Apostle of the Lord and a whole lot more.

Maayong Gabii Pamilya & Amigo's,

Well last week was the first week without a blog since the beginning of our mission.  The main reason why is we were traveling from Bohol to Utah and that put us off schedule. So I am going to recap the last 2 weeks.

So on November 18th Elder Quentin L Cook of the Quorum or the Twelve Apostles visited Cebu and meet will all the missionaries in our mission. It was an inspiring meeting with a living Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.  He bore a special witness of the Savior and talked of how he knew the Savior personally in his life.  It is a strong testimony to hear from a living Apostle.

A rare picture of our entire mission gathered in Cebu

The missionaries from Bohol traveled in the morning to Cebu on the ferry and retired  back to Bohol that night.  Sister Bell went home with the missionaries and I stayed in Cebu overnight for a meeting with all the Branch, District Presidents along with all the Bishops and Stake Presidents on the Islands of Cebu and Bohol.  That was also a very inspiring meeting with Elder Cook.

Then, on Sunday we started our travel home to the USA so I could testify in a trial for a court case that stared in 2009 while I still owned K Bell Plumbing.  It was frivolous lawsuit where attorneys were just chasing insurance money.  To make a long story short the suite was settled out of court 2 days after we returned home and we no longer need to testify.  Well the insurance company bought our plane tickets so we will return to Bohol on Dec. 15.  We were able to visit our family and be home for Thanksgiving.  A great time was had by all.

Sister Bell helping Jason preparing Thanksgiving Dinner

(It was amazing Jason!  Thank you!)

Shannon, Kalea and Ever waiting for dinner to be served

Jason and Alley with our new grandson Zealand

Kelly & Will with Max and Rock

Keri, our sweet daughter

Robin our daughter from Michigan

We had a great Thanksgiving and we will have more family pictures next week when the rest of our family comes into town.

We also were able to attend the welcome home for our dear Sister Ross.  We served twice with her for half of her mission.  She is and was always an amazing missionary.  The 2 stories she spoke of in her talk were concerning miracles she had experienced while on her mission.  We were in the middle of both of them as they happened and between Sister Bell and I their were not any dry eyes.  We were also privileged to see President and Sister Tanner at the farewell and we loved seeing them again.

Elder & Sister Bell, Sister Ross, Sister & President Tanner

Well I will close with my testimony of the great work we are engaged in.  The Lord's work is moving on in the mission field and also at home.  Hearts are being prepared and testimonies are being given to all who will open their heart to receive them.  The Lord truly is in change and this is His work.  My prayer is that we will always be prepared and ready to help or serve in any way we can.  I know the Lord lives today and he loves each and every one of you. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Elder Bell  (Tatay, LoLo, and Amigo)

Sister Bell (gihapon)(also)

My Large Cup Runneth Over

Maayong Buntag Mo!

This has been a very eventful week.  I would say this is what you go on a mission for.  It makes all the trials and hard work worth ever minute of it.  On Tuesday and Wednesday we traveled to Cebu Temple with two sisters from our branch who were planning on taking out their endowments.  We came home for one day and then headed back for a youth temple trip.

Well I am going to let Sister Bell tell you about the first part of the week and I will tell you about the youth temple trip we made on Friday and Saturday to the Cebu Temple.

We started the youth temple trip on friday morning at 6:00 am rounding up all 21 or us to go the temple.  Each of the participants came in for an interview to receive a limited use recommend for the temple.  It was Nindot Kaayo (very great) to talk with all the youth one on one and hear of their great testimonies. About 3/4 of them have been members for less than a year, some only a few weeks and many scattered over the year.  So we traveled to Tubigon in the Multi Cab to get on the ferry.

Ready to get on the Boat.

In arriving at the temple at approx. 11:00 we prepared to a 12:00 to 2:00 session of baptisms for the dead.  Well my councilors were planning on going and at the last minute did not end up going because of work. They informed us at the temple that only endowed members holding the priesthood could perform the baptisms.  That left just me. So I told them I would do all the baptisms if they could get temple workers to assist with other necessary duties.  This not like it is in Utah. The temple workers are very limited so groups are instructed to bring their own priesthood holders.

So I proceed to do 68 baptisms on that session.  We also had a session lined up for 6:00 to 8:00 pm. We preformed 108 baptisms in that session.  It was great to witness all of these youth humbly go down into the waters of baptism for those they could help on the other side.  It just doesn't get better than that.

That afternoon and the next day they spent time in the Family History Library. Elder and Sister Grey assisted them in setting up LDS accounts and start on their family tree.  One of the newest member brought names of her relatives to be baptized for.  She learned how to start the process to make that happen.

