WEEK TWENTY THREE

It is so beautiful here!

Hello to my dear family,

I love hearing from you all, I love it so much.

The rumors are true, nothing beats conference as a missionary.  My only complaint is that it went by much too quickly.  I was hanging on every word, and so grateful for every word.

Its Sister Are's last p-day and so we are traveling to all of her old areas, I wanted to write about conference but I left my notes at home- so I'll share next week :)

But a thought that kept occurring to me during conference.  I noticed the guidance and council given over and over about strengthening the home.  Focusing on family prayer, scripture study, and family night.
And all I could think of was how good my sweet parents were at these things :)
Mom and Dad, thank you for raising us in a home where family night, family prayers, and family scripture study have always been a priority. 

Some of my dearest memories are waking up early before school to all sit on Mom and Dads bed and read the Book of Mormon together..

I love the way it didn't matter how much homework we had, what we were doing, what friends were over, what boys were over... :) family prayer always happened. 
There were times I  resented coming up stairs to pray and bringing my "guest" because I knew Andrew and Stephen would call on them to pray.. hahaha I was always convinced it would be the thing to scare them away and make it so they never came back :)

Family night that began every Monday night somehow had a way of carrying over to every single night :)

Our trike rides:)

I can't help it....I love the children

maybe on the other nights we weren't beginning with an opening prayer and hymn.  However, we were all enjoying one anothers company, being enlightened and uplifted by one another and teaching one another how to be a little bit better, a little more like our Savior through love and through example.

How grateful I am for my family.  And that we get to be an eternal family as we live the principles that we have learned from such a young age from loving parents.

In one of the letters between Laur and me she wrote about the beginning of her mission- she said she had a hard time feeling like she had a strong purpose because everyone else had gone through something life-changing or really tough and could relate to the struggling El Salvador people.. She said she just didn't feel like she had anything to give or to share.  She continued to say that she prayed for a purpose -- she opened up her scriptures to find "you have been blessed and brought up in truth and prepared your whole life for this" she said she all of a sudden knew that she needed to share her testimony about her family. 

I relate so much to Laur's experience, I felt the exact same way.  How blessed we have been to see the effects of a strong family.  A family that has been founded on gospel principles.  I took for granted being raised in a home where the spirit could be felt each and every day.  I'm so grateful our home has always been a place of love and of refuge.  I know its because you, my dear parents took the time to "raise us in righteousness" I hope you know I will forever be grateful and always look to you as my example.

I want more than anything for the people of the Philippines to experience this same blessing in their homes.

If we focus on our spiritual needs the temporal needs take care of themselves. 

I know that this gospel is what matters.  Teaching and living the gospel in our homes and as a family is what brings happiness.  I've realized that all the temporal things that took up so much of my time, and seemed so important to me before really don't mean a thing.  Its not what matters.....

Thanks mom and dad. stephen andrew maddie and josh for teaching me what matters, through your love and example.  I know that families can be together forever, through Heavenly Fathers plan.
I'm so grateful I get to be with mine.

I love you!!

I see so many babies on motorcycles, it freaks me out- but its normal and ain't no thang to have a newborn speeding down the road in between jeepney's and trike's in a mothers arms, or a toddler standing up holding onto his fathers shoulders. hmm.

I really am not sure where all the stray dogs and cats come from. Honestly, how are there so many?! there are about three cats that live in our shoes outside our front door.

I was debating whether or not to share this story.. but for grins and giggles I will.

Yesterday, I was studying when I decided I was starving and needed a little snack.  So happily I remembered the beef jerky my saint of a mother had sent me and I go to the cupbard.  With so much excitement and pleasure I pop a few pieces into my mouth- (anything from home tastes like heaven) then.. I feel something on my arm, I look down and just about a million little red ants are on my hand and arm.. so... then.. my tongue starts hurting.. I then look into the beef jerky bag to see it infested with red ants.. how many are living in my stomach right now, and how many bit my tongue- I'd rather not know.

But on the bright side our ward missionary told me that the secret to a better singing voice is to eat ants. so really this is a big blessing.

We got broken up with this week :( the family I was so excited about.  The ones that were progressing soo well told us that they will not be able to see us anymore.  There Father is abroad working- he wasn't pleased to hear that they were taking the discussions and attending church.  It caused a lot of contention.  The family was so heartbroken when they told us, we were so heartbroken when they told us.

They said they will continue to pray that he will soften his heart, and I know the Cruz family will be baptized, a little patience will simply have to be acquired first

I absolutely love going to the market.. just about every person tries to stop me.. they all shout out "Atte.. Atte.. eggs?" or meat.. or whatever they're selling.. it always takes us a looooong time to get through, but I love it :)

um.. will someone tell my little man Joshy to stop growing up?!?! sheesh.. I don't even recognize that studly teenager. 

I love you all. forever and always

I love the Bishop's wife!

Sister Welling

ps here's the thought for the week family :)

apply it to what you learned from conference

President Eyring teaches. “You show your trust in Him when you listen with the intent to learn and repent and then you go and do whatever He asks. If you trust God enough to listen for His message in every sermon, song, and prayer in this conference, you will find it.”