I don't even know where to begin. It has been amazing to have Jennifer, Kariann and Chris with us this week. We have covered a lot of territory and gotten a good amount of missionary work done along the way. The weather could not have been more perfect after a long, long rainy season. This week was not rainy but cool and nice. Pictures speak louder than words, so here we go…….
Jennifer and I on top of the Hilltop 360 hill! This is a beautiful place to view the Chocolate Hills.
Chris and Kariann looking at the strange statues. This is a pilgrimage sight for the Catholic Church.
Chris and Kariann sitting atop the Holy Spirit Statue at Hilltop!
This spider….no kidding….was the size of Kariann's hand! They grow so large here!! Not Jennifer's favorite tourist sight!
Me, Jennifer, Kariann, Chris on the view platform at Sagbayan Peak!
Kariann and Chris….strangest Tarsiers I have ever seen!
Jennifer was so very brave to try the zip-line! She loved it!
Tuesday we attended district meetings in Tagbilaran. It was transfer notice meeting and so they had a budol-budol fight for lunch following! It looked yummy!
These are our transferring missionaries from Tagbilaran; Sisters Merjudio & Pulgar, Elder Navarro, Sisters Macadangdang and Dela Cruz.
Lunch at our favorite place on Panglao….The Buzz Cafe'.
Chris did not hesitate to perform valuable Chiropractic care for the missionaries!
Jennifer and her favorite step-father, Elder Bell.
Tarsier monkey sanctuary….it is a really great place. I will take you there when you come to visit!
Here we are after a long day of snorkeling. We all got very sunburned as it was a pretty overcast day and so even though we knew better, we forgot to sunscreen. The sun in the Peens is brutal! But the reef here is worth it! It is amazing!
Now, that was just a brief overview of our week. We were busy every minute of every day. We are sad to let them go home. We enjoyed our time with them and are so happy they came all this way to share with us a little part of our grand adventure!
We love you all and appreciate your love, prayers, and sacrifice on our behalf! We love what we do and we are trying to finish up all the projects that we know we need to complete before we leave this great country.
Love you forever,
Sister Bell (Mamala to all)
Maayong Gabii Pamilya & mga Amigo
Malipayon mi nakita mga anak, si Jennifer ug Kariann ug bana, Chris. (We are grateful to see Jennifer, Kariann and husband Chris).
Well my post will be centered around a magical event that took place today (Sunday).
Since coming to Bohol we have followed and become part of the Sagbayan Branch and watched it grow and become a new thriving branch. Our attendance has climbed from first 20 to 25 and now averaging 85 to 90. The missionaries in Sagbayan have 10 to 15 baptisms lined up in the branch spanning over the next 3 or 4 weeks. It has been amazing to see the Lords hand in the work and the growth he orchestrates when members and missionaries work together to do his will.
Well to top that all off we felt impressed to start and new unofficial group in a town about 45 minutes drive from Sagbayan called Danao. There are 2 members that live in Danao and have been as faithful as they could over the years to attend church whenever they could considering the distance and limited resources available. They also have invited the missionaries to Danao for the past 2 or three years to teach there friends and neighbors. No one was able to join the church because of the inability of being able to attend church.
Well at 4:00 today we held the first sacrament meeting in Danao at one of the members homes. We had about 20 members come with us from Sagbayan and 22 attended from Danao! Fifteen of the 22 were investigators and have expressed desires to be taught and/or baptized. We intend on holding sacrament meeting every week allowing them to be baptized and receive the blessing of the gospel in their lives.
Picture of the first Sacrament Meeting in Danao
We will share some of the stories of the individual people and their path towards receiving the truth in their lives. We have 6 months left and if the Lord has this in his plan we hope we can see the development of a new branch of the Church with these special people.
I will leave with a great shot of the beautiful land we serve in. It is great to see the people who live in this land have such pureness of heart. The beauty of the land reflects this pureness of heart.
The sunset at Isla Hayahay
May the Lord Bless you as you strive to find happiness and peace in your life.
Kita Kits sa sunod simana (See you next week)
Elder Bell (Tatay, LoLo & Amigo)
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