Elder Grey with Jamaica Jandayan starting the work for her family

  

Sister Grey with Jaiquin Jandayan

The couple that works in the family history library does a great job and they sure love working with such humble and thankful people they have met in the Cebu Temple.  They are a great blessing to the work of the Lord in Cebu.

A great shot as we are getting ready to depart.

Today in Sacrament meeting Sister Bertoldo spoke as she is leaving the mission field today.  Sister Cook sang a song with some of the members.  I could not hold back the tears as I started thinking about  her and Sister Ross leaving the mission field.  These missionaries hold such a special place on your heart as you serve with them.  As we have found in the past those who will come will also be very special also.

I leave you with my greatest love and feeling from my heart.  My cup runneth over does not describe the fullness of the love we feel from the Lord when we are actively engaged in his work.

Cebu Temple

Kita Kits sa sunod simana (See you next week) for the one of the most beautiful places sa kalibutan (the world).

With Love  Elder Bell (Tatay, LoLo & Amigo)

Ayo Family and Friends!

It was a glorious week!  Nearly the entire week was spent at the Cebu Temple.  As Elder Bell said we were able to take Sister Claudia Enad with her daughters Cathlene (13) and Claudelyn (10) to the temple.  We also took Sister Analie Calunia so that she could take out her own endowments.  It was really so amazing.  Both of these Sisters and the girls have been baptized since we have been here so we have been with them through this entire journey so far.  Claudia's husband was killed in a construction accident 4 years ago and the minute she learned about eternal families she has wanted to go be sealed to him.  I am sure it was a bitter-sweet moment for her.  But, with the eternal perspective of temple sealings, there is great hope in the future.  Cathlene and Claudelyn were also sealed to their parents.  They all looked like angels.  

Cathlene, Claudia, Claudelyn

Claudia, Cathlene, and Claudelyn looking so beautiful!

Sister Claudia had been waiting and dreaming of this beautiful day for a long time and so she decided she would never have the opportunity again to let the girls have such a wonderful day.  She rented wedding gowns for all of them so they could feel like princesses for just one brief moment!  And they really did look like princesses!  It was very special for us just to be a small part of it!

Sister Analie

This is Sister Analie after the endowment session.  We love her so much.  She is married and has one daughter.  She and her daughter are members but we still have to work on her husband because she wants that forever family too.

It was a very special day for me to be able to be escort to both of these sweet women whom I so dearly love.  They are remarkable woman who love the Lord and show their faith by taking these monumental steps to be able to return to live with Him one day!

Another thing that we got accomplished this week is the paperwork finally submitted for Marjonilo to go on a mission.  It is no easy task here in the Peens to get through the medical part of the application.  It has tested my patience more than once and I suppose will do so again.  Nothing about the medical world here is orderly, or efficient.  But, we finally accomplished the task after only an 8 hour day of waiting on doctors last Monday!

And now the waiting begins for Marjonilo Seliote Viodor!

We love this young man!

Sister Morales

While we were getting checked in at the Patron house on Friday, we ran in to this dear old friend, Sister Morales who we served with last year.  She has since gone home from her mission but was in Cebu attending the temple as the Manila Temple is closed for cleaning currently.  What a joy to run in to her and get the best bear hug ever!  We love you Sister Morales!

Well, that was our week in a nut-shell!  It was wonderful and tiring!  If you have not heard yet, we will be in Utah for the next few weeks.  We have to come home for a trial that should have been settled some 8 years ago, but alas, it is a law suit that is just now going to trial.  We may or may not be able to write the weekly blog….it will be boring as we will be in court all day every day, but we will try.  We will not be able to get around to see all of you but if you see us on the streets of Hooper….don't be alarmed, it is really us and we are really still full-time missionaries.  We love you all and ask that you pray for us these next few weeks…that this law suit can be settled and we can return quickly to the work that is so much more important than the silly law-suit!

Love you forever,

Sister Bell (Mamala)

Banana Splits!

Ayo Family and Friends!

We had a great week!  Busy, but great!  We had the great opportunity to have a conference this week with Elder and Sister Haynie.  Elder Haynie is from the Quorum of the 70 and his current assignment is counselor to the Area President here in the Philippines.  The Haynies are truly wonderful people.  They are really down to earth and had the most wonderful teaching conference.  They were touring the entire mission so on Thursday we were able to meet with them and all of the missionaries on Bohol.  The thing I really loved is that they took 40 minutes at the beginning of the meeting and wanted to shake every missionaries hand.  And it was not just a quick little shake-all-the-hands-line.  Elder Haynie took the time to visit with each missionary and find out some personal things about each one of us.  I also loved their messages.  Elder Haynie talked about 'Gathering Scattered Israel' and gave us some very practical, implementable advice on how to go about doing that.  So today is Fast Sunday and we Sagbayan Missionaries had a joint fast and several joint prayers to help us be able to do all of those things we were taught in our efforts to gather Israel right here in Sagbayan.

