Well this week was filled with closing out of many projects and events and with that great new beginnings for us and many other people we love.
I will start off with the Welfare Project. We were able to see over the last 2 months the approval of the project and the beginning of building shelters, purchasing pigs and goats and seeing the members come together and take it over in their own way.
In a 2 week period they worked together and built 4 double pig shelter for raising sow's and and prepare 12 separate locations for raising goats.
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| Two new piglets |
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| New pig shelter at the Viodor home |
The goats were all purchased this week and distributed out among 12 different member families. I call this the 'great goat roundup' but it really is the goat distribution.
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| Beginning of the goat roundup |
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| Tampon family receiving their goats |
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| The Viodor family gathering up their goats |
This marks a end of putting a project together and now seeing all the member who have participated the Self Reliance Course use the skills they learned to become more self sufficient and self reliant. This process will span over many years of hard work and dedication to become self reliant. This is a starting point and new beginning for those who take seriously what they have learned and apply it in life of their families.
So the Island of Bohol has been out of power with intermittent on and off power on a rotating basis. This was caused by an earthquake on another Island that provides power to Bohol. The church sent us emergency lights with solar back up charging for all the missionaries. We passed them out this week in District Meetings.
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| Tagb Zone |
We also went to a birthday party this week for Jesabelle Gambe. It was her 18th birthday and I guess that is a large event where many family and friends from all over are invited over for a meal. This probably compares to a wedding party for us. I was surprised at just how huge this party was!
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| Jesabelle Gambe & Sister Bell |
Then we attended, on Thursday night, a going away party for the Bell's. This was great afternoon event and fun was had by all. Many members shared their feeling with us and there was no shortage of tears shed by us and many others. Many great things were shared but a few that stood out and will stick with us forever are:
(1) Although you are rich Americans to us, you never treated us poor Filipinos any different. We have always felt like we are part of your family and you made us feel that way. That is one of the greatest complements we could ever receive.
(2) (From John Mark) I have never felt the love of a family until you came. You treated me as though I was your son and I felt that love. This is also another great complement.
(3) Sister Bell you were the greatest teacher we have ever had. You taught us the gospel in way that it will change my life. This one surely is true.
(4) Elder Bell you showed us how a Priesthood Leader should care and help people. I think that is one of the greatest compliments I could ever receive.
Well I could go on forever but I won't. We knew we were loved by them and they were loved by us.
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| Sagbayan Youth Presentation |
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| Sister Nueva, Sister Bell Sister Racoma, Nanay Claudia |
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| Plenty of food for all |
Well I am going to let Sister Bell finish this out. I guess I could sum this up by quoting words from Sister Bell, "After this glorious week with these people we love, if we died today we would feel like we had helped many people and done some good in this world." That is great feeling to feel so loved by so many and feeling the same way yourself.
May the Lord Bless all of you.
Elder Bell (Tatay, LoLo & Amigo)
Ayo Family and Friends!
It has been a great send off. Sad and happy and exciting and dreadful all at the same time! Of course we are excited to be heading home to see all of you, our children, grandkids, friends and neighbors, but at the same time we leave behind pieces of our heart here in this land we have grown to love filled with people we shall never forget.
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| Sisters Abril, Labuga, & Nacalaban came to the port to tell us goodbye |
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Elders Calumpang and Papica our Calape Zone leaders gave us a ride to the port
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| Goodbye to the Nueva Family |
And we had to stop and give the Nueva's one last goodbye before we left Bohol for the last time.
Sister Annebelle Nueva is one of my dearest friends. We just clicked from the first moment we met. She has served me constantly while on this mission and I have been lifted and edified by her. It was a very tearful goodbye to my sister/friend. I guess if we had not given this mission our all it would not hurt so badly to leave. But we can leave knowing that we really did give the Lord every part of us to fulfill this mission and so, like it or not, leaving hurts.
We headed across the pond to Cebu and had one last meeting with the Zorn about one last welfare project we hope to get approved and then they left us…..
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| Bags packed and ready to go |
And here we sit looking and feeling a little homeless at the side of the road while we wait for Sister Maughan to pick us up. We are now parked comfortably here with the Maughans for a few days and then we will leave for Manila, but that is a story for next week. So until then we bid you adieu.
Love you forever,
Sister Bell (Mamala to all)
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