The Beginning of the End

Maayong Gabii Tanan (Good evening to all)

Better late than never. Yesterday was one of those marathon days that gets you home late and dead in your tracks. After church, with 94 in attendance, 3 young men receiving the priesthood, interviewing 5 for 1st time temple recommends in the branch and also the district level we rolled in last night at 8:30 from Danao ready to eat and hit the sack. Feeling very good about all the spiritual progress the new leaders of the branch are having and also the members. Of those five new first time temple recommend holders, two are Louie May Umbang and Tis Rocoma. Both of them have theirs papers in waiting for their mission calls to arrive in the mail any day now. It is great to see so much progress with those we have grown to love to the bottom of our hearts.

Well 'the beginning of the end' means that we helped with the last transfer we will help facilitate while on our mission.  The next transfer home we will be part of it.

I have learned that when you are dealing with souls of people you love there is never time to do everything you could do.  There is always one more to reach and help.  So we are down to setting priorities and doing the most is the shortest amount of time.  Because our time is short.

We helped with transfers this week and we were able us our multi cab and put it to good use.

Elders loading the Tagb Missionary luggage on top.

Tagb and Valencia Missionaries heading to bus station and individual areas.

Remember in the Peens there is always room for one more.

In the process of transfers we lost one of our beloved Sagbayan Missionaies (Elder Salazar).  But every time we lose one we always get a new great missionary to replace him.  Our most recent incoming missionary is Elder Javelo. He is great missionary and will also be one the great missionaries to serve in Sagbayan. It seems like we always get some the best.

Elders Javelo, Ramos, Acedilla & Birdiguil

Also this week Sister Bell was able score a big one at McDonalds. So at their open house in Tagb they gave away the famous McDo Umbrella. We did not make it to open house so we asked if we could just buy one a couple of weeks ago.  They were not on the menu so it would have taken a act of congress to get one so we gave up.  Well this week during closing apartments in Tagb we just happen across McDo's and they were selling them for P100 ($2.00). So Sister Bell scored big and got her wish.

The famous McDo"s Umbrella and our Tagb zone leaders, Elders Tamayo and Fangon

Well, their is about 20 more things to talk about so I will turn it over to my better half to finish up.

We are truly seeing prophecy come true as we watch these valiant young men and women gather the Lost Tribes of Israel in these the last days. We have been blessed to serve among such good and honest people. May we always be worthy of this blessing.

Elder Bell (Tatay, LoLo & Amigo) 

Ayo Family and Friends!

It has been a busy week!  Rarely is it so busy we can't get the blog written on a Sunday night but this week…..Ooeeee!  All was not lost though because as we waited the few hours it took to get our five sisters interviewed I was attended to by these lovelies….

Sister Annabelle and her daughter, Sariah

This is Annabelle Nueva and her daughter Sariah.  They are the dearest people.  They were at the Calape Church when we arrived for the interviews (President Nueva is Calape District President and they were waiting for him to finish up his day so they could get a ride home).  They stayed just so they could visit with us and while we visited they massaged my neck, my back, my hands and arms and even my tired, old feet!  Sister Annabelle is a dear, dear friend of mine.  Have you ever met someone and within the very first minutes of getting acquainted you just feel like you have known and loved them all of your life?  Well, Sister Annabelle is that for me.  As she started talking about our eminent departure, we both teared up and just had to stop thinking or talking about it.  Leaving her will be very difficult for me!

We were able to go visiting/teaching with the elders this week. 

Sister Verona and three of her grandchildren

Meet Sister Verona and three of her grandchildren.  She is a sweet woman whom I feel a close kinship too.  I think because we are nearly the same age and have grandchildren that we love and care for.  She will be getting baptized this coming Saturday.  We are so happy to know her and be a part of her life.  She is just a joy.  We really love to go teaching with our missionaries too….we are really going to miss that!

Seminary started again for the school year last Saturday….

Sister Janeylyn Racoma our new Seminary Teacher

 It was hard to have to give up my teaching position!  I really loved teaching seminary in Sagbayan.  But this is our new teacher, Sister Janeylyn Racoma.  She is going to be a wonderful teacher.  She came so well prepared for the first lesson.  I was really impressed!

As Elder Bell said, it was transfer week and these are the missionaries that left the Tagbilaran Zone.  They are great missionaries and will be wonderful in their new assignments.  But still, we hate to see them go….

Our departing missionaries

This is Sister DeLeon…she is such a happy person.  I just loved being around her.  She lights up a room with her smile.

And just one last pix….

Chicken for dinner

                                     

I guess chicken dinner tonight for these folks!   I love the Peens!  Everyday you see things like this that you would never see back where we come from…..

Have a great week everyone.  We love you and miss you and look forward to seeing you all soon!

Love you forever,

Sister Bell (Mamala to all!)