The reception line…Sister Maughan, President Maughan, Sister Haynie, Elder Haynie

All the missionaries on Bohol for the conference

Well, we were really hoping to get all of our missionaries to do a better job of cleaning their apartments so we threw out the challenge a few weeks ago to all of Bohol….Any zone that got every single apartment in their zone with a perfect score (60/60) when we did apartment checks, would get banana splits!  Man oh man!  These missionaries really, really love a good treat.  So, out of all the apartments on the entire island only 2 apartments did not score a perfect score.  So, then we had the dilemma….do we punish all of the perfect apartments for the lacking of 2 apartments?  This was our solution….we ordered a big batch of 'dirty ice-cream', and bought a whole bunch of bananas and a whole bunch of toppings and we let the errant missionaries scoop ice-cream (for a very long time) for all of their fellow missionaries so as to redeem themselves!  It was the perfect solution!  And they really enjoyed the treat!  And we got a lot of really clean apartments out of the deal.  (Bribery works every time!)

Dirty Ice-cream (Homemade) Banana Splits!

So on our Monday it is P-day and also Halloween back in the USA so we decided to have the 6 Sagbayan missionaries and the zone leaders over for a Halloween dinner at the end of their P-day.  It was a bit last minute so I decided to finally open up the singular but hallowed can of Pumpkin that my sweet sister-in-law, Holly, sent me last year.  And I made for dinner pumpkin-spice pancakes and made the missionaries decorate them like jack-o-lanterns.  We have only 2 Filipino missionaries in Sagbayan but they soon caught on to the whole idea of a jack-o-lantern.

Elder Crowley with his jack-o-lantern

Sisters Cook & Bertoldo with their jack-o-lanterns

It was a holiday week here on Bohol!  Apparently November 1st and 2nd are a holiday, much like our Memorial Day, where everyone honors their dead ancestors and decorate the graves of their loved ones.  And just like our holidays, there are a lot of family gatherings and we were lucky enough to score a dinner invite on Tuesday night.  We have such good members in our branch. They are always taking care of all of the missionaries….which is no small task when you have 8 of them living in your branch!

Today in our fast and testimony meeting, I was just tickled to watch the testimony meeting unfold!  One person finishes speaks and several stand at once to make their way to the front.  One of them makes it to the microphone and the rest have moved a few rows closer.  After that person is finished the whole thing happens again and in this way many people eventually make their way to the microphone and share with us the joy and happiness they have found in becoming members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  It is just a remarkable experience month after month.  It reminds me of the joy I feel in not only my testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel but of the joy I feel serving here in Sagbayan.  It is a joy to be part of God's Army!

I love you my family and friends!  I miss you and pray for you and hope you are finding joy in your journey through this life!  May God bless you all during this election week….I think you are going to need it!

Love you forever,

Sister Bell (Mamala)

Kamusta ang Pamilya Ug mga Amigo!

Well another post for the other side of heaven where the uwan (rain) ug mga panalangin (blessings) anhi kanunay (come continually). This year the rain is more steady each day than it was last year and just more of it.  Its quite muddy at times but we are shielded from it most of the time in our vehicles and the nature of what we do each day.  On the other hand we are more focalized in a branch with a certain group of people that are literally on fire when it come to missionary work.  The Elders and Sister in our area are seriously the best missionaries we could have ever hoped or prayed for and the members are the same.  We feel the Lords' hand in our work daily and the blessing you receive from that are marvelous.

Well, we will start with the baptism on Saturday.  Sister Joenalyn Cansancio was baptized at the Tubigon Chapel.  Her sister was baptized a couple of months ago in the branch and she was very happy to see her sister join the church. 

After listening to Elder Haynie's talk last week we see how the gathering of Israel is happening right in front of our eyes.  He told us that scattered Israel normally hang out around gathered Israel.  We see that every day as we prepare people to go through the Temple many of their family and friends feel the same spirit and see the changes on their lives and they want the blessing of the gospel also.  The missionaries are seeing this vision unfold in front of their eyes.

