Pay it forward! (Thank you Romneys!)

Ayo!  Friends and Family!

Sorry to be a day late this week…hopefully a few of you noticed because that would mean that some of you are still reading the blog.

I had a great belated birthday snorkel with my husband and our new friends, the Shamrell's.  It was their first time snorkeling in the Philippines even though they had previously served a mission here.

I know it is not glamorous but it is definitely my happy place.  There is nothing better than sticking your face in the water and watching the little colorful fish swim around!  I love it!!!

The rest of the week we have been in hyper-drive (and this week is not going to be any different).  But one of the things we had the most fun doing is this…

We just had 5 of the members of our branch complete the amazing 'Self Reliance' program that the church offers.  It is a bare bones, 12 week business course on how to start and grow a small business.  These lucky people did not know when they started the class that they would have the most wonderful gift fall in to their hands, but this is what happened.  When we were back in Utah in November, we had lunch with some of our dear friends, Christine and Scott Romney.  I have known Christine for many, many years (she was one of my young women back in 1990).  A few years ago she had just become divorced and came with her two young children to live with Elder Bell and I.  She was only there for a few months and we loaned her a very small amount of money to start a business.  Well, her business is hugely successful today and she and Scott wanted to donate some money for us to use as we saw fit to bless the lives of some people in the Philippines when we returned to our mission.  It was a significant donation and we pondered over it for some time but finally decided to make available to our branch members who had completed the self reliance course, start-up money for their small businesses.  They had to apply for the grant money and prove to us they had a viable business plan and sign a note promising to 'pay it forward' when they achieved some success in their new business.

So here are the pictures of our grant recipients….

This is Fidel and Florizza Jandayan who will start a small Tindihan(store) in their home.  Bro. Jandayan is also going to grow his herbal oil business that he already does.

This is Zita Anober.  Her husband lives and works in the Middle East and only comes home to visit every few years.  She is going to start a business selling rice and other commodities in her immediate neighborhood and they live a ways out of town and her neighbors will appreciate the convenience.

 This is Louisa Umbang, mother of 8 kids.  She is very busy but will be able to supplement her husbands income with raising pigs.

This is Claudia Enad.  She is a single mother who already runs a small Tindihan.  She will grow her current business and add eggs that she will get from her chickens and will also raise pigs.

We are so thankful to the Romney's for their kind and generous donation.  It has blessed the lives of many people already.  We have a new self reliance class starting and the interest has really peaked.  All of the new students are hoping for grant money as well but we will have to see if we can raise a little more money to help all of them after they finish the course.  We were so impressed with how well they had learned the business principles.  It is a great program and we wish all of them great success with this wonderful hand up!

The rest of the week is a bit of a blur for me….I will end with that and let Elder Bell fill you in on the rest of the week.  

The work is really moving along at warp speed now.  We have so many things going on we can not even keep up…and yet somehow we do.  It all just works out even when the day is so full it seems impossible to make it to all the events.  We have been really blessed with the ability to run faster than we ever thought possible.  We are looking forward to a visit from the Ellsworth's next week.  I will keep you posted on the fun-filled week.

I love you all so much and appreciate the support from home in every degree imaginable.  The letters, emails, prayers, paying our bills, doing our taxes, shoveling our snow….all of it!  Thank you to the huge team at home that makes all of this possible!

Love you forever,

Sister Bell (Mamala to all)

Maayong Happon (Good Afternoon)

Well I will attempt to tell you about our months worth of activities we experienced this last week.

I will start with one of the great ones. We attended the baptism of a young man this week. His name is Ronel Anober.  He is the only member in his immediate family although his cousins and Auntie are members. His mother does not understand anything about the gospel and was so distraught that he was going to be baptized that the Elders met with her last week.  They temporally planned in delaying the baptism until Ronel and his mother met some common ground so the family could go on as a happy family.  After a day of much prayer by the Elders, Ronel and many others, his mother told him not to delay his baptism because that is what he really wanted deep in his heart.

Ronel was baptized on Saturday and stood and bore firm testimony of the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the happiness he is receiving from having the gospel in his life.  He is planning on serving a mission in 12 months when his year as member of the Church of Jesus Christ is up. He is great strong young man and will be a great missionary.

Elder Crowley, Marian Anober, Ronel Anober, Jeane Veb Anober, Elder Salazar

Well on friday we made a whirlwind trip across the pond (ocean) to allow Marjonilo a chance to experience of going to the temple for the second time before he leaves on his mission on March 23rd.  We even made it back in time to attend our first meeting of the second round of self reliance classes in the branch.

So another great event that is happening is the construction of the new chapel in Sagbayan.  The pre-construction meeting will take place this week and a contractor will be awarded the contract within the next week or two.  We anticipate the completion of this chapel hopefully a month or two before we return home in July.

This will be the new Chapel in Sagbayan when minor remodel, roof and finish work is completed.

Well Sunday was Fast Sunday and missionaries and members of the branch fasted for some special purposes. One purpose was for part-members families to have the non-members in their families heart softened. The next was for the people in Danao to be able see the light the gospel would bring through the group we are trying to start there. After the 2nd Sacrament meeting yesterday we feel the Lord is touching their hearts. We had 30 in attendance from Danao and 20 of those were investigators.  We know we still have a uphill battle over the next few months to start this new group in the church, but with the Lords help all things are possible.

Well to top the week off on Saturday night after seminary we had all the youth over to our house for movie night.  We watched the movie Courageous. It is always special to have all these amazing young people in our home. A simple large pan of popcorn and a video with a moral foundation and they are appreciative of everything.

Movie night for the youth

Then on Sunday night after completing work for the day, we had all the missionaries over for pancakes.  A great simple way to finish off a fantastic fast day with the missionaries.  Lately the p-day breakfast has suffered because we are on the run early in the morning on p-day attending to missionaries on the other side of the Island.  It is fantastic to listen and share stories with these Elders and Sisters that are working so hard everyday to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It renews all of our spirits.

Fantastic Sagbayan Missionaries

Before leaving I have to throw in a picture of a corn grinding mill we ran across while tracking this week in Danao.  The Elders tried their hand at it and found very quickly it is not as easy as it looks. This nanay was doing a terrific job.

Elder Salazar trying his hand at the mill

Nanay showing the Elders the art of grinding corn

Well that will wrap it up for this week.  I love how we have really learned how to be grateful from these loving people we serve.  I have learned to be grateful for everything in my life and also everything the Lord has given to me and intrusted me with.  May I always be found worthy of that trust and love.

Umping jud mo (have very good day)

Elder Bell (Tatay, LoLo & Amigo)