Dreaming in Tagaglog: Post from Mom

I may have been accused of being a stalker recently. Someone seems to think I stalk my missionaries. I think I have just become a super sleuth when it comes to my kiddos. I feel I had every right to follow and stalk Brodie this past week.

To start the week off Brodie left the USA for the Philippines, and I have never had so much distance between me and my children. He was to leave Provo Monday morning. However, before he even left I noticed as I was checking flights that his flight out of LAX had been cancelled. I was just curious what would happen with all 72 missionaries that had no place to go. However, arrangements were made and they would be staying at the LA La Quinta. I wish I could have been in LA, but that was not the case. However, it worked out nicely we were able to spend the evening talking to Brodie, and we even ordered pizza for him and the other missionaries to enjoy. I even received a picture from relatives that happened to visit him and the other missionaries at the hotel. His companion for the night was the travel leader and he didn't even know the flight plans. All they knew was that they were to leave the hotel at 9:00 the next morning and head to the airport.

When they got to the airport they learned their flight plan, which was to leave LAX on a direct flight to Manila later that afternoon. The 72 missionaries had another 20 missionaries that had been visa waiting join them on the flight. I would have loved to have seen that flight of 92 missionaries.I knew God had a little chunk of his army on that flight and that they would all be okay.

I also knew that there was a typhoon headed to the Philippines shortly after Brodie's arrival. So OF course I needed to do more research and learn all I could about this storm. It turns out it was not just a typhoon, but a SUPER Typhoon (category 5, one of the strongest in history to hit the Philippines). Brodie's mission was a direct hit of the typhoon. I was very grateful that he was in Manila and only had to worry about tropical storm weather.

Through all my caring research I came across a few bonus pictures of Brodie. I also learned that all the missionaries in the Philippines were safe and accounted for. They will have a lot of service to do over the next few weeks.