 Marjonilo with Sister Joenalyn with her sister, Jovelyn, and Sisters Bertoldo & Varias

The Sisters were talking with us tonight between the 2 two sets they have 5 or 6 more baptisms coming over the next month or two.  The Elders are opening a new area and have many coming along also.  Sometimes it takes a couple of months to get the ball rolling.  With the fast we had today and also the dedication of the Elders we expect great things from their area also.

Well on monday we had a youth activity in Tubigon. It was the missionaries P-Day so we joined with them to have great fun in volleyball and basketball. It was great to see them allow all to be involved regardless of the skill level. They just have fun with each other.

Volleyball at youth activity

Basketball at youth activity

So on Wednesday I met with two representatives from Manila that handle the real estate for the whole area in the Philippines.  We were looking for a building site to build a chapel or an existing building that could be used as a chapel with room to grow in the future.

The first week we came to Sagbayan at the beginning of our mission I saw a large house, that was 3/4 of the way built and had been left and not finish, on the main road coming into town.  I remember saying that would make a great chapel for future growth in Sagbayan group.  Now we are part of the Sagbayan Branch I can see that the Lord knew something we did not know at the time about the growth of the church in this area.

I took one representative from Manila by the site a couple of months ago and he contacted the owner and provided us with a set of plans for the house.  So we went through the building and decided it would be sufficient for the present time and also provided space to expand for future growth of the Branch. 

Possibly the new Chapel in Sagbayan

So if everything goes ok with the purchase price of this house and land we could be in the new chapel as early as 4 month if things go well.  That would be great to see this new Branch have a good place to meet before we leave at the end of July.  The Lord truly does direct his work.

Well the last story happened today.  We were planning on visiting one of the members and when we tried to leave our home there was a string of people filing past in front of the gate at the end of our driveway that seemed like would never end. Come to find out that a group from Thailand that was donating 20 kilos of rice to each family in Sagbayan and the center of distribution for the rice was at the school behind our house. These great people from Thailand give each family a sack of rice once every 4 months.  They have been doing this for 3 years since the Earthquake.  Sagbayan was the center of the Earthquake and this is their way of giving their neighbors a hand up.  It is great to see a thing like this in this part of the world.

A charitable act from their neighbors in Thailand

Well its time to close and start another whirlwind week starting on Monday.  We have Temple Sealing trip this week and also a youth Temple trip.  That along with branch business and missionary work we may be able to have a few minutes to catch our breath next Sunday and share it with you.

I love the Lord and I love His work.  His hand truly is gathering Israel at this time in this part of the world.  May we all be worthy to stand at the last day.  I know the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. God did put forth his hand to restore the Gospel in these latter days and we are grateful to be part of this  restoration that is still taking place as we gather the lost tribes of Israel.

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

Elder Bell   Kita Kits sa sunod Dommingo (We'll see you next Sunday)   

Many Blessings with Many Irons in the Fire

Welcome back to the Other Side of Heaven!

This week has been action packed with with daghang (many) irons in the fire.  There are many programs and things going on in all direction. Nindot kaayo (very great) mga missionaro ug Nindot kaayo Branch.

I will start with the self reliance program.  If you want a first hand look of your donations to the Perpetual Education Fund of the Church then keep tuned as we show this program unfolding from the grass roots up in a newly formed branch of the church.

I am the facilitator for the group Starting and Growing My Own Business.  The name of our group just happens to be called Helaman's Warriors.  The name was created by our group.  There are 8 members of the group not including myself. We had our first meeting this week with is a great discussion of fundamental ways to be successful in business and also spiritual values, that when applied to business, help all involved to benefit from the blessings of the Lord in our entire lives. Starting and running a business in the Peenes is not as complicated as in America but the basic principles are the same.

Great shot of Helaman's Warriors at our first meeting.

The business interest here range for Joaquin Jandayan (second one in on the right) 16 years old.  Joaquin wants to make and sell ice cream.  Other interest include making and selling natural oils, stating and running retail outlet in the market, running a fruit and vegetable stand.  Other possibilities are being explored as they do simple market research over the next 12 weeks to start or improve existing business. It will be great to see how this all unfolds.

Second is the CSP (community service project) at nanny Claudia's balay (house).  She receive and small humble home from the Habitats for Humanities organization after the earthquake 3 years ago. All the branch member went out on Saturday to help level the floor to receive concrete.  She is widow with 2 young daughters and is most appreciative of all help she receives. These homes are interesting construction. They have an aluminium frame and then they weave bamboo strips throughout the metal framework.  Some folks live in them like this but usually they do stucco work on both the interior and exterior of the bamboo and it makes for a cozy little home.

