Bells…..Bells

Ayo!

Well, here it is, already March!  That means we have been here six months!!! The time has flown by so very fast.  We are so busy and so fully engaged that we can not believe how fast the time is flying by.

This week we have had Elder Bell's brother, Tharon and his wife, Holly with us.  They arrived last Monday.  They had only a few hours until they jumped back on a ferry with Elder Bell and headed to Cebu for a leadership training meeting on Tuesday.  I, in the mean time, spent the night here in Calape with my sister, Luci and brother-in-law, Clarke as they did not leave until Tuesday afternoon.  I am not sure they ever really got over the jet-lag before they stepped back on to the plane to head home.  I know I sure enjoyed my week with them.  They are waiting for a mission call any day now and we will not see each other for at least 18 months.  It was hard to send them home.  Love you Fowers! Thanks for the visit!

Also, the other big event of this week was the baptism of our grandson, Rowdy.  Rowdy is a great young man.  He is kind and considerate.  He is faithful and tender.  He is a great big brother and an amazing grandson.  We are sad to have missed his baptism but we are so proud of his choice to be baptized and for his dedicated effort to read The Book of Mormon before he got baptized.  Rowdy, we really love you and I know that Heavenly Father is so proud of you and so are we!

The visiting Bells had a rough start to their visit here as Tharon was very sick when they arrived home from the training in Cebu.  He spent two full days in bed and is still struggling to regain his strength.  But he has been a good sport and followed us all over this island for the last three days.

You can certainly tell they are brothers!

One of the days Tharon was still sick, we had to leave them behind and attend a Family Home Evening in Danao.  There are two families that live there and it is hard for them to make it to church every week because it is an hour away from Sagbayan, the closest church.  So we arrived a few minutes before they all got home from work and just enjoyed a visit with some of our best missionaries and friends.

This is us with our Sagbayan missionaries, and recent converts, Claudia, John Mark and Marjonilo.

We were able to have some tourist time with the Bells on Wednesday as we went about doing a few apartment fixes for the Elders.  We were in the neighborhood of Danao again and so went on the same zip-line we had been on last week with the Fowers.  We had our camera this time and got some amazing video of our zip across a very deep canyon.  Sorry, we are not going to post it for you because it will take two days to upload with our slow internet, but, here is a still-shot of the river running at the bottom of the gorge.

View from the Zip Line

This is a really fun zip-line and not very pricey so when you come to visit we are for sure going to go on it again!

We also made it that same day to Sagbayan Peak for a few shots of the Chocolate Hills, which are now beginning to turn that famous 'chocolate' color as we head in to the dry season.

Chocolate Hills

A little selfie of us!

Before I hand you over to my good bana (husband), I just want to let you know that I sure love you all and miss you.  But, I know we are in the right place at the right time for us just now.  We love being a small part of the great work of bringing souls to Christ.  It is rolling forth and it is so remarkable to be a small part of it here on Bohol.  We have learned to love these beautiful people.  They are good, kind and so humble.   We have learned so much from them and feel the influence for good that they are having in our lives.  We will never be the same and for that we are glad.  I love the Lord and all His goodness. I am so thankful that He has entrusted me with this calling. Please know that I am giving it my all.  Thank you for all of your letters, and prayers and undying support of us and all missionaries.  We feel those prayers each day said in our behalf.

Love you forever,

Sister Bell (Nanay, Lola, Amigo)

Nindot Kaayo (very awesome) Pamilya and Amigo's!

Well another great week in paradise.  We started off with a bang and ended that way also. There are way too many things we could tell you but we will just hit the top of the greatest ones.

A BAPTISM FROM THE MOST HEAVENLY PLACE ON THIS EARTH!!! UBAY !!!

We attended the baptism of Brother Benidicto Vallejos on Saturday.  We have been working with him at church for a few months and the missionaries have been working with him for few years.  He is such a strong person and has overcome many trials to make the baptism possible.  He bore such a strong testimony after his baptism and in fast meeting today.  He has a special strong spirit and will be a great addition to the Lord's Kingdom in Ubay.  They say that picture is worth a thousand words.

How would you like this setting for baptismal service?

Brother Benidicto and his Asawa (wife)

This is Baptism in the Lord's baptismal font.

We also spent a beautiful evening at the Isle HayaHay with Tharon and Holy. After the mad dashes to and from one other side of the Island to the other and sending 4 missionaries to return home to their families. We spent a beautiful evening with a sunset and meal that would take your breath away.

Two special people that are near and dear to our hearts.

It has been wonderful the last two weeks to have Clarke and Luci and Tharon and Holly visit.  They are such great family and on top of that great friends.  I have really enjoyed spending time with my brother and hope to spend more time in the future. 

I love the Lord and Love the work we are engaged in. The people and the land are very near and dear to our hearts.  They teach us how to enjoy life with very little worldly possessions and embrace the good things that the Lord has blessed us with and be very thankful for all of them all the time.

Amping (good day to all)

Elder Bell  (Tatay, Lolo and Amigo)