We are so happy to report or favorite event of this week has been the arrival of Jason and Aly! We so appreciate anyone who is willing to make the grueling trip halfway around the world to visit us in our humble home here on Bohol. And Aly gets extra points for making the trip even though she is 6 months pregnant! Her poor ankles may never be the same.
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| There is a beautiful outlook of the ocean from one point on the way home from Sagbayan and we stopped for this photo op. |
They were even kind enough to let us drag them with us on our very long Sunday trip to Ubay and Sagbayan. I think they were still a little jet-lagged and Aly really needed to be off her feet. Jason amazed all of the people at church when he stood and bore his testimony in Tagalog. This is considered the 'mother tongue' of the Philippines and so it is taught in school here even though everyone speaks Cebuano, and so they could understand his testimony and just loved that he spoke to them. We were so happy to have them meet the people we have grown to love.
But, I am jumping ahead of myself as they only arrived yesterday and there is so much more that happened this week. Early in the week we had the grand opening of the first ever 'Self Reliance Resource Center' here in Calape. We have local couple missionaries called to be over this program here in the Calape District and they are doing a really good job of spreading the news to members and nonmembers in the community about the program and what it can do for individuals. So, now we have a center where people can come and have access to computers and experts to help them become more self-reliant.
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| This is President Nueva (Calape District President) and a representative of the local vocational tech school doing the honors of the ribbon cutting. |
Friday we had the great adventure of going teaching with the Ubay Zone Leaders, Elder Borrego and Elder Head. I should have been suspicious when the night before on the phone Elder Head called to confirm when we were going to be there. As I started to end the call he said, "Oh, Sister Bell, you might want to bring you hiking boots". We had a great adventure in Ubay. First we were able to visit with a great family that they had just started teaching. The father of this family had already read the Book of Mormon before he ever talked with the elders. They are a nice, nice family and we were so happy to see them at church today also.
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| This is Alvin, Jovee and their three children, 9 year-old Kate, 8 year-old Marie, and 2 year-old Abraham. They are a sweet family that have a baptism day not too far in the future! |
Our second visit of the day was the part I needed my hiking boots for. We had a nice little hike to the top of one of the Chocolate Hills to teach a very nice sister who's husband is a member.
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| Elders Borrego and Head teaching on the wonderful little sitting hut at the side of the house. I love these little huts and think we should build one next to our house at home in Utah |
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| The Bukid |
There are times, usually when I am out walking through the bukid (mountains), that I have to pinch myself because I can't really believe that I am here having this amazing experience in this beautiful place. The farmer in this picture is tending a watermelon patch right up here in the mountain tops.
Okay so just two more pictures and then I am going to let Elder Bell take over. I just could not resist these shots of the amazing Elders in Sagbayan that help me in Primary every week. They love the kids and the kids love them. And we have the added bonus of the most amazing bass section added to our primary choir. You should hear what they can do to the "Wiseman Built His House Upon a Rock"! It really rocks!
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Elder Tomakin, from New Zealand, helping Jason with his coloring project.
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| Elder Singsam, also from New Zealand, helping Jenaline with her coloring project. This was her very first day in Primary and Elder S. made it really special for her. (He was drawing her princesses on her paper)! |
Oh man! I love what I do! We are so blessed to be able be here on Bohol! We work with some of the greatest missionaries and with some of the most wonderful people. We love being missionaries (especially when we get to share it with family that come to visit us).
We love you and so appreciate your love and support across the miles. We feel every prayer and thought you send our way. It all helps us through the rough times and helps us soar during the good times. Thank you! Thank you!
Love you forever,
Sister Bell (Nanay, Lola, Amigo)
Maayong Gabii Pamilya Amigos,
Malipayon Ko para sa akong anak, si Jason ug asawa si Aly. (I am happy for my son Jason and wife Ally). It was great to see Jason and Aly. This week will be filled with much fun and adventure I will tell about next week.
Well this week was also filled with mga pagbunyagan (baptisms). Saturday we attended baptisms in Ubay and Sagbayan. Saturday started with a baptism in the ocean in Ubay at 9:00 am. After rounding up 20 investigators and members to witness the baptism we ended up at our favorite spot on the Ubay beach.
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| Elaine Mae is the second of her family to be baptized. Remember Say from a couple of weeks ago? That is her brother. |
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| This is always a great sight for missionaries. |
Then after delivering members and investigators in Ubay back to their homes by 11:30, we were off on whirlwind trip to Sagbayan to pick up members for a baptism at 3:00 in Tubigon. These areas are on opposite sides of the island. We attended the baptism of Joshua & Anjun Ucabat. This is the second half of a family that has joined the church since we arrived in Bohol.
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| Anjun is the tatay (father) and Joshua is the anak (son) |
We have had the very special opportunity to work with this family as they progress in the gospel. We are hoping to see them go through the Temple before we leave next year.
Well I will wrap it up for this week.
I am very grateful to serve the Lord in this part of his vineyard. The harvest is great and the laborers are few. He blesses us with His spirit and with His love each and every day to accomplish the tasks before us. When the mountain of work seems very high the Lord always gives us the strength, patience and power to overcome the task at hand. The Gospel of Jesus Christ in these latter days is true. I know that from the bottom of my heart.
Nahi-Gugma (Love) to all Pamilya and Amigos,
Elder Bell (Tatay, LoLo, and Amigo)
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