 The leveled floor and the lunch after

We are going into town tomorrow to finish the last medical requirements for Marjonilo Viodor's mission papers.  He is my branch clerk and my right hand man.  We will keep you up to date on his progress as he gets his call.  January 7 will mark 1 year as member of the church.  What a difference 1 year makes in the lives of these young people as the Holy Ghost teaches them the Gospel and they have amazing testimonies.

Well I will turn the rest over to Sister Bell.

I love the Lord and I love his work.  May all of us love and serve others in a way we can feel His love in our lives. When you lose yourself in the service of others you find the real you.  Just try it some time and you will also know of His love and spirt in your life.

Kita Kits sa sunod simana (See you next week)

Elder Bell (Tatay, LoLo & Amigo)

Ayo!  How are all of you this week?  Just a little reminder….we write you every week!  We would love to hear from you once in awhile…in fact we would love to hear from you every week but I am realistic!

Well, I am going to be doing a little bragging here….today we had the very first ever (this is historical) beloved Primary Program!  After our disastrous practice last week I have entertained serious doubts all week that we could pull it off.  But, I was so pleasantly surprised.  These kids did fantastic.  They all said their parts. The big kids all came with actual talks written and we sang 13 songs!!!  Can you imagine the magnitude of this?  Less than a year ago these kids had never heard of Primary or heard any Primary songs and today they performed flawlessly!

We were soooooo proud of these kids!

Claudalyn and Miezel working on their posters

Sister Anderson and Janalyn

So after Sacrament Meeting we took a little break from singing and drew pictures of our wonderful program.  This is Sister Anderson and Janalyn showing off their picture (really Sis Anderson is the artist but she gifted the picture to Janalyn).  I might add here that Sister Anderson played all of those 13 primary songs for the program plus all of the other sacrament meeting songs today!  Thank you Sister Anderson!  You are wonderful!

Our Saturdays are always crazy busy and yesterday was no exception.  We had our typical seminary class (I might note here that we are exactly half way through with this year's studies now) and then the youth had planned an activity they called…Visiting and Home Teaching.  These programs have not yet been introduced to this branch (But will be very soon) and so it was cool of the kids to realize that everyone in the branch needed a visit.  We all split in to 6 groups with a full-time missionary leading each group and with the addition of 2 or 3 youth it made up each group.  They met for a few minutes and planned a lesson and then I took 3 of the groups and President Elder Bell took 3 of the groups and we headed out.  It was really dark when we headed out as the sun always goes down at 5:30 year round and so it is a little unsettling for me to drop off groups and see them march out through the jungle on the very darkest of nights with usually only one dim flashlight.  I wondered several times if we would ever see them again.  But, we were able to collect them all up after 6 very successful visits.  Today, a less-active member that none of us had ever met before came to church with her 3 children because that little group took the time to go visit her last night.  This amazing branch takes seriously their missionary work and it shows.  I have said it before and I will say it again…..they are the most 'Zion-like' people I have every known.  They teach me so much of love and patience and unconditional service.

Mariel and Lowella working on a 'Doctrine Mastery' assignment.

So, you know how I have told you before that a mission really brings in to focus ones short-comings and faults?  Well, it is no secret that one of my biggest short-comings is patience!  You throw my 'A-' type personality in to a third world country and it is a recipe for some serious stress.  I am a person that abhors meetings starting late, waiting for people to arrive, etc, etc…..Well, you add that to the fact that generally speaking, even though I have a smart-phone, I can rarely communicate with other people (It turns out that you need a smart network to support a smart phone) and you have one very impatient, stressed out senior missionary!  I find this a problem on a daily basis.  And so I am going to publicly state here and now that I am going to pray for more patience!  I am going to pray and work for this Christ-like attribute that has here-to-fore eluded me.  So, keep me in your prayers people….I am going to need them!

Well, that is going to wrap up another week here in Paradise!  We are living it and loving it and will confess that it is one of the hardest things I have ever done but one of the most wonderful things I have ever done.  The challenges are real….the blessings are many…..and that is what makes it all worth it!

Love you forever,

Sister Bell (Mamala)

Tyhoons and Earthquakes!

Ayo Family and Friends!

Yes you read that correctly….Typhoons and Earthquakes!  We have been in the midst of them all week.  We don't get any news so I could not tell you how strong the earthquakes have been but we have had our bed shaking several nights this week!  And we have had the most spectacular thunder and lightening and rain!  Lots and lots of rain.  I think we were on the outer edge of a typhoon that came through this week.  Fortunately we did not get the wind just the rain.  All is well….no worries here.  These island know how to handle rain!

