Ukay-Ukay and Chicken Feet!?

Hello Faithful Followers!

Every week when I sit down to write it is a real problem to decide  what to tell you about this week.  There is never a lack of subject matter as you only get a small dose of our daily events.  But this week I decided to tell you about Ukay-Ukay (Ew-ky-Ew-Ky).  The literal translation is dig-dig but this is the term used for a second-hand shop (and I use the term loosely). The sisters decided to introduce me to them last P-Day.  So I drove them to the nearest Ukay-Ukay.  It was a small tarp covered city.  Very low lying tables had been set up on top of a rubble pile (the rubble being what was once a block building  until the earthquake two years ago.) There had been very little clean up of the rubble so there were broken cement block, rebar and glass shards littering the ground.  It was no small feat to walk around in the place.  But then to watch our little Filipino Sisters master the art of dig-digging through the piles was something to behold.  Sister Astilla and Contago could work their way through an entire heaped table in just a few minutes.  The clothes are usually bundles received from some other country to help the people here with affordable clothing.  So the buyer gets a really great deal on the purchase with most things costing about 25-50 cents.  Somehow the Sisters always find cute clothing but I found I had no patience for it.  I was just shocked at the whole situation with the broken glass and cement everywhere but anyway....now you know what a Ukay-Ukay is all about!  It made me appreciate our DI.

Ukay-Ukay

Kevin has been very sick this week with first a bad cold and then a pretty bad ear infection with the accompanying fever.  So we did not get out too much this week.  By Saturday we really had a full weekend planned and so we had to get out sick or not.  At least he had no fever so off we went.  We had a full saturday with a meeting with the Branch Presidents and District Presidency and then a baptism.  Saturday night we decided to stay in a Pension House (Hotel) for the night so that we could get to an early church meeting in Talibon.  That was an interesting experience but I will save the story of the Pension House for another day.

We also attended church at the Talibon Branch for the first time.  It is a pretty strong little branch and seems to have some good leadership.  I attended Young Womens and had a great experience. There were seven young women in this tiny room.  As I entered the room I headed for the last open chair on the last row where just one young woman was sitting.  The leader said as I walked past her, "Oh, she is deaf."  As the opening song was being sung this young woman picked up my hand and pointed to the words of the song.  So I began to point to the words as we sang them.  She sang along with beautiful American sign language (yet another language I need to learn). It brought tears to my eyes.  As the lesson went on I noticed when she opened a notebook that she could write English very well and since she nor I had any idea what was being said, I opened a note book and wrote her a little note. I asked her name and how old she was.  She responded that her name was Cristal and she was 17 years old.  Well, our note passing continued through Sunday School and Young Womens and I have a great new friend.  I was so touched by this experience because I really felt like none of her peers or leaders pay much attention to her or try to accommodate her needs.  Maybe Cristal is one of the reasons I have been sent to Bohol.  I certainly plan on pursuing our friendship further.  She is a choice daughter of God and my life has been enriched by meeting her yesterday.

So now to the "chicken feet"....Chicken feet are a delicacy here in the Philippines.  You can buy them in the market and they cook them in a bright reddish sauce and serve them at gathering.  So last night at our Family Home Evening this dish was served.  Well the Filipino Elders were all over it and tried to get me to try them.  I flat out refused.  But Elder Bell was across the room and missed out on the whole of the conversation.  So we all just watched as he loaded up his plate with chicken feet not realizing what they were.  I sat across the room and just watched as he took his first bite and realized what he had done!!  It was priceless!  I wish I had captured it on film.  He actually ate one all the way to the bone including the knuckles but the others he just nibbled at and pushed them around on his plate.  He says he wasn't a big fan and would try to avoid them in the future.  The missionaries told us that they also serve chicken heads and they are an even bigger delicacy.  Yikes!!!

Well, that is my contribution to the blog this week and now I will hand you off to Elder Bell who also has some interesting stories to tell.  But before I do I need to make a correction to our mailing address here on Bohol for any of you planning on sending quiet bags.  The correction is:
Elder and Sister Bell
Philippines Cebu East Mission
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Church Conpound
National Highway, Bajac, Lilo-an
Cebu 6002, Philippines

Please not the change of address and please, please send those quiet bags!  We are desperate for some help.  I love and appreciate the support and help we get from all of you.  The news from home is marvelous and we love every word of every letter received.  Thank you. Thank you.  We are doing our best to make you all proud of us.  We love our service here and would not want to be any place other than Bohol right now.  I love the Lord and I love His work.

Love you forever,
Sister Bell (Nanay, Lola, Amigo) (Mom, Grandma, Friend)


MARCHING WITH THE ARMY OF GOD

Hello Mga Anak (Children) Mga Apo (Grand Children) Mga Amigo (Friends)

I will start with a great story that is still in process of being written.

Two weeks ago we attended Sacrament Meeting in Sagbayan (a group not large enough to be a branch).  We meet about 25 people there, some of which were investigators.  We attended a Family Home Evening after with about 10 investigators in attendance.  Also a teaching appointment with about 8 investigators in attendance.  At both of these appointments myself and Sister Bell, and a group of youth missionaries that attended and bore very strong testimony of all truths being discussed.

Two weeks later we attended the baptisms of 2 of the investigators.

Elders Viatabau and Cabasag

Sagbayan Members

So this week we attended the Sagbayan group and there were over 40 people in attendance.  Sister Bell had double the attendance at primary and the Young Men/Young Women had grown from 5 to 13!  The 2 new members were confirmed and the mother, a young man about 15 years old and many others were talking about their upcoming baptisms in 2 weeks. The young man is planning on serving a mission. Many of the other new and existing members were making long range plans to attend the Temple.  The missionaries and members are on fire in this group and it is so fun to watching the whole thing happen.

After Church we attend another Family Home Evening with what we call the Army of God.

The Army of God

This group consists of Branch Missionaries, Investigators committed for Baptism and Full time Missionaries.  There were 19 of us that were going as 'missionaries' to the Family Home Evening at a the home of a part member family. They are walking to the Family Home Evening where 10 people will be taught.  If you want to experience what is like be where "The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning"just come visit this group some day.

We are striving to help the Group establish a Branch in the near future.  It is very rewarding and satisfying to be the Support Team for the Army of God.

That is what our roll is as senior couples.  All of the heavy lifting is being completed by the Army of God.  It is our roll to keep up.

I will share some pictures from Pres. Nueva's family farm.

Family Home damaged in earth quake 2 years ago.  Missionaries doing a service project to dig new footings to repair the home.

Temporary home for the multi generational family to live until family home is restored.

Okra field on the Nueva farm.

All over look of the Nueva farm that is tilled planted and harvested with a Carabou.

In closing I would like share with you my testimony of the Savior and His Work.  I know He lives and guiding his work today.  I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God and a man will get closer to God by abiding by its teaching than any other book.  I love all of you. In the Name of Jesus Christ Amen.

May the Lord Bless you with the righteous desires of your heart.

Love  Elder Bell (Dad, Grandpa and Friend)