Malipayon Bagong Tuig!

Happy New Year to all

Well this was quite an event filled week. Starting with transfers then a missionary from our Calape District leaving for her mission,  missionary movie night and last of all, blowing up the world with fireworks on New Years Eve.  Along with all the festivities it is a great time for reflection and renewal of ones self and goals not yet accomplished.

Well I will start off with transfers.  So we had five transfers in our district, one was Sister Varias, who was going home at the end of her mission, and two of the the other missionaries from Sagbayan.  The other two were very dear to our hearts also.  Elder Santos was our zone leader and this was our second time serving with him and Sister Delos Reyes who we have served with twice also (the first time was in Calape). All five of these missionaries are just like our own grandchildren.

Elder Minoc, Elder Santos, Sister Delos Reyes and Sister Cook

So Elder Minoc and Sister Cook were our very own Sagbayan Missionaries.  Both of these missionaries worked their hearts out while they served in Sagbayan.  Sister Cook we were especially close to. She served in two other areas close to us and we got to know her very well then. She was one of the first sister missionaries that started riding bicycles. She has nerves of steal and heart of a champion that forge the way for many others sister to ride bicycles.

When Sister Cook was assigned to Sagbayan we were thrilled and she served by our side for six months. Everyone in Sagbayan, member and non-member, knew Sister Cook. She TC'd (testifying contact) everyone.  While serving in Sagbayan she found the Jandayan family and assisted in bring the entire family and many others to the waters of baptism. I bring this up because it ties into my next story that she is totally a part of.

 Sister Cook saying goodbye to the Jandayan Family and Apple in the black shirt

So today, being New Years day, we had great church meetings.  While I was attending priesthood meeting, with 25 new priesthood holders in attendance, I was sparked to remember how much change had occurred in our lives and also the lives of all those members we work with.  Brother Jandayan was teaching the priesthood class and was introducing the concept of home teaching to all the priesthood holders.  In a new Branch we have to introduce new programs one at a time so as to not overwhelm the new members all at once.

So as I was watching him give the lesson I realized that on the 1st of September I did not even know him and he did not know about the church. Since that time he and his family have embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ with their whole hearts. He has taught his family all the lessons in the Gospel Essentials manual and studies the basic priesthood manual (Duties and Blessings of the Priesthood #2).  This manual teaches new member all the basic functions of the priesthood and how to use them in their lives. Also his wife teaches Relief Society.  This family is a dream come true for any missionary and also for a Branch President of a new Branch.  They are truly a gift from God that entered into the church because of diligent, obedient missionaries that brought the blessings of the Lord to their family and to all they will influence.  I would not be surprised to see Brother Jandayan as Branch President or District President some day in the future.

These are just some reflections of the past year:

Organization of the Sagbayan Branch July 31, 2016

Some of the 33 new member baptized in Sagabayan Branch 2016

President & Sister Tanner go home after 3 years of service to Cebu East Mission

Jason and Aly come and visit.

One of many Baptism attended in Ubay

Tharon & Holly Come and visit

Clarke & Luci vist and we build Sister Segovia's chicken coop

We plant rice on Racoma farm

A shot of one most beautiful places in the world

Well this does not even cover 100th part of the experiences this last year.  Needless to say we love the missionaries we serve with and also the members.  It was a great 12 months.

I have learned to be more humble and trust in the Lord completely in my life.  I have really realized that we are just a player in large plan he is directing.  May we always be willing and worthy to be part of that plan.

Nahigugma ko kanato sa kanunay (Love you all always)

Elder Bell (Tatay, LoLo & Amigo)

Malipayong Bagong Tuig! (Happy New Year!)

It was an eventful week!  We spent two days in the Mulitcab and I grew tired of travel really quickly!  The travel days all revolved around transfers.  We did end that two day trip with the Smalley's our great friends from Valencia on the other side of the island.  We always love to spend time with them.  They help us so much with the missionaries over on the far side.

I was really happy to be back at seminary this week!  It is my favorite job and I had missed it for more than a month while we were out of the country.  The youth of Sagbayan are so great and the group is growing so fast.  We had three teenagers baptized while we were gone!  We average about 15 at seminary every Saturday.

New Years celebrations have been going on all weekend.  Saturday it started with a parade outside of our apartment.

Parade for New Years!

This was a 'batch' reunion.  Let me explain….Saturday, all day, they had class reunions at the school behind out apartment.  Each class is called Batch 1986, or Batch 2011, etc, etc.  The school hosts all of the classes for an all-day event.  It started with the parade with the current students in the lead playing their drums, and xylophones (the only instruments in the band) and then the flaggers and such.  Then they were followed by the Batch Mates starting with the oldest graduating class to the most current.

The rest of the day was very loud Videoke.

The view from my second floor of the Batch Reunion at the School

The missionaries all have to be in early (6:00 pm) on New Year's Eve and it is also the day that they are allowed to watch a movie.  So we volunteered to have our district over for the annual movie…Moana!  They brought their own junk food and a good time was had by all.

Inabanga District enjoying the movie in my very tiny living room!

We were able to get to bed last night at a decent hour and slept well until midnight!  Wow!  Do they ever make noise at midnight!  Fireworks blowing up, truck horns honking, drums and pans being pounded.  Whew!!!  We had no idea we would be missing such a party by going to bed early.

Today after church we were invited to share a meal with the Viodor Family. They have shared more meals with us than I can count.  They are always taking in strays and feeding us.  They are the most gracious people we know.

The Viodor Family sharing their New Year's Feast!

Poinsetteas are so beautiful in this tropical land.  They grow as big as trees and they are beautiful this time of year.

People carry the strangest things on their motors!   It always makes me giggle!

Well, that is a wrap for this week.  It was busy but it was good.  We feel the time slipping away from us.  Only seven months left and they already seem to be flying past.  Hopefully we can accomplish all that we need to in the weeks left.

We love you forever,

Sister Bell (Mamala to all)