It has been a really busy week and I hardly know where to start and where to stop…I guess I will start at the beginning of the week with the sisters conference.  We had a conference for just the Sister Missionaries here on Bohol.  We were joined by three of the senior sisters from Cebu, Sisters Maughan, McNett and Weatherston.  It started Monday morning with the funniest, funnest Missionary Zumba.  Our district leader, Elder Caindoy, was a certified Zumba instructor in his previous life…who knew?  Anyway, he knew that "Babylonian" music was against the rules so he made up this wonderful routine that was all about missionary work…(no Babylonian music President Tanner!) And it was so much fun!  We loved it!

TC (testifying contact) contact to the right, 2, 3, 4 and back…TC contact to the left, 2, 3, 4 and back!

Ayo..ayo…ayo…ayo (right then left then right then left repeat 16 times)

'Ayo' is the greeting made at the gate to see if anyone is home (hence the reason I always address you'all with 'Ayo" each week when I write!)

After Zumba we had a workshop on scripture journaling and then headed to lunch at McDo's in Tubigon and then on up the hill to Sagbayan Peak for some play-time and pictures!

Me with my fellow senior sisters at arms!

Sisters Bell, Maughan, McNett and Weatherston

Other events this week included a visit to the Bitang Family who have not yet been very active in the branch as they are Tagalog speakers and the Cebuano is hard for them to understand.  Anyway, the Sisters visit them regularly and we knew that one of the older daughters had just had a baby girl so I went out to visit with the sisters last week and met this adorable baby…..

Rowella Bitang with her baby girl…Jack Bitang.

While we were visiting the Bitang family we asked them if they would like a name and blessing for the baby?  They showed up for church today and let President Elder Bell give this sweet baby her name and a nice blessing.  Behind her on the bench you see her mother and three of her younger siblings.  There are nine (I think) children in the family.

Another day this week I had the chance to go out with Sisters Bertoldo and Varias teaching one afternoon.  We got to go to the Gambe family and visit.  You remember they are the family that got sealed in August.  I just love this family and while we were there we helped with the corn…

Sister Bell helping with the corn

They grow the corn, harvest it and let it dry for a few days.  Then the kernels have to be taken off of the cob so the corn can be ground in to a meal.  Just doing my part to help. It was fun but the members will rarely let me help with the daily tasks as they think it is beneath me to get dirty…oh if they only knew me!

We had the much anticipated visit with the Smalley's on Thursday.  We just love to go to the other side of the island and make that beautiful drive but we really enjoy visiting with the Smalley's and always enjoy a wonderful meal with them.  We were hoping to get to do a little ocean time that day but it was not to be…..oh well, maybe next time!

Man!  I wanted to jump in that ocean soooooo badly!

A real third world problem….car traffic on the same road as caribou traffic!  

Well, as I close for the week, I just wanted to share a few of my thoughts this sabbath day…..we were in Sacrament Meeting today and Brother Gambe was conducting.  He is the second counselor in the branch presidency and he is very nervous to conduct the meeting and then to top it all off today he had to speak in the meeting.  He gave his very first talk ever!  I was so proud of him.  He is the perfect representative of our young branch.  All of them so new in the church and yet so willing to do their best at what ever they are called upon to do!  It is amazing to watch it all unfold each week.  There are 'firsts' every day around here and the branch is really growing in experience.  They will be so ready for our departure in a few months because they are willing to try and the Lord helps them be more than they could have ever been without Him!  He qualifies whom He calls!  That is the lesson of the week.

Love you forever,

Sister Bell (Mamala)

Hello Family and Friends

Well another action packed, fun filled week in the books.  I wish all weeks could be as productive and this one, even though we are on the go kanunay (always).  

In the branch this week we had 6 baptisms, a branch family home evening and started the Self Reliance program for the members (I will explain Self Reliance program later).

I will start with the baptism.  The Jandayan (Han-di-an) family of 5 was baptized in Saturday along with Kim Racoma grandchild of Pres Racoma (my first councilor in Branch Presidency).  We have already spoke about the Jandayan family in past blogs.  The great thing about this family they are full of faith and acceptance when they hear the truth.  The first week Bother Jandayan came to church he heard the lesson in Priesthood about tithing and paid his tithing that day.  The missionaries had not taught him that lesson yet.  They have also been using the Gospel Principle book to teach their family.  They have family scripture study matag adlaw (daily).  They take the gospel to all of their friends and neighbors.  I lent them our television we purchased to do fireside with and a zip drive with the sessions of General Conference in Cebuano.  That day they were showing General Conference to their parents and neighbors.  Their parents are now investigating the church and some friends also.

