Elder Schenk is Home!

Anxiously awaiting his arrival, with carefully crafted signs so he would know just how welcome he was, we took over a small corner of the airport nearest the international arrival escalater.  With each small group of 7 or so people getting off of the tram from customs at a time, we would watch for a dark suit to come around the corner.  Each time we saw a pilot or flight attendant our hearts would race, only to see that they weren't our missionary after all.  We waited through many batches of people until finally...

there he was!  Elder Schenk, fresh from the Philippines!

He looked sooo good!  Handsome and thin and happy and glowing full of the Spirit!

 

A happy family reunion!

After breakfast at Ihop, including lots of ketchup for Elder Schenk, although it wasn't sweet like ketchup in the Philippines,

we took Devin home to a warm shower, a nap in his very own bed, then bbq dinner before we went to visit the Stake President and have him released as a full time missionary for Jesus Christ.  He then reported to the Stake Council, answered quesions and bore his testimony in Cebuanio. 

An amazing evening.

Saturday evening a few friends came by to visit, Devin told stories and showed pictures of his mission experiences and we basked in the glory of his smile.

We love you Devin!  Thanks for sharing your testimony with so many and for blessing all of our lives by your good works!

May 29, 2012

Family,
I wrote a long letter to president and we have a zone activity right now so I'll have to make this email a little shorter. Sorry in advance. But to make up for it Ill see you in 8 days (my time).
First for the questions...
I can buy garments here at the distribution center for about $0.35 each, so I'll just buy my own. Save a little cash.
Our baptisms fell through on Saturday because of lack of communication with the ward leaders in Carcar. Our investigators want to be baptized in a font and not the ocean, and in the two areas we are serving in there is no font. It turned out that all Saturday both people who have keys were out of town. Oops... So this Saturday we have two baptisms and the font is ready and the person with the keys is going to give them to the Carcar missionaries before hand. Hopefully no more problems.
When I get home I will need a skin TB test. I had an x-ray and don't have it, but I need the test none the less. If I have been exposed to it, it may affect me at a later time in my life.
We had 19 recent converts and investigators all get in a multicab and take the two hour drive to the temple for the temple tour on Thursday. That was a great success. Then on Saturday we had a youth activity with 18 youth attend. I was in charge of a food eating contest that went really well. Everyone loved it, except for Jhessel who broke a tooth while chewing out of control on some choco sticks. It was a great success.
Sure love you all. Can't wait to see you all.
Love,
Elder Schenk