Dog Days of Summer!

Ayo Family and Friends!

It has been a work week…..catch up with stuff week…..lots of laundry week!

So here goes….the number of missionaries in our mission (and I assume all missions) has been slowly going down over the last few transfers.  Last year at this time there were a little over 200 missionaries in the Cebu East Mission and now we hover around 160ish.  That being said, we have had to close down quite a few apartments and so this week we cleaned one out in Jagna.  While we were doing so, with the help of the wonderful Smalley's, we ran in to this guy…

He had been living in the bedroom of the Jagna Sisters apartment….not sure how long, but he was none too excited about being captured and set free outside.  I think now he has tasted his freedom for a few days he probably likes it.

And this guy was living on the back porch of the Jagna Sisters apartment!  They had a variable zoo on the premises!  He startled me a bit when he jumped as I moved a garbage can!  Oh the joys of being a senior couple!  We have all sorts of adventures!

This cute little duck lives next to one of our investigators and I captured his photo as we hiked back in with the elders to teach her!  I post all of these for my grandkids (especially Liliana) who love animals.

We had a great 'mission prep' class on Saturday morning.  This week we studied about patriarchal blessings and then I wanted to teach them how to cook!  Well, I was seriously out voted on that matter….they wanted to learn to make cookies.  I tried to tell them that they would likely not have an oven while on their mission but still, they wanted cookies.  So we baked cookies and watch a movie until it was time to go to the baptism.  Elder Bell can fill you in on that event.

Today was a day with mixed emotions for us.  Elder/President Bell was released from being branch president of Sagbayan Branch.  We know our new branch presidency are ready for the challenge but Elder Bell really loved serving these wonderful people in that capacity.  It is all good though….we have a few more weeks with them to help teach them all they need to know before we have to leave for good!  Sorry no picture of our new presidency but they are, President Racoma as president, President Jandayan as 1st counselor, and President Gambe as 2nd counselor.  They are wonderful men and will carry on the strong missionary effort going forward in this branch.

Today was one of the hottest days of the year so far.  We were sweltering in the small church that held 100 people today! (Yes we broke the record…100 people in attendance at church today!)  Even the locals who are never hot kept agreeing with me when I said it was 'init' (hot)!  Sometime after I had already walked home the sky became very dark and the thunder started rolling and finally the clouds opened up and boy did it rain!  There is no rain in the world like Philippine rain!  It just dumped water for about 30 minutes and then as quickly as it had began, it stopped and the clouds rolled away!

Of course the picture does not do it justice…especially the deafening sound of the rain on the metal roof!  But, at last the rain cooled off the very hot day!  Thank the Lord for a good rain!

Well, it really was just a busy work week and not so much news but I am still grateful to be here and to be doing a little good in this part of the vineyard.  I am so grateful for my good husband.  He is a man of such great integrity and works so tirelessly to serve these wonderful people whom we love so very dearly.  They love him and there were a few tears today at his releasing but it is important to teach all of these new members that the work rolls on and it is the Lords work not Elder Bells!

We love you all so much and appreciate your love and sacrifice to help us stay out on this mission!  We have an army at home taking care of all the little details of our life and for that we are so thankful.  Please know we remember and acknowledge all that you do for us.

We love you forever,
Sister Bell (Mamala to all)


Hello to all

Another week in paradise as we sprint down the home stretch.

We had another great week in missionary work.  On Saturday Ian Anober was baptized and that is always a great event. His brother Ronel joined the church a few months ago and we are glad to see more members of the family join us here in Sagbayan. The baptism was an exercise in persistence.  I felt bad for both Ian and Ronel as it took 5 tries to get the job done.  It was quite frustrating because the white jumpsuit kept filling with air and would float up the mid-section each time and so it would have to be repeated.  Finally after the fourth attempt we decided to change something about the process.  We added 6 more inches of water to the font.  Had Ian change the suit to a lighter weight fabric and we had Elder Salazar dress in white and stand in the font.  Upon the united 'amen' and just after Ronel had laid Ian back in to the water, Elder Salazar leaned over Ian and made sure he and his entire suit got submersed in water!  The fifth try was the charm.  All involved were very patient and determined to get the job accomplished!!

Ian's Sister & Brother, Elder Salazar, Ian, Ronel and Elder Birdiguil

Ronel was (finally) able to baptize his brother and it was great to see him as he prepares to serve a mission next year.  I know Ian will make a great missionary also in a few years if he decides to go. Elder Salazar confirmed him today as a member of the Church and gave him a great blessing.  It is amazing the see these young men both Elders and converts step up and share the gospel in the world.

Well today I was released for Branch President in Sagbayan.  It was a happy day and also a sad day at the same time. Happy to see the 3 men called to be in the Branch Presidency stand up and accept their calling with vigor and a true spirit of service.  That was the goal all along to help in a small way this growing branch function on its own with local leadership that truly knows how to run a branch. You can just imagine joining the church as a member of a small group and then being call to be a Branch President with no prior experience and all the members in the Branch are new members of the church. Things that we take for granted in Utah and other established areas of the church are not common knowledge in newly formed branches.

Sad in another way as these are people who I have grown to love. I have walked through the rice fields with them, I have cried with them at times of disappointment, I have laughed with them as they triumph in the challenges of their lives. When I was called to be branch president I could not understand a lot of what they said as they spoke from the bottom of their hearts and they could not understand me either. We now understand one another and I have grown to love them to bottom of my heart. You learn a lot about people when you walk a mile or two in their footsteps. One thing I have learned is that material possessions are not the key to true happiness. Many or most of these people live below what we would consider the poverty line in the US. And they are the most thankful people I have met.  When they pray the prayers are not short and are filled with 90% thankfulness for everything in their lives.  The Lord said "Men are that they might have joy".  A joy brought by a real and abiding testimony of the Lord and blessings they have in their lives. May I never forget this lesson.

Well I would put a picture in but I forgot take one of the new Branch Presidency. I will get one for next week. I will spend the next two months walking through all the responsibilities of all member for the Branch Presidency. It will be great to visit all the homes a few more times and see some the projects started come to pass in the future.

The new chapel is slated to start construction on June 1.  The completion date will be sometime in September or October.  The welfare project is in the stages of final approval at the area in Manila. We are hoping to see that start before we leave and I am sure we will be in contact for some time after we are home as it unfolds.  These projects help the people raise their standard of live in a way they can provide food for the family and allow their children to attend school for a better life in the future.

Well enough of my blabbering. I have learned to see the hand of the Lord in peoples lives and also the best of what the Lord has through their lives. They truly are so rich when it comes to the things that matter most.

I love the Lord and I love His work.

May the Lord bless each and every one of you with the righteous desires of your heart.

Elder Bell (Tatay, LoLo & Amigo)

Another Great shot of the Land we have grown to love.