Jandayan Family

Baptism of Jandayan Family and Kim Racoma
Sister Cook and Sister Anderson

Jandayan Family with Sister Cook and Sister Anderson and on the far left side, Kim Racoma

The Jandayan's have 5 children. The three that got baptized are Jaquim 16, Jacob 14, & Jamaica 13. Kim Racoma is 10 years old and actually got baptized when he was 8 but…..no one filed the baptismal report so there was no record, so he had to be dunked again!  Have you ever seen so much white?  We love it!

Well on Saturday night the youth planned a Branch Family Home Evening at the church after Seminary.  There were many in attendance and fun was had by all.  If you ever want to go to fun FHE where all have the time of their life and do it with simple means and games that bring all members to interact with each other, you need to attend one in our branch!  The unity it creates is amazing. They were honoring the new members that were baptized that day.  Most of the branch was also in attendance at the baptism.

Joan Racoma executing a very fun game that kept them on their toes or they got caught.

We started the Self Reliance program in our branch today.  This program is known to most in the church as the Perpetual Education Fund.  We teach members of third world countries how to apply principles of spiritual and physical self reliance.  They learn in three basic areas. 

1. Education for Better Employment.  Basic principles of how they use education to help get a better job and improve living for your family.  This is the program that allows members to obtain low interest loans for schooling they would never have a chance to obtain without the program.  It also gives them a certificate from LDS Business College that in some case makes a 4 year schooling program into a 1 year schooling program.  For those who attend and get good grades they receive credits on the loan that make it possible to repay.  Meanwhile they learn to be responsible for commitment and are rewarded for doing so.

2.  My Job Search.  Teaches members skills to apply for work and use the skills they have to obtain better employment.  In some cases they just need help in preparing a resume and showing future employers the skills they have.  They have never been taught those skills so it is a great help for them.

3.  Starting and Growing My own Business.  Teaches basic principles of finance and how to do basic research yourself to know what business you should start and how to improve a business that is already in operation.  Many bushinesses in the Philippines are Ma and Pa tindahans (stores) that remind you of early America.  Those who apply basic principles and follow them can really become very successful in the world they live in and bless many lives at the same time.

Well that is enough for this week.

Just want to let you know we are living a dream.  Sometimes dreams are not always easy but these kind are always worth it.

I love the Lord and I come to know him more personally than any other time in my life as we do his work.

May the Lord Bless you with the rightous desires of you heart.

Elder Bell  (Tatay, LoLo & Amigo)    

PS…for all of our animal loving grandkids...

Baby goat twins!  So cute!

        

BYU Game in the Peens?!

Ayo Family and Friends!

I never would have thought it possible but yesterday while we were home preparing for all of our Sunday events, Elder Bell was able to connect in live to the BYU football game!  Now, my husband has not once whined about missing BYU football, which is something he really loves, so when he was able to connect at half-time you can not believe how excited he was.  He plopped himself right down on the bed hoping to listen to the rest of the game.  He got in about 10 minutes before the phone started ringing and he was needed elsewhere.  However, he was able to catch the last few minutes of double over-time for the WIN! Hopefully that was enough to get him through the season.

It was a few minutes of BYU football bliss for this old man!

We were really excited to welcome a new missionary to Sagbayan this week.  Elder Crowley was due to come out last week with the new transfer but got sick just as he was to be sent out of the Provo MTC and so they detained him for a few days.  But here he is and he is so lucky to be assigned to serve in Sagbayan.  We have great missionaries here, great members here who love to work with the missionaries, and a great new branch here so his training here will be great!  We hope he loves it as much as we all do!

Elder Minoc who is training Elder Crowley

Just after Elder Crowley arrived we had a zone training.  We have these once a month just a couple of days after our Mission Leadership Counsel meets in Cebu.  Our young leaders then go back to their respective zones and give us all of the news, announcements, and training that they have received in Cebu.  It is a really beautiful process and you can definitely see many future leaders emerging from the group.

This is us gathering for our zone training.  Our leaders are on that first row, Sisters Bertoldo and Varias on the left of the row and Elders Goulding and Santos on the far right of the same row.

This is Sister Elsa from Calape Branch, she is the person who always serves us a great lunch following zone training.  Thanks Elsa!

We have a lot of 'brown outs' here on Bohol.  But this week has been particularly riddled with periods of no power.  So a few nights ago the power went off just as I was about to start preparing dinner.  Well, my elaborate plans for citrus chicken and pasta got simplified really quickly and I cooked a pot of stew.  It was just finishing up when two of our neighbor sisters stopped by on their way home.  They had been out in the rain and dark and not realized the power was out.  So we invited them in to share our meager dinner and we love for them to share with us their day and all the happenings.

