PAGBUNYAG (Baptisms) Street Meeting and More

Malipayon Easter Pamilya & Amigos

Our hearts are full this Easter Weekend for the newness of life, that through Jesus Christ and His  atoning sacrifice and resurrection we can all one day return to live with Him, our Savior.  At the same time our hearts are filled with sadness for the Harmon family and their great loss.  The thing that is amazing is that through the atonement of Christ all men will live again and our most righteous judge will sort all things out and we will be partakers of his love for us.

I will start this week with a street meeting….

On tuesday we assisted Elder Albar and Elder Racca with a street meeting in the center of Sierra Bullones.  This is a area that was just opened up a couple of weeks ago.  There is 1 inactive member in the town and this is new uncharted territory as it relates to missionary work.

So Elders Albar and Racca rented the center Barangay stage/meeting area in the center of the town.  We lined up a projector and sound system and brought chairs from neighboring town of Pilar.  We set up and started with music and music videos that Sister Bell and I manned for an hour or so.  The Elders with the help of Elders Hall and Carillo started working the streets and houses surrounding the Barangay Hall.  At first we had a lot of children playing games and coming to watch the videos.

Then the Elders returned and showed a video about the Atonement and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Within 10 minute there were 50 people watching.  Then Elder Albar and Elder Racca gave a power point presentation about the Apostasy and Restoration.

Street Meeting in Sierra Bullones

This is a shot of them going through their presentation seamlessly presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  This is the closest thing to Alma and Amulek teaching the Zoramites we have ever heard.  It sent chills up our spines to be witness of the power with which they bore testimony and taught. The people here are humble and have open hearts.

Members from Pilar

By the time the meeting was over there were 65 in attendance which included 15 members from the neighboring town of Pilar.

They received many names and numbers to follow up on and investigators are being taught. The Lord really works through these young Elders as they boldly proclaim the truth.

Next is Pagbunyag (Baptisms)…...

Saturday I was back in Ubay again for baptisms in the ocean.  Sister Bell had to teach Seminary in Sagbayan so we divided to conquer.  We received our truck back from Cebu after only taking 3 weeks to fix which made it possible.

I attended the Baptism of Wenna Talili and her daughter Erlinda Talil.  They were taught and baptized by Elders Lewis and Kuhn.

Elder Lewis and Elder Kuhn

Baptism of Sister Wenna Talili

When Sister Wenna Talili came out of the water after she was baptized, she jumped for joy in the water celebrating her entrance into the Church of Jesus Christ.  The picture does not even do this justice.  She literally jumped for joy and then wept as she was overcome with happiness.

Jumping for Joy

This story really speaks for itself.  The next chapter to this story is on 16th of April when sixteen people are planning on being Baptized in Ubay!!  And there are more baptisms on the other weeks in April. The Elders in Ubay are so amazing.  They are working very hard and the Lord is doing the rest.  It is so fun to watch this growth.

Well I had better turn this over to Sister Bell for the rest of the story.  We realize that the Lord is gathering the lost tribes of Israel. 2 Nephi 10:8;  "And it shall come to pass that they shall be gathered in from their long dispersion, from the isles of the sea, and from the four parts of the earth", And we are in the middle of it.  I love the Lord and love His work.

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

Salamat Kaayo
Elder Bell  (Tatay, Lolo, Amigo)


Ayo Family and Friends!
Another week in Paradise!  We are squarely in the middle of the 'dry season'.  They call it Summer here just like we do at home.  And, I have to tell you it is not too bad.  It is very similar to a very hot August day.  Much less humid than the rainy season and everything begins to turn brown and burn up in just a couple of weeks without rain.  That is why the 'chocolate hills' are called such…they turn brown in just a few days without rain.  Also, many of the areas in the interior of the island are beginning to run out of water in the wells.  I don't know about you but if this is a problem year after year you would think these communities would have developed water storage spaces or reservoirs.  But, they have not and so our missionaries really have no water for two months.  They have to buy bottled water for all of their needs.

The school year ends for the kids here on April 1 this year.  They have a two month Summer break and then back to school June 1!  So, my seminary kids are pretty excited to be done with the school year.  However, we started our seminary class a good 12 weeks later than everyone else on the island, so we are going to continue with seminary all through the summer break and try and get caught up so that we can start the next class with everyone else in June.

We have been trying to fix a problem that exists throughout our mission….the broken down bikes dilemma!  It occupies a good portion of our week, each and every week.  So, we have these great office Elders that have gotten a bike shop in Cebu to build us bikes to our specifications and we are trying to replace all of our junker bikes with new, sturdier versions.  So, this week we got our first shipment of new bikes.  They are pretty great.  Of course we had to take them for a spin and make sure they were all they need to be…..If you know me, you know that biking is one of my happy places.  So, I am happy to take each and every bike for a test run!

We have been sobered by the news of Jesse Harmons (our good neighbor from Hooper) death this week.  It reminds me that we need to let everyone we love know, as often as possible, how much they mean to us.  So, can I just take a minute and tell you that I love you.  I love that you love me enough to read this blog and to follow us on our adventure.  I love that you support us with letters and prayers.  We feel your love and support and we do not take it for granted.  We could not be here doing what we do without your support.  Please feel our love across the miles.  It is real and intense and it is for you! Harmons, we pray for the comfort that only the Holy Ghost can bring to your aching hearts today.  We love Jesse and will always remember his warm smile and beautiful music.

Well, we are going to let you go.  We have had a terrible internet week and so you may be getting this without any of our pictures.  We are sorry.  We are in the Peens and sometimes you do not have internet…this is one of those weeks! (After a couple of hours Elder Bell finally got the pictures to download.  Hooray!)

Happy Easter!  I want you to know that I know that my Redeemer lives!  He suffered for me.  He died for me. And he was resurrected so that one day I could also be resurrected and return to live with Him.  For this I am eternally grateful.  For this I consecrate my life to share this message with His children who have not yet heard the good news of the gospel.  Ako nasayud nga si JesuKristo mao ang atong Manunubos! (I know that Jesus Christ is our Redeemer!)

Love you forever,
Sister Bell, (Nanay, Lola, Amigo)