the missionary fireside he talked about how we need to be serious about our work as missionaries. After he closed and we had a closing hymn and prayer he got up again. And again he talked about the serious nature of our work. The second coming is indeed coming, we need to help in any way we can and be prepared.
Please do all you can. Work hard in your callings. Reach down and pick up those who have fallen from the church and reach out to your friends and family. Bring them to the gospel. Like you said mom, we need all the people on our side as we can get. Someone not against the church is better than an enemy. Someday maybe they will accept.
We also had the opportunity to shake Elder Cook’s hand and tell him our name and home stake. I told him my name and said I was from the Mt. Vernon Stake. He responded, “Mt. Vernon Washington?” Yes!
Either he knows the church very well, or he is very close to inspiration. Probably both. It was an amazing experience to be able to meet and listen to the counsel from a special witness of Jesus Christ. I loved it. My area was the furthest away! How cool! I am glad I was able to go. I learned so much.
I love you all and pray for you often. May the Lord bless you.
Love,
Elder Schenk
Devin also sent these photos, and some requests for things to send to him, including pictures from home, he would love to see what we are doing, and he said "If you could send Eric, I would love that! I miss him! That would make for a good Christmas!"
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