Sister Bertoldo on the right and Sister Varias on the left.  These are our STL's (Sister Trainer Leaders) 

I was telling you about earlier.

Another thing we give quite a lot of time to is getting missionaries from Calape District ready to go on missions.  So we spent a day this week at the dentist office with Marjonilo, who if you recall is Elder Bell's branch clerk.  He will be able to serve a mission when he hits January 9, having been a member for finally a year.  He is so excited to be able to go on a mission.  He will be a great missionary and we will really miss his constant presence in our branch.  He is Elder Bell's right hand man!  He is determined to teach us Cebuano and sometimes just laughs and laughs at how badly we slaughter his language!  But, we really do love to help these young people get ready to serve.  We now know first hand how much this experience will change their lives forever!  

Serving a mission is not easy.  It is the one time in your life that you truly consecrate every minute of your day, of your week, of two years to serving Heavenly Father with all of you whole heart and soul.  It is a remarkably refining experience.  My own weaknesses and shortcomings have become very clearly defined.  I feel some of the really rough edges being sanded off.  I have to really stretch some days to do all that I am called upon to do, but with all of that said….I love being a missionary.  I love serving here in the Cebu East Mission!  And I love serving with my husband.  I have learned to really honor and respect the fact that he is a man of such great integrity.  He serves with out complaint, he serves with his whole heart, he honors his priesthood and worthily blesses the lives of many with that priesthood.  As hard as it is…it is worth every minute!  I can not close without thanking our kids and grandkids for their sacrifice.  It makes it so possible to do knowing that our kids support us 100%.  I know they will be blessed for their sacrifice.  

Well, sorry for the long speech…sometimes a just get a little nostalgic.  Please know that we are well, happy and working hard.

Love you forever,

Sister Bell (Mamala)

Maayong Buntag sa other side of heaven

Well I will start of a good shot of a motorcycle turned into delivery truck.  This happens ever day.  We have seen 4x8 sheets of plywood hauled on a motor (as they call it in the Peens).  This was a new one and I do not even understand how they start out with some of the loads they carry.  It is amazing to see people with very little resources just make what they have work.

A load of woven mates being delivered to be used for siding on a balay (house).

So the YSA (single 18 to 30 year olds) are taking a trip next week to Bogo on the Island of Cebu for a Conference with the YSA of Bogo district.  This is a great opportunity for many of them because they have not been able to travel to most places on the Island of Bohol let alone the Island of Cebu.

So as part of their conference they allow those who are willing to put on a presentation for the rest of those in attendance.  This is a shot of the practices for the presentation.

Tis & Jane Racoma and Meljun and Marjonilo Viodor

Well we had another barn burner attendance at seminary again this week.  There were 18 students which included 3 investigators.

Seminary Students

After seminary we had Young Men and Young Women's activities.  The Young women had Sister Bell teach them how to play piano (I know you are smiling at this Sister Halladay) while the Young Men went with me to practice basketball for a game later on in the month with Tubigon Branch young men (I failed to get pictures of basketball practice). Fun was had by all.

Group piano lessons for the Young Women

This is just a great shot of showing how soon we start preparing potential missionaries in the Sagbayan Branch.

Sister Louisa Umbang with her future missionary son.

Well that about wraps it up for another week in Paradise. So just adding a few things to what Sister Bell mentioned about serving a mission.

Serving a mission is a great opportunity and privilege.  As with most a lll opportunities and privileges ever thing is not easy.  It is not easy to prepare to serve in many ways.  Will I have enough finances to support me and my wife?  Will I have the enthusiasm and will power to keep up with the young missionaries?  And will I be able to adjust to a different culture and way of life?

Well I have learned that whom the Lord Calls the Lord Qualify''s.  The Lord will put things into your life that will be obvious to you if you can not live up to certain calling you are hoping for and give you another that you can handle.  He is truly in charge of this work.

We meet many good and righteous people here in the Philippines each day and many are not members of our church.  But they are good honest people and the Lord will look upon them with open arms and open heart when He comes.  We are doing all we can to reach and help these wonderful people and we are blessed to serve among them.

The refining process does take place in our lives as we serve.  Priorities change as the Holy Spirit guides you through the process.  I always wonder what was the meaning of the parable of the lost treasure found in the Gospel of Mathew chapter 13 verse 44.

"Again the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field."

I did not understand what that could mean until serving this mission.  The Lord and his purposes become the main central focal point of your life.  And like with most things we do not understand until we experience it ourselves.

I love the Lord and a Love his work.

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

Amping Mo  (Good day to all of you)

Elder Bell  (Tatay, LoLo